“Let Every Person Be Quick To Hear, Slow To Speak …”

Every week we’re referring you to articles to edify, inform and encourage you as we spend these weeks apart. This week, after hearing a sermon concerning caring for one another in the local church and pursuing peace together, we learned that listening to know is a high priority if our care for one another is going to be effective, Take some time to read through this article “Six Lessons in Good Listening" by David Mathis and consider what listening might look like with flesh and bones on it.

After reading, have a conversation with those in your household over what you read. Discuss it with another family over a “Zoom dinner”.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE.

But It Always Requires Patience

The church, not just its leaders, cares for the church. Every Christian is a counselor - equipped by God with the necessary tools and skills to care for others in the local church context. But what that care looks like can vary from person to person and situation to situation. The Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 gives some of the most practical instructions to be found concerning interpersonal ministry. What we find is that we have to work hard to listen and to know and that the motivation and the example for that hard work comes from Jesus, who suffered long - completely, in fact - with us and for us in His perfect efforts to care for us in our need.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

Our denomination is asking all churches to set aside this Friday, April 17th to pray for our frontline workers. We’ve included the full text of the blog post below. You can also access it here.

Two weeks ago, our small denomination dedicated a day of prayer for healthcare professionals who are serving on the frontlines in caring for the sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because there are other men and women working daily on the frontline to serve us, even at their own risk, we wanted to dedicate this Friday, April 17 as a Day of Prayer for Frontline Workers.  We want to pray for men and women who transport food, stock grocery shelves, and work at checkout counters that make it possible for us to purchase food. Men and women who provide public transportation, and men and women who work in police and fire departments around the world providing essential emergency services. This is not an exhaustive list, so when you pray, add anyone you know who is serving on the frontlines. As Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us, let us “pray without ceasing” for them. Here are a few ways you can pray:

• Ask God to protect these frontline workers from being infected with the COVID-19 virus.

• Ask God to heal those frontline workers who do contract the COVID-19 virus.

• Ask God to give them strength and endurance for the long hours they need to work.

• Ask God to comfort them when they need to spend time separated from their families or need to self-quarantine because of risk of exposure.

• Ask God to give them wisdom for any difficult situations they may face.

• Ask God to use Christian frontline workers as a voice of gospel hope for the hopeless.

Thank you for praying without ceasing!

DON’T MISS OUR WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING EVERY FRIDAY AT 7PM

Until our church calendar normalizes and we’re allowed to meet together again, we’ll conduct a 1.5 hour zoom call to receive a brief update from one another and pray together for one another and for our neighbors. This is the rare chance we get to see one another in one place. We love seeing your faces and hearing your voices.

PLEASE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY ON YOUR CALENDAR

The call-in information for this call is listed below:

Call in online or with the app: https://zoom.us/j/6583688098 (Meeting ID: 658 368 8098)

Call in on your phone without the app or internet: +16699009128,,6583688098# US

CONTINUE TO SEND US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank you for responding and sending them. We’re so used to knowing one another’s needs through experiencing regular fellowship. We talk to one another on Sunday morning. We share life together at small group. We host one another in our homes. We can’t do any of that right now. It’s important to know, however, how to pray for one another and to ask the Lord to guide us, sustain us and encourage us each individually in this season. Here are the prayer requests from this past week (anonymity is maintained):

1. Please keep our nephew Simon in your prayers! He’s still battling his cancer, but God is good and he got to go home today to spend Easter with his siblings!

2. Pray for friends and family with a shallow faith that believe they are ok- when their life shows otherwise

3. Pray for those who have been laid off, furloughed or have had their hours reduced

4. Pray for the Lord to provide a church meeting space if SAUSD closes Heninger Elementary through the summer

5. Pray for those who are alone during this quarantine; that the Lord would comfort them with His presence

6. Pray for those - spouses and children - trapped at home in abusive situations.

KEEP SENDING PRAYER REQUESTS TO PRAYERS@SOVGRACESANTAANA.ORG.

GOD HAS BEEN MERCIFUL TO US IN CHRIST. WE WANT TO BE MERCIFUL TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND OUR NEIGHBORS

If you or your neighbors are facing medical, financial, food-related or any other kind of challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak, here’s your one-stop shop of resources available to residents of Santa Ana and throughout Orange County. We will update this list on a weekly basis to keep you up to date on all available resources.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

• COVID-19 Health Referral Hotline - 800-564-8448

The Orange County Health Care Agency has established a Health Referral Hotline to call if you suspect you have COVID-19 symptoms.

