At 6159 Riverside Drive in Chino, a few blocks south of the 60 Freeway between Mountain Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, First United Reformed Church is known for worship that is God-centered, biblical, and historic. Founded in 1958 and a member of Classis Southwest U.S. in the United Reformed Churches in North America, the congregation pairs a Reformed service with education, mission, and service that extend throughout the week.
Two Sundays for God-Centered Worship
First URC keeps the whole Lord's Day as a time for worship and rest, meeting in the morning at 9:30 a.m. and returning for a distinct evening service at 6 p.m. Both services are held at 6159 Riverside Drive in English. The morning gathering includes an extended order of worship with confession, Scripture reading, preaching, prayer and benediction, while the evening service begins with a song service and has its own sequence of praise, confession and proclamation. The church office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and its telephone number is 909-591-9111.
First-time visitors are encouraged to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. That time allows them to become familiar with the building, use the facilities, meet members and find a seat before the service begins. Greeters are available with bulletins and answers to questions, and there are no assigned seats in the sanctuary. There is no dress code. Some worshipers wear dresses or business suits, while others arrive in jeans and sweatshirts; the church asks only that attire reflect a heart ready to worship with reverence and awe.
Children are treated as full participants in the congregation rather than observers. The church hopes families will keep their children with them for singing, prayer and hearing the preached Word, but nursery care is available for infants through age 3 during both worship services. Coffee fellowship follows worship in the Fellowship Hall. Worshippers who cannot attend in person may use the church's YouTube live stream.
A Liturgy Built as a Conversation
A liturgy at First URC is the order of worship, and the church describes it as a patterned dialogue between God and his people. God calls, the congregation responds, sins are confessed, pardon is assured, the Word is heard, and the people depart to serve. The morning and evening services follow related patterns, but each has its own characteristic emphasis.
- Morning worship: Prelude and praise are followed by the call to worship, God's greeting, an opening song, the service of reconciliation, congregational prayer and the offering.
- The service of the Word: A preparation song leads into Scripture reading, a confessional standard when applicable, the sermon, an application of the sermon and a response song.
- Closing: The service concludes with benediction, a doxology and the congregation's departure.
- Evening worship: The service opens with song, The Church Gathers Together, a call to worship, God's greeting and an opening song, followed by affirmation of the faith and recitation of a creed.
- Evening praise and Word: Congregational prayer, the offering, Scripture reading, the sermon, prayer of application and a song of application lead into benediction and a parting hymn.
The preaching of the Word occupies the central place in both services, with nearly half of the worship time given to hearing what God says. Historic Christian character is visible in the priority given to the singing of Psalms and biblical hymns, as well as in the confession, prayer, offering and orderly movement through the service. The result is a service that joins a congregation's active participation with a deliberate focus on Scripture and God.
From 1958 Dairy Roots to a Diverse Fellowship
First URC's history grew from the migration of dairy farmers, most of Dutch descent, from Los Angeles County to the Chino Valley. They came seeking worship that was biblically Reformed, and the congregation expanded rapidly during the following decades. By 1975, it had grown to 230 families, and additional educational facilities were built to accommodate the expanding church and its classes.
The community around the congregation changed as well. Urban development displaced many dairy farms, and dairy relocation from the 1980s through the 2000s brought a steady decline in membership. Rather than remaining defined by its earlier roots, First URC increasingly reflected the diverse community in which it was planted. Rev. Ronald L. Scheuers served as senior pastor for nearly 24 years before retiring in 2017. Rev. Bradd L. Nymeyer became senior pastor that May and continues to emphasize the faithful preaching and teaching of God's Word. The church identifies the means it seeks to preserve with biblical and reverent worship, authentic pastoral care, Christian education and zealous evangelism.
The Reformed Faith in Word and Life
First URC affirms the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed as summaries of biblical doctrine. Its officers also subscribe to the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort. The Bible is held to be the supreme authority over faith and godliness, inspired by the Holy Spirit, truthful without error, and sufficiently clear that sincere people may know God's will and the way of salvation. The church understands the created universe as a secondary witness to God's divinity, power and glory.
God is confessed as one being in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-essential, co-equal, co-eternal and co-powerful. Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, born of a virgin, sinless in life, crucified for his people, risen from the dead and destined to return in physical glory. The Holy Spirit convicts people of their need for Christ and lives in Christians, guiding and empowering them for Christlike living. Salvation is God's free gift, granted to those who sincerely repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
The church summarizes the way of salvation as grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Good works and self-improvement are not the basis or final condition of salvation. At the same time, those redeemed by God are called to pursue holiness, love God, serve his church and love their neighbors. First URC understands the church as the body of Christ and the family of God, with every believer possessing a role in Christ's mission. Its membership is covenantal: members formally make Christian vows of faith, service and accountability to one another.
