BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE ON March 23

Two weeks from now, we’ll walk over to French Park right after our Sunday service 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.

SUNDAY, 3/9 AT 5PM

This Sunday, instead of meeting in the morning we’ll gather for a meal at 5:00pm. We’ll enjoy a special time of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good as we celebrate Communion over the course of a full meal. Just as the food will nourish our bodies, the Supper will nourish our souls. We’ll sing, laugh, talk, and feast to the glory of the Savior who gave his body and shed his blood to give us a seat at the table.

ALL ARE WELCOME

• This is a family dinner so our kids will join us for the meal. No Children’s Ministry classes will be offered this Sunday.

• You’re encouraged to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to hear, see, smell, touch, and even, taste the gospel in a special way.

• Everyone is welcome to enjoy dinner and share in the common meal with us.

• All those who have professed faith in Christ and been baptized are welcome to participate in Communion and receive the bread and cup with us - whether members, kids, or guests.

• If you haven’t been baptized but are interested in taking this first step of the Christian life, talk to a pastor. They’d be happy to tell you more about what it means to believe in Jesus and profess your faith in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection through baptism.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal. We’ll share in the preparation of the meal. This is an all hands on deck event. Whether you’re a household of 1, 2, 3, 4 or more - sign up to contribute to this celebration of the grace of God in Christ.

SIGN UP TO BRING AN ITEM HERE

A CLASS TO EXPLORE CROSS OF GRACE CHURCH

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. This two-hour class is designed to help you to get to know us, ask any questions you might have, and take the next step in discerning whether or not the Lord is calling you to to become part of the Cross of Grace family.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MARCH 16 IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH AT THE SCHLIEDER HOME

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

A CLASS TO EXPLORE CROSS OF GRACE CHURCH

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. This two-hour class is designed to help you to get to know us, ask any questions you might have, and take the next step in discerning whether or not the Lord is calling you to to become part of the Cross of Grace family.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MARCH 16 IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH AT THE SCHLIEDER HOME

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

A DINNER THAT REPRESENTS THE LIFE WE SHARE

Daylight savings Sunday is coming and that means our annual all-church Communion dinner is around the corner as well. Mark your calendars for March 9th at 5:00pm as we switch gears from our regular Sunday service for a special evening centered on the Lord's Supper. We will eat and drink together as we meditate more deeply on our Savior's sacrifice. You can look at last year’s photos here.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal. We’ll share in the preparation of the meal. This is an event that requires all hands on deck. Whether you’re a single or a family, sign up to bring one of the needed dishes or items on March 9th. Or please reach out to Liz if you want to help with setup & tear down, decor, photography, or serving the meal.

SIGN UP TO BRING AN ITEM HERE

A DINNER THAT REPRESENTS THE LIFE WE SHARE

Daylight savings Sunday is coming and that means our annual all-church Communion dinner is around the corner as well. Mark your calendars for March 9th at 5:00pm as we switch gears from our regular Sunday service for a special evening centered on the Lord's Supper. We will eat and drink together as we meditate more deeply on our Savior's sacrifice.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal. We’ll share in the preparation of the meal. This is an event that requires all hands on deck. More details to follow on how to prepare and what to bring so keep an eye on the weekly newsletter for ways to volunteer.

BY SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR

This past Sunday evening, we hosted our second annual Carols in the Park - and what a joy it was! Church members and neighbors gathered together in French Park for a night of singing well-loved songs, sharing warm drinks and sweet treats, and celebrating the holiday season. We had fun, enjoyed community, welcomed our neighbors to join us for Christmas Eve, and worshiped Jesus Christ - the One who was born to bring us into his joy forevermore!

Thank you to all who served us by singing in the choir, bringing cookies and drinks, and setting up the event! Relive the celebration by scrolling through some photos from the night.

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.