Following Jesus Christ
Doing Life Together
Serving Our Neighbors

Applewood Community Church

an Evangelical Covenant Church

Applewood Community Church is an Evangelical Covenant Church built on love and prayer. 

We believe the Bible isn’t just an old book of rules and doctrines, it is alive by the Spirit and it changes us! Life is complicated, and we are real people here. We walk through life together, letting the Holy Spirit guide us to live a unified life centered on Jesus.

Our real love for this community and passion to serve our neighbors is the brightest light God has given Applwood Community to shine in the world. By living in love and unity, we hope everyone who sees our church will discover real faith in Jesus Christ for themselves.

Filled with God’s joy and inspired by His presence, Applewood Community’s embrace and passionate love for our neighbors compells us to reflect His radiant light in the midst of the surrounding darkness. In our journey, we long to reflect His boundless creativity by actively engaging the unique spiritual gifts and talents He has entrusted to us, inspiring all who witness our lives to encounter Jesus.

where is Applewood Community?

12930 w. 32nd Ave
Golden, CO 80401
Intersection of 32nd and Zinnia, directly West of Interstate 70

Reach out us

Applewood Community hours

Sundays at Applewood

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 9:30 as we gather to pursue a community life centered on Jesus. Our service is designed to be meaningful, centered on the transforming Word of God, and intentionally safe you and for your whole family.
You can expect a warm Real Community where Real People gather for Real Faith in Jesus Christ. Services include praise and worship, scripture reading, time of prayer, and a sermon.
We offer dedicated, secure programs for your children and youth, all volunteers are screened and trained leaders committed to protecting our kids.
We look forward to sharing God's light and love with you this Sunday!

First Time Tips!

Where do I go?

Coming into the main entrance, we have a team of greeters right in the lobby. Be sure to say hi. They’ll happilly point you to where the restrooms, coffee, and sanctuary is. 

Coffee is excellent and roasted by one of our own! Bring your cup into the sanctuary

What about my kids?

If you have kids, we’ve got you covered. Our Kids Church check-in is located just at the top of the stairwell. We recommend arriving a few minutes early so we can get your family registered into Planning Center and introduce you to our background-checked volunteers. 

Infants and toddlers can go directly to child care if you prefer. And there is a quiet cryroom in the back of the sanctuary for nursing or distracted ‘littles.’

Pre K – 8th Grade will head downstairs after our Praise and Worship time. Look for the banner on the projector screen. Don’t hesitate to keep your kids in service if you prefer!

The AWCC Vibe

We’re really a ‘jeans and coffee’ kind of church. Whether you’re comfortable in a suit or a t-shirt, you’ll fit right in. We care more about you being here than what you’re wearing. People will arrive a shade too close to 9:30 making the sanctuary a quiet space until worship begins, but the lobby is a great place to meet others!

We promise we won’t make you stand up, wear a name tag, or sing a solo. You can stay as anonymous as you like, or jump right in and meet people. Know that the people here WILL want to say hi to you.

What’s the service like?

Our ‘liturgy light’ worship services typically last about 90 minutes. Expect some modern music, a hymn, prayer, a few updates on what’s happening in our community, and a message that dives deep into the living and breathing Word.

We practice the sacrament of communion on the first Sunday of the month. 

You don't have to Sing
unless you want to!

Our Committed Pastors
Nathan and Jess Alley

Since 2024, the Alley's have brought their heart for community building and a transparent love for Jesus to our church. Given their two decades of Christian ministry, including ove a decade as missionaries through Youth With A Mission, they not only understand discipleship, but they have lived out the work of forming Christ following disciples in their own life.

“I can't say enough about how incredible AWCC is. From the first moment I met this community it became clear they have a heart for Jesus and are doing church the right way"
Nathan
"AWCC is a community that cares deeply and strives to express that care to all. The love of Jesus reflected in the people here is sincere and genuine. I am grateful to call this my church community."
Jess

Applewood Community Church FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Applewood traditionally celebrates the Sacrament of Eucharist (communion) on the first Sunday of each month. We serve an open table to all believers, you do not have to be a member of our congregation. The table is open and welcome to families with children. We only offer a Gluten Free Matzo as the bread and alcohol-free grape juice.

We are organized as a Congregational church, with a Leadership Team of elected members who serve in various roles on the team. Our pastor, Nathan Alley, was voted on and approved by the voting members through a search and nomination process. He, along with his staff and volunteers lead the ministries of our church.

Additionally, we are recognized by the IRS as a 501 c3 Religious non-profit organization. We are submitted to all of the terms of that determination. Our founding charter and bylaws are available upon request.

