Seeker Sensitive Worship Service

Saddleback Valley Christian Church

1 Saddleback Parkway

Lake Forest, CA

(714) 581-5683

Web site: www.saddleback.com

Senior Pastor: Rick Warren

Pastor of Magnification (Worship): Rich Muchow

Saturday services at 5pm and 7pm

Sunday services at 8:45am and 11am

Serves 8,000+ people.

Mega church or 15,000! A music staff of over 25 people.  See their web site for an overview, and for worship accompaniment books, orchestrations, lead sheets, and Cds. Although this is a humungous church, I've observed that Rich Muchow takes a personal interest in his musicians--he's very pastoral. Refreshing!  Bob Barrett writes the music arrangements for the worship orchestra (consisting of about twenty pieces).  A number of the musicians are studio musicians: brass section, sax section, strings, flute, clarinet, tympani. Bob Barrett, who taught for many years at Dick Groves commercial music school, writes in a variety of music styles--Latin Jazz, country, rock, and pop ballads.  Under the materials section at worshipinfo.com three of his books for understanding the worship band are reviewed.  They also have children's choir programs involving about 500 children.

Saddleback sponsors a worship conference almost yearly which is well attended.

Dr. Rick Warren has written the best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Church".  The publisher, Zondovan books expected the book to sell between 20,000 and 40,000 copies.  Sales today are near the 1 Million mark.

This church baptizes about 1500 new converts each year!