Viva la Bayside

What a weekend. Not only did I get to ride in the Chrysler Pacifica, but I got to spend the weekend in California and see Lincoln Brewster. Sadly, I did not get to meet him. But I was very, very close.

Saturday was spent in Roseville doing the whole shopping thing. Lots of fun even though I didn't really buy anything. Good for my wallet I suppose. On Sunday Tina, Sunny and I visited Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA. Huge church...Lincoln Brewster is their worship pastor. Here are some things we took away from the experience.

1. We are not that far behind! The main difference between their service and ours? They have way more money for cool toys.
2. We really appreciated their campus. Beautiful would not really be an adequate word. Clean lines, tasteful landscaping, pleasing colors, and oh yeah....plasma televisions in the lobby. Nice. Very nice.
3. I was surprised their auditorium was an all-purpose room. Gym floor, pull out bleachers. They run sound from downstairs in the back of the room....their whole console is on a movable platform that can be rolled to and fro. I think I was expecting more of the Willow model...fixed seating, more lights, bigger room. But this works for them. Again, very cool.
4. I love the sense of community that Bayside obviously works hard to create. The walls in the Auditorium were covered with larger than life photos of "Baysiders" and Bayside events. A very neat move to make the large church, well...seemingly not so large.
5. Everyone I met on their staff was very gracious. Very willing to help, willing to speak with me and answer my questions. Way cool.
6. Seeing Lincoln Brewster live was a definite highlight to the weekend. His band was absolutely killer! It was honestly like listening to a CD. I also appreciated that Lincoln did other people's music as well as his own. It was a four song set, and only two of the songs were his. Of the other two one was a Paul Baloche tune and the other was a Israel Houghton song. It was a great set! Darrel has told me that you have to teach your congregation how to worship. It is so cool to see it in practice. Even though the over-arching principles of worship are the same from church to church...the way in which in happens is different. I was interested to see how Lincoln has taught his Baysiders to worship. It was so neat to watch their mannerisms, their expressions, when they clapped, when they raised their hands, how they responded to where Lincoln was leading them. What a awesome God we serve!

The weekend was a total success. Let's do it again, girls!