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Visiting a Reformed church in Fergus

Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church and Fergus North Canadian Reformed Church are glad to have visitors, whatever church you grew up in or none. Here is what a first Sunday looks like.

Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church

Maranatha is a Reformed church that sees itself as continually reforming, always returning to God's Word to direct its life. It holds to the three ancient creeds (Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian) and the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort) as faithful summaries of Scripture, while affirming that only the Word of God has divine authority and that every human document must be tested by it. Its members describe themselves as pilgrims who seek forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ alone while awaiting his return.

Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church was instituted on 15 January 1956. The Canadian Reformed Churches were organized by Dutch immigrants who arrived after the Second World War and, unable to find agreement with the existing Reformed bodies in Canada, formed their own congregations from 1950 onward; the federation holds exclusively to the Three Forms of Unity, and Maranatha belongs to its Classis Northern Ontario. The minister is Rev. John Ludwig.

The congregation grew large enough that on 11 July 2004 a daughter congregation, the Canadian Reformed Church of Fergus North, was formed; the two Fergus churches and the Canadian Reformed Church of Elora share a joint Centre Wellington website. Maranatha’s building is on Belsyde Avenue East on the east side of Fergus.

The church runs study groups, instruction of the youth and a ladies’ auxiliary, and it lists both local and global outreach among its ministries. Worship is in English.

Fergus North Canadian Reformed Church

Fergus North describes itself as a gathering of Christian believers who confess faith in the Triune God and hold to the understanding of the Bible confessed by the churches of the sixteenth-century Reformation, summarized in the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort. The preaching of God's Word is central to its worship, proclaiming God's grace offered to lost sinners who place their faith in Jesus, and the church welcomes all who seek to know and follow the Lord, whatever their nationality, background or culture.

The Canadian Reformed Church of Fergus North was formed on 11 July 2004 when the Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church in Fergus had grown large enough to branch off a second congregation. The new church bought property on First Line, north of town, in 2007 and began construction in May 2014; the framing and roof were up by the end of July, the parking lot was finished that October, and the first worship service in the new building was held on 21 December 2014. A manse for the minister followed in 2015, and the building was officially opened on 11 September 2015. Construction was managed by Sheldon Creek Developments, with much of the work done by tradespeople from the congregation, its sister church and the wider community.

Fergus North belongs to Classis Northern Ontario of the Canadian Reformed Churches, a federation of Reformed churches across Canada, and shares a joint website with the Maranatha and Elora congregations. Its corresponding clerk is Rob Vanderwoerd. Worship is in English.

What to expect

  1. Arriving

    Come ten minutes early. Someone at the door will say hello and can point you to a seat; there is no sign-in and nobody will single you out.

  2. Seating

    Sit anywhere. Families sit together, and children of all ages stay in the service. A cry room is usually available if you need it.

  3. The service

    Expect a set order: a call to worship, singing (mostly Psalms, with hymns), the reading of the law or the creed, prayer, Scripture and a sermon of about thirty minutes, then a closing song and blessing. A printed or projected order makes it easy to follow.

  4. How long

    Roughly seventy-five to ninety minutes. Most congregations meet twice on Sunday; the afternoon sermon usually works through the Heidelberg Catechism.

  5. Dress

    Neat and comfortable. You will see suits and dresses and you will see sweaters and jeans.

  6. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

    Infants of members are baptized during a regular service. The Lord's Supper is held every couple of months; visitors are not expected to take part, and nobody minds.

  7. Afterwards

    People linger to talk. If you would like to meet the pastor or an elder, just ask the person who greeted you.

What Reformed churches believe

Reformed churches confess the historic Christian faith of the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, summarized in three confessions from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort. The short version is that God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone, as the Bible alone teaches, and that his promises are for believers and their children.

Read the fuller description of the Canadian Reformed churches, or the guide to the Reformed churches of Ontario.

Coming from another church?

What you might find familiar, and what might feel different.

Coming from a Mennonite church?

Mennonites and Reformed Christians have been neighbours in this part of Ontario for two centuries, and their stories go back to the same Reformation. The emphasis on discipleship and on community will feel familiar.

  • Discipleship Reformed churches expect faith to show in life; the whole third part of the Heidelberg Catechism is about gratitude lived out.
  • Community Membership is real: elders visit every home, deacons look after needs, and Sunday is a whole day spent together.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches baptize infants and hold that Christians may serve in government and the military. Both are explained without heat.
Coming from a Baptist church?

