Vineyard Christian Church has worshiped at this location for over 25 years. We are a New England community church, not affiliated with any denomination. Our worship is simple and non-liturgical with a Lutheran flavor. On a typical Sunday you’ll find about 40–50 people. Many have been here a long time, so the community is close, unpretentious, and genuinely welcoming. We love visitors, and we see quite a few throughout the year.
WHO WE ARE Our congregation is mostly from Rindge and nearby towns. People come from Lutheran, (Apostolic Lutheran, Finnish immigrant tradition common in our area), Catholic, and Baptist backgrounds—as well as many who didn’t grow up in church. If you’re new, you’ll find the service non-threatening and simple.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON SUNDAYS • Music (10–15 minutes) • Scripture reading and prayer • Another song • Sermon (often from the Gospel reading in the church lectionary) • Communion on the first Sunday of each month Services last about an hour or less.
WHAT WE BELIEVE We confess the faith of the early church and affirm the ecumenical creeds. A clear summary of our doctrine is the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian* Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*The ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole church in the fullness of Christian doctrine.
OUR PASTOR Pastor Caleb Aho and his wife, Kristina, live in Sharon, NH, where they raised their three children. Caleb loves sports, plays golf, and coached baseball for many years in Peterborough.
• Ordination & Service: Ordained by Dr. R. Gary Heikkila and installed as pastor in 2005.
• Work & Ministry: Bi-vocational—he also runs several small businesses in the community. This helps him relate to the everyday pressures church members face.
• Missions: Served with Mercy Ships and Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Togo, West Africa, while attending a Discipleship Training School (DTS) on the hospital ship Anastasis (“resurrection” in Greek). Sailed to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1995, shortly after the end of apartheid. Also served in India and Madagascar with teams sharing the gospel and offering basic medical help. Returned to South Africa in 2016 to teach a one-week class called “New Creation,” highlighting that in Christ we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and called to live with forgiveness, grace, and unity across every background.
• Education: Discipleship Training School (Youth With A Mission) Associate’s (Mount Wachusett Community College) Bachelor’s—completed the M.Div program requirements (Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary, 2002) Th.M. (Boston College School of Theology & Ministry, 2012).
• Teaching Influences: Enjoys early Christian writers (Irenaeus, Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, Athanasius) and often quotes them, along with modern voices such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Rahner, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Sermons usually follow the week’s Gospel reading.
