What To Expect

COC has ample parking in the lower and upper lots. If you have difficulty with inclines, we suggest you park in any of the grass areas in the lower lots. Handicap and visitors' spaces are available to the right of the main building.

Once you park, proceed to the main church building. Signs are posted all over campus offering directions to various locations, and there is a welcome area inside the foyer. Around the foyer, greeters can guide you to where you'd like to go. The campus is cozy and people are friendly, so you can ask anyone for help. Find our online campus map before you come, if you'd like to get acquainted early. 

The entire service is spoken in English, though our services are filled with people of all ethnicities.

Worship services are about 80 minutes long. They consist of music, announcements, greeting time, prayer, offering, occasional presentations highlighting different ministries, communion (first Sunday of the month), and preaching. Sermons last between 30-50 minutes depending on the order of worship for that morning. 

The overall goal is that COC sets a table (different worship elements) at which you can come feast (engage in your own personal worship with God).

Most people say it feels like a family when they visit. It's a friendly and casual environment. There are greeters at the door who will offer you a bulletin and a "hello" and we take time before, between, and during services to greet one another.

We will not ask you to stand for introduction. It is our hope a member of the church will personally say hello and get to know you before or after the service or during our greeting time. There are visitor bags in the foyer that have more information about our church. If you need help finding one before or after service, please ask a greeter or usher.

The range of attire is from casual to business. Although you will see some people in suits, you'll find many more in shorts, jeans or whatever else they feel comfortable wearing. Come as you are.

Giving money to the church is an act of personal worship. We don't expect you as a visitor to us to give money unless that is what you want to do to worship God who gives us all things. You are free to give money when the offering plate is passed, but it is perfectly acceptable for you to just enjoy the service and get to know us as we get to know you as well.

We have something for children of all ages: nursery (birth-2 years), Sunday school (preK-6th grade), and Youth Group (7th-12th grade). Youth Group meets at 9 a.m. before the worship service and youth join their parents in the worship service. Children birth - 6th grade have nursery or class during the worship service to free their parents to focus on the service. Please check class pages or our Sunday Schedule for specifics. Only loving, kind, and background-checked workers oversee the care, safety, and teaching of your child. The first time you leave your child in the nursery, you will need to register. We use an industry standard child check-in system from planning center to make sure we know you and your child.  

 

We love music at COC. Though Sundays vary, the music is usually presented by a worship team that consists of guitars, drums, bass, piano, and several vocalists. The lyrics to the songs are presented on a large screen.

Since we do not think any genre or era of music is "more spiritual" than any other, our musical selections range from classic hymns to contemporary praise songs. In an effort to always be grateful for the gifts that God has given, we often introduce new songs or arrangements. Even if you don't know the song or if we do it a little differently than you are used to, feel free to jump in with us or just sit and listen. 

Some people do raise their hands and some don't. If you want to lift your hands or clap in praise to God, you are encouraged to do so, but certainly not required.

The worship director will generally prompt the congregation to stand for congregational singing (we do our best singing standing up). However, we're aware that everyone has different needs. You are always welcome to sit or stand as it is beneficial for you. If standing is more comfortable, even during the sermon, you are welcome to stand in the rear of the Worship Center. The service is also broadcast through a monitor in the Family Center (adjacent to the main sanctuary) if you would be more comfortable in that space. If you need a quiet, private space to soothe an infant, there is also a video sermon feed available in our nursing mothers' room near the nursery. 

Our senior pastor Kris Ullman teaches most regularly, and other pastors/leaders preach in his absence. With a few topical exceptions, the sermons are always based on a passage in the Bible and are expositional in nature--they explain the Scripture and help you apply it to your life. You can listen to past sermons online if you'd like to get a feel for the preaching or catch up on the current series.

You don't have to bring a Bible or take notes, though both are highly encouraged. We have Bibles stacked in the foyer that you may borrow. Feel free to take one, or ask an usher to get one for you. A sermon outline is provided in the bulletin for note-taking and usually will be displayed on the main screen as well. 

We take communion on the first Sunday of the month. Communion is a time for the congregation to pray, confess sin to God, and worship Him. We give thanks to God for Jesus' death and resurrection and His saving us by grace through faith.

A pastor or church leader gives a short devotional and prayer time to center our hearts on Christ. Ushers pass individual portions of gluten-free bread and juice among the congregation while there is a time of musical worship. After the elements have been passed out, the devotional leader will come forward, pray, and we will take the elements together. 

COC's communion is open, meaning you do not need to be a member of our church to partake. As long as you are a member of the global body of Christ, you are welcome to share in the Lord's Supper.