JESUS EXCHANGED INFINITE RICHES FOR POVERTY

The “riches” of Christmas that come in the form of holiday cheer, nostalgia, gifts and tasty food are enjoyable, but fleeting. Too often, Jesus is included as one treasure among others - not only at Christmastime, but in all seasons. The reality is that Jesus is the reason for all seasons. Why? Because He, the Creator-King, the Lord over all, the Son of God Himself … became poor by taking the form of a servant and being born in human flesh (Phil. 2:6).

WE EXCHANGED INFINITE POVERTY FOR RICHES

But the glory of the Gospel and the wonder of Christmas is that Jesus exchanged His riches for poverty so that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Listen to last week’s sermon and fill up on the riches of Christ.

Listen to last week’s sermon here.

Who Can You Invite to this Service?

For the second year in a row we will be hosting a Christmas Eve service right here in DTSA. This service is an excellent opportunity for us to reach out to our friends, family, and neighbors - many of whom may not know the deep and all-satisfying joy of the birth of Christ. The 45 minute service will be held outdoors in the Ebell Courtyard and will include a message preached in both English and Spanish.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 5:00PM AT THE EBELL CLUB OF SANTA ANA

Free COVID-19 At Home Testing

Orange County has made COVID-19 testing at home available for residents at no direct cost. This method is both a safe and convenient testing option that can be utilizing as the case numbers continue to rise.

Head to this website for all the details including, how to register for a kit and where you can go for in person testing.

ASK GOD TO DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN

Keep sending us your prayer requests. We’ll keep sharing them (anonymously) and share other suggestions for how you can be praying during the week. It’s important to know how to pray for one another and to ask the Lord to guide us, sustain us and encourage us each individually in this season.

1. Pray that the Lord would draw us near to unbelievers who are aware of their need for hope this season. Pray that He would move on them to come and hear the Gospel preached.

2. Pray for those experiencing renewed financial loss due to the second round of shutdowns.

3. Pray for those who have been exposed to the virus - pray for health, protection and wisdom to know how to safely proceed with confidence in the sovereignty of God.

4. Pray for those who are ill - with covid or with any other illness. Pray for restoration and healing from the Holy Spirit.

5. Pray for the timeless traits of the church to continue to be evident in our local church.

6. Pray for those who are grieving.

7. Pray for those facing difficult decisions.

8. Pray for those who are isolated and unable to be with family/community during this Christmas season.

9. Pray for the requests of individuals who have shared them on our church Slack prayer channel. If you have questions about how to be added to this, email office@crossofgracesa.org

   KEEP SENDING PRAYER REQUESTS TO PRAYERS@CROSSOFGRACESA.ORG

DECEMBER 14th-20th

Every Tuesday we publish a blog to share what’s going in the life of the church for that week. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

DECEMBER FALLOW MONTH REMINDER

• It’s our annual Fallow Month- Small groups & Men’s & Women’s meetings are cancelled. We do this so you can press into natural and more intimate opportunities to relate to your church family and neighbors. The holiday season is notoriously one of the busiest times of the year. We want to help you to take advantage of the few free moments you have to spend unhurried, unscheduled time with one another and with family for the grand purpose of allowing your heart to be re-fertilized by the work of Christ. .

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20: CHRISTMAS SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room - Outdoor Courtyard.

SPREADING THE CHRISTMAS JOY OF JESUS

Last Friday & Saturday, our pastoral team, Kyle and Jeff donned festive Christmas gear, loaded their “sleigh” with gifts and hit the Orange County roads to make special Christmas deliveries to church members! The journey included 2 nights, 8 hours, 170mi, 17 happy households, sweet moments of prayer and great memories made. Spend some time looking through these special pictures from their journey!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

In March, as the country was beginning to go on lockdown, we created the CGSA Neighbor Relief Grant to help those in our church and in our city who were hurting from the aftermath of COVID-19. Since launching, we have:

• Helped 12 Individuals or Families

• Issued 24 Grants

• Given $7,276 in assistance

WE ARE STILL AWARDING GRANTS.

This fund was established primarily as a means to assist you as you love and serve your neighbors. You’re giving them the infinitely invaluable treasure of Jesus as you share the Gospel with them. We also want to help you to support them with any material needs they may have as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic’s economic effects. The fund is also available to members of the church who continue to struggle in the midst of the pandemic. If you and your family would benefit or known someone who would benefit from this grant, you can apply here.

THE FATHER GIVES HIS BEST TO THE WORST

The generosity of God Father is astounding, pure and simple. It’s rivaled by no one and nothing in the created realm. So great is it that it’s hard to get our arms around it to grasp and appreciate its magnitude, but 1 John 4:14 helps us. How? By teaching us simply that the Father sent His Son. What’s contained in this simple statement is the reality that God the Father’s relationship to Jesus is that of divine father and son - a perfect relationship comprised of perfect love, perfect unity and perfect harmony. The Son is the Father’s greatest treasure. What further deepens our appreciation, though, is the consideration of who the Son was sent for. To learn more and grow in your gratitude for God’s generosity toward you in the Gospel, listen to last Sunday’s sermon.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

O COME, ALL YOU UNFAITHFUL

This Sunday we’ll be introducing a new Christmas song during our Sunday service from Sovereign Grace Music’s new Christmas Album, Heaven Has Come. This song reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to save the faithful and righteous, but the unfaithful and broken. The incarnation of Christ is an invitation to all who have a need for a Savior; to all who lack joy, peace, hope; to all with a guilty conscience; to all who are aware of their deep spiritual emptiness this Christmas season. The lyrics are below, in English. Read them slowly as you consider how God’s promise is peace for those who believe and listen to this song in preparation for our Sunday gathering.

LISTEN HERE.

Lyrics:

Verse 1
O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone

Verse 2
O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done

Chorus
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you

Verse 3
O come, bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come, taste of His perfect love

Verse 4
O come, guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done

Bridge
He’s the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe

Verse 5
So come, though you have nothing
Come, He is the offering
Come, see what your God has done

CHRISTMAS EVE IS TWO WEEKS AWAