Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on this week:
Basketball in the Park
6:30pm - El Camino Real Park
Reach out to Manny for more info
French Park Run Club
6:30am - French Park
Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club
10:00am - Sermon: The Book of the Covenant - Exodus 20:22-23:19
Starting Point
12:30pm - Schlieder Home
Learn more and sign up for Starting Point Here
God could have simply said, "No stealing," but he didn't stop there. Not only should we not take what others have, we shouldn't want it either. We shouldn't sinfully desire something that belongs to someone else. But instead, God must reign over our desires. So that we learn to be content with whatever he has given us. And, more than anything else, so that we never take for granted that we have the Lord Jesus Christ. The One who gave himself to satisfy the demands of God's Law and satisfy the deepest desires of our souls. He alone can give a people always wanting more something that is finally enough.
Starting tomorrow through July 13th, students from churches all across the West Region of Sovereign Grace will gather together for a time of worship, teaching, games, and lip-sync battles, all to the glory of God! It’ll no doubt be filled with fun and fellowship, but also with some real heart-work and spiritual growth as God meets with our youth.
This year we’re sending 12 youth and 4 adult leaders. Would you join us in praying for them as they go. Ask the Lord:
To build enduring friendships amongst students
To bring youth to saving faith or strengthen their walks with Christ
To meet them in specific ways that demonstrate the Lord’s personal care for them
To use the speakers, teachers, and adult leaders to minister powerfully to the next generation of our family of churches
To plant desires for pastoral ministry, missions, and service to the church in their hearts
To impress upon our young people that there’s nothing better than living for Jesus
On July 26th, we’re sending the Lopez family off to the Sovereign Grace Pastor’s College. We’ll hear the gospel preached by Robert and then commission these dear friends for a year of training, growing, and living life in Louisville, Kentucky.
After a special service in the morning, we’ll gather in the Madrigal Backyard and send them off in style! We’ll dig into a BBQ feast to give them a head-start on all the country living that awaits them.
Here are the details:
Date: Sunday, 7/26/26
Time: 1pm (early arrivals ok)
Location: Madrigal Backyard in Santa Ana
What to bring: Sign up here for ways to contribute to the BBQ feast.
Make it a point to be there as we honor these dear friends and celebrate that God is raising up more pastors among us.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on this week:
Basketball in the Park
6:30pm - El Camino Real Park
Reach out to Manny for more info
Men’s BBQ
6:30pm - Lee Home
Reach out to Daniel for more info
French Park Run Club
6:30am - French Park
Youth Camp
Pray for our students & leaders as they go!
Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club
10:00am - Sermon: Exodus 20:17 - The 10th Commandment
In lieu of Men’s Meeting this July, the men of CGSA will be gathering together for their annual summer BBQ! They’ll be sharing in the good gifts of friendship and food to the glory of God’s name. This is a great event to invite your friends, regardless of what they believe or where they’re at with church.
Three weeks ago, Jennifer Williams & Rosie Lopez participated in Scarlet Hope’s LA outreach during the World Cup. This Sunday, we got to hear about what happened as they went.
God met their outreach team in big ways as they engaged in a week of worship, prayer, and online as well as on-the-street conversations with women caught up in the adult entertainment industry. They shared stories of lives being changed. One woman who was rescued from physical danger and another who took the first step toward spiritual freedom.
Time didn’t permit them to share about every encounter. But the good news is we can keep the conversation going with them and start up some others of our own. That’s because Scarlet Hope conducts events year-round, with the next big opportunity coming up around the Super Bowl. Because we can partner in prayer for the in-person outreach in the clubs taking place every Thursday. And because, we can engage in digital outreach and connect hurting Santa Ana neighbors to the freedom and healing of Christ. If you’re interested in learning more about Scarlet Hope or how you can minister to women in need of hope in OC, contact Jennifer below.
The first application of the 9th Commandment is in the courtroom. A solemn legal context in which we must not bear false witness about our neighbor. Yet, while not all of us have appeared in a court of law, everyone will stand in the court of God - the Righteous Judge "who never lies" (Tit 1:2). He’s set us apart to be a people who tell the truth. But, if we're honest with ourselves, we struggle to handle the truth. We live in a world filled with deception and lies. We misconstrue others to paint ourselves in a better light. We make excuses for why we were late. We mute or deny the clear words of God. All this is why Truth himself took on flesh and dwelt among us. To be falsely accused by us and to pay the penalty that false witnesses deserve.
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.
While we have a complete fallow month in December (nothing on the church calendar but Sunday services), each July we trim down our church activities to take time to intentionally rest our bodies and souls and prioritize our relationships together.
No Small Groups, Prayer Meeting, or other regularly scheduled events. Make use of the free time to enjoy informal fellowship with one another and your neighbors.
No Sunday night Youth Group Meetings. But don’t forget about Youth Camp, 7/10-7/13!
2 built-in fellowship opportunities. Men's BBQ, 7/8 & Women's Potluck, 7/23. Good food, better company! Great places to bring a friend.
1 send-off celebration. It IS fallow month, but it’s not everyday we get to send a family to the Sovereign Grace Pastors College! Right after church on Sunday, 7/26. Join us at the Madrigal home as we send the Lopezs off in style!
Have any questions about church events? Look to our church calendar, which is always updated to reflect changes to meetings or events.
Subscribe to the calendar here.
If you’ve been visiting for any length of time and would like to learn more about who we are, what we’re like, and what we believe as a church, this class is for you. Starting Point is a two-hour class designed to help you to get to know us, ask any questions you have, and take the next step of becoming part of the Cross of Grace family.
