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:
6:30am - French Park Grass Area
7:00pm - Houlton, Roenicke, and Erkelens Home
10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
James 4:1-12 is a passage that, on one hand, everyone wants to hear, given its practicality and impact upon our lives. But, on the other hand, it just might be a passage no one really wants to hear, given the finger it points at you and I. It’s a passage that contains timeless wisdom from God on the matter of relational conflict. James asks, "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?" (4:1). To which he does not reply, "Your difficult circumstances," "the difficult, immature, and troubling people around you" or even "It's all Satan's fault!" Instead, he says, "Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" (4:2). In other words, the problem is us. The root of conflict and the first step in resolving it, starts with us. We need this kind of biblical self-awareness in order to examine our own hearts, sympathize with the brothers & sisters we’re prone to battle it out with, and seek the grace we need to turn away from selfish desires and place others above ourselves.
We look back at 2024 and thank God for his faithfulness. He’s held us fast, he’s sustained our church, he’s advanced our mission.
We look forward to 2025 because the God of 2024 is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We look forward to a new year, because the same old things are true. It’s a new year, but Jesus is the same. It’s a new year, but his gospel hasn’t changed. It’s a new year, but our mission to spread the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana remains.
Whatever newness and whatever change the next year may bring, we rejoice in all that remains unchanged! And we pray God would bless our church with fresh fruit as we continue to walk down the same old paths. Proclaiming the same Lord. Preaching the same gospel. Pressing in to love the same city. Would he help us to be faithful for the glory of his name, the joy of our souls, and the good of our neighbors.
Would God bless your 2025 according to all the riches of his grace!
This Christmas Eve, we gathered to sing classic carols, read the nativity story, and set our sights on Jesus Christ. We spent the evening sharing in the “fullness” of joy he was born to bring. Freshly filling our hearts with his warmth and light.
Relive the celebration by enjoying some photos and listening to the Christmas Eve homily from John 1:14-18.
This Sunday is the 5th Sunday in December, 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.
We believe this break provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between Children’s Ministry and the regular life of the church and get our kids ready for what comes next once they graduate from the Elementary Class. We also believe it provides a helpful pattern of rest for our Children’s Ministry volunteers who serve so joyfully and selflessly every Sunday morning.
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:
5:00pm - Ebell Club Courtyard
Find details here
10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
As you celebrate this Christmas holiday, we hope you experience the blessing of being surrounded by family and the warmth of holiday tradition and celebration. More than anything, though, we hope you experience the comfort and peace of knowing that Jesus was born to save you from your sins, bring a peace like none other and reconcile you to your Heavenly Father. May your celebration of Christmas be a worshipful expression of praise to the One whom the Father sent to earth out of love for you.
We’ll gather in the beautiful Ebell Courtyard to sing classic carols, read the nativity story, and hear good news of great joy. All are welcome to join us for these special moments.
All throughout James, we’ve heard that wisdom is the way to wholeness. The path to living in God’s world, God’s way. But in 3:13-18, we come to a fork in the road on the path of wisdom. Not all that claims to be wisdom is wisdom. Not all who claim to be wise are wise. So how do we know who to look to? How can we tell who we should follow after and imitate? How can we discern the “wisdom from above” from “earthly un-wisdom?” James tells us we’ll know it when we see it.
We’re excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with a traditional candlelight service. We’ll gather in the beautiful Ebell Courtyard to sing classic carols, read the nativity story, and hear good news of great joy. All are welcome to join us for these special moments.
Invite whoever you’re spending Christmas with to come along as we share in the joy that Jesus was born to bring! You can find a copy of our digital flyer here that you can text, email, or share on social media to invite your family, friends and neighbors to our service.
We’ll have a single guitarist and a choir. We encourage you to lend your voice. If you’d like to join in, please contact Pastor Kyle.
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:
6:30am - French Park Grass Area
10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
