IMMERSED INTO THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Our study of the means of grace brings us to the sacraments of the church: Baptism and Communion. Two ordinary activities - immersion in water, sharing a meal - which bring the extraordinary grace of Christ to us in a special way. Visible words of the gospel which not only declare the good news of Christ's saving work but enact it and make it experiential for us. The first of these is baptism: God’s visible confirmation that we are his children. As we pass through the waters, God sets us apart. Bringing us from death to life. Taking us out of slavery and into freedom. Marking an end to our old identity and declaring to our heart, mind, conscience, and the depths of our spirit and to all those bearing witness, that we now belong to Christ. Baptism is the seal which confirms all this to be as really and wonderfully true as we were really submerged under the water and brought back up again. Would we remember our baptism - however long ago it was - and be spurred on to live like the new people we were shown to be. Trusting that God’s grace has come to us. Desiring to see more and more of our neighbors pass through the waters and move from being far from God to members of our family.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

Each month, the ladies of CGSA gather for a time of discussion where “women talk like women” about God, experience rich fellowship, and encourage one another. All to promote the growth of women in Christ as women in Christ.

Tonight, they’ll continue their discussion of the Shaping Virtues of our family of churches & ask how they can embody the virtue of generosity as women in Christ. We hope to see you there!

JOIN IN TONIGHT AT 7PM AT THE SCHLIEDER HOME

CHRIST IS BUILDING 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” of Scripture with this local body of Christ. They’re also individuals with whom we commit to do the same. We praise God for sending more laborers into his harvest, adding more members to our family, and advancing his gospel in Santa Ana.

EVERY 1ST & 3RD SUNDAY @6:30PM

Our first-ever youth ministry is finally here! Beginning March 2nd, young adults from 7th-12th grade will gather for a bi-monthly book club, complete with snacks, games, and all the riches of Christian fellowship. They’ll kick things off by reading & discussing C.S. Lewis’ classic, Mere Christianity together.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

To help you prepare to send your students & pray for God to bear fruit through this ministry, check out the details below:

• Who it’s for: 7th-12th graders from Cross of Grace, as well as those invited by the members & youth of Cross of Grace.

• When & Where: 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month at 6:30pm at Hopper & Burr in DTSA.

• Leadership: Truman & Katie Severson and Christian & Kara Davis will lead the Youth Ministry alongside other faithful, trusted, and MinistrySafe trained adults in the church.

• Why: Our Youth Ministry exists to come alongside the parents of Cross of Grace to promote the discipleship of our youth by:

  1) Hosting discussions around good books that shape hearts, minds, and souls,

  2) Helping our youth think wisely and deeply about living God’s way in God’s world,

  3) Building intergenerational relationships with adult members within the church, and

  4) Providing an intellectually challenging and socially stimulating context for our youth to invite their non-Christian friends

Please join us in praying the Lord would use this ministry to draw our youth closer to himself, prepare the future members and leaders of Cross of Grace, and bless our church for generations to come. Reach out to Truman or Pastor Kyle with any questions.

FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 2

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, FEBRUARY 27

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Women’s Meeting

  • 7:00pm - Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

• Youth Ministry

  • 6:30pm - Hopper & Burr in DTSA

  • Learn more about Youth Ministry here

SHARING LIFE IN CHRIST TOGETHER

This past Sunday, we learned that our relationship with God reaches its peak of joy through our relationships with each other. 1 Jn 1:1-4 taught us that to truly have Jesus is to share him with others. But we all know relationships can be hard. Christ won’t let us down, but others will. Our past experiences of Christian community or history with church might be marked by its share of disappointments. It may seem safer to go it alone or hold others at an arm’s length but the truth of the matter is that: You can’t live the Christian life alone and get all the grace that God has to give. Jesus gave himself to us so that we’d give ourselves to others. Through our fellowship, we’re caught up in Christ’s worship, mission, service, and friendship in a way we just wouldn’t be otherwise.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT 7PM

This week, 4 groups will meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus and apply his gospel to each other’s lives. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend one.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

A CLASS TO EXPLORE CROSS OF GRACE CHURCH

If you’ve been visiting 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. This two-hour class is designed to help you to get to know us, ask any questions you might have, and take the next step in discerning whether or not the Lord is calling you to to become part of the Cross of Grace family.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MARCH 16 IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH AT THE SCHLIEDER HOME

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23

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, FEBRUARY 20: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20: THURSDAY SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00pm - Roenicke & Lee Homes

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21: FRIDAY SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00pm - Houlton & Erkelens Homes

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22: LIVINGWELL WALK FOR LIFE

• 9:00am - LivingWell parking lot (2010 N. Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865)

  • Learn more, register, or donate to the fundraiser here

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

GIVE YOUR NEED, GET GOD’S GRACE

As Christians, we've been born again by the word of God. Raised to a new life in a new family. Belonging to God as beloved children because of the work of the Son. Prayer is the means by which we call upon our Father. A special channel through which we connect with God and enjoy personal communication with him. But if we’re honest, for all we know about how good prayer is for us, we just don’t do it. Philippians 4:4-7 comes to us not to pile on the guilt, or charge us to offer better, more-disciplined prayers, but to provide us with a simple model for receiving God’s grace through prayer. One in which we give him our need and he gives us his peace. Because God is near to us through Christ, we don’t have to “be anxious about anything,” but can come to him with everything. Trusting that he hears us, loves us, and is ready to meet us in our weakness.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE