AT CAROLS IN THE PARK

It’s the best time of year! What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ than by singing loud for all to hear. 

This Sunday at 6pm, we’ll gather in the heart of French Park to sing carols, spread Christmas cheer, and welcome our neighbors into a night of community. We’ll serve up some hot chocolate, enjoy sweet treats, and extend an invitation for our neighbors to join us at church on Christmas Eve.

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Invite Santa Ana neighbors, family, and friends to an evening Christmas festivities! We’ve got songs to sing, cookies to eat, and the joys of the season to share with them! You can send out the digital invite linked here.

2. Along with extending an invitation, consider ways you’d like to get involved, either with setup, being part of the choir, or bringing a batch of cookies. Sign-up here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: POST-CAROLS CHANGE OF PLANS

We’ve canceled the Christmas party that was set to take place right after caroling. The holiday season is filled with many good things, but it sure is a busy time! We’re moving to take an item off the schedule this time around. But by no means is this meant to cut our celebration short! Instead, it will allow us to linger in the park, continue conversations over hot cocoa, spend a few more unhurried moments together, and get home for a good night’s sleep as a new week kicks off.

WEEKLY MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED FOR DECEMBER

In the world of agriculture, soil must remain “fallow” once every few years to maintain its fertility for years to come. To lie fallow is to lie unplowed and unplanted for a time in order for nutrients to be restored. In the month of December, we let our church calendar lie fallow. We cancel small groups, men’s and women’s meetings, and any other mid-week activities. Why? Not so that you can pull away from the life of the church, but instead to press into natural and more intimate opportunities to relate to your church family and neighbors. The holiday season is notoriously one of the busiest times of the year. We want to help you to take advantage of the few free moments you have to spend unhurried, unscheduled time with one another and with family for the grand purpose of allowing your heart to be refreshed by the work of Christ, fellowship with the saints, and cultivating friendships with unbelieving neighbors.

WHAT’S NOT CANCELLED?

• Regular Sunday Services

• Run Club - a great opportunity to build and enjoy relationships with fellow church members and Santa Ana neighbors

• Carols in the Park, followed by an all-church Christmas Party on Sunday, 12/15 (watch the blog for more details)

• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Ebell Club at 5:00PM)

If you have any questions about church events, check out the church calendar. It’s kept up to date to reflect changes to meetings or events.

Subscribe to the church calendar here.

PLEASE MAKE THIS MEETING A PRIORITY

Every six months, we hold a brief members meeting after service, which lasts about 30 minutes. The meeting is mandatory for all members, but guests are welcome as well. It’s a time to communicate what we wouldn’t communicate on a typical Sunday morning. We’ll look back on what God has graciously done in the last 6 months, provide some important updates, and look forward to where we believe the Lord is taking us. Plan to stay an extra 30-45min on Sunday, 12/8 and come eager to hear what God is up to at Cross of Grace.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUESTS WELCOMED.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO THE FINAL CLASS

Our fall 2024 Bridge Course began on Monday, 9/9. For the past 9 weeks, we’ve shared meals and built relationships with our neighbors as we’ve wrestled through the big questions of life. Friendships have been formed. Many honest perspectives have been shared. Questions have been answered. The gospel has been proclaimed. And it’s been an absolute blast.

During our journey on the Bridge, here’s what we’ve discussed so far:

• Am I a good person?

• Why doesn’t God forgive everyone?

• How can God allow suffering?

• How could God send people to hell?

• Can we really trust the Bible?

• Is Jesus really the only way?

• Why did Jesus have to die?

• Why do we matter?

• Is Christianity really worth it?

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

We wrap things up this week by asking the very appropriate question, “Where do we go from here?” This will take us into a discussion about the local church and God’s enduring purpose for it in the world. A conversation that will conclude with an invitation to our neighbors to join us there on Sunday.

If you have a friend who’s asking, “Can I love Jesus but not the church?” Skeptical about getting involved with “organized religion.” Or is on the fence with whether or not they should give up sleeping in on Sunday mornings, invite them to join us for this final meeting! We trust they’ll come away seeing the church in a new light.

When and where does it take place?

• Date: Monday, November 11, 2024

• Time: 7pm-9pm

• Location: Hopper & Burr, 202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

• Dinner provided!

Invite your friends & neighbors to join in today!

SHARE THE REGISTRATION LINK

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Our fall 2024 Bridge Course is well underway and meets every Monday at 7pm! There are 5 weeks left of sharing meals, building relationships with our neighbors, and wrestling through some of the biggest questions of life. We’ve had great conversations so far and are looking forward to keeping them going as we continue our journey on the Bridge. Here are the topics we’re tackling over the next 5 weeks:

• Is Jesus really the only way?