That covenant reaches children as well as adults. The church welcomes the children of believers as beloved disciples and fellow worshippers, nurturing them in the faith rather than excluding them from the life of the congregation. Baptism is extended to professing believers and their children, while the Lord's Supper renews covenant fellowship and strengthens communion with Christ and his people. The church also teaches that Christians are ambassadors of God's kingdom in everyday life, seeking the good of their cities while remaining distinct from the world. Looking ahead, it expects Christ's return, judgment and the restoration of all things.
A Mission That Reaches Beyond the Campus
First URC's motto is Calling & Equipping God's People for Worship & Service. Its missional identity begins with God's initiative to seek and save the lost and his call for believers to participate in the worldwide mission of redemption. The church describes worship, evangelism, prayer, informal conversation, deeds of love and care for the poor as ways that the gospel becomes visible in community life.
That mission appears in public conversations as well as church gatherings. Several Fridays each month, the congregation sets up a prayer table in front of Starbucks in Claremont Village. The setting is used to share the gospel, discuss distinctive elements of Reformed faith and pray for neighbors and people in need. Each January, the church gives an entire week to mission emphasis, combining worship with attention to the mission work supported by the congregation.
The support network is broad. The Rose of Sharon Christian Academy in Liberia assists orphans of parents killed in the civil war and children who have lost parents to Ebola through tuition, medication, living allowances and other basic needs. The church also supports the Reformed Church of Perugia and Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Milan, the Davao Covenant Reformed Church in the Philippines, and Christ Covenant Reformed Assembly in India. Darjeeling Hills Bible School and Seminary trains leaders in the Nepali-speaking world, while Northern Canada Evangelical Mission works with Maskwacis Bible Fellowship Church and Louis Bull All Nations Church, including worship, Bible studies, family and youth groups and winter camps.
Other supported work includes Reformed Missions in Latin America, MINTS International Theological Seminary, Santa Clarita URC and several Bible- and theology-training ministries. The church's missionary emphasis therefore joins local evangelism with church planting, leadership development, Christian education, Bible distribution and relief for people affected by poverty, conflict and displacement.
Sunday Education for the Whole Family
Sunday education begins at 10:45 a.m. after the morning service. Children's Sunday school serves children from age 3 through fourth grade with biblical instruction and singing. Students in grades 5 through 12 meet for Catechism classes focused on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. College-age students and adults gather for Adult Sunday School at 11 a.m., after coffee fellowship, with topical and biblical studies from September through May.
The church treats education as more than a children's activity. Catechism, doctrine, Bible reading and theological discussion are part of the same life of worship that gathers every age around the Word. The Children's program, youth classes and adult classes allow families to learn together while still giving each age group appropriate instruction.
First URC also maintains a church library with children's books, fiction, devotionals, prayer, Reformed theology, Christian parenting, Christian marriage, apologetics, end-times studies, church history and home video series. It opens for about 20 minutes immediately after morning worship. The Narthex also carries pamphlets, booklets and daily devotionals that visitors may keep or share with friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Wednesday Family Night
Family Night runs on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. during the school year. An adult class meets from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. for topical or biblical study, while children and youth have ministry groups designed for their ages. The shared evening creates a regular rhythm in which adults study while boys, girls and younger children engage in Bible lessons, songs, badges and crafts.
Cadets serves boys in grades 1 through 8. Weekly meetings include devotions, landmarks, badge work and special projects, with activities such as hikes, bike rides, a bowl-a-thon, a rocket shoot and a pinewood derby. The program also places particular emphasis on stewardship, outdoor skills and a servant's attitude. Bernie Gabrielse serves as head counselor.
GEMS, or Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior, serves girls in grades 3 through 8 on alternate Wednesdays. Meetings combine singing, a Bible lesson and either crafts or badge work. Advanced GEMS students also study social, physical and spiritual aspects of life. Parent-child activities, retreats and fundraisers extend the program beyond its weekly meetings. Little Hearts welcomes children ages 3 through grade 2 for singing, crafts and a simple Bible lesson. The Bells of Praise rehearse on Wednesdays and periodically praise God during worship.
Groups for Every Season of Life
Faith Core, SHIELD and Dew of Zion
The church's youth groups are designed around the life of the church rather than separated from it. Faith Core welcomes middle-school students for snacks, games, fellowship and Bible teaching, typically twice a month on Friday afternoons. Local outreach is part of its rhythm. SHIELD, an acronym for Sharing His Irresistible Eternal Love Daily, gathers students in grades 9 through 12 on Sunday evenings after worship. The group shares a meal, plays games, sings and studies the Bible, while also taking part in local and international outreach.