The short answer is, we stand with our denomination in support of women at every ministry level and we endorse every ministry gift, including leading sacraments and the teaching and preaching of the Scriptures. 
For further reading, we recommend “Yes She Can” by John Jenks or read our denomination paper on the subject, 

AWCC members are those who have taken the step to dedicate their God-given time, talent, and resources for the benefit of the mission of our church, as we see documented in the New Testament and early church. To become a member, one will have already been baptized and confess their complete faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus as Lord for the redemption of their life and eternal salvation. We regularly offer a mandatory ‘membership class’ which informs our applicants about the functions of our church and the broader Evangelical Covenant Church. 

Our parking lot is located at the intersection of 32nd Ave and Zinnia. Worship service is scheduled to begin at 9:30, and typically begins with a worship song. You will hear announcements and a welcome followed by more songs and planned readings. Our sermons are biblically based, including both topical and expository messages. Most Sundays we are finshed by 11:00 am, and sometimes have events afterward, like a luncheon or celebration. First time guests and newcomers are always welcome! 

For families with children between ages 3-10 (pre-k to 5th grade), there is a Church Center digital check in station where you can check your children in. We invite our families to worship together, after singing and communion the kids head downstairs for a Bible lesson designed just for them. Middle school kids are invited after worship to the youth room where they have a Bible study and prayer. 

 Relational and Physical Safety: We strive to be a physically and emotionally safe community by adhering to the ethical commands of Scripture regarding love, integrity, and justice. This includes having clear policies for the protection of the vulnerable, procedures for addressing conflict and sin, and leaders committed to service, and we abide by mandatory reporting laws. While no human community is perfect, we are committed to operating in a manner that reflects the righteousness and love of Christ.

To the best of our ability and awareness, we maintain only our main entrance is unlocked during service. Members of our community have committed themselves to the safety and security of our people. That is why we have a check-in process for our families, and also why every adult who works with our children has undergone safety training and a background check.

Yes! Our desire is for our church facility to be a blessing to our community and to be put to good use for God’s glory.

Here is our general policy regarding facility use:

Support for Christian Organizations: We prioritize the use of our space for events sponsored by Christian organizations that align with our church’s mission and faith.

Church Members and Friends: If you are a member or friend of our church, we will typically do everything we can to make your request work and prioritize accommodating your event.

Availability: Due to the active ministry schedule of the church, our calendar can be full. While we want to say “yes,” our internal church events take priority.

How to Inquire: To check availability and submit a request, you must contact the church office. They will review your event details and help you through the scheduling process.

> Please Note: All facility use is subject to approval, schedule availability, and adherence to our usage guidelines. Please contact the office well in advance of your desired date. The contact info is listed at the top of this page.

Doctrinal Safety
We believe that being theologically sound is an essential part of being a safe community. Your family can be assured of our doctrinal commitment through the following:

Denominational Oversight:
Our church sits under the broad oversight of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), a denomination with a history stretching over 140 years. Our Senior Pastor, Nathan Alley has been ordained to Word and Sacrament in the ECC. This affiliation provides accountability, resources, and connection to a wider body of believers.

Approach to Scripture:
We maintain a commitment to a historical, contextual approach to Scripture, asking “where is it written?”. This means we take seriously the whole of the Scriptures, including the intent of human authors, the ears of the original audience, and historical context of every biblical text to understand the timeless truth of God’s Word.

Our Theological Heritage:
We lean heavily on a rich tradition rooted in piety (a deep, personal love for Christ expressed in genuine life) and the broad stream of historical evangelicalism. We focus on the life-transforming work of the Holy Spirit, the centrality of the Word, and the need for God’s grace as we work toward unity.

A Focus on Christ:
While there are many ways to express faith in 21st century America, our focus remains on the core Gospel message of Christ crucified and resurrected, as articulated throughout the Scriptures. We are committed to a faith that transcends specific political or cultural allegiances, focusing instead on the Kingdom of God’s all-encompassing, restoring work in our neighborhood and the world.

The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) is a vibrant, multiethnic, and intergenerational movement of more than 850 congregations across the United States and Canada.

Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the ECC is committed to a personal, vital faith in Jesus Christ, and to a mission of evangelism, compassion, mercy, and justice in the world.

The denomination is known for its focus on unity in Christ, described by its four key distinctives:

Evangelical, but not exclusive
Biblical, but not doctrinaire
Traditional, but not rigid
Congregational, but not independent

This is a church family that seeks to follow the way of Jesus by loving God and loving its neighbors.

The ECC Affirmations

The necessity of the new birth

A commitment to the whole mission of the Church
(evangelism, compassion, mercy, and justice)

The Church as a fellowship of believers

A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit

The reality of freedom in Christ

Here You'll Discover –

Real People

Real Community

Real Faith in Jesus