What to Expect

At Montana Ave. Nazarene, we understand that it can be a challenge to enter a church for the first time.

What will the worship service be like?
What about care for my children?
How will people be dressed, etc.

These are questions that enter our minds as we think about going to church for the first time.
Here’s what you will meet when you come as a guest to Montana Avenue for the first time:

Walking Through the Door

There will be an individual or couple there to meet you. We call them our greeters—they’re a little bit like the people at Wal-Mart, except they won’t be wearing a blue vest! They are there to greet you personally and to hand you what we call our “bulletin,” which is simply a guide to the church’s activities and important information for coming events. They can point you in the right direction for all of the essentials—where is the sanctuary, classrooms, restrooms, etc.

What about Dress?

You’ll find a little bit of everything at Montana Avenue! There is no specific “dress code” that people must follow, although we encourage simple modesty. You’ll find some who like to dress up (shirt, tie, dresses) some who are “business casual” (khakis and polos), and some who are very casual (jeans and T-shirts) and just about everything in between.

What is Sunday School?

Most churches offer a way for people to learn about and grow in the Christian faith, and Montana Avenue is no exception! At 9:30 on Sunday mornings, we offer small-group classes for all ages, beginning from young children all the way through senior adults, in a format we call “Sunday School.” In this intimate setting, you’ll find the opportunity to learn about the Bible and get to know other people in a more relaxed environment.

What about Worship Service?

You’ll find that we worship God in many ways. There will be a variety of music, ranging from some of the classic hymns of Christianity through worship songs that are currently being written. In current church language, we call this a “blended” style of worship, where we mix together the best of the great heritage of Christian music with songs that are more modern. Our worship leader will guide the congregation and worship band through this time, and you’ll find that people here love to sing! In many services there is also what we call “special music,” which most often is an individual, duet, or trio which sings worship music they have practiced in advance. On the bigger holidays (Christmas and Easter), there is a choir who presents a musical appropriate to the season.
There are a variety of prayers, and once per month, we celebrate Holy Communion, using grape juice. You do not need to be a member of our church to participate in Communion, but we do ask that you be in relationship with Jesus as your Savior. There is no pressure to participate.
The pastor will present a sermon of approximately ½ hour. The message will be based on the Bible, and will seek to apply the timeless truth of Scripture to our everyday lives.

What about Giving Money?

Yes, there is an opportunity to give. You will notice that there is an offering box in the foyer. There is also the opportunity to give online through the Givelify app. Please know that you are under no obligation to give. You are also welcome to give if you choose! Those who are members and regular attenders at Montana Avenue do practice the biblical principle of “tithing,” which means that they give 10% of their income to provide for the financial support of the church. We take pride in not only giving to support our local congregation, but also in knowing that nearly 20% of our giving goes to support various ministries outside of our church--not only here in greater Cincinnati, but around the world!

What about Child Care?

Children and teens are priority for us! On Sunday morning, we have age-specific classes and groups for your child, ranging from baby nursery clear through high school. Each of our workers is carefully screened and has undergone a background check. These capable and gifted individuals do care for your child, and will do their best to create an atmosphere where your child will be touched with the love of Jesus.