OCT 26-NOV 1

Every Tuesday we publish a blog to share what’s going in the life of the church for that week. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: FIFTH FRIDAY - NO SMALL GROUPS

• Contact your small group leader to find out if your small group will be having an informal get-together

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room - Outdoor Courtyard.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1: THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

• 4:00pm- Houlton Home- Bring your friends, family and a few chairs or blankets to sit on!

On Sunday, we introduced the newest members of Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana. We had the added privilege of hearing from two of them. Read their brief testimony to be reminded of how God is building His Church in our city:

From Joe:

“I just want to thank everybody for allowing us to come up here and share. Due to the pandemic every church closed their doors and we were invited to this church by Jeff and we decided to come and check it out. I noticed that this church was different than other churches. We had been praying for God to lead us to the right church. I started coming to this church and I just started learning more about what it means to be a Christian. I learned about where I needed growth. By joining the men’s meetings, which I really enjoy, I got to know the the men and I just feel like I can get comfortable here. I'm not going to be just a number here where I don't show up for 2 weeks in a row. I know I'll get that phone call asking me if I'm okay or if something’s wrong and that might be the case one day where where I might need that phone call. Also coming here and hearing the the the pastors speak Spanish made me feel at home being that Spanish my second language. I just want to thank you everybody for the walk for welcoming us to the church.”

From Michelle:

“Having a relationship with Christ is my priority and first thing in my life because without him I know that I’m not the person He created me to be. I came to saving faith in 2013 and I was baptized in 2015. My first initial membership at a church was in Indio California at a small Baptist Church which I really enjoyed and appreciated my pastor and had great church friends. We moved to Orange County and bounced around to a couple of churches looking for a home church. We were invited by Jeff and were immediately impressed with his leadership and understanding of the word of God. We’ve come back ever since. I look forward to my relationship with all of you and however I can serve. I've also been attending the women's small group and I look forward to getting to know all you ladies. These relationships are new but they mean a lot to me. I also look forward to my daughter getting to know people and being part of the children's ministry in the future. Thank you so much.”

WE ARE MEMBERS, ONE OF ANOTHER

Paul says in Ephesians 4:25 that we are one body, yet “members one of another”. So, think of church membership not so much as “membership in a club” and more as an expression of commitment to the people around you. The Bible is full of “one anothers” - commands toward believers to act in godliness toward other people. What Scripture makes clear is that these “others” refer to a specific group of people and not all people generally. These “others” are the men and women identified in a particular local church. As members of Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana, we have the privilege of living out the Christian life with one another.

In light of this, we praise God for our new members, Ernie, Jose, Rosie, Robert, Kara, Christian, Jason, Kayleigh, Joe and Michelle, whom we had the joy of introducing this last Sunday. We look forward to joining you in the spread of the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana.

GOD, THE TIMELESS PURSUER OF THE LOST

A Hellenistic Jew, a Samaritan and an Ethiopian eunuch walk into a restaurant …

It’s not a setup to a bad joke, but instead what Acts chapter 8 appears to be on the surface - three seemingly unrelated stories about three individuals and groups of people. What ties them together? The principle that God is about the business of saving people - individual people. In Christ, He has created a people (plural) for His own possession, but every single person He has called to Himself, He personally pursues with love and grace. Acts 8 teaches us that neither distance not defiance can stop or hinder God’s gracious pursuit of lost souls.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU

This upcoming Sunday, plan to remain in your seats for an extra ten minutes after our corporate worship gathering has concluded for what will effectively be a “mini” members meeting.

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Please make every effort to be there for this meeting. We understand keeping kiddos reigned in for this extra time is difficult. We’ll do our best to keep it short and sweet.

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.

October 19th-25th

Every Tuesday we will be publishing a blog to share what is going in the life of the church for that week! We hope that this serves you and helps to keep you updated.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00pm - Houlton Backyard

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB, NEW MEMBERS SUNDAY, MINI MEMBERS MEETING

• 10:00am - Meeting Room - Outdoor Courtyard.

• We will be welcoming our New Members this Sunday.

• Plan to stay an extra 5-10 minutes after service for a few important church updates.

Coming Up Next Week

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26: FALL CLASS SESSION 4

• 7:00pm - Via Zoom. Link will be emailed to all registrants on Sunday.

WE’VE SUBMITTED FOUR DEACON CANDIDATES - NOW WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

This Sunday, we announced our 4 candidates for the role of deacon in our church. Each individual has displayed a heart and attitude of serving the church over the past 3 years and have been assessed by the pastoral team and found to meet the qualifications of a deacon listed in Scripture.

THE CANDIDATES

1) Jim Cunningham

2) Liz Madrigal

3) Mike Alvarez

4) Christopher Erkelens

READ 1 TIMOTHY 3:8-13

Before they are formally installed as deacons, we are inviting you, the church, to send any feedback, specifically as it relates to the qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:8-13 you may have on any candidate to our pastoral team.

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST

By God’s grace and for God’s glory, Sovereign Grace Santa Ana is turning THREE years old! Because it would be inappropriate to respond to such grace without a celebration, we’re of course throwing our annual party.

THINGS WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR

This year we will be celebrating at the Houlton Home at 4:00pm. We will still be serving tacos and we will still be playing kickball.

A FEW IMPORTANT DETAILS

1. Make sure to wear or bring some sort of active clothing. There will be activities for the kiddos, including a piñata! Invite your friends and neighbors.

2. The party will take place outside. Masks will not be required unless social distancing is not possible. Hand sanitizer will be readily available. Food will be served by a gloved team.

3. Bring a picnic blanket or chairs for your family. We will have limited seating available.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU!

OUR MONTHLY WOMEN’S GROUP IS THIS THURSDAY

Our regularly scheduled mid week programs are up and running again, following careful guidelines to ensure the health of all attendees. These meetings will occur outdoors until further notice, with 6 feet of social distance between each member present, masks required (when social distancing is not possible) and in observance of CA Guidelines. Childcare will not be provided.

7PM IN THE HOULTON BACKYARD

Our Women’s group is currently reading through the book “Women of the Word” by Jenn Wilkin. You do not have to read the book to participate and anyone is welcome to join at any time!

If you have any questions about this meeting, the book study or need the address, please email office@sovgracesantaana.org