• Orange County Healthcare Agency - COVID-19 “What you should know” - http://cms.ocgov.com/gov/health/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus.asp

Contains daily updates on the spread of and response to COVID-19 within Orange County as well as other additional resources and informational graphics and flyers.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• Rental/Utility Assistance - Salvation Army of OC - 714-384-0481 

Santa Ana Office - 1710 West Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92703

Other cities served: Fullerton, La Habra, Yorba Linda, Brea, Placentia, Buena Park - 714-451-8080

Anaheim and Villa Park - 714-783-2344

• Rental/Utility Assistance - Share Our Selves - 949-270-2100 - https://www.shareourselves.org/services/financial-assistance/

• Rental/Utility Assistance - Serving People In Need (SPIN) - 714-751-1101

  • https://www.spinoc.org/news for COVID-19 response;

  • https://www.spinoc.org/programs for general programs for those in need

• Rental/Utility/Misc. Assistance - St. Vincent de Paul in Orange County - 714-542-0448 http://www.svdpoc.org 1505 East Seventeenth Street Suite #109, Santa Ana, CA 92705 

  St. Vincent de Paul provides home visits, hospital visits, food pantries and grocery distribution, person-to-person visit for assessment, discernment and encouragement, financial aid for utilities, medication, household items, rent assistance, temporary housing (motel voucher), transportation (bus passes, gasoline), and clothing.  available assistance.

For those who have experienced job-layoffs or a reduction in hours/pay:

• CA Unemployment - General Number & Website - English 1-800-300-5616 - Spanish 1-800-326-8937 https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/. Representatives are available at the above toll-free numbers, with NEW hours beginning April 20th: Sunday through Monday (7 days a week) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time) except on state holidays.

To file a claim online: https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

• CA Unemployment COVID-19 Specific Resources: Disability insurance for those off due to COVID-19 due to mandatory quarantine or unpaid sick/get better time after having the COVID-19.

To connect to claims: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm 

Frequently Asked Questions: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/faqs.htm 

• Disaster Loans for Small Businesses - https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: Federally funded benefits distinct from UI program for the self-employed, employed individuals who lack sufficient work history, independent contractors, and gig workers. 

• California Disaster Relief Fund: Will support undocumented Californians impacted by COVID-19 who are ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits and disaster relief, including the CARES Act, due to their immigration status. Approximately 150,000 undocumented adult Californians will receive a one-time cash benefit of $500 per adult with a cap of $1,000 per household to deal with the specific needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals can apply for support beginning next month.

• Labor & Workforce Development Agency – Information regarding: Paid Sick Leave, Disability and Unemployment Insurance, Paid Family Leave, Workplace Health and Safety Guidance, Employer Assistance, CA Department of Public Health, & Common Sense Tips for Staying Healthy - https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/

Additional State-sponsored assistance:

• OC Social Services Agency - http://ssa.ocgov.com/calfresh/apply

  • To apply for various aid/relief programs such as CalFresh (food stamps), CalWorks (homeless, diversion, and immediate need assistance), and General Relief (temporary cash assistance to adults without children)

  • Check your eligibility or sign-up for benefits by going to https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org/

Job Opportunities - for those in need of employment due to lay-offs or temporary furlough:

• Amazon Jobs - https://www.amazondelivers.jobs/?cmpid=PRPRLC0780H6

  • Amazon is adding 100,000 new full and part-time positions across the U.S. in our fulfillment centers and delivery network to meet the surge in demand from people relying on Amazon’s service during this stressful time, particularly those most vulnerable to being out in public.

  • Sign-up for job alerts in your area by texting AMAZON to 77088

• Walmart Jobs - https://careers.walmart.com/

  • Walmart is adding 100,000+ jobs nationwide in response to the COVID crisis

• Domino’s Jobs -https://jobs.dominos.com/dominos-careers/

  • Domino’s is adding 1,000s of jobs nationwide in response to COVID crisis

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• Gaining Internet Access during COVID-19: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/availableinternetplans.asp 

• California Guide for Immigrants: https://covid19.ca.gov/guide-immigrant-californians/

  • A PDF guide for immigrants living in CA during this crisis 

• SAUSD Family & Community Resource Page: https://www.sausd.us/covid19resources

FOOD/GROCERY ASSISTANCE

• CA Meals for Kids Mobile Application - https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/mo/cameals.asp

  • The CA Meals for Kids mobile application helps you find nearby California Afterschool and Summer Meal Programs Sites through your iOS, Android, or Microsoft devices.

  • The Emergency Meal Sites section may be used during unanticipated school closures due to emergency situations. Download the app and search in your area!

• Santa Ana Food Pantries - https://www.211oc.org/food/groceries.html

  • Serve the People-  714-352-2911 - 1206 East 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

    • 6am-9am

  • El Sol Academy - 714-543-0023 -1002 North Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701

    • Email mercado@elsolacademy.org for detailed information 

  • First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana - 714-542-7253 - 600 North Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

    • 10am-3pm, Tuesday-Thursday

• Second Harvest Pop-Up Drive Through Distribution - https://www.feedoc.org/covid-19-update/

  • 9am-Noon, Saturdays throughout COVID crisis. At the Honda Center, 2695 E Katella Ave, Anaheim 92806

  • Serving 500-1,000 families in a drive-up format with a one-week supplemental supply of bagged food.

• Waste Not OC - https://www.wastenotoc.org/pantries/

  • A cross-county food pantry map to 200+ food pantries across OC

• Catholic Charities of Orange County - https://ccoc.org/programs/

  • See English & Spanish CalFresh Healthy Living Calendar for information on OC food pantries.

