MARCH 20 - MARCH 27

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, MARCH 23: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, MARCH 23: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, MARCH 26: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB & NEW MEMBER SUNDAY

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, MARCH 26: BAPTISM CEREMONY WITH LUNCH TO FOLLOW

• 12:30 pm - Cunningham Home

MONDAY, MARCH 27: DISCIPLESHIP SPRING CLASS

• 7:00 pm - Houlton Home

CLAIRE & JIM SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

On Saturday, March 11th, 10 members of Cross of Grace partnered with 6 local churches in our city, over 200 volunteers, and the team from the Evangelism Explosion organization for a day of equipping & outreach. We all learned a very simple & effective gospel presentation (known as the Hand Outline) and were equipped with some helpful lead-off questions to move a conversation onto spiritual matters.

During the outreach portion of the day, 35 teams were sent out into our city, 186 conversations were had, the gospel was shared in English & Spanish, and nearly 40 people professed faith in Jesus Christ - praise God! The gospel is God's power to save and God is faithful to save.

 This past Sunday, we heard from Claire Erkelens & Jim Cunningham, regarding their experience at the event.

Claire candidly explained that while she wasn’t thrilled about sitting through the training session, the Lord moved her heart during the outreach portion of the event. She was impacted when she saw a man break down in tears before her eyes after hearing the gospel proclaimed.

Jim, on the other hand, felt like the training was very helpful, and the hand outline was a great tool that all can benefit from, whether you attended the training or not. He shared the Hand Outline with the congregation as follows: Thumb=Grace, Index Finger=Man, Great Finger=God, Ring Finger=Christ, Little Finger=Faith. With this simple presentation, we have an outline of the gospel message to guide us in conversations with our neighbors.

He also went out into the city during the outreach portion of the event, and was moved by the Holy Spirit directing his team to a particular laundromat, where a personal invitation to church was given to someone who had been apprehensive about attending church.

It was a great day partnering together with the gathered church in Santa Ana. Would the Lord continue to advance his kingdom in our city!

A FIG TREE, UNCHARACTERISTIC ANGER AND A (SEEMINGLY) UNANSWERED QUESTION

Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, and after his quiet entrance on the heels of the triumphal entry, what happens next cannot go unnoticed. The center of Sunday’s passage was the cleansing of the temple (11:15-19). An action which is anticipated and explained by the judgment sandwich of the fig tree scenes which occur before & after it (11:12-14, 11:20-26). This series of stories is confusing, at best, when taken out of context, leading to, at worst, harmful interpretations. But taken together in context, Jesus the Christ enters into the heart of the religious system of the day and indicts it and its leaders as corrupt and declares the people of Israel to be faithless - which is what the scenes with the fig tree symbolize. Jesus has come not to reform but to replace this defunct worship with a pure temple, faithful priesthood, and ultimate sacrifice. His shocking actions in the temple naturally raise the question amongst the Jewish authorities of the day, "By what authority does he do these things? Who does he think he is coming into the temple like that?" (11:28).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION

MEET US AT HIDDEN HOUSE AFTER CHURCH

After church THIS SUNDAY, join us at Hidden House Coffee for a Rancho 3M Short-Term Missions Trip Interest Meeting. Our goal is to take a team of 6-8 people to Juarez, Mexico from October 8 - 15, to assist with a service project and bless the orphanage there. Join us to learn more about what to expect and how you can prepare to participate.

SUNDAY MARCH 26TH

On Sunday March 26th, we not only have the privilege of welcoming new members into our midst, but we will also have the privilege of celebrating several baptisms after service on the same day! There are two very important events in the life of our church that you don’t want to miss.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: THE LORD CONTINUES TO GROW HIS CHURCH

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 do the same with and for. We praise God for His grace and the evidence of the advancement of His gospel through Santa Ana.

BAPTISM: AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD WORK

Baptism is one of the sweetest moments in the life of the church. It’s a visible portrayal of the effects of the gospel in a person. A means of grace by which our hearts are assured that we belong to Christ and have become new creations in him. Through it we declare our faith and signify our union with Christ and entrance into his body. It’s also an act of obedience, something that every believer is commanded to do.

BAPTISM AFTER SERVICE AT THE CUNNINGHAM’S

The Cunningham’s are graciously opening up their home for the baptisms and lunch will be provided at their house as well. To obtain location details feel free to contact the church office.

If you’re interested in being baptized or just have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.

SMALL GROUPS ARE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moment in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend small group this Friday at 7pm in order to encourage one another and be encouraged. To care for others and to be cared for. To point your brothers and sisters to Christ and apply his gospel to their lives, and experience the same.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

MARCH 14 - MARCH 19

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, MARCH 16: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

FRIDAY, MARCH 17: SMALL GROUPS

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 19: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Theater

SUNDAY, MARCH 19: RANCHO 3M SHORT TERM MISSIONS INTEREST MEETING

• 12:00 pm - Hidden House Coffee

WE ATE AND DRANK IN REMEMBRANCE

Our annual communion service was a wonderful time of singing, listening, sharing, rejoicing and remembering. A break from our normal order of service, this special service is an entire Sunday celebration centered around the Lord’s Table. We share an actual meal together - many thanks to the hands that prepared the food, decor and everything else - and share in the elements of the bread and the cup as we commune with the Christ whose body and blood they represent.

TO SEE PHOTOS FROM COMMUNION SERVICE CLICK HERE

MARK 11:1-11

During our annual Communion Service, we remembered that the King who’s come to us, established his Kingdom through his cross. Even as King Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and entered the temple made with hands, he’d also, as our Great High Priest enter into the true Temple not made with hands (11:11). He’d cleanse that former temple & offer a perfect sacrifice to cleanse his people. We rejoice in the presence of the King because he’s paid the price for sinners like us to enter into his holy presence.

LISTEN TO THE COMMUNION HOMILY HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW COMMUNION BRINGS US INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE KING HERE & HERE

sleep in and join us at 5pm

Daylight Savings Sunday is coming and that means our annual all-church Communion Dinner is right around the corner. This is a dinner that represents the life we share. Please take note, on 3/12 our Sunday morning service will be replaced with a Sunday evening service beginning at 5:00pm. We will switch gears from our regular Sunday service for a special service 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 12th.

SIGN UP TO BRING AN ITEM HERE