BUT YOU CAN’T OVERESTIMATE GOD’S MERCIFUL COMMITMENT

On Sunday, we heard Pastor Jeff preach from 1 Samuel 12, where Samuel addresses Israel one final time and pulls the cover off their sin of desiring a king. His aim was to show Israel that they had drifted away from their God to the point of rejection. Yet, they didn't see the gravity of their sin until they were fully committed to their sin. They had drifted farther than they realized. But what’s even more apparent than their sin in the text is the strength of God’s commitment - to His own glory. Because He had called them His people, He refused to forsake them. The same is true of those who have been adopted into God’s family through the blood of Christ. Though you may have drifted far - and may yet drift again - God’s commitment to you in Christ remains steadfast.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

This month we will be discussing chapters 4-6 of the book titled True Feelings: God’s Gracious and Glorious Purpose for our Emotions by Carolyn Mahaney. Even if you have not read the book, still come and engage in conversation. This meeting is a place where women at all stages of life can come and learn how to be women whose lives honor God - women who live in light of the Gospel.

Women’s Meeting takes place on the 4th Thursday of every month at the Schlieder home at 7pm. We hope to see you there!

YOU CAN ORDER A COPY OF THE BOOK HERE

SAVE THE DATE FOR NOVEMBER 14TH AFTER SUNDAY SERVICE

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

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS FOR TACOS AND KICKBALL

Plan on heading over to the Houlton’s Home after Sunday service for tacos and our 4th annual kickball game. 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.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU!

REFORMATION DAY IS THIS SUNDAY

On October 31, 1517, a German Monk named Martin Luther nailed a document calling for reform in the Catholic Church to the door of the local church in Wittenburg. What followed was a movement that has changed both the church and the world to this day! Not only this, but this movement -which rediscovered the authority of Scripture as the only sole and infallible rule of the church, the glory of God as the goal of all things, and the centrality of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone - has shaped our local church to be what it is today. The story of the Reformation is important to us because it’s a story that helps us better understand ourselves as it points us to the shoulders of the gospel-centered saints of old that we still stand upon today.

Below you will find a selection of resources that will immerse you in the story of the Reformation as you read, watch, and listen to the events which have shaped our church and the world around us.

Documentary - Watch the Reformation

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer - Available to stream for FREE in October. “Watch this documentary to discover the events God used in Martin Luther’s life that led him to rediscover the gospel of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.“

Podcast - Listen to the Reformation

Luther: In Real Time - The podcast is back for season2. From the Ligonier webpage, “Every Friday, walk again with Martin Luther from his heresy charges to his famous stand for the authority of God’s Word at the Diet of Worms. This second season is a 13-episode abridgment of season 1 with added discussion questions to help you, your family, or your study group get even more from the experience.”

We hope this list makes you grateful to God for his work in the past and also encourages you to keep the spirit of the Reformation alive as we seek to always be reforming our church and our lives according to God’s Word. Semper Reformanda!

THIS IS HOW WE “DO” ANNOUNCEMENTS

This post serves as a reminder to read the rest of the posts in this newsletter - and every subsequent newsletter. If you’ve ever found yourself saying anything like, “I didn’t know Picnic in the Park was today” or “when was it announced that women’s meeting was moved up a week” or something similar, odds are that you skipped over a blog post making that announcement. So, use this reminder to prompt you to read through to the end of every newsletter so that you’re in the know about what’s coming down the pike in the life of our church.

Every Tuesday and Thursday we publish blog posts which explain upcoming events, past events and general updates regarding our city and our church. Read the blog so you know how to prepare for upcoming events.

If you have not subscribed to the blog to get email updates when the blogs have been posted, you can subscribe here.

OCTOBER 25 - OCTOBER 31

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:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

WE ARE ONE BODY, 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 Cross of Grace Santa Ana, we have the privilege of living out the Christian life with one another. We celebrate and grieve with one another. We build deep relationship with one another. We join arms to advance the joy of Jesus in a particular neighborhood with one another. We help one another pursue holiness. We remind one another of the sweetness of the Gospel.

In light of this, we praise God for the new members, Camron and Brian, 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.

A GOOD THING TURNS INTO A CORRUPT THING WHEN WE TURN IT INTO A SAVIOR THING

On Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached from 1 Samuel 11, which gives the account of Saul’s first victory as king. The story tells of how the city of Jabesh Gilead is saved. And though Saul appears to win the day, he gives the credit to God. This reminds us that in life, even though our replacement kings might sometimes come through for us, those are yet instances of God’s goodness and God’s deliverance as the King who is sovereign over all things. God works through imperfect and even at times sinful things - like a cruel Roman cross - to accomplish His perfect purposes.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE

This Sunday 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

THE LORD CONTINUES TO GROW HIS CHURCH

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.