In the spirit

* Address: 1885 Anaheim St., Costa Mesa

* Phone: (949) 548-7161

* Denomination: Church of the Nazarene

* Year established: 1942

* Service times: 9:30 a.m. for Sunday worship, 11 a.m. Sunday school

for all ages and 6 p.m. spiritual growth classes. Community prayer time

is held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. A Spanish-speaking congregation also

meets weekly, with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., morning worship at 11

a.m., and a praise service at 5 p.m.

* Senior pastor: Dale Fitch

* Size of congregation: 50

* Makeup of congregation: People of various ethnic backgrounds and of

all ages

* Child care: Children are welcome to stay with their parent(s) or

they may attend children’s church if they are between the ages of 6 and

12. Nursery care is provided as needed.

* Type of worship: Sunday morning worship focuses on praise and coming

together as the body of Christ to allow people to experience the presence

of God. Services are allowed to flow in the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday evening, meetings combine a mixture of Bible studies, movies,

fellowship and fun. Wednesday evenings are dedicated to praying for the

church, the community and the nation.

* Type of sermon: Messages are intended to instruct, challenge and

encourage the congregation to be the body of Christ--to live and act in a

way that brings glory to God and helps others understand how much God

loves them.

* Outreach programs: Church members strive to meet the needs of people

while introducing them to Jesus Christ. The congregation is in the

process of evaluating new ministries that will accomplish both. Members

are seeking suggestions from the community regarding ways in which they

might, as a congregation, be an asset to the community. Members hope to

be better citizens as they make an effort to be and live like Jesus.

* Church design: The church is, project by project, being remodeled

and landscaped by the congregation. Much of this work has been completed.

* Mission statement: Our purpose is to worship God, win people of all

ages to Jesus Christ, build up their faith in God and send them out to be

Christ’s servants. In addition, we desire to create an atmosphere where

being a servant of others is the norm.

* Interesting note: This Sunday concludes a series on the second

coming of Christ. In the evening, there will be an outdoor gospel concert

featuring several gospel groups, including The Harrisons, The Bravos and

Rekindled. Each of these groups is well known in Southern California

gospel music venues. They will perform in the church parking lot from 6

to 8 p.m.

-- Compiled by Michele M. Marr