Iirai Costner

Review of The Rock Church

PARKING/LOCATION: On Sundays, depending on which t...

PARKING/LOCATION: On Sundays, depending on which time you visit, you can get very lucky and park really close, or have to park really far and just walk. Located near Vons, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and other great restaurants in Liberty Station, the church brings in a good stream of business for its neighbors throughout the week, not just on Sundays.

WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME: I imagine someone new to the Rock church or just visiting will feel extremely overwhelmed when they first walk inside. Don't expect it to look very "church-y" because it's more of a building than a typical church where you'd expect to see a huge crucifix hanging on the wall. We've got that too but it's displayed very differently here. ;)

STRAIGHT AHEAD: Past the entrance doors, if the service will be doing a communion that Sunday, you'll notice a table with buckets filled with little communion cups (of grape juice and a wafer). Grab one if you plan on attending service. Past that, you'll immediately be standing inside the building's lobby and welcome/reception area. Behind this welcome/reception area are the elevators which can take you to the second and third floors of the sanctuary. (There are also stairs.) Past the elevators on the bottom floor, to your right is the church bookstore, and behind the bookstore is an area to eat at D'Lush. Past that you will be reaching the backside of the church. A nice little park area with astroturf grass, and a playground up top.

TO YOUR LEFT: The main sanctuary. The sanctuary has 2 doorways on the bottom and top floors. If there is worship going on, you can view it from the LCD screens (on the bottom floor) they have hanging against the left wall (in front of the sanctuary), and you'll notice people starting to walk inside, as they are being greeted by an usher/greeter and handed a lesson plan/bulletin. Just before entering the main sanctuary though (you can even ask an usher/greeter) there is a room reserved for nursing moms, and a TV which broadcasts a live feed of the service happening in the sanctuary. Pretty nice and quiet. Gentle area with some soft seats/sofas... changing area, etc.

TO YOUR RIGHT: To your immediate right is the entrance way to the Children's Ministry, where parents can drop off their kids and have them learn what they learn, but at their age level. Plan on coming early if you are thinking of bringing your kids here. Typically, no kids under the age of 5 are allowed in the main sanctuary so plan accordingly. :) Past the bookstore to your right, is the entrance way to the cafeteria area. I haven't been there lately during service, but I used to attend service in the cafeteria area (watching it broadcast live on TV on both sides). Great place to catch service while you eat if you haven't had breakfast or lunch yet. Not sure if this has changed, but if not, there should also be an usher/greeter at the front of this entrance as well. :)

THE EXPERIENCE: The experience is different for everyone. It really depends on you. To get the most out of it, you really want to have an open heart and mind once entering the sanctuary. Don't worry about anyone else around you. This is going to be YOUR time with God. No one else should fit into that equation. Prepare yourself for whatever message the pastor will be teaching that Sunday, and even if you may not believe in God (yet?), know that His presence is everywhere. It wouldn't hurt to ask whoever this God is that's got so many Rock church goers ALIVE IN HIM to "speak" to you through the message that day. Made the decision to follow Jesus? Contact me!