7:00pm
North small group @ the Erkelens home
Central small group @ the Houlton home
Spanish Speaking small group @ the Houlton home
For questions and directions, please contact office@sovgracestantaana.org
God’s Loves Us Too Much To Allow Us To Settle For Our Sin
In last Sunday’s message from Joel 2, we read about the prophet Joel’s warning to the people of Judah of a coming judgment greater than the locust invasion of chapter 1 … if they remain in their sin. The irrationality of our sin is such that sometimes we’ll be content living with the consequences of our dishonor of God, while God stands ready to give us His blessings. For those who belong to God, Joel 2 teaches us to understand the warnings of God’s just judgment on sin to be a means to draw us back to fellowship with Him - something far greater than any sin promises.
God Is Adding Laborers For The Harvest
This upcoming Sunday, we have the privilege of welcoming new members into our midst. These are people who have committed to participating in the life of the church and performing the “one anothers” with this local body of Christ. They’re also individuals whom we, as a church, commit to so the same with and for. We praise God for His grace and the evidence of the advancement of His Gospel through Santa Ana.
What an exciting time this is to be doing ministry. As we grow as a church and impact both English and Spanish speakers, we’re actively working to introduce good, theologically sound, Spanish songs to our congregation. With that in mind - over the next 10 weeks, we’ll be introducing a number of new Spanish songs into our Sunday morning Liturgy. Some of the songs will be hymns or recognizable Sovereign Grace songs. Some will be songs that were written exclusively in Spanish.
This upcoming Sunday we will be introducing "Hay Libertad." You can listen to the song here. The lyrics are below, in both English & Spanish. Please take a few moments this week to listen to and read through this song in preparation for Sunday.
When Christ returns, all nations will proclaim that He is Lord. When we sing on Sundays, we’re experiencing a foretaste of that very reality.
VERSO 1
Las cadenas de la muerte me quitó
Para mí ya no hay condenación
Hay libertad, libertad
Siendo esclavo del pecado me libró
En la cruz compró mi redención
Y libertad, libertadd
CORO
Rompió mis cadenas
Me dio vida nueva
Y al fondo del mar echó mi maldad
Lavó mis pecados
Y me ha perdonado
Solo en el nombre de Jesús
Hay libertad
VERSO 2
Yo proclamo al que en la cruz por mí murió
Y cambió mi duro corazón
Por libertad, libertad
El poder de su evangelio me salvó
Y no me avergüenzo del Señor
Mi libertad, libertad
PUENTE
Al que el Hijo hace libre
Es libre en verdad
VERSE 1
The chains of death you took away
For me there is no condemnation
There is freedom, freedom
Being a slave to sin, you freed me
On the cross he bought my redemption
And freedom, freedom
CHORUS
My chains are now broken
He gave me a new life
And at the bottom of the sea he cast my evil
He washed my sins
And he has forgiven me
Only in the name of Jesus
There is freedom
VERSE 2
I proclaim the one who died on the cross for me
And changed my hard heart
For freedom, freedom
The power of his gospel has saved me
And I'm not ashamed of the Lord
My freedom, freedom
BRIDGE
Who the Son sets free
is free indeed
Bring Your Best Recipes!
Contact Krista Alvarez or Rebecca Erkelens for details. Childcare will be provided and fun will be had. See all you ladies Saturday at 11!
Our Sister Church, Cross of Grace Church In El Paso
El Paso is a city that in many ways is very much like our city. For many reasons, the tragic shooting that took place this past weekend hit closer to home than others. It makes us long for the day when Christ will return to make all things new. It also makes us hope for true recovery, restoration and peace for the city through the Gospel. Thankfully, we have a sister church, Cross of Grace Church, who are mere miles from the site of the shooting.
Last Sunday’s Offering Will Go Towards Recovery Efforts In El Paso
As an expression of solidarity, last Sunday’s offering was taken in order to be sent directly to Cross fo Grace Church that they might be even more effective in ministering the Gospel in the wake of this tragedy. Please pray for God to use these funds for His glory and the good of the city.
If you’d like to know how else you can pray for El Paso, read Cross of Grace pastor Ricky Alcantar’s article, 6 Ways You Can Pray For El Paso.
If you’d like to donate directly to the victims’ families fund, you can do so here.
Thanks To Everyone Who Thoughtfully And Meaningfully Donated
The school we meet at one Sunday mornings has been a blessing to us for nearly two years. As the next school year nears its start, we endeavored to be a blessing to the school in a particular way. The school administration informed us that what they really need and have no budget for is “teacher appreciation”. You responded and, Lord willing, teachers will enter this school year feeling just a little more acknowledged and appreciated, inspiring them to persevere in loving and educating the children of our neighborhood. Thanks for being a blessing, Sovereign Grace Santa Ana!
Fake Positivity Ignores A Very Real God
This Sunday marked the beginning of our fall sermon series in the Minor Prophets. Beginning in the book of Joel, we came across a Hebrew nation that had just endured a devastating locust invasion. It was not mere happenstance, but rather a consequence of the prolonged sin of God’s people and their unresponsiveness to the consequences of their sin. God then issues a consequence that they can’t ignore. It’s not, however, out of cruelty. Instead, it’s done out of love - to bring them back to Himself. The peoples’ willful ignorance of their own sin and its consequences had led them to miss what God was up to. The same is true in our lives. When we smooth over our disobedience with positivity and rationalization; when we ignore the very real consequences of our sins, we run the risk of missing the very real mercy of God drawing us back to Himself.
Our Last Women’s Event Was A Hit!
In April, the ladies of Sovereign Grace Santa Ana put on a massive clothing exchange. This August, join them once again for a time of fellowship and a different kind of exchange.
Bring your favorite recipes, come prepared to taste some of the best recipes and to experience an enjoyable time with other ladies.
Invite Your Santa Ana Friends And Neighbors!
If you would like to bring a recipe or meal to share, require childcare or have any questions, please contact Krista Alvarez at krista@sovgracesantaana.org
We’re Investing In Mike So He Can Invest In Our Church
This Wednesday, Mike Alvarez, who regularly leads us to sing songs of praise, adoration, confession and thanksgiving to our Savior on Sunday mornings, will be headed to Louisville Kentucky for the Sovereign Grace Worship God Conference.
Mike will be learning and relearning throughout the week. He’ll be making connections with other worship leaders. He’ll be refreshing his soul in the Gospel so that he can do the same for us as he leads us in worship on Sunday mornings.
Please pray for Mike as he goes and thank the Lord that we as a church have the opportunity to do things like this for the glory of God and the good of the church (and our neighbors).