IMPORTANT AIMS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

As the new year gets under way, here are a few key ways you can spread the joy of our unchanging Savior (Heb 13:8). Opportunities to gather with the church, get shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors, and glorify God in the city he’s called us to - and beyond.

MISSION & EVANGELISM

Here’s “how” you can spread the joy of Jesus in 2026. In addition to participating in city activities and our big events like the Block Party, Bridge Course, and Carols in the Park, here are some important ways to get involved with what Jesus is doing in and through us:

• Monthly Prayer Meetings - 9am-11am on the first Saturday of the month. Gather at the Warm’s home to ask the Lord to revive our hearts & revive our city. Kids are welcome. First meeting this Saturday, 1/3 at 9am.

• Neighborhood Outreaches - Saturday mornings we’re setting aside throughout the year to go into our city to strike up spiritual conversations, share the gospel with our neighbors, and become equipped and emboldened to make evangelism a part of our everyday lives. Go into our city with us on 1/17 at 10am. RSVP with Robert Lopez & check out the calendar for all the dates.

• Weekly Fellowship & Relationship Building - Basketball Nights & the French Park Run Club. Come together with members of CGSA, Santa Ana neighbors, and whoever the Lord may bring to build relationships and give a glimpse of the joy we have in Jesus - one game at a time, one run at a time.

  • Basketball Nights - Every Tuesday at 6pm at El Camino Real Park in Orange. Come to play, cheer on your friends, and make some new ones.

  • French Park Run Club - Every Thursday morning at 6:30am. Meet right in the heart of French Park for 3 casual miles followed by coffee. Runners of all skill levels welcome.

• Supporting the Mission to Spain - Last summer, we sent Emily Jones to Santander, Spain! She’s living life with the saints of Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Santander & living on mission amongst her neighbors. Here’s how you can partner with Emily this year:

  • Learn more about here mission to Spain here & join us in praying:

    • For God to open a door to a meeting place in the heart of Santander. The church currently meets in Renedo (a small suburb 30min outside the city), but feels called to move to a place more conducive to their mission

    • For growth in Christian maturity, spiritual gifts, and evangelism among this young church

    • For Pastor Norman Pedd as he completes the Sovereign Grace Churches ordination process, preaches weekly, and leads this budding young church

    • For more laborers to enter the harvest in Spain

  • Subscribe to her monthly newsletter here & partner with her financially, by giving here

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry is back! We’re heading into year 2 and couldn’t be more excited for what the Lord will do. All youth ages 12-17 are invited to join in bi-monthly meetings centered around reading good books, enjoying rich fellowship, and maturing in life and faith. First meeting of the year is this Sunday, 1/4 at 6:30pm. Go here to learn more.

PRAYER FOR WHERE WE’RE GOING

Finally, join us in praying about some important next steps and opportunities on the horizon for us in 2026.

• We’ve got a new pastoral intern - As of 1/1/26, Robert Lopez has begun a pastoral internship at CGSA. This is arguably the biggest way we’re aiming to advance our mission in 2026. Assessing, equipping, and asking, “Could Robert be our next pastor?” Join us in praying for Robert and his wife Rosie as he takes on this new role, engages in the life of the pastoral team, and prepares to attend the SGC Pastors College in Louisville, KY in fall 2026.

• We’re putting down deeper roots in our city - For the first time ever, we’re renting an office space in DTSA! More details to come - but soon you’ll find us right off 4th St! Join us in asking the Lord to use this space for his glory and anchor us in our city for years to come.

• We’re praying about some new initiatives - Join us in asking for the Lord’s wisdom and leading as we consider:

  • A Spring Bridge Course - we’d love to expand the Bridge to 2 courses a year. With the first being a more simple, casual “pedestrian Bridge,” which includes only coffee & dessert and is open only to guests or those who bring guests. Coming March 2026, Lord wiling.

  • A Recovery Ministry - to serve those within and outside the church seeking seeking freedom from substances and addictions of any kind via Christian discipleship and accountability. Pray the Lord would provide leadership, direction, and everything else we’d need to make these meetings effective.

Would the Lord lead us into a new year with fresh faith and eager expectation for all he has ahead of us. Seizing the opportunities to share in the joy of Jesus and spread it to our Santa Ana neighbors!

GET READY FOR ALL THE LORD HAS IN STORE IN 2026!

