Church to Highlight More Than 30 Ministries and Community Partners at Sunday Fair

More than 30 church ministries and community-service partners will be represented at a fair in Pasadena on Sunday, Oct. 18, as First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena brings together organizations involved in neighborhood outreach and other services, according to the church’s announcement.

The annual PazNaz Ministry Fair is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the church’s patio at 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Representatives of church programs and community ministry partners will provide information about their activities and opportunities for participation, according to the announcement.

The gathering comes as the congregation continues operating programs serving families, people experiencing homelessness, older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Among the church’s established programs is Helping Hands, a weekly food distribution operation that provides groceries and basic necessities to families.

In an Aug. 4 update, the church reported that Helping Hands was providing groceries to more than 700 families each week.

The program relies on volunteers to assemble grocery bags, direct vehicles, register recipients and load food into cars. Other volunteers unload deliveries and organize food supplies for distribution, according to the church.

Helping Hands operates Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the lower parking area near Reed Hall at the church’s Pasadena campus, according to its ministry directory.

Another established outreach program, Church in the Park, serves hot breakfasts to people experiencing homelessness at Pasadena’s Central Park each Sunday.

The program begins at 8:45 a.m. and includes a short religious service following the meal, according to the church.

PazNaz also operates Oasis, a ministry serving individuals and families affected by disabilities, along with programs for students in seventh through 12th grades, senior adults and other community groups.

The congregation traces its origins to 1905 and is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, a Christian denomination rooted in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, according to its historical account.

This year’s Ministry Fair carries the theme “Rowing Together,” drawn from the biblical account in Mark 4:35. The church describes the theme as an expression of cooperation among its ministries and community partners.

The gathering will take place Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Additional information is available from the church at (626) 351-9631 or paznaz.org.