• So-Cal Grocery Stores Open Early For Seniors and those with Medical Conditions

  • Northgate Market - 7am-8am (Seniors, Pregnant Women, Disabled)

  • Big Saver Foods - 7:30am-8am (Seniors)

  • Stater Bros. - 7:45am-8am (Seniors, Disabled)

  • Smart & Final - 7:30am-8am (Seniors, Disabled)

  • Albertsons - 7am-9am (Seniors)

  • Vons - 7am-9am (Seniors)

  • Target - Wednesdays, 8am-9am (Seniors, those with medical conditions)

  • Whole Foods - 7am-8am (Seniors)

  • Gelsons - 7am-8am (Seniors)

  • Ralphs - 7am-7:30am (Seniors)

  • Superior Grocers - 7am-8am (Seniors, Disabled)

• Grab & Go Meals - Free lunch and at many locations, even breakfast are offered to all students 18-and-under at multiple school in most Orange County school districts - https://na0.icarol.info/resourceview2.aspx?First=1&country=United%20States&sp=CA&county=Orange&city=-1&org=2287&agencynum=67353452

• Additional Resources by City: Select the service from: Food, Food Pantries, or Grab & Go Meals at https://www.211oc.org/ and on the page that loads, search by city in the section that reads, “Search for resources in or near a location”

• Additional information by School District (school closure length, grab & go meal times & locations): https://newsroom.ocde.us/these-oc-districts-are-offering-grab-and-go-meals-at-a-campus-near-you

GENERAL SERVICES

Dial 2-1-1 to be linked to any of the following services: 

• Women, infants and children (WIC) help

• Food and food stamps

• Homeless shelters

• Substance abuse

• Prenatal care

• Help with housing assistance

• Help with utilities

• Emergency housing

• 24-hour crisis, suicide help and suicide counseling

• Mental health services

• Food distribution

• Access to healthcare

• Medical, dental help and vision clinics

• Government assistance programs

• Transportation assistance

• Elder services

• Nutrition assistance

• Help for low-income families

• Other youth and child care issues

• Other physical and mental health services

How Can You Be Sure Not To Miss The Opportunities God’s Given You in This Historic Moment?

In an eternal sense, this pandemic is simply another period of your life that God is using to conform you into the image of His Son. He’s working right now for your good. How can you take full advantage of the opportunities He’s providing you with? Read this article and consider a few suggestions from a couple authors who have been leading their churches for two months now through a lockdown in Italy.

We’ll Discuss “How You’re Making the Most of Your Quarantine on Friday’s Zoom Call

Take some time to read through this and discuss with others - we’ll even be spending some time on this Friday’s call to discuss “how you’re making the most of your quarantine”.

Read the Article Here

We Want to Continue Helping You Disciple and Teach Your Children

We have been hard at work to figure out how to best transfer our Children’s Ministry into an online format you and your children- and we will be launching our online Children’s Ministry this week!

Here’s what you can expect:

1) A 10 minute interactive video lesson taught by our current CM volunteers. We will be continuing on in our Gospel Project Curriculum- picking up where we left off on March 1st. The lesson will be for all ages- Preschool to 5th grade.

2) A PDF of supplemental activities you can do with your children throughout the week.

3) Each week the video will be sent out through Slack and posted on Facebook on Saturday night.

You can choose when and how you would like to use this lesson with your children! We want to equip you in this time-if there is ever a way we can serve you, let us know.

If you are interested in joining our video teaching team please let us know!

The lessons will be prepped for you ahead of time- all you need is a camera or your phone and smiling face! Please email Krista Alvarez at krista@sovgracesantaana.org if you would like to volunteer!

Celebrating Christ's Resurrection While Apart

Needless to say, this Easter probably felt different to many of you this year. There was no easter egg hunt with all the kids, no pan dulce together before service and no hugging our brothers and sisters. However, despite not being together on Easter sunday- we were all able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together-while apart.

Take a look at some of the photos above to see how everyone spent this Easter.

Thank you for sending photos and videos of your household worshipping together to photos@sovgracesantaana.org. We love to see and share them each week. This will be what services look like for at least another few weeks, so keep sending them along to remind your brothers and sisters of the voices that are joining together with them as we sing, listen and pray on Sunday mornings.

We Hope You Experienced The Joy Of Jesus This Easter

On our 5th consecutive livestream Sunday worship meeting, we had the joy of celebrating the Resurrection of our Savior. Since the Lord established our church back in 2017, we’ve regularly said that “we exist to spread the joy of Jesus in Santa Ana”. This Easter Sunday, Kyle taught from Romans 8:31-39 in a bilingual sermon that this very joy is unchangeably tied to the resurrection of Jesus. Since Jesus is alive, nothing can steal His joy from you - not even a pandemic, job loss or being quarantined at home. Further, as those who have that immovable joy, we have the distinct privilege of spreading it to our neighbors who are struggling for joy even now,

Listen to this week’s sermon here.