Ontario First Church of the Nazarene

Excellent question! Ours is a Christian denomination. We believe in one God, revealed as three Persons -- Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit -- who invites us into personal relationship. For a summary of our core beliefs, click to the beliefs section of our website. To explore this in greater depth, and to see the Bible references which guide those beliefs, visit the Nazarene Articles of Faith. If you would like to know more or discuss what this all means, we'd love to talk with you. Feel free to contact us.

There are parking areas on the north, east (Alameda), and south sides of the building. Park wherever you'd like! The main doors on all three sides are open on Sunday mornings. If you've come to the gym previously for Upward Basketball or another similar event, look for the entrance a little closer to Alameda Drive.

There are a number of ways to get connected. Like any other relationship, simply showing up is the first step. The activities at Ontario First create an environment for getting to know others, in addition to our core goal of getting to know God. More information is available in the ministries section of this website.

Worship services are vital and uplifting times, and generally have the greatest number of people. The focus during these times is very much on God, and generally offers fewer opportunities for interacting with others.

The smaller-group format of Sunday School allows for greater interaction, and participants often enjoy talking about what they're learning, and hearing from others. It's a great place for asking questions and exploring issues from a God-centered perspective.

Like Sunday School, the smaller size of care groups is excellent for developing relationships with each other while journeying together in matters of faith. These tend to be more informal, and vary quite a bit in topic, location, and time. Care groups are people simply "doing life together," and are a particularly excellent place for connecting with others.

Communion ("The Lord's Supper") is one of two sacraments in the Church of the Nazarene. It is done in remembrance of Jesus' crucifixion as the sacrifice which provides forgiveness for sin. The bread is a symbol of Jesus' body, and the juice of his blood, as described in the Bible (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, for example). It is not limited only to Nazarenes. Anyone who believes in God and has accepted Christ's forgiveness is welcome to participate. If you are not yet ready to take this step, you may simply pass the elements to the next person.

There are several individuals serving Ontario First Church of the Nazarene as its pastors.  As pastors, they serve in an official and public leadership role for the church, but ministry should never be limited to staff.  We believe God invites all Christians to join in His mission to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity.  The Bible says in Ephesians 4:11-13, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  We work together!

As Ephesians 4 teaches, pastors and staff provide guidance and direction for the congregation to accomplish our mission.  A volunteer board is also elected each year to provide leadership and wisdom to help the whole organization function effectively together.  Within this structure, many others serve in teaching, hospitality, worship, and all other areas of ministry.

You'll find a variety of dress at OFCN on a Sunday morning, from shorts and flip-flops to more traditional "Sunday best" attire. This isn't a place to pretend to be who you're not, so come as you are. Whatever you wear, you are welcome here!