We just moved to Riverside this summer from Kansas City, MO looking for a church home. We visited this church based on our high school son's recommendation from a friend in his class that attends this church. We attended the 11am service. We thought that the "blended" 8 and 9:30 am services may involve older folks with a love of old traditions and hymns that will put us to sleep. And I think we were right. Upon entering the parking lot we were pleased to find a first time guest parking spot. Walking to the building I was disappointed not to see the white corinthian columns described in the church's original biography of the old house in 1955 that was purchased and adapted to the new building. Perhaps I missed it? I was also stared at by elderly people with walkers and wheelchairs and silver hairdos. I was thinking to myself, I hope the 11am service is contemporary because it looks like the seniors were just let out. We made our way to what looked like the entrance after stepping down clumsy stairs to the entry way. One man stood in the small foyer and just looked at us. I greeted him and told him we are new and asked where do we go for worship? He politely said "down the hall on your left." That was it and we proceeded down the hall. The foyer was lackluster with a oder of must and mildew. The carpet was puke green and the furnishings looked as something from a funeral home in the 80s and overdone with Christmas trees. The auditorium was dressed standard with church pews with faded cloth cushions and the ever-dreaded Baptist Hymnal that so many churches have done away with to date (or should - and I only say this not out of doing away with the classic hymn but changing the way we sing and worship. Better to look up and glance at a screen for queues of the words than bury our face in a book). I was pleased to find that the 11 am service did not even reference the old white Baptist Hymnal. It had big screens as most mega churches would have for singing and videos and a large stage for bands and choirs. The contemporary band members were young and hip and were warming up, testing the mics, and such. Soon they began a Christmas song which was nice but immediately delve into the dreaded announcements. It was sad really to see a church that has relished in Riverside since 1955 to still be behind the times in organized church worship. The music was okay, not great, and the sermon was organized not polished. The pastor seemed genuine enough, but tired. Using old outlines from the internet and speaking in typical church terminology that only seasoned church goers could interpret. The music, announcements, sermon, surroundings and total organization of the experience was dated and lackluster. I can't speak to the church body, but they seemed friendly enough. However, they should take a look at themselves in the mirror and update themselves to the 21st century and start exercising their spiritual fortitude and ask God to show them how they can make a better first impressions as a church to suspecting families and new believers. We most likely won't be back. . read more
