What Matters at URC of Nampa
BAPTISM
Jesus gave us our mission and purpose as a Christian church in Matthew 28: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” To be a disciple means to follow Jesus: trusting in him for forgiveness, and living a life transformed by his grace. Baptism with water, whether as an adult believer or as a child born into a Christian home, marks the beginning of that life as one of Christ’s disciples.-
COMMUNION
We fellow the example of the early church by meeting together on the first day of the week around the proclamation of God’s Word and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. In addition to speaking to us through his Word, God also draws us into fellowship with himself as we partake of the bread and wine of Communion each week. Through the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit, we thereby lift our hearts to heaven and enjoy fellowship with Christ. 
FELLOWSHIPWhen we gather on Sunday around the God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper, we are formed together as a community of believers, and that life as a community is a central part of what it means to be Christian. In contrast with a culture of loneliness, alienation, and rootlessness, we strive to live together as a welcoming community of fellowship, hospitality, and service.
WORDWe believe that the Bible is the Word of God, that it is “living and active,” and that when the Scriptures are read or proclaimed God continues to speak to us and make himself known. For this reason, the Word has a central place in our life together - in worship on Sunday, in our homes, and in times of study.
WHO WE ARE
The United Reformed Church of Nampa is a Christian church in the growing community of Nampa, Idaho, just outside of Boise in southern Idaho’s beautiful Treasure Valley.
If you are new to the area, are looking for a church, or are simply interested in learning more about Jesus and the Christian faith, we invite you to join us. As the center of our life together, we meet for worship and fellowship on Sundays at 10:15 AM and 6:00 PM at our location on the west side of Nampa (12693 Orchard Ave).
When we gather together, we follow the ancient pattern of the Christian church described in Scripture: “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Those practices continue to shape our life together: teaching from God’s Word, the celebration of the Lord’s supper, and community life of fellowship and service. We would love to have you join us this Sunday!
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe that God created us to glorify him and to enjoy fellowship with him in his good creation, but our sin has twisted and distorted that created purpose. As a Christian church we proclaim the good news that God has acted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to restore us to fellowship with him and each other and has sent the Holy Spirit to give us new life.
As a Reformed church, we trace our heritage as part of the one church of Jesus Christ through the 16th century Reformation, and we confess the Christian faith as it is summarized in the historic creeds and Reformed confessions of the church.
Our Confession of Faith
Our confession of faith in God’s Word is summarized first of all in the ancient creeds of the church. We confess, with the church throughout history and around the world – the words of the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe a holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. AMEN.
In addition to the ancient ecumenical creeds of the church, our confession of faith includes the Reformed confessions as fuller summaries of our faith in Christ and his Word. Our confession begins with the beautiful words of the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism:
Q. 1 What is your only comfort life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death –to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
We would encourage you to read the creeds and confessions in full. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about what we believe and confess as a church.
OUR PASTOR
Nick Smith has served as pastor of our church since he was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2007. He received his M. Div. from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, IN after studying philosophy at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA.
He and his wife have four children and are especially fond of cooking, reading, listening to music, and sorting Legos.
Send Pastor Smith an email if you’d like to meet for coffee or lunch to talk.