Dew of Zion is an inter-church fellowship for college students and young adults in the Inland Empire. Monthly Bible studies emphasize fellowship, mutual accountability, spiritual maturity and careful exploration of God's Word, with Saturday excursions added during the year. Together, these groups give young people distinct places to study Scripture while remaining connected to the wider congregation.
Small Groups for Adults and Families
Adult fellowship groups vary by age and interest. Bereans Bible Fellowship gathers couples and singles age 45 and older for a potluck supper followed by Bible study. Faith & Fellowship meets monthly after evening worship for middle-age couples and singles, combining a light meal with Bible study. GIFT brings together couples age 50 and younger for monthly fellowship and Bible study in a member's home, while a separate young families fellowship meets for dinner and social fellowship about once a month.
Women also have several study ministries. Mary & Martha Society meets on the first and third Thursdays for retirement-age women. Coffee Break is a Tuesday small group for women of all ages, including those from other churches and women without a church home; no previous Bible knowledge is required. GLOW meets Wednesday morning with prayer, fellowship, baked goods and in-depth study, and Story Hour is available for mothers with young children. The Thursday night women's gathering combines fellowship, prayer and attention to the Word.
Men meet early Wednesday morning for breakfast and Bible study through Zoom and in-home participation. A second men's gathering takes place Thursday at Ranch Burgers at Benson Avenue and Riverside Drive in Chino, with breakfast or lunch alongside the study. Yesterday's Youth welcomes senior citizens on the second Tuesday of each month for a potluck dinner and games, a film or guest entertainment. The adult Choir rehearses twice monthly and sings for worship twice monthly, while the Young Families Fellowship gives younger couples and families a monthly setting for dinner and fellowship.
Practical Care for Chino and Beyond
First URC's service is both local and global. Working with its Cadet club, the church hosts a Food For Life food distribution once every quarter. Food For Life Ministry seeks to care for the whole person by providing food for the body and encouragement for the soul. The church's benevolence fund also provides financial assistance for people who are poor, hungry or homeless, including members of the congregation and people in the local community.
Its giving funds reflect a broad understanding of stewardship. The General Budget supports church operations, staff and building needs. The Missions Support Fund promotes missionary work and evangelistic outreach. Inland C.A.R.E. supports a Christian retirement home and helps residents who cannot afford its care. The Tuition Assistance Fund assists families with children attending Christian day school, while Adopt-A-Student provides yearly assistance to students preparing for ministry. The church also supports home and foreign missions, Christian education and disaster relief.
Several supported ministries focus on sanctity of life. Assure Pregnancy Center provides counseling, limited medical services, prenatal care and adoption referrals. Bethany Christian Services provides pregnancy counseling and adoption services. His Nesting Place offers a refuge home for pregnant women and homeless mothers with children, while Operation Rescue opposes abortion clinic wrongdoing through legal means. Salem Christian Homes provides residential care for adults with developmental disabilities.
Education and prison ministry are also part of the church's outward work. It supports Bible League International, Crossroads Bible Institute and other theological training ministries. Project Phillip volunteers prepare literature and Bibles for distribution in hotels, hospitals and jails. These efforts join Scripture distribution with practical care, leadership development and support for people in vulnerable circumstances.
Covenant Membership and Pastoral Leadership
Church membership is an important part of discipleship at First URC. Members formally join the congregation through mutual vows of Christian faith, service and accountability. Membership brings fellowship, service, pastoral oversight and accountability within the local church. A New Members class meets every September and March and offers a no-pressure opportunity to learn about the church's beliefs, practices and meaning of membership. The church's Bible studies and fellowship groups, however, do not require membership, so people can participate in community life before making that commitment.
Rev. Bradd L. Nymeyer has served as senior pastor since May 2017. Dr. Timothy R. Scheuers serves as Pastor of Congregational Life, teaching all ages, leading youth and young adult groups, providing pastoral counseling, preaching and regularly leading worship. Rev. Ronald L. Scheuers, who retired in 2017 after nearly 24 years as senior pastor, serves as Pastor Emeritus and continues to contribute through his writings, federational leadership and example of service.
The church's leaders and members seek a common life of faithfulness. The emphasis on Word, worship, covenant fellowship, education, evangelism and care for others is not divided into separate tracks. It is the shared pattern that holds First United Reformed Church together at 6159 Riverside Drive in Chino.