Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:
French Park Run Club
6:30am - French Park Grass Area
Small Groups
6:30pm - Lee Home
7:00pm - Roenicke Home
Small Groups
7:00pm - Davis & Erkelens Homes
Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club
10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
When the people of Israel came upon the Red Sea shore, they must have been like astronauts returning to earth. The ordeal they suffered in Egypt is finally behind them. Life in the Promised Land is before them. They fall down to their knees and kiss the ground under their feet. But then, they look up and direct their gaze beyond where astronauts have ever gone. They turn their eyes to heaven and they raise a song to God. This moment in the story teaches us that we should sing too. Not that this text is really about singing. This text is about God. But what this text tells us is that when you see God for who he really is, you can’t help but sing.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” - Colossians 3:16
Singing is a major part of our life together. In Sunday’s sermon on Ex 15:1-21, we received a few simple applications for singing in church.
Come to church expecting to meet with and be met by the God who parts the sea. Come with the awareness that the God who conquered the Egyptians by the power of his right hand is the God we all too often treat so casually in worship. Treat this as the holy moment that it is and come into this time ready for a real encounter with the God of gods.
Be on time to sing. Don’t treat this as a non-essential part of our gathering. Prioritize being here with enough time to receive God’s call to worship and sing to the Lord with us.
Sing loud enough for others to hear. So that they’d be encouraged by your voice in those moments where their words are failing them. When they’re broken and struggling to believe. When their words feel empty. When you sing to them you declare, “Because this is true for a sinner like me, it can be true for someone like you too.”
Sing expressively. Clap your hands. Stomp your feet. Strive to match the outward expressions of your affections to the realities we’re singing about.
Let’s be a church who loves to sing. Not because we’re the best singers or to put on a show or to get ourselves or our guests caught up with emotions. Let’s be a church who loves to sing because we’re a church that loves God. And when we see his glory in the gospel we just can’t help but celebrate it.
Tonight the men of Cross of Grace will gather together to sit under the word, bear their brother’s burdens, and call out to the Lord in prayer. All guys 15 years and older are welcome to join in at the Robles’ home tonight at 7pm. They’ll be discussing the Red Sea crossing & reflecting on just how tempting it can be to return to Egypt - even after everything God has done. Come ready to be challenged, encouraged, and built up as men in Christ!
Youth Ministry continues this Sunday. They’re journeying through The Faith: Teen Zine vol. 1. and walking line by line through the Apostles’ Creed. This time around they’re asking the question, “What did Jesus do?” Youth, come ready to wrestle with the big questions of faith and receive the answers God provides.
Our annual Communion Dinner is March 1st at 5:00pm. Morning service is cancelled for a celebration of the Lord’s Supper over the course of a full meal. As we do, we’ll behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world in a special way. You can look at last year’s photos here.
Not only will we share in the eating of a meal, we’ll share in its preparation. Sign-up to bring a dish or dessert at the link below. Reach out to Liz if you want to help with setup & tear down, decor, photography, or serving the meal.
If you’ve been visiting Cross of Grace for any length of time and would like to learn more about what we believe as a church and how those beliefs take shape in the life of the church, this class is for you. If you’re discerning whether or not this is the church family the Lord is calling you to, this class is for you. If you’re ready to take the next step in pursuing membership at Cross of Grace, Starting Point is your starting point to do so!
Wherever you’re at in the process, we invite you to join us one two hour class. Immediately after church at the Schlieder home in Santa Ana with lunch and childcare provided.
Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar 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 Grass Area
Men’s Meeting
7:00pm - Robles Home
Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club
10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
Youth Ministry
6:30pm - Severson Home
Learn more about Youth Ministry here
The youth of Cross of Grace Santa Ana are putting together a series of events to raise funds for the Western Region Youth Camp in July!
This month their fundraiser will be a Parent’s Night Out! We’ll have our youth, along with Ministry Safe approved adults, babysitting the kids in Orange from 4pm-8pm on Saturday, 2/28/26. They'll be well taken care of and have a great time while you enjoy your evening.
**Limited space for those under 1 year old. An email will be sent if we cannot accommodate.**
The cost is $20/kid for the four hours, and all the proceeds will go to Youth Camp.
Just when Israel thought they were done with Egypt, they realize that Egypt is not done with them. In Ex 13:17-14:31, Pharaoh makes one last stand. Pursuing the people to the edge of the Red Sea. Leaving them with their backs against the wall. Stuck between a hostile army and the deep blue sea. Death is before them. Death is behind them. And the people have no idea what to do. What should we do when we’re struck with fear like this? When life seems beyond us? When we realize we’re in a fight we just can’t win? Moses tells us the only thing we can do: stand back, keep silent, and see God at work. Because salvation is the Lord’s. Our help comes from the Lord. Our every battle belongs to the Lord.