AT THE WARM’S HOME AT 9AM

This Saturday, from 9am-11am, Cordell & Marina Warm are graciously opening their home to host our first prayer meeting of the year! Join us as we pray for the needs of our church, the good of our neighbors, and ask God to bring revival in our city. Make these meetings part of your regular rhythm on the first Saturday of each month. Cafe y pan provided. Kids are welcome. Invite your friends.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, in Santa Ana as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10)

CONTACT US HERE FOR LOCATION DETAILS

THIS SUNDAY AT 6:30PM

Youth Ministry is back and ready to roll after taking a month off in December. We’re excited to start a new book that’s really quite old: The Faith: Teen Zine vol. 1. A book which walks teens through the Apostles’ Creed and connects modern readers to an ancient confession of the Christian faith. We’ll explore big questions about faith that the church has been asking since the beginning. We’ll dwell on the rock-solid answers God has revealed. We’ll join our voices to the chorus of praise that’s been echoing in every place, culture, and time for the past 2,000 years. You won’t want to miss this!

We’ve got pre-ordered copies so you are able to purchase the book at a discounted rate. Show up this Sunday evening, grab a copy of the book if you still need one, and get ready to resume our normal schedule of meeting on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month. See you at Hopper & Burr!

FIND MORE INFO ON CGSA YOUTH MINISTRY HERE

HERE COMES 2026

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬)

We’re grateful for 2025 & hopeful for 2026, because the One who held us then holds us now.

Here’s to a new year of enjoying, serving, and laboring for the glory of our unchanging Savior!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA!

DECEMBER 29 - JANUARY 4

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:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

• Basketball in the Park

  • 6:00pm - El Camino Park

    • Reach out to Manny for more info

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

• Prayer Meeting

  • 9am-12pm - Warm residence

    • RSVP with Cordell

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

• Youth Ministry

  • 6:30pm- Hopper & Burr in DTSA

    • Learn more about Youth Ministry here

CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

This Christmas Eve, we gathered to sing classic carols, read the nativity story, and draw near to the Jesus who drew near to us. We were freshly reacquainted with the Savior who took on everything that it means to be human. The One who is “God with us” in even the hardest parts of what it means to be us. The Christ who came to get to know sinners like us, so that we could get to know the salvation he was born to bring.

Relive the celebration by enjoying some photos and listening to the Christmas Eve homily from Hebrews 2:14-18.

LISTEN TO THE CHRISTMAS EVE HOMILY HERE

SO LET YOUR HEART GO OUT TO HIM

As we head into a new year, we need to make sure we don’t lose sight of the Christmas Jesus. It’s one thing to believe that he was born into this world for sinners like us back then. But it can be another thing to believe he’s still just as willing to draw near to the strugglers we are right now. Then, he was humble, gentle, and approachable by people like us. But now he is enthroned in glory, surrounded by angels, and seemingly distant, out of reach, and unapproachable by people like us. Hebrews 4:14-16 reassures us that Jesus took on flesh and never took it off again. Meaning, that he became and always remains the God-man. The Savior who fully embraced our human nature. The Savior who invites us to come to him with our every human need. All with the confidence that there’s no place in our lives that Jesus won’t go out to us, because there’s no place he hasn’t already gone for us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

A THRILL OF HOPE - A WEARY WORLD REJOICES

At Christmas, we celebrate the Savior who stepped into our stories and changed them forever. He saw us in the midst of our sin, suffering, and groaning and came into this world to do something about it. Taking on flesh. Bearing our cross. Rising to defeat the enemy of death. All the while shining forth the goodness and glory of God in a way that makes our souls sing.

We wish you a blessed Christmas holiday making much of Jesus and enjoying his many good gifts.

LET ALL WITHIN US PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME

DECEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 28

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:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

• Basketball in the Park

  • 6:00pm - El Camino Park

    • Reach out to Manny for more info

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24

• Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at the Ebell Club

  • 5:00pm - Meeting Room: Ballroom

    • We’re moving indoors in the event of rain. New location, but our celebration remains the same!

    • Invite your neighbors to experience the joy Jesus was born to bring with this digital flyer

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SPIRITUAL REPRESENTATIVES IN A SUPERNATURAL DUEL

We’re all looking for someone to stand in for us. To go for us. To represent us. Someone who will step into the dark and scary places on our behalf. To face down our fears. To make the villain of the story easier to deal with. Deep down, we’re all looking for a priest who can offer a sacrifice that will make everything okay. In Ex 6-7, that’s just what we see. It’s a battle of the priests. Moses and Aaron vs. the magicians of Egypt. Two old priests and a wooden stick against the king of the world and all the powers of darkness that stood behind him. Looking forward to that one perfect priest who’d take the fight to Satan on a wooden cross.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE