Reston Bible Church

Reston Bible Church
11979 North Shore Drive
Reston, Virginia 20190

Services:
Saturday - 6:00p.m.
Sign Language interpretation available
Espanol - Main Campus Room 111
Nursery for Infants and Toddlers
Quest church for children 2 yrs old through 6th grade

Sunday - 8:15a.m., 10:00a.m., and 11:45a.m.
Nursery for Infants and Toddlers
Sunday School classes for children 2 yrs through 6th grade

Junior High - 10:00a.m. - 11:45a.m.
South Campus - GAP

Senior High - 11:30a.m. - 1:00p.m.
South Campus - GAP

Adult Electives - 10:00a.m. & 11:45a.m.
South Campus

Service I attended: Thursday Evening Special Performance- Coffeehouse- a theatrical piece with music
Congregation: Mostly Caucasian, middle-aged, young families and singles

Overall Church: This special performance,"Conversations" was really fun! Members converted a room off the sanctuary into an actual,working coffeehouse that sold Starbucks-type treats and great coffee. It was the real deal - down to the furnishings and counters. Not only did this help set the mood for the performance to come, but it was a great way to mingle before the show.

How they describe themselves on their website: "Reston Bible Church is a non-denominational church located in Reston Virginia. We were founded 30 years ago in June of 1974 by our Senior Pastor Mike Minter and his wife Kay. RBC is a bible-believing and preaching church with a passion for impacting the lives of those living in the community around us. We have a variety of ministries for people to get involved in to be ministered to or minister to someone else."

Band set-up: Bass, drums, piano, acoustic guitars.

Overall band: These were really good musicians playing secular songs from the last few decades and a few originals, all of which were incorporated into a drama. The songs provided an interesting interlude between scenes. The vocals were very good - the tight harmonies made me wonder whether singers the might be related. At the end of the production the choir and cast came on stage - and, yes, more excellent vocals.

The theatrical nature of the production gave a good feel for what this church is capable of artistically - very good stuff seems to be happening here. The drama was written in-house. The setting - a coffeehouse - was totally realistic,almost as if furniture and accessories had been lifted from a local establishment. The actual play had a dramatic scenes interspersed with related testimony from selected parishioners. These parishioners who 'overheard' the actors scene in the coffeehouse and then told their own personal story of faith. It was a concept that could have been awkward but instead was extremely powerful.

Would I go back? Yes. Though this was a special event I really enjoyed the quality of the musicianianship of th band and the choir. The sound system was fine and though it wasn't a regular service, I'll bet the vocals and instrumentalists are top-notch. NOTE: I wasn't able to tell from the church website if the band plays on a regular basis for all services, or only on special occasions. Please call the church to get the most up-to-date info on music at services.

Learn more: http://www.restonbible.org/index.asp
11979 North Shore Drive
Reston, Virginia 20190

Dranesville Church - Upon this Rock Band

Dranesville Church about 8 miles west of Tysons Corner, Virginia off of Route 7
1089 Liberty Meeting Court
Herndon, Virginia 20170

Services:
8:30 - 9:15 Traditional Worship
9:00 - 11:00 Continental Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 Celebration Worship
Kid's Own Worship
Adult Sunday School
11:00 - 12:00 Contemporary Worship
Children's Sunday School
Adult Sunday School

Service I attended: Sunday, 11:00, am

Congregation: Mostly Caucasian middle-aged, families and singles

Overall Church: Has a building high on a hill overlooking Route 7. Turn at the McMansions (which will make sense when you visit - I thought these houses were new churches!) Plenty of off-street parking. Small, really pleasant congregation. I was very comfortable with the service structure - there was nothing unexpected or unusual. The songs were easy to learn praise and worship style.

Band set-up: Bass, drums, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, keys.

Overall band: Upon This Rock is the name of the praise band at Dranesville United Methodist Church. They are a very competent and relaxed band -there were no awkward moments or bad starts. The service was pleasant and worshipful - just what I like on a Sunday morning. All volunteers. Nice vocals - songs in singable keys for the congregation. No show-off stuff, which is always refreshing. Nice set-up in a small, older church that could have been acoustically difficult.

Would I go back? Yes. I had a really good time, and wound up chatting for quite a while with the super-friendly pastor and really nice musicians.

Learn more: http://www.utronline.com
Email: prayer@utronline.com
Phone: 703-430-3137

Sorry I've been out of the loop...

Howdy Floks-
I must apologize for having NO band blog for so long. Unfortunately, I contracted Lyme disease - meaning I got bit by a tiny little tick that had a bunch of bacteria that is REALLY bad for humans and other mammals. I couldn't drive, read or walk too well. Needless to say, visiting church bands and writing about their music was pretty much impossible. I had to quit for ever-so-long.

The good news is that after heavy duty antibiotics by IV (and a whole bunch of other medicines) I can now walk on my own steam, drive, write and read again. It has been a really difficult journey that I do not recommend to anyone. My advice to you is PUT ON YOUR BUG REPELLENT!! I'm thinking seriously of AstroTurfing my lawn and encasing my dogs in plastic.

Anyway, I plan on visiting some more churches here in the DC area and describing their bands. I'd love to have some company in this endeavor. If you want to travel around visting very cool church bands, please feel free to do so and post your findings. It's a great way to make contacts and hear some wonderful music.

