GO INTO OUR CITY ON OCTOBER 23

The Santa Ana 5K is returning to the city. As a church, it represents an opportunity to go into our city and speak to our neighbors. Whether you run or walk this race, come and join us in two Saturdays.

Here are the details from the event website:

The Revive Santa Ana 5K Run is taking place on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The free event expects to attract over 2,000 runners of all levels. Historically, the route begins near the OC Civic Center and goes past various city landmarks including the OC Historic Courthouse, Main Street and Santa Ana Stadium. The first, second and third place winners in both the male and female categories will be presented with a plaque. Finishers will receiving a participation medal and t-shirt, while supplies last. After the run, participants are invited to visit the Resource Fair hosted by local nutritional and fitness organizations providing information and giveaways. The run is open to walkers and runners of all ages and fitness levels!

You can register for the free event here.

It’s here. The 2021 CA Celebration Retreat. Many in our church will be heading up the mountain to Idyllwild, CA to gather with our sister churches Sovereign Grace Pasadena and Sovereign Grace Church of Orange for a weekend of substantive Biblical teaching, fellowship and rest. Whether you will be attending or not, there are several ways we can prepare for this weekend.

FOR THOSE ATTENDING CA CELEBRATION

• Remember to eat dinner before leaving or on your way up to the retreat

• Carpool with each other and make the journey up the mountain part of the weekend experience

• Registration begins at 4:00pm and the first session begins at 7:00pm

• The address is 55251 South Circle Dr., Idyllwild, CA 92549

• For further details and questions, see the email you received from Melissa Goins with the subject line titled “Celebration CA: Registrant Information” or email Liz Madrigal at office@crossofgracesa.org

FOR THOSE NOT ATTENDING

• There will be no Sunday service at Cross of Grace Santa Ana, so encourage another gospel preaching church in Santa Ana by attending one of their services on Sunday. It’s probably been a long time since you’ve been a guest at another church. Go and be reminded of what that’s like and use that reminder to better serve guests of our church.

FOR EVERYONE: HOW TO PRAY

• Pray that God would begin to fill our hearts with anticipation and excitement for what He will accomplish through Celebration CA.

• Pray that God will bless all of those who are already serving us by preparing, making plans, and gathering gear.

• Pray that God uses Celebration Kids to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of our children.

• Pray that the pastors who are preaching the 4 main sessions will be filled with the Spirit as they prepare and deliver their messages.

• Pray that unbelievers among us would come to know Christ, repent of their sins, and begin to follow Jesus.

• Pray that our churches would grow deeper in their love for one another and experience deeper unity.

• Pray that we would grow in our love for California and the mission God has given us to reach Californians with the gospel.

OCTOBER 3 - OCTOBER 10

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. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10: CA CELEBRATION RETREAT

• Idyllwild, CA

*OUR REGULAR SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB WILL RESUME ON OCTOBER 17

GOD IS SPREADING THE JOY OF JESUS THROUGH OUR CHURCH

Last week, members of one of our small groups partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) Chili Van to serve a hot meal and extend the love of Jesus toward our Santa Ana neighbors experiencing homelessness. Here’s how it went:

• We met at the Santiago Creek Trail parking lot off of Memory Lane. An OCRM staff named Andre loaded up the van with 8 catering pans of chili, backpacks, hygiene kits and all the supplies we needed and then met us there at the parking lot.

• At 6pm, we split off into two groups - one walking east on the trail and one west - looking for homeless individuals or groups to invite to come to the orange van for a bowl of chili.

• After 30 minutes, we reconvened at the van and people started flowing in. In total, we were there for 3 hours and we served about 35 people.

• Almost everybody who came for a meal stayed for a conversation; many didn’t leave until we left. Their vulnerability and openness to prayer surprised most in the group. We were able to pray, share the Gospel and have meaningful conversations with a couple dozen individuals, in addition to inviting them to seek assistance at the Rescue Mission and to join us for church on Sunday morning.

Would you pray for the men and women we met? Would you also pray for our other small group outreach efforts? May God continue to move us “back to the city” and spread the joy of Jesus through Cross of Grace Santa Ana.

JESUS SYMPATHIZES WITH US IN OUR WEAKNESS TO INVITE US TO HIM IN OUR WEAKNESS

This past Sunday we took a break from our series in 1 Samuel to sit under the preached word from Senior Pastor, Ron Boomsma, from our sister church, Sovereign Grace Pasadena. It was an expression of our partnership with Sovereign Grace Churches, in addition to a privileged opportunity to hear God’s Word preached from a faithful servant of Christ who has humbly and courageously shepherded God’s people for over 25 years.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

SANTA ANA 5K IS RETURNING

The Santa Ana 5K is returning to the city. As a church, we have participated in the event for the last several years. Come and run or walk the course and spend time with our Santa Ana neighbors.

Here are the details from the event website:

The Revive Santa Ana 5K Run is taking place on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The free event expects to attract over 2,000 runners of all levels. Historically, the route begins near the OC Civic Center and goes past various city landmarks including the OC Historic Courthouse, Main Street and Santa Ana Stadium. The first, second and third place winners in both the male and female categories will be presented with a plaque. Finishers will receiving a participation medal and t-shirt, while supplies last. After the run, participants are invited to visit the Resource Fair hosted by local nutritional and fitness organizations providing information and giveaways. The run is open to walkers and runners of all ages and fitness levels!

You can register for the free event here.

SMALL GROUPS MEET ON THE 1ST & 3RD FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH AT 7PM

If you have not plugged into a small yet, we encourage you to attend one of the three groups that meet at various homes throughout the Santa Ana area. Click Here for more info.

SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3

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. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1: SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00 pm - Houlton, Erkelens, and Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

WE WANT EASIER SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS

1 Samuel 8 is one of the most significant chapters in the Old Testament. It marks the beginning of a long and difficult monarchy in Israel. It also reveals what was in the hearts of God’s covenant people: a dissatisfaction with God and a desire to replace Him as king over them. We are no less guilty of the same desire. Like Israel, we want quick fixes to our problems and become fed up with being set apart for His purposes. However, seeking Him in prayer and repentance (1 Samuel 7) is the way God has called us to live before Him as king. But despite our bullheadedness, God is gracious and powerful enough to redeem our desire to replace Him, just as He did for Israel by turning their desire for a king into the bloodline from which would come the King of Kings.

LISTEN TO LAST SUNDAY’S SERMON HERE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUESTS INVITED

Every six months, we hold a brief members meeting after service which usually lasts about 30 minutes. This meeting is mandatory for all members, but guests are welcome as well. This meeting is 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 in our church and look forward to where we believe God is taking us as a church. Come on the 26th eager to hear what God is up to in our church.