THREE CHURCHES. TWO DAYS. ONE MISSION.
SPREADING THE JOY OF JESUS TO EVERY CALIFORNIAN.
October 8-10, 2021
Idyllwild, CA
REGISTER TODAY FOR STARTING POINT - A TWO HOUR CLASS FOR GUESTS
If you’ve been visiting 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. The aim is to help you discern whether or not this is the church family the Lord is calling you to. If we discover together that this isn’t the church for you, we want to help you find another church. If by the end of the class you believe this is where the Lord is leading you, then we’d love to take steps toward welcoming you as a member and assisting you to plug into the life of the church.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
JUNE 13 IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH AT THE HOULTON HOME.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.
HEAD TO FRENCH PARK IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SERVICE
We’re resuming a tradition that’s been on hold for nearly two years. The location is different, but the idea is the same: we’re entering into our Santa Ana neighborhood to spend time together among our neighbors. We exist to spread the joy of Jesus in Santa Ana and this is just another way we expect the Lord to accomplish that mission through us.
Here are directions to French Park.
WHAT TO PLAN FOR
Bring a brown bag lunch with you to church for every member of your household
Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for every member of your household
Plan on walking straight from church to French Park immediately after the service has ended. It’s 200 yards north of the Ebell Club, so no need to drive. You may keep your car parked in the Ebell parking lot.
JOIN US MAY 30 AFTER CHURCH
After taking a break from Picnic in the Promenade due to COVID, we’re looking forward to resuming this bimonthly church event. On Sunday, May 30, take the opportunity to eat lunch with your French Park neighbors. Immediately after the service, we’ll be walking over to French Park to eat lunch and enjoy one another’s company while 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
This past Sunday, we experienced the profound joy of celebrating a Risen Savior. We sang, fellowshipped, heard the preached Word and even took pictures to commemorate the moment. Thanks to Christian and Kara Davis for manning our photo booth this year. Take a look at some of the photos captured and contact office@crossofgracesa.org for access to photos not pictured.
Our annual Communion Service was different this year, but it was no less sweet. Check out some of the moments from our post-service lunch captured on camera.
A SPANISH CLASS FOR ANYONE
Our 2021 Spring Class starts in less than two weeks on March 22! This year’s Spring Class is meant to equip us to live better together with our Spanish-speaking church members, friends, and neighbors. Whether you don’t know any Spanish but are eager to press into the lives of Spanish-speaking friends and neighbors, or you took 3 years in high school but are too shy to ever use it day to day, this is a class for you. Even if you’re a fluent Spanish speaker, we’d welcome you to join and be an encouragement to those seeking to learn. All levels of Spanish-learners are welcome to join and grow in both the knowledge and confidence that are needed to have real and regular Spanish conversations.
The format will be 6 class sessions, held every other week (2nd and 4th Mondays of each month) at 7:00 pm in-person, in the Schlieder backyard. These class sessions will be a hybrid of a lecture-based learning approach, interactive activities and language learning exercises, and real conversations that pair Spanish-learning and Spanish-speaking church members together.
In preparation for the class, there will be no book assigned to read. Everything will be covered in the sessions and the only materials you’ll need will be something to write with, a notebook, and the willingness to press into the unfamiliar!
REGISTER HERE
OUR ANNUAL COMMUNION SERVICE - ONLY DIFFERENT
This Sunday, we will be resuming our annual tradition of holding a communion service on the spring daylight savings Sunday. However, while it’s usually held in the evening, this year’s service will be held at our normal Sunday service time of 10:00 am. While we usually share a full-on meal together, we will only be taking the elements of the bread and the cup together. What will mark this service as unique, though, is an emphasis on the sacraments and what they mean for our lives together as Christians. Come ready to learn and to worship.
An optional lunch will be held outdoors at the Schlieder home after the service. Information to follow on the church’s Slack channel. For questions, please email office@crossofgracesa.org.
¡CONFIDENT CONVERSATIONS!
A SPANISH CLASS FOR ANYONE
Our 2021 Spring Class starts on Monday, March 22nd! This year’s Spring Class is meant to equip us to live better together with our Spanish-speaking church members, friends, and neighbors. Whether you don’t know any Spanish but are eager to press into the lives of Spanish-speaking friends and neighbors, or you took 3 years in high school but are too shy to ever use it day to day, this is a class for you. Even if you’re a fluent Spanish speaker, we’d welcome you to join and be an encouragement to those seeking to learn. All levels of Spanish-learners are welcome to join and grow in both the knowledge and confidence that are needed to have real and regular Spanish conversations.
The format will be 6 class sessions, held every other week (2nd and 4th Mondays of each month) at 7:00pm in-person, in the Schlieder backyard. These class sessions will be a hybrid of a lecture-based learning approach, interactive activities and language learning exercises, and real conversations that pair Spanish-learning and Spanish-speaking church members together.
WHY A SPANISH CLASS? WHY NOT SOMETHING “MORE THEOLOGICAL?”
Because language is theological. The Bible tells us that at Babel (Genesis 11), a common language became an opportunity for sin. In response, God divided up the languages of men. Language wrongly unified, so it was rightly divided. Due to the effects of sin, language separates men and women from one another. Yet, at Pentecost (Acts 2), language was redeemed as the message of the gospel was spoken to all gathered in Jerusalem in their own familiar language. The Spirit of God caused the preaching of the gospel to be heard in the native languages of divided peoples so that they’d all become united in Christ. Apart from Christ, common language exalted self and sin, and divided languages divided us. In Christ, every step we take into the uncomfortable territory of a new or unfamiliar language is a truly unifying, Babel-reversing, Savior-exalting step.
CHILDCARE WON’T BE PROVIDED, BUT KIDS 10 AND UP ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLASS.
Attendance will be capped at 12 participants. Men, women, and older kids, English and Spanish speakers alike may join. This class is a chance for us to learn a language, but more than that, it is a chance for us to love our city, our church, and our neighbors as we become equipped to more confidently live life together with them through the words we share. It’s our prayer that you’d be filled with both the knowledge and the confidence you need to take a step toward real conversations and real life together with our Spanish-speaking church members and neighbors.
REGISTER TODAY
In preparation for the class, there will be no book assigned to read. Everything will be covered in the sessions and the only materials you’ll need will be something to write with, a notebook, and the willingness to press into the unfamiliar!
OUR ANNUAL COMMUNION SERVICE - ONLY DIFFERENT
This year, we will be resuming our annual tradition of holding a communion service on the spring daylight savings Sunday. However, it will be different this year. While it’s usually held in the evening, this year’s service will be held at our normal Sunday service time of 10:00am. While we usually share a full-on meal together, we will only be taking the elements of the bread and the cup together. What will mark this service as unique, though, is an emphasis on the sacraments and what they mean for our lives together as Christians. Come ready to learn and to worship.
An optional lunch will be held outdoors at the Schlieder home after the service. Details to follow.