Our first members meeting was a brief time to celebrate what God has done and look forward with faith toward where God is leading us. He has positioned us well to spread the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana.

Below are just a few things we discussed:

• Introduction of a whole host of new church policies for the sake of necessary structure and protection of the vulnerable

• Instruction regarding church communication methods. If you haven’t yet subscribed to the newsletter, do so here. It’s how we do announcements. If you’re a member or regular attender, you need to be subscribed to this newsletter.

• Introduction of new procedures for Sunday ministry teams. If you’re a member of one of these teams, make sure you have these documents and have read over them. If you’d like to volunteer for one of these teams, contact office@sovgracesantaana.org.

• Announcement of next steps regarding Spanish ministry.

• Announcement of our plans to partner with Sovereign Grace Church of Orange to plant a new church in the Anaheim Colony area.

Thanks to all who participated. If you have any questions whatsoever regarding the members meeting, please contact office@sovgracesantaana.org.

Our Greatest Need When We Gather Together Is To Have a Genuine Encounter With God

Last Sunday, we had the joy and privilege of hosting Dustin Smetona, pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. He preached a message from Isaiah 6:1-8 reminding us of the importance of our Sunday meetings together. While Sunday morning worship can seem routine and unremarkable on the outside, we need to remember the profound significance of why it is we gather. Dustin explained four needs that we have that God meets for us through our Sunday morning worship. Whether you’ve been attending church for a week or 30 years, listen to this sermon.

Listen to the message here.

FRIDAY, September 6

This year, we'll be spending the first Friday of every month fasting together and praying for a particular topic. Church members who fast for all 12 Fridays will be invited to a year-end party to celebrate the answers to our prayers. If fasting is new to you, here are some instructions. 

This month, in light of our small group direction for the rest of this fall, we’re praying for the theme of “the nations”. Here are a few ideas to guide your prayer:

• Pray that God would bring unity in our city amongst the diversity of nations represented

• Pray for our “Festival of Nations” celebration on September 15 - that we would be reminded of our calling as a church to our city through it

• Pray for those who are experiencing oppression as a result of their ethnic and/or national heritage

• Pray for those whose access to the Gospel is limited by language - pray that the Holy Spirit would bring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to them in some way and, if possible, through us

• Pray that Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana would be a beacon of hope demonstrating true unity to those sectors of our community experiencing division

IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH

Beginning this Sunday, we’ll begin hosting twice-annual members meetings. These meetings will always fall on a Sunday and will take place immediately after church at our Sunday meeting location. What’s different about these meetings? Church member meetings are moments in the life of the church when we evaluate what the Lord has done in the past 6 months and look forward with faith toward what we believe the Lord will do among us and through us in our neighborhood. We celebrate what He’s doing. We pray for what we hope that He’ll do.

THERE WILL BE LUNCH AVAILABLE FOR ALL FOR A VERY SMALL FEE

We understand that after church, stomachs are grumbling and lunch is the logical next step. A lunch that’s friendly to dietary restrictions will be provided at a small cost. No more than $3 per person. We’ll try to keep the meeting under an hour to respect your time.

A MEETING FOR MEMBERS, BUT GUESTS ARE WELCOME

Finally, all members of the church are expected to attend these meetings. Given the occasional nature of these meetings and the importance of the topics discussed, we appreciate you prioritizing this meeting. All guests and non-members are welcome to attend as well, however, for anyone who’s interested in hearing about how God is working in and through Sovereign Grace Santa Ana.

Otto Schlieder - Born 8/26, 7 lbs. 2 oz.

God is growing Sovereign Grace Santa Ana. Partly by introducing us to new neighbors and, on the rare and special occasion, sometimes by introducing us to completely new lives altogether. This past week was one such occasion. Little Otto Schlieder was the first son born to Jeff and Taylor. He was born healthy and, by God’s grace, Taylor is in excellent health as well.

Please pray for this new family of three as they adjust to a new pattern of life and rejoice with them in the grace of God through the giving of new life!

Be on the lookout next week for a meal sign-up when Jeff returns to work.

A CELEBRATION OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY

On Sunday, September 15th, we’ll be hosting our first ever “Festival of Nations” immediately after church. Coinciding with Fiestas Patrias and Dia De La Independencia, we’ll celebrate what God has built in our church through the Gospel - the gathering of people from all different nationalities and heritages into one new family in Christ.

HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?

1. Bring a dish (entree, dessert or side) from your national heritage. Bring your best effort. The results will be judged and the “Best In The World” award will be given to the individual whose dish impressed the most.

2. Prepare to stay after church.

3. Prepare to celebrate God’s grace in our church and in our city.

Let us know what dish you’ll be bringing here.

Dinner: 6pm. Discussion Begins: 7pm

• English Santa Ana Small Group: Houlton Home

• Spanish Santa Ana Small Group: Houlton Home

• “East Santa Ana” Small Group: Erkelens Home

Questions: contact office@sovgracesantaana.org

A New Book: Micah

For the past four weeks, we’ve studied the book of Joel. Now, as a church, we turn to the book of Micah in our Minor Prophets series occurring over the course of summer and fall, 2019. Micah teaches us to “elevate our attitude toward the lowly”. This past Sunday, from Micah 2:1-11, we discovered that God is not indifferent to oppression or the poverty it causes, but that He detests it. Furthermore, we learned that oppression doesn’t happen in a vaccuum. Oppression has a cause. That cause has to do first not with our attitude toward the poor, but our attitude toward God.

Listen to the message here.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH

Beginning on September 8, we’ll begin hosting twice-annual members meetings. These meetings will always fall on a Sunday and will take place immediately after church at our Sunday meeting location. What’s different about these meetings? Church member meetings are moments in the life of the church when we evaluate what the Lord has done in the past 6 months and look forward with faith toward what we believe the Lord will do among us and through us in our neighborhood. We celebrate what He’s doing. We pray for what we hope that He’ll do.

THERE WILL BE LUNCH AVAILABLE FOR ALL FOR A VERY SMALL FEE

We understand that after church, stomachs are grumbling and lunch is the logical next step. A lunch that’s friendly to dietary restrictions will be provided at a small cost. No more than $3 per person. We’ll try to keep the meeting under an hour to respect your time.

A MEETING FOR MEMBERS, BUT GUESTS ARE WELCOME

Finally, all members of the church are expected to attend these meetings. Given the occasional nature of these meetings and the importance of the topics discussed, we appreciate you prioritizing this meeting. All guests and non-members are welcome to attend as well, however, for anyone who’s interested in hearing about how God is working in and through Sovereign Grace Santa Ana.

A Celebration Of Unity In Diversity

On Sunday, September 15th, we’ll be hosting our first ever “Festival of Nations” immediately after church. Coinciding with Fiestas Patrias and Dia De La Independencia, we’ll celebrate what God has built in our church through the Gospel - the gathering of people from all different nationalities and heritages into one new family in Christ.

How Can You Prepare?

1. Bring a dish (entree, dessert or side) from your national heritage. Bring your best effort. The results will be judged and the “Best In The World” award will be given to the individual whose dish impressed the most.

2. Prepare to stay after church.

3. Prepare to celebrate God’s grace in our church and in our city.