GOD IS WORKING THROUGH OUR FAMILY OF CHURCHES

Please see an update from Dave Taylor, our Director of Global Missions, and join us as we pray for these requests in July.

Psalm 127.1 says, ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’

It’s a truthful and sobering reality. Unless the Lord builds the house, we labour in vain. We’re all just wanting and wasting our time, unless the Lord truly builds, and so as we look out on July and what’s ahead, here are some things you can be praying for…

1. Please pray for Sovereign Grace Pastors College Class of 2025. Even though the Pastors College only wrapped up graduation a few weeks ago, preparations for the upcoming class are well underway. This year the college will welcome nine students from all over the US and Australia. Please pray for them and their families, as they continue to fundraise and prepare to move to Louisville, USA.

2. Please pray for the WorshipGod Conference: One with Christ, How Our Union Affects Everything – July 24-27th. The conference will be held in Louisville, KY, and is designed to equip and encourage pastors, leaders, musicians, tech personnel, and songwriters as they seek to plan and lead congregational worship. Please pray for Bob Kauflin as he leads this conference, as well as the speakers John Piper, HB Charles, Jared Mellinger, Devon Kauflin, Mike Bullmore & Josh Blount.

3. Please pray for the 40-person missions teams that are heading to Rancho 3M (July 1-8th; 8-15th) from Cornerstone Church (Knoxville), as well as the 5 people who are doing summer internships there. Please also pray for the missions team from Covenant Fellowship Church (Glen Mills) that is heading to Iglesia Biblica de Playa Azul (July 1-8th), as well as the missions team from Covenant Fellowship that is heading to serve alongside our missionary family in Turkey (July 1-8th).

4. Please pray for Joselo Mercado as he serves in Peru this week. He and his wife Kathy will be with 150 pastoral couples at a marriage retreat of the Christian Missionary Alliance of Lima. These churches represent about 60,000 members. So please pray that as they invest in these marriages, it will encourage churches to grow families that model the gospel to a society that so needs it. In addition, Joselo will be in Miami later in the month (July 23-25th), meeting with the Gospel Coalition Spanish Council. TGC Spanish is the most visited Christian website in the Hispanic world and so please be praying for Joselo, as the council meets to talk about the future direction of this ministry.

5. Please pray for Pastor Ángel Miranda, who this month is leaving with his wife and daughter from his hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia to plant a church in Sincelejo. Although the two churches that are sending him (Santa Marta, Jacobo Aldana; Barranquilla, Alejandro Cueto) are still in the process of adoption, in their hearts, this is an SGC plant.

6. Please pray for the Ark Church in Dnipro, Ukraine asking God to continue to protect them, and to use them to meet practical needs, and to offer gospel hope to those around them who have been impacted by the war.

   … One thing’s for sure, we so need the Lord to build the house.

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FROM ISAIAH

In last Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Kyle preached from Isaiah 24-27 - a passage known as Isaiah’s Apocalypse, where Isaiah has end things; ultimate things; last things in view. In chapter 24, he foretells of the day of the Lord, when not only the nations will come under judgment, but all compromise everywhere will finally and ultimately be judged by God Himself. But in the next three chapters, the tone changes, dramatically to what follows the final judgment - namely, heaven. And not a disembodied spiritual heaven, but a physical new heavens and new earth. It’s a glorious future Christians look forward to. But the best part? We don’t just have to look forward to it. We can experience a taste of it today. Listen to the sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

STARTING POINT- SUNDAY, AUGUST 4TH

If you’ve been visiting Cross of Grace for any length of time and would like to learn more about what we believe as a church and how those beliefs take shape in the life of the church, this class is for you. If you’re discerning whether or not this is the church family the Lord is calling you to, this class is for you. If you’re ready to take the next step in pursuing membership at Cross of Grace, Starting Point is your starting point to do so!

Wherever you’re at in the process, we invite you to join us one two hour class. Immediately after church at the Roenicke home in Santa Ana with lunch and childcare provided.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

EVERY TUESDAY AT SANTIAGO PARK IN SANTA ANA

This summer members of the church will be gathering for a casual park day every TUESDAY morning at 10am at Santiago Park in Santa Ana (600 E Memory Lane, Santa Ana). This is a once-a-week hangout to encourage fellowship in the church, meet our neighbors, and spend time in the city where we’ve been called. 

Anyone is welcome, whether you have kids or not. Bring a blanket or chair and some snacks and join us every Tuesday this summer. We hope to see you there!

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT US HERE

JULY 1 - JULY 7

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:

TUESDAY, JULY 2: SUMMER PARK DAY AT SANTIAGO PARK

• 10:00am - Santiago Park (600 E Memory Lane, Santa Ana)

SUNDAY, JULY 7: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

REDUCED CHURCH CALENDAR

In the world of agriculture, soil must remain “fallow” once every few years to maintain its fertility for years to come. To lie fallow is to lie unplowed and unplanted for a time in order for nutrients to be restored.

While we have a complete fallow month in December (nothing on the church calendar but Sunday services), for the month of July we are trimming down our church activities to allow a reduction of scheduled events on our church calendar.

WHAT IS BEING REDUCED?

• No Small Group Meetings - Make use of the free Fridays to enjoy informal fellowship with one another and your neighbors.

• No Additional Church Activities - All we’ve got going on aside from our Sunday gatherings are the Men’s BBQ on 7/11 and Women’s Potluck on 7/25. Events geared toward having fun and cultivating our friendships.

Have any questions about church events? Look to our church calendar, which is always updated to reflect changes to meetings or events.

Subscribe to the calendar here.

WE CAN’T COMPROMISE ON OUR MISSION

Not only Judah, but all mankind is compromised. Turning from words of judgment and hope to Judah (Isaiah 1-12), Isaiah speaks words of judgment (Is 13-23) and hope (Is 24-27) to the nations "out there." And here's what we can't miss: The world “out there” can be “dangerous” and scary, but nothing is scarier than what’s coming to those who don’t know Christ. The reality of this danger teaches us many things. That the good news of the gospel comes with the bad news of judgment. That everyone is accountable to God. That Jesus is not one valid option among many. That there is no neutral way of living in this world. And, most importantly, that we cannot compromise on getting the whole gospel to the whole world.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

LADIES, SEE YOU AT 6:30PM

In lieu of Women’s Meetings this summer, the ladies will be gathering together for summer potlucks from June through August. They’ll be sharing meals and stories of God’s grace. This is a great event to invite your friends, especially friends who aren’t sure what they believe, don’t attend church, or are new to the faith.

Each month will be at a different member’s household. This month, the women will be gathering at the Arista’s household. See you tonight for encouraging testimonies and a buffet of comfort foods!

CONTACT US HERE FOR LOCATION DETAILS

REMINDER: NO ELEMENTARY CLASS THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday is the 5th Sunday in June, so we’ll only offer the Preschool Class. All kids 6 and up will remain with us after the singing portion of our service to hear the preached word outside of their usual classroom setting. We’ll have coloring sheets, our pastors will prepare the kids to listen well to the Sunday sermon, and children and their parents will hear the gospel side by side.

These 5th Sunday breaks serve 3 purposes. They provide an opportunity to bridge the gap between Children’s Ministry and the regular life of the church. They get our kids ready for what comes next once they graduate from the Elementary Class. They contribute to a helpful pattern of rest for our Children’s Ministry volunteers who serve so joyfully and selflessly every Sunday morning.

JUNE 24 - JUNE 30

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, JUNE 27: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, JUNE 27: WOMEN’S SUMMER POTLUCK

• 6:30pm - Arista Home

SUNDAY, JUNE 30: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom