Temecula Valley Anglican Fellowship off to Running Start

What a joy today to attend the first service of the brand new Temecula Valley Anglican Fellowship, a church plant of St. John's Anglican Church, Fallbrook.

At least 60 people came this first Sunday and heard special guest clergyman, Rev. Canon George Kovoor, speak from today's lectionary readings about, "How to Pray." It was an effective sermon as evidenced by Fr. Don Kroeger subsequently opting to forego the "Prayers of the People" as printed in the worship bulletin ('79 BCP Rite II) in favor of a spontaneous time of prayers uttered aloud from the congregation.

A three-piece praise band added vibrancy and set a tone of more casual, contemporary worship. For those familiar with somewhat more traditional parent church, St John's Fallbrook, you'll recognize this as an intentional effort to reach out to the young families in the burgeoning Temecula area. For those looking for a traditional liturgy in the context of lively worship and warm fellowship, this appears to be a best-of-both-worlds kind of place.

As a brand new church plant, TVAF is currently meeting in the "freeway-easy" Temecula Assistance League building on Via Montezuma, right off Jefferson (Google Map). The space seems ideal for the near term and could easily accommodate another 30-50 people--so room to grow.

Pray for the clergy and people of St John's Fallbrook and the Temecula Valley Anglican Church that God would bless them with the right people, organizational efficiencies, and a Christ-focused commitment to this new fellowship.

P.S. More pictures to come.
P.S.S I happened to be seated with a reporter from local paper The Californian who took copious notes and spent a good amount of time talking with Fr. Don. Look for an article to appear soon.