Welcome! We’re glad you’re considering visiting! Since visiting a church for the first time can be nerve-racking, having an idea of what to expect can help.
Services feature contemporary music with a range of musicians. The Bible teaching is relevant and verse-by-verse, as God’s word is infallible and engaging in any circumstance.
Come as you are! Feel free to dress up or dress casual. No matter your age, gender, nationality, or social standing or any other way we describe ourselves, you’re welcome here! Bikers are always welcome, too!
Get to know someone after service! The href=”http://calvaryocny.org/ministries/cafe”>café is always serving up coffee and plenty of tasty treats.
A lot of people get their ideas about who Jesus is from TV, movies, past church experience, Sunday school, history books, or maybe from just hearsay. Having ideas of who He is isn’t the same as knowing Him. The only way to get to know Jesus is to believe what the Bible says about Him.
“But who do you say that I am?”
Luke 9:20
Our emphasis on teaching through the whole Bible is a staple of Calvary Chapels. The atmosphere is academic as we study through the Bible, book-by-book. We desire the full counsel of God to direct our lives and we believe there is no better way to know His desire for us than to study His Word so that we may show ourselves approved.
So grab a Bible and head on over to CCOC and let’s see what plans the Lord has for you!
The worship team is led by Michael Hill.
More on the Worship Team
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A nursing mother’s area, nursery, and toddler and infant care are also available during service. You may also sit in the cafe with your children if you are unsure about leaving them in the classroom for the service.
A group of dedicated and loving volunteers run the children’s ministry with your and your child’s needs in mind.
During service, if your child needs attention, the children’s ministry volunteers will put your number into the on call system, which will display your wristband number on display in the sanctuary and in the cafe. The security team is also on guard throughout the day, monitoring all activities for safety and security reasons. God values your child, and so do we!
Many have described Calvary Chapel as a “middle ground” in Protestantism and that might be correct, but more accurately it is simply a “balanced” approach to learning about and worshipping God. It’s balanced because while we consider spiritual gifts to be existent, active and necessary for the church today, we believe that they must be exercised “decently and in order” as we are instructed in the New Testament. It is balanced because while we consider worship to be an important and necessary expression of the believer’s relationship with Christ, we also believe that the verse-by-verse teaching of God’s Word must be the focus every time His people gather.
Calvary Chapel actually started as a small body of 25 believers in the late 1960’s pastored by Chuck Smith. That tiny church continued to grow and subsequently birthed many churches throughout the United States. Now there are over 1500 affiliated ministries worldwide.
This is not surprising, since he’s the most famous person in all of human history. More songs have been sung to him, artwork created of him, and books written about him than anyone who’s ever lived. Even our calendar is based off his life, dividing time before and after him.
Naturally, someone this important will have fans and foes.
And a lot of people have an idea of who Jesus is.
They may get this idea from TV or movies, maybe from past church experience and Sunday School felt boards, from history books, or maybe from just hearsay.
But just because we have ideas of who Jesus is doesn’t mean we actually know Jesus.
We’re all about Jesus—and the only way to get to know Jesus is to understand what the Bible says about him, which includes what he said about himself.
We’ve all been a bad friend at some point.
Maybe we’ve taken advantage of friends or been short with them or simply not been there when needed. And we’ve probably experienced that as well.
But Jesus is a good friend. In fact, he’s a perfect friend. And even when we’re horrible friends to him, he’s always a good friend to us.
Jesus is such a good friend and we’re such bad friends, that he knew the only way to save our friendship was to die for our sins—and he did so willingly.
Because of Jesus and his death on the cross, we have the opportunity daily to become better friends to Jesus and with Jesus.
And as we do so, we learn some amazing things about him.
As a good friend, Jesus loves us better than we could ever love him, love others—or even love ourselves.
As a good friend, Jesus guides us, showing us how to live and how to love in a way that brings glory to God and fulfillment in life.
As a good friend, Jesus forgives us our sin though we don’t deserve it—sacrificing his life so that we can live.
As a good friend, Jesus is fun, having enjoyed parties and time with his friends.
As a good friend, Jesus listens. And not only that, he prays for us when he hears our prayers. He cares about what is happening in our lives.
Jesus is truthful. He speaks the truth about himself, about us, and about the world.
Being truthful, Jesus taught that he is God, that he came down from heaven to be a man among his creation, that he was sinless, that he would die on the cross for our sins, that he forgives sin, and that he is the only way to heaven.
Being truthful, Jesus taught that we are sinners, that it’s impossible on our own to be friends with God because of our sin, and that the only way to be friends with God is through him.
Being truthful, Jesus taught that this world is broken and needs fixing. Jesus promised to return and fix this broken world. On that day, there will be no more tears, no more sickness, no more pain. Creation will be good again through Jesus.
Jesus is powerful about whom the Bible speaks of as a King and conquerer.
Being powerful, Jesus is the King of all creation—and he’s establishing his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. This means that nothing is out of the influence of Jesus and everything is subject to him.
Being powerful, Jesus has conquered Satan, sin, and death. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from death in victory. Today, he is alive and well! And Jesus is coming back to forever destroy evil.
For those with faith in Jesus, there is no need to fear as Satan has no power over us, sin is no longer in control ofus and our sins are forgiven, and death is not the end but the beginning of life after this life with Jesus.
Being powerful, Jesus leads his church through the Holy Spirit. He calls leaders and empowers them to lead well. He brings people to him out of sin and shame into life and forgiveness. He creates community in which people serve one another and the world.
Being powerful, Jesus is generous. He gives forgiveness and grace freely to all who ask, having given his own life to provide it. He also gives us his Holy Spirit, who empowers us as Christians to live in Jesus’ victory and strength.
If you want to learn more about Jesus, the Bible is a great place to start. The following are some parts of the Bible that speak of Jesus. If you want to dig deeper, we encourage you to start reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the book of Romans.
Jesus is truthful:
Mark 14:61-64, John 8:58-59, John 10:30-33, Colossians 2:8-15, Hebrews 4:15, Philippians 2:1-11, John 10:17, Luke 24:44-49, Matthew 9:6, Luke 23:34, 1 John 1:9, John 14:6, Romans 1:16, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Hebrews 5:9-10, Revelation 7:10, Revelation 21, Romans 8:18-25, Acts 4:11-12
When you’re here, please feel free to ask a Pastor or anyone with a CCOC lanyard for help! We’re glad to answer any of your questions, comments, concerns, or just show you around.
Should you ever have any questions about Calvary Chapel, please contact us!
If you’re in need of prayer (who isn’t?), put in a prayer request!
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