SEEING AND SHARING IN JESUS TOGETHER

Our annual communion service was a wonderful time of beholding Christ around the table. We sang, heard, saw, smelled, touched, and tasted the gospel together. Taking a break from our regular order of service to experience an entire Sunday celebration centered around the Lord’s Supper. We shared in a full meal together - many thanks to the hands that prepared the food, set the tables, arranged the decorations, and made it all possible - and shared in the elements of bread and wine as we communed with the Savior whose body and blood they represent.

TO SEE PHOTOS FROM COMMUNION SERVICE CLICK HERE

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR JESUS, COME TO HIS TABLE

As we live out our new lives in Christ in the year 2025, what the Apostle Peter wrote of first-century believers is true of us. “Though you have not seen him, you love him" (1 Pet 1:8). We’ve never laid eyes upon Jesus, but we long for that day when our faith will turn to sight and we enter into the fullness of everlasting life. But our journey home is long. We often lose sight of where we're going. Our faith in the Beloved but yet-to-be-seen Savior ebbs and flows. We think to ourselves, “If only I could just see Jesus! If only he was right here with me. Walking alongside me. Then, I could keep going. I would know this is real and worth it.” We love him but we don't yet see him. But the good news is that he loves us so much that he provides a special way to behold him: the Lord's Supper. Through the broken bread and poured out cup, Jesus shows us that he’s with us and will never leave our side.

LISTEN TO THE HOMILY 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 this week.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

SUNDAY, 3/9 AT 5PM

This Sunday, instead of meeting in the morning we’ll gather for a meal at 5:00pm. We’ll enjoy a special time of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good as we celebrate Communion over the course of a full meal. Just as the food will nourish our bodies, the Supper will nourish our souls. We’ll sing, laugh, talk, and feast to the glory of the Savior who gave his body and shed his blood to give us a seat at the table.

ALL ARE WELCOME

• This is a family dinner so our kids will join us for the meal. No Children’s Ministry classes will be offered this Sunday.

• You’re encouraged to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to hear, see, smell, touch, and even, taste the gospel in a special way.

• Everyone is welcome to enjoy dinner and share in the common meal with us.

• All those who have professed faith in Christ and been baptized are welcome to participate in Communion and receive the bread and cup with us - whether members, kids, or guests.

• If you haven’t been baptized but are interested in taking this first step of the Christian life, talk to a pastor. They’d be happy to tell you more about what it means to believe in Jesus and profess your faith in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection through baptism.

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 all hands on deck event. Whether you’re a household of 1, 2, 3, 4 or more - sign up to contribute to this celebration of the grace of God in Christ.

SIGN UP TO BRING AN ITEM 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

March 3 - MARCH 9

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 6

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Lee & Roenicke Homes

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Houlton & Erkelens Homes

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

• Annual Communion Dinner Service

  • 5:00pm - Meeting Room: Ballroom

  • Sign up to bring a dish here

WE ARE ONE BODY, MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER

Church membership is not “membership in a club.” It’s “membership in a body.” As Paul says in Ephesians 4:25, we are one body, yet “members one of another” - vitally connected and working together for the good of the whole. In this way, becoming a church member is an expression of commitment to the people around you. A grace-empowered pledge to fulfill the “one anothers” of Scripture with a specific group. These others are the men and women identified in a particular local church. As members of Cross of Grace Santa Ana, we have the privilege of living out the Christian life with one another. We celebrate and grieve with one another. We build deep relationship with one another. We join arms to advance the joy of Jesus in a particular neighborhood with one another. We help one another pursue holiness. We remind one another of the sweetness of the gospel.

In light of this, we praise God for the new members we had the joy of introducing this last Sunday. We happily welcome Angelo & Amber De La Cruz into the family of Cross of Grace!

We thank God for adding new laborers to the harvest that’s before us. We’re excited for them to join us as we spread the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana!

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.