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Q. Why do Christians need to pray?

A. Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. And also because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for these gifts and thanking God for them.  —Heidelberg Catechism, Q/A 116

We need prayer like we need air. Prayer is a treasure of the Christian life that we value. As we pray, the Holy Spirit brings us into communion with God and fills our longing for God. Prayer brings us closer to God, the Creator of the universe! We have the privilege to speak to Him who is in charge of everything. Prayer is powerful.

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” —Matthew 18:20

The power of prayer is increased in community. We are strengthened when we join together to pray. A rich prayer life is a sign of spiritual health. We know that our Heavenly Father listens to the prayer of His children.

At Ocean View, we are committed to keeping a community prayer vigil. We gather twice every month on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7:00pm to pray. Check the Calendar for our next meeting. Our meetings are open. We invite everyone to come pray with us. You do not need to pray aloud to participate. You can join the prayer by saying, “Amen.”

Come magnify the name of Jesus Christ with us. During our prayer meetings, we pray for our church family. We pray for God’s work in the Ocean View neighborhood. We pray for sister churches, especially the persecuted church around the world. We pray for our missionaries. We pray for national and local leaders. We pray for spiritual revival in this country. We intercede for the needs of those affected by major crises in our world. We seek God’s strength collectively and pray for God’s coming kingdom.

Regular corporate worship is an essential way for us to connect with God. To effectively grow as followers of Jesus, we need the community of fellow believers to support us. We need one another! Small groups at Ocean View exist to help us grow as mature disciples of Jesus. Small groups are an environment where we deepen our relationship with God and each other. There are several small groups at Ocean View. We encourage you get involved with one that seems right for you!

Men’s Life: a Bible study for men meets 9:00am-10:30am on Saturdays, twice a month. We typically work through a chapter of a book and go over a range of different topics. The group is open to men of all ages, to new and believers alike. We meet in the church library, unless announced otherwise.

Women’s Bible Study: this small group for women meets 9:00am-10:30am on Saturdays, twice a month. We work our way through books of the Bible in a casual atmosphere. Study guides are available for those who join. The group is open to women of all ages, and newcomers are especially welcome. No previous Bible knowledge necessary. 

Wellspring: this small group meets once a month on Fridays at 7:30pm. We share a meal and spend time singing, studying and praying. 

If you’re thinking about becoming a member at Ocean View CRC, that’s great! Depending on where you are in your faith journey, the process will look a little different.

Becoming a church member for the first time

You’ve recently become a Christian or have never been a member of a church before. Then becoming a member at Ocean View will have four main steps. First, we invite you to speak to the pastor about the next class for new members. This class covers the basics of Christian faith, Reformed distinctives and the mission of our congregation. The second step is an interview with our elders. This is an opportunity for the elders to learn your story and faith in Jesus Christ. The third step is public profession of your faith and celebration of your joining. This is typically done during one of our morning worship services. If you have never been baptized, you would be baptized at this time. The fourth step is getting involved and growing as a disciple!

Transferring from another church

If you’ve been a member elsewhere, we are happy to receive you into our fellowship. We ask that your previous church sends a letter stating that you were a member in good standing and they send you with their blessing. You would then have a conversation with our elders about joining.

Transferring from another Christian Reformed or Presbyterian church

If you are a member of another Christian Reformed congregation or a church from a sister denomination, the elders would love to meet with you to discuss your transfer of membership.

Our ongoing ministry as a church is done in ministry teams. Each team leads in different aspects of ministry. Our four standing ministry teams are listed below. If you would like to connect with any of the teams, please contact the committee chairperson.

1. Buildings and Grounds

2. Evangelism

3. Safe Church

4. Worship