• Why did Jesus have to die?

• Why do I matter?

• Is Christianity really worth it?

• Why should we care about the church?

Do you know someone looking for answers to questions like these? Someone who isn’t sure what they believe? Someone who has doubts or is investigating Christianity? Bring them to Bridge! It’s never too late to join in! The course is entirely free. No homework or preparation is needed. And your guests will never be pressured to participate more than they’re comfortable. It’s a safe place to explore the Christian faith and enjoy community along the way.

When and where does it take place?

• Dates: Every Monday until November 11, 2024 (Remaining dates: 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11)

• Time: 7pm-9pm

• Location: Hopper & Burr, 202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

• Dinner provided!

The journey continues, so invite your friends & neighbors today!

SHARE THE REGISTRATION LINK

BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE ON SUNDAY

Immediately after Sunday service, we’ll be walking over to French Park to eat lunch and enjoy one another’s company in the midst of the neighborhood God has placed us in. Here are the details:

• It’s “BYOL” (bring your own lunch). If you forget your lunch or your favorite lunchbox isn’t clean, there are plenty of great restaurants nearby in DTSA.

• It’s optional - but we highly encourage coming!

• Bring some folding chairs - unless you like sitting on the grass, bring something to sit on.

• Expect the Lord to build existing relationships and create new ones with our neighbors.

BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 29

Immediately after Sunday service, we’ll be walking over to French Park to eat lunch and enjoy one another’s company in the midst of the neighborhood God has placed us in. Here are the details:

• It’s “BYOL” (bring your own lunch). If you forget your lunch or your favorite lunchbox isn’t clean, there are plenty of great restaurants nearby in DTSA.

• It’s optional - but we highly encourage coming!

• Bring some folding chairs - unless you like sitting on the grass, bring something to sit on.

• Expect the Lord to build existing relationships and create new ones with our neighbors.

A CELEBRATION OF OUR UNITY IN THE MIDST OF OUR DIVERSITY

This Sunday, September 15th, we’ll be hosting our annual “Festival of Nations” celebration. Coinciding with Fiestas Patrias and Dia De La Independencia, we’ll celebrate what God has built in our church through the gospel - a gathering of people from different nationalities and heritages into one new family in Christ.

HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?

1. Bring a dish (entree, dessert or side) representing your national heritage or cultural background. Bring your best effort. The results will be judged and the “Best In The World” award will be given to the individual whose dish impressed the most. Multiple dishes per family are ok! 

2. Join us at 4pm on Sunday, September 15th in the Madrigal backyard.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Our fall 2024 Bridge Course begins Monday, 9/9 at 7pm! We’re excited for 10 weeks of sharing meals and building relationships with our neighbors as we wrestle through some of the biggest questions of life. Over the course of this journey, we’re going to ask the following questions & learn what the Bible has to say about them:

• Am I a good person?

• Why doesn’t God forgive everyone?

• How can God allow suffering?

• How could God send people to hell?

• Can we really trust the Bible?

• Is Jesus really the only way?

• Why did Jesus have to die?

• Why do I matter?

• Is Christianity really worth it?

• Why should we care about the church?

Do you know someone who is looking for answers? Isn’t sure what they believe? Has doubts or is investigating Christianity? Bring them to Bridge! The course is entirely free. No homework or preparation is needed. And your guests will never be pressured to participate more than they’re comfortable. It’s a safe place to explore the Christian faith and enjoy community along the way.

When and where does it take place?

• Dates: Mondays from September 9, 2024 - November 11, 2024

• Time: 7pm-9pm

• Location: Hopper & Burr, 202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

• Dinner provided!

Bridge is starting soon! So don’t wait, invite your friends & neighbors today!

SHARE THE REGISTRATION LINK

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Our mission is to spread the joy of Jesus to our Santa Ana neighbors. One of the ways we advance this mission is through The Bridge Course. A class we offer each fall that creates a context for our neighbors who are skeptical, seeking, unsure of what they believe, or are brand new to the Christian faith to come and have honest conversations about the most important questions in life. Over the course of 10 weeks, we’ll share meals, build relationships, and learn how the Bible answers those big questions.

Know someone who is looking for answers? Isn’t sure what they believe? Has doubts about Christianity or is investigating the faith? Bring them to Bridge! The course is entirely free. No homework or preparation needed. And your guests will never be pressured to participate more than they’re comfortable. It’s a safe place to explore the Christian faith and enjoy community along the way.

When and where does it take place?

• Dates: Mondays from September 9, 2024 - November 11, 2024

• Time: 7pm-9pm

• Location: Hopper & Burr, 202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Bridge is starting soon! So don’t wait, invite your friends & neighbors today!

SHARE THE REGISTRATION LINK