Church Review: Five 20

Per the invitation of my friend Tom, lead singer for “A Paradigm Restored“, I visited a more alternative church tonight called “Five 20“. It meets at about 6:30 PM on Sunday evenings in the Icehouse Lounge (650 Main St) on the North end of the Strip right up by Fremont .  These are some of things you can expect when visiting…

• Parking was not much of a problem. I found a spot right away, and although the lot is seems small, there’s extra parking around back.
• The lights are similar to a regular bar or concert venue. They are dim, but it’s not pitch black.  There’s still enough light to see where you’re going and friends across the room.
• No offering was taken during the service tonight, but there was an open bar. I grabbed a Pepsi, which cost $1.75 and had free refills.  The chicken tenders were also rumored to be quite delicious. The food and drinks give help foster a non-threatening vibe for socializing (ie if you don’t know what to say, ask about the food.  Once you have your food, if you don’t know what to say, take a bite.)
• The music at 5:20 is edgier than the average church in Vegas. The drums aren’t dampered and the bass is strong and clear. The stage lighting is relatively simple, but there are snazzy plasma screens that project the lyrics of songs so people can sing along.
• Five 20 is partnering and building up missional small groups called Intentional Gatherings.  Aaron Snow is a friend I first met through Surgence, and he has been pouring heart and soul into these communities. I look forward to speaking with him more in the coming weeks about fostering Communion throughout the Las Vegas valley.
• Overall, the people were friendly and welcoming, while the atmosphere was comfortable and non-threatening. Even still, the message was challenging as it called people out of self-centeredness to a life of love and service.

~ by sexyreligion on February 18, 2008.