Boldly Contemporary Service
Living Spring Christian Fellowship
9851 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA
714 539-1232
Pastor Jim McGhee
Free Methodist
Mike Overlin: Director - Office of Worship Resources
Serves about 300
Sunday service at 10:00am
This church rocks! Casual dress and informal style. You will hear unusual music textures performed by musicians who play with energy and sensitivity.
Mike Overlin oversees the music and worship. Charismatically oriented. He likes being around good musicians and has attracted a number of fine musicians to this emerging church (guitarists, keyboardists, percussion, bass). He's technologically savvy (knowledgeable with computers, midi, electronic instruments), and has worked in the R & D division of Yamaha Music. He improvises on the sax (acoustic and midi sax), and has worked in Disneyland bands.
Kevin McKelvie, their keyboard person, is a gifted improviser and full-time musician. He freelances around town, has done extensive work at Disneyland as well, and leads the worship in Mike's absence. He's a recently converted, committed, growing Christian.
Knott Ave Christian Church
315 S. Knott Ave
Anaheim, CA 92804
(714 527-5195
Senior Pastor: Floyd Strater
Music Ministries: Stan Endicott
Music Associate: Joe Van Gilder
Serves about 1200+ people
Sunday 9am and 10:30am
The senior pastor, Floyd Strater, is retiring shortly, so the Church will likely be in transition for a time. Stan Endicott and Joe Gilder are friendly, creative, knowledgeable musicians who have worked together at Knott Ave for a decade.
Stan, WASP, singer and keyboardist, does black choir work around the country for Leyton Ford and others when he's away, and has done a lot of arrangements for Maranatha! Music. Joe is one of the finest church pianist/keyboardists in LA. He improvises expertly in pop and gospel styles, writes arrangements, and free lances for Maranatha! Music, etc. Come and see Stan and Joe at work!
Stan and Joe are up on the latest choruses and worship songs. They often write their own arrangements-- utilizing bass, guitar, two synths, and percussion. At Knott you will hear interesting arrangements, and contemporary songs and choruses with good lyrics. Stan is a creative leader with passion. This is an intergenerational church with a wide range of age groups present. Slide projection of lyrics. Located a 10 minute drive from Knotts Berry Farm.
Parkcrest Christian Church
5950 Parkcrest Street
Long Beach, CA 90808-2199
(562) 421-9374 FAX (562) 421-4928
Email: parkcrest@earthlink.net
Senior Pastor: Roger Beard
Non-denominational, Independent
Music: Jim Schorr
Sunday Services at 8am, 9:30am, and 11am
Serves 100+ people
Contemporary worship style. Some country music influences. Good congregational involvement.
Rock Harbor Church
(meets at Costa Mesa Senior Center)
695 W 19th St
Costa Mesa, CA
949.548.2600
FAX 949.8826
Worship Pastor: Todd Proctor
Serves 2000.
Sunday services 9am, 11:15am, 7pm
This Gen-X church has grown dramatically. Don't be late--expect a packed, enthusiastic house. Average age is 27 years: most worshipers fall between between 20 and 35 years old. Lots of children. Large number of college students. Rock Harbor is "Post Modern" in style. A church plant from The Mariner's Church in Irvine. Young staff. Outreach oriented. Casual.
Cutting-edge worship. Todd Proctor (early 30's), a skilled worship leader, has been the worship pastor for five years. Prior to that he led worship concerts around the country for 7 years. He firmly believes in the teaching role of music and worship, and stops and talks between songs occasionally, reinforcing their meaning. Todd has been active in mentoring a number of young worship leaders in the LA/Orange Country area. Biola University graduate.
The music is loud and rock oriented: three singers, 2 guitars, bass, drums, percussion, synth). No choir. Todd uses pads and drones while playing the Ensonig synth. One Sunday several stanzas of the hymn
"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" were sung using only a single drone chord (tonic). The first worship set in the service is usually about 10 minutes long, the second set (after the sermon) is about 20 minutes long. There is an air of anticipation as the service starts. The congregational singing is good--the worship seems to be one of the big draws of this church. Large, well-developed, production/technology team. Parking is a problem.
Mission Hills Church
24162 Alicia Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949.586.4510
FAX 949.586.0709
Senior Pastor: Jay Marshall
Pastor of Worship: Habib Bardowell
Director of music: Chris Jagich
Sunday services at 8:15 and 11:15am
Friday service at 6pm.
Serves about 1200
Contemporary soft rock but with diversity of style. Senior pastor Marshall and
Habib are on the same page in regard to worship. Habib is a skilled pianist and
song writer with a pronounced lyrical style. He has produced about 5 CDs of his
own original music. Gained experience in secular rock recording prior to his
conversion. He's one of the more unusual, creative worship leaders in the LA
area. His worship leading has a strong spiritual focus. You can sense the Holy
Spirit working during the worship.