AS SHE TRAVELS TO SPAIN

Our own Emily Jones is on her way to Santander, Spain! She’ll take the next couple weeks to get to know the city and spend time with the leaders of a new church plant in the works - Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Santander. A church led by Norman Pedd that is in the process of adoption into our family of churches. A church that Emily just may be called to go join in 2025.

She’s long sensed a call to take the gospel to Spain, and after many years of waiting, preparing, and praying the Lord has opened the door to explore this opportunity. She’s asking the question whether or not this is the place God is calling her to relocate herself. Plant herself. And root herself for the cause of the gospel to advance in the world through this new local church.

As she goes, we happily send her. And as we send her, we pray. Join us as we take these particular requests to the Lord:

• That he would grant Emily, and the friend that accompanies her, safe travels all throughout the trip.

• That he would allow her to spend sweet time in fellowship with the leaders and members of Iglesia Garcia Soberana.

• That he would provide her with the information she needs to wisely think through the decision to relocate.

• That he would make her confident in his leading and calling upon her life. Allowing her to take the next step with peace in her heart and trust in the Lord.

• That he would use Emily as a witness to her Airbnb host. Asking that she’d come to church with her before the trip is through.

MEET AT THE EBELL PARKING LOT AT 9:45AM

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Romans 10:15).

This Saturday, we’re going into our French Park neighborhood and DTSA to have spiritual conversations with our neighbors. We’ll take the initiative to get to know them, ask how we can pray for them, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love to do this sort of thing? Come on down! Scared to do this kind of thing? Then come on down as well! We’re expecting that the Lord will use us to extend his welcome to our neighbors as he takes our very ordinary efforts and blesses them in extraordinary ways. You’re invited to grow more confident in striking up spiritual conversations, learn from your brothers and sisters as you watch them reaching out, and see God “paint our city blue,” one blade of grass at a time.

We’ll meet at the Ebell parking lot at 9:45am to pray before we go out. We’ll wrap up around noon at Hidden House for a quick debrief.

Please reach out to Robert Lopez if you have any questions.

ATTEND THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY IN DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA

Grab a friend or two and head to DTSA for the annual Plaza Navideña this Saturday evening, 11/23. This event is great way to meet our neighbors and support local businesses as the city lights a Christmas tree and kicks off the start of the holiday season. The festivities are free to attend and offer something for everyone: entertainment, kids crafts, photo opportunities, and more! The tree lighting ceremony will begin promptly at 5:30pm. Find out more information here.

NOVEMBER 18 - NOVEMBER 24

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, NOVEMBER 21: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park grass area

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21: WOMEN’S FRIENDSGIVING

• 6:30pm - Schlieder Home

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23: NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH

• 10:00am - Ebell Parking Lot

  • Reach out to Robert Lopez to ask any questions or RSVP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

DECEMBER 15TH at 6PM

It’s the best time of year! What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ than by singing loud for all to hear. 

This December, we’ll gather together in French Park to sing carols, spread Christmas cheer, and invite our neighbors to celebrate with us. We’ll serve up some hot chocolate, enjoy sweet treats, and extend an invitation for our neighbors to join us at church on Christmas Eve.

Want to join our merry band of carolers? Contact Pastor Kyle.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!

After lifting our voices in joyful song, we’ll continue the celebration at the Houlton home! Join us for an all-church Christmas party filled with warm fellowship and festive fun.

Watch the blog for more details!

NOT HEARERS ONLY

The train that is the Book of James keeps on chugging and churning along the way to spiritual wholeness. So far in our journey, we’ve left the station on the way to wisdom, traversed through the valley of trials, and now we come to a scenic lookout point that arrests our attention. In 1:19-20, James offers us a panoramic view of the landscape we’ll be covering throughout the remainder of the journey, a frame for reading the rest of the book. Along with this, he provides a broad-stroke portrait of what it looks like to live the wise Christian life: “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (1:19). It’s a picture of wisdom in action. A theology that comes into our heads, takes root in our heart, and comes out our fingertips. This is the burden of what follows in 1:21-27. God is not after “arm-chair theologians” who are always consuming information and taking in content but never getting in the game of actually pursuing holiness. He’s after those who are “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (1:22). On the path of wisdom, faithful hearing of God’s word always travels side by side with the obedient doing of what we’ve heard.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO ATTEND

Our small groups encourage genuine relationships within the church. Each group meets in a home, splitting their time between singing, praying, and discussion. All groups welcome guests. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church.

This is the last small group of 2024, before our December fallow month. Don’t miss out on the final meeting of the year!

For more information about our small groups, click here.

NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT - 11/21

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re moving our monthly Women’s Meeting up a week. Each November, the ladies of CGSA gather to enjoy an informal Friendsgiving fellowship night and share in the grace of friendship. No turkeys, potatoes, or fancy dishes necessary. We’re keeping it simple. If you’re able, please bring an appetizer, snack, or dessert to share as we spend the evening celebrating God’s goodness through our relationships and giving thanks to his name.

NEXT THURSDAY AT 6:30PM AT THE Schlieder HOME

BAPTISM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

Join us at the Cunningham home immediately after church on Sunday, 12/1 to celebrate the baptism of new believers and enjoy a hotdog lunch.

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

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 given to us in order to participate in God’s promise of new life in Christ.

All those who believe in Christ are called to publicly identify with him and profess their faith in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection through baptism. This is the moment where we confess with our mouth what we've believed in our heart (Rom 10:9-10). Signify our union with Jesus Christ in his dying and rising. Mark the end of our old way of life. And demonstrate our entrance into a new way of life lived out together in a new people, as we’re are added to his body - the Church.

Want to be baptized? Have questions about baptism? Talk to a member of the pastoral team. They’d be happy to tell you more about this sacrament and celebrate the saving work of God in your life.

ALL THE MAIN SESSIONS AND BREAKOUT LECTURES ARE AVAILABLE BELOW

This year as the pastors and wives of Sovereign Grace Churches gathered for our annual conference, we were well-served by faithful, joyful, and timely gospel preaching. Your pastoral team encourages you to listen to all 5 of the main sessions. They’ll bless your soul, build you up, and equip you for gospel mission in our current cultural moment.

BUT IF WE HAD TO PICK JUST ONE…

It would be great if you could listen to all 5 mains sessions and a breakout or two…but if we had to pick just one, we’d encourage every member at Cross of Grace to listen to “Seeing Grace in the Church” by Jared Mellinger. This message wonderfully explains and exemplifies what we mean when we say that we want to be a church that “points out the evidences of God’s grace among us.” It will help you see the grace of God at work, respond to it with a heart of gladness, and share words that promote continued faithfulness in your brothers and sisters at Cross of Grace. Give it a listen, give God the glory for what he’s doing among us, and grow in your ability to encourage the church.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO ALL THE SESSIONS HERE