Reformed and Baptist churches agree on a great deal: the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith, a serious view of membership. The visible difference is baptism, and it comes from a shared idea taken in two directions.

  • Covenant and family Reformed churches baptize the children of believers because they understand God's promise to be for believers and their children (Acts 2:39). a Reformed church would be glad to explain that, not to argue it.
  • Preaching and prayer Expect a substantial sermon, long congregational prayer, and singing that is mostly Psalms.
  • Membership matters Like Baptist churches, Reformed churches take membership, elders and pastoral care seriously; every household is visited.
Coming from a Catholic or Orthodox parish?

You may find more that is familiar at a Reformed church than you expect: a set liturgy, the creeds said together, the Lord's Prayer, and a reverence that takes worship seriously.

  • Liturgy and creeds The service follows a fixed order, and the congregation confesses the Apostles' or Nicene Creed together every week.
  • The sacraments Two rather than seven, and taken seriously: infants are baptized, and the Lord's Supper is celebrated with real preparation.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches hold that Scripture alone is the final authority and that we are justified by faith alone. That is a conversation worth having in person rather than in a slogan.
Coming from an Anglican, United, Presbyterian or Lutheran church?

Reformed churches grew from the same Reformation soil. If you value the creeds, a set order of service and a church that has held its confession steady since the 1500s, a Reformed church will feel familiar.

  • Shared roots Presbyterian, Lutheran and Reformed churches share the Reformation's teaching on grace and Scripture; the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 is preached alongside the creeds.
  • Confessional stability The Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism and Canons of Dort have not been revised to follow the times. What the church confessed then, it confesses now.
  • Familiar forms A set order of service, the Lord's Prayer, the creed, infant baptism, and a sermon at the centre.
Used to a non-denominational or community church?

Reformed churches share your conviction that the Bible has to be at the centre. What they add is a written confession that says exactly what the church believes, and a structure that keeps its leaders accountable.

  • Expository preaching Sermons work through books of the Bible and through the Heidelberg Catechism, so over time you hear the whole of Scripture.
  • A confession you can read The Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism put the church's beliefs in writing; nothing rests on one pastor's personality.
  • Simpler than it sounds No robes and no incense: a plain building, a lot of singing, a long sermon, and coffee afterwards.
Exploring what Christians have always believed?

If you are looking into the faith of the historic creeds, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, salvation by grace, a Reformed church is a place where any question is welcome.

  • The creeds Reformed churches confess the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, the same statements the church has used since its early centuries.
  • Questions welcome The pastor and elders expect questions and enjoy them. No one will be surprised by yours.
  • Take your time Visit as often as you like without committing to anything.
Coming from a Pentecostal or charismatic church?

Reformed Christians believe the Holy Spirit is at work in every part of the Christian life. They expect to meet him first of all through the Word preached and the sacraments, and they pray for him to act.

  • Word and Spirit together The Spirit who inspired the Bible works through it, so the sermon is preached expecting God to do something.
  • Heartfelt, not hushed The singing is loud and congregational, mostly Psalms with organ or piano, and the prayers are long and specific.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches hold that the sign gifts belonged to the age of the apostles. That is a real difference, and one worth talking through in person.
Already Reformed?

If you come from a Christian Reformed, United Reformed or Free Reformed congregation, you will recognize nearly everything at a Reformed church: the same confessions, the same Psalms, much the same church order.

  • The same confessions The Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort.
  • Sister churches The Canadian Reformed churches have formal relations with the United Reformed and Free Reformed churches. A letter from your consistory is welcome, but you do not need one to visit.
  • The differences Mostly matters of history and practice, set out honestly in our guide to the Reformed church names.

Read before you visit

Visiting a Reformed church: what to expect

A practical walk-through of a Reformed Sunday: arriving, seating, order of service, length, children, dress, collection, the Lord's Supper and coffee after.

, 4 min read

What do Reformed Christians believe?

Plain-language summary of Reformed belief: grace, the Bible, covenant, the Three Forms of Unity, sacraments, church life and common misunderstandings.

, 6 min read

How to choose a church: questions worth asking

Balanced questions for choosing a church, whatever your background: Bible, preaching, sacraments, community, children, distance, doctrine and membership.

, 4 min read

Come this Sunday

No need to let anyone know in advance. If you would rather ask a question first, write to hello@fergus.church.

Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church: times and directions Fergus North Canadian Reformed Church: times and directions

A Deo Gloria project.