What to expect Sunday.
Your first Sunday at New Hope.
Pull up the driveway, walk through the doors, and follow this.
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Pull into the lot.
Our parking team will be in the lot directing traffic and waving you toward open spaces. First-time visitor spots are reserved near the main doors, closest to the sanctuary entrance. If those are full, the second row works fine.
See the campus map -
Come in through the front doors.
Pick up a bulletin as you walk into the small foyer at the front of the sanctuary. It has the day's order of service, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
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Check in the kids at New Hope Kids.
New Hope Kids meets during the 9:30 and 11 services in the Children's Building, between the parking lot and The Bridge. Same content at both, so families pick whichever service works. The kids team will walk you through check-in. Check-in opens at 9:15 and 10:45. Plan an extra ten minutes the first week so we can set up your family. New Hope Kids is not offered at the 8:00 service.
More about New Hope Kids -
Drop teenagers at Student Ministries.
Junior high and high school students meet together in The Bridge during the 11 AM service. Worship for parents continues in the sanctuary at the same hour. Expect real teaching and a few well-loved leaders who will learn your student's name quickly.
More about Student Ministries -
Find a seat. Worship. Listen.
Sit anywhere. The back rows are easiest if you want a quick way in or out. We sing a few songs together, the band leads from the stage, and lyrics show on TVs at the front of the sanctuary. A pastor offers a short welcome and prayer, then Pastor Mark or one of the teaching pastors opens the Bible.
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Respond as you'd like.
Some people pray. Some take notes. Some sit quietly. There is no required response. An elder, pastor, or volunteer is available after the service if you have questions, need prayer, or want to talk. If you've decided to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step we'd walk through with you.
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Pick up the kids. Stick around if you'd like.
Same place you dropped them, in the Children's Building. The kids team will walk you through pickup. Outside, the pavilion fills up, and the free coffee and tea are still out. The pastors are usually near the front of the sanctuary or just outside the foyer. If you want to introduce yourself, this is the easiest moment. If you're ready to head home, that's fine too. We're glad you came.
Why we wrote a step-by-step guide.
Most first-time visitors to a church are nervous about the same handful of things. Where to park. Where the kids go. Whether someone is going to make them stand up. Whether the music is going to be too loud or too sleepy. Whether they are dressed wrong.
Almost none of those questions are about Jesus. They are logistics. So we put the logistics on this page in plain order. The Bible part is what we do for the next 60 minutes once you are sitting down.
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”
Psalm 122:1
A few more practical notes:
- Families are welcome in the service. The back rows are easy to slip out from if you need a moment with a little one.
- If you arrive late, the back rows usually have open seats. Slip in. Nobody minds.
- Free public Wi-Fi is open to the community. See our internet access page.
- If you have questions during the week, the office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Call us or email the office.
Things people ask before their first Sunday.
How long is the service?
About 60 minutes, with worship through music, a short pastoral welcome and prayer, and a message from Scripture.
What should I wear?
Whatever feels right to you. Most people wear jeans or business casual. A few wear a tie. You won't stand out either way.
Will I be singled out as a visitor?
No. We won't ask first-time guests to stand or fill out a form on the spot. If you'd like to introduce yourself, we'd love to meet you at the sanctuary doors after the service.
Will I be asked to give money?
No. We don't pass an offering plate. If you'd like to give, there are drop boxes on campus, and you can give online at our Give page. As our guest, you're under no obligation. We're glad you're here.
Is there a livestream?
Yes. The 9:30 AM service is livestreamed every Sunday on our livestream page. Past messages are in the sermon archive.
Who can I ask about accessibility on campus?
Call the office at (559) 297-7362 before your visit and they can answer questions about getting into each building. The website has its own accessibility statement, covering screen readers, keyboard navigation, and how to report a barrier.
Do you take communion?
We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month. Anyone who is following Jesus is welcome to participate. Communion isn't passed through the rows. When it's served, you can walk to the front or step into the foyer to take the elements at your own pace.
What about coffee?
Yes. Free coffee and tea in the pavilion starting 30 minutes before each service and continuing afterward. You can take it with you into the sanctuary.
How do I follow up after my visit?
Fill out a Connect Card online. Someone from our team will reach out. No mass mailings, no automated email series. One person, one note.
To compellingly communicate to everyone whom God provides us the opportunity to serve, the all-absolute sufficiency of Jesus Christ who meets our every need.
Anchored in Scripture.
- Scripture
- Trinity
- Christ
- Salvation
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We confess one God in three persons, the deity, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and salvation as a free gift of God's grace received by faith.
Read the full statement“If it’s not in the Bible, you won’t hear it from me.”
4620 E. Nees Ave, Clovis, CA 93611
Easy to find. Easy to park. Open in Google Maps for turn-by-turn from where you are. We're on Nees Avenue between Clovis and Sunnyside. The parking lot entrance is off Preuss Drive, the small street on the west side of campus.
New Hope Community Church
4620 E. Nees Ave, Clovis, CA 93611
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Once you're on campus.
The campus has four buildings. The Barn is at the north end, nearest the parking lot. The Children's Building sits south of it, between the parking lot and The Bridge. The Bridge sits north of the Sanctuary, and the Sanctuary fronts Nees Avenue at the south end. Free coffee and tea are in the pavilion, the covered space between the Sanctuary and The Bridge, starting 30 minutes before each service. Want a feel for the place before Sunday? See photos of New Hope.