Gateway Community Church

Sunday, August 15, 2004
Gateway Community Church
Meets at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, Virginia off of Route 28
Services: Sunday- 10:00 am
Congregation: Mostly Caucasian, mostly young families and middle-aged
Overall Church: Meets in a modern middle school cafeteria.
Plenty of off-street parking.

Small, really nice, young church. Their materials say that they are a "work in progress," and they really want suggestions. I was immediately comfortable. The songs were easy-to-learn praise and worship style - I only knew a couple of them, but the ones I didn't know I picked up very quickly. Unfortunately, there was a power outage at the beginning of the service, but the band adjusted by adding lots of acoustic guitars to make up for the lack of power. By the end of the service power was back, and so were the electric guitars, bass and electronic drums. All the songs were very easy to sing along with: there were no "just for show" songs which was refreshing.

Band set-up: Bass, drums, electric and acoustic guitars. Overall band: Very nice volunteer band led by Pastor Ed Allen, who also plays a mean acoustic guitar. Pleasant vocals by a male and female duo so there were no unreachable notes on the high or low end. The congregation was the choir and it was good.
Would I go back? Yes. Good non-stuffy preaching, nice music, and the greeters made me feel welcome.

Learn more: http://www.gatewaychurch.org
Email: gcc@gatewaychurch.org
Phone: 703-327-2700

Church of the Spirit

Church of the Spirit (directly behind the WalMart and Kohl's in Kingstowne Town Center.)
Kingstowne Community Church
5775 Barclay Drive,
Kingstowne, VA 22315

Services:
Sunday- 9:00 am – Traditional Communion Service (featuring piano, flute and guitar)
11:00 am - House of Spirit Band

Service I attended: Sunday, 11:00, am

Congregation: Mixed ages/races, Caucasian/Hispanic/Black, families, young adults, 30+, middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in an office park complex near Kingstowne Center. Off-street parking. Small, really nice, diverse congregation. They describe themselves as “…a user friendly church for those who have not found a home in more traditional churches.” I was very comfortable, and I think church newbies would be, too. The songs were easy to learn praise and worship style.

Band set-up: Bass, drums, electric and acoustic guitars, keys,trumpet.

Overall band: Wow! Fabulous musicianship. Professional and studio musicians – perhaps some volunteers as well (I wasn’t real clear on that - inquiring minds should ask.) Some of these guys are top-notch studio musicians - they are the best. Low-key and not showy, but GREAT music. Nice vocals. I chatted with one of the guitarists at the end, he let me play his Frankencaster (Danny Gatton-made, unbelievably-superb-pick-ups guitar.) Dang! Now I’m struggling with the sin of desire…

Would I go back? Yes. Good preaching, friendly and diverse congregation, non-showy fab musicians – I’m there!

Learn more: http://www.dovefromabove.org/
Email: cotsva@aol.com
Phone: 703-971-5242

Westgate Chapel

Westgate Chapel, meets at Navy Elementary School, 3500 West Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA
PO Box 710718
Herndon, VA 20171

Services:
Sunday 10:30 am

Congregation: Mixed ages, mostly Caucasian/Asian, mostly 30+ middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in an elementary school near Fair Oaks Mall. Busy Road, but Off-street parking. Small congregation, but very nice and chatty – they are definitely happy to see you. Mission is ACTS “Accepting Others, Caring for needs, Transforming Lives, Sending to Serve.”

Band set-up: No band! Lyrics projected onto screen, use of video, nice and well–run portable sound system

Overall band: Off-the-shelf cds with congregational singing. Believe it or not, I loved this set-up! There was no one to gaze upon, no stage-presence or musician-ego issues. It was pure worship with great singing straight from the heart. Mainstream contemporary praise and worship in style. Those whom the spirit moved were encouraged to dance or sway – but in the back of the room, where they wouldn’t detract from the worship. Pastor is a musician and very supportive of independent Christian musicians – the day I visited he introduced a young Christian artist who was visiting (and also mentioned that he had a CD he was selling in a non-pushy way. )

Would I go back? Yes. Their neat, low-budget concept of presenting contemporary worship without a band is laudable and very well-done. I was very glad to have started my church visits here- I felt commissioned by this congregation, even though I had never met any of them before!

Learn more:
http://www.westgatechapel.net
Email: info@westgatechapel.net
Phone: 703-447-5326

Destiny Church

Destiny Church, Meets at Ball's Bluff Elementary School - 821 Battlefield Parkway, NE - Leesburg, VA

Services:
Sunday 10:00 am

Congregation: Mixed ages, mostly Caucasian, mostly 30+ middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in a new elementary school in the new suburbs of Leesburg. Lots of off-street parking. May be using the portable church system - everything was well-organized and coordinated. Congregation geared towards making visitors feel cherished. Mission is to “help you find what you are looking for…your Destiny.”

Band set-up: Drums, synth, guitars, bass, lead & back-up singers
Lyrics projected onto screen, use of video, really nice portable sound system

Overall band: Very good volunteer band and great singers. Very friendly; I talked gear with one of the guitarists after the service and was treated really well. Mainstream contemporary praise and worship in style – I knew most of the songs. The service I attended seems to be geared towards young families and baby boomers.

Would I go back? Yes. Because they meet in a school, everything gets totally packed up and hauled away after the service, but the musicians were welcoming and unrushed, just like the super-friendly congregation.

Learn more: http://www.destinychurch.info
Email: info@destinynet.net
Phone: 703-777-4700