Worshiping with the Anaheim Vineyard: The Emergence of Contemporary Worship (The Church at Worship: Case Studies from Christian History

by Andy Park, Lester Ruth, Cindy Rethmeier

THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP  is a series of documentary case studies of specific worshiping communities from around the world and throughout Christian history—case studies that can inform and enrich worship practices today.

This Church at Worship volume tells about the Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship and its remarkable influence on the entire Vineyard movement, which contributed to the renewal of worship in thousands of evangelical churches during the 1970s and 1980s.

In presenting an in-depth look at founding leader John Wimber and the Anaheim Vineyard's early years, Andy Park, Lester Ruth, and Cindy Rethmeier tell an inspiring story of revival and renewal among people desperately hungering for a deeper knowledge of God. Enhanced with interviews, sermon excerpts, sidebars, timelines, and photos,  Worshiping with the Anaheim Vineyard  addresses core issues for all Christians desiring to know and worship God more intimately.

Genres: Theology

162 pages, Paperback

Published December 21, 2016

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Reviews

[Todd Miles · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some interesting information on the beginnings of John Wimber's Vineyard involvement, but the book was a hagiography with no critical interaction at all. For a book subtitled, "the Emergence of Contemporary Worship," I am surprised there was just a little reflection on the Jesus People movement. The book was plagued by redundancy and the sermon transcripts were difficult to read - very little biblical exposition (just Wimber's free flow of thought) and the editor's marginal notes were very generous with regard to what Wimber was trying to say.

[Nick Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine today, but there was a time where the international religious movement known as The Vineyard started in people's living rooms, and then a masonic lodge hall, then a school gymnasium. Within five years, the fellowship experienced explosive growth, and helped propel John Wimber to national prominence.

Prior books have been written about their move from interdenominational evangelical worship to one with a focus on charismatic healing. This book is different; it reads like a textbook on how they worshiped (that is, how the music ministry chose songs, and performed them for congregation). Some extremely interesting insights, considering how different it was forty years ago, to today.

In short, in the eye of the charismatic hurricane (and I mean this as a sincere compliment), they combined a worship style that was contemporary in nature, but ... had ... no ... lyrics. That means, no hymnals, no songbooks, no songsheets, and no overhead projection systems (nor transparencies). The chairs were organized so that there was a little podium in the center, and there was a contemporary music team that employed all the trappings (electric guitar, keyboard, percussion), but they did not play for entertainment. They focused on simple songs, one that people can pick up on a listen or two. They focused on songs of intimacy and personal healing "Don't ever think that you're worthless" is such a lyric. They got away with a song called "Wounded Soldier" with the chorus ("I am loved, I am accepted.").

I believe this tri-fold goal of: (1) easy songs/no lyric sheets, (2) contemporary sound, (3) focus on vertical songs of Song-of-Solomon-intimacy led to something attractive for the many baby boomers (then in their twenties/early thirties) who had emerged from the California-based Jesus Movement and were looking for a next step in their lives. The focus on "Power Evangelism/Third Wave" (miracles) came later.

What's missing from this textbook (and it reads like such, with helpful notes on the side), is a counterpoint, particularly from someone like David Murrow, whose book "Why Men Hate Going to Church" would look upon such lyrics--brand new then--and find them intimate to a fault; that the touchy-feely nature of such songs rubbed off on men in a wrong way, making them feel emasculated.

Then again, it might be a generational thing. After all, many baby boomers carry emotional scars due to their upbringing, and due to the choices their generation had collectively made. It has been over twenty years since Wimber's passing (who incidentally had spent only
twenty years in the service of that ministry). Since then, the interest in the Vineyard has waned a little, and reading about current trends in Vineyard churches has led to an increase in more traditional forms of divine intimacy, such as practicing the Benedictine approach of Lectio Divina. One of its most prominent members left the Vineyard to become ordained an Anglican minister, only to rise to the position of bishop.

Still, as a music minister and occasional worship songwriter, it fascinates me how they created an approach for worship as lightning in a bottle, for the times they were associated with, and wrote songs ("Change My Heart O God", "Spirit Song", etc) that are still sung today. As a member of a liturgical denomination (and as one who has charismatic leanings), it is a vivid reminder of a milieu that had once existed, and perhaps has elements that can be mined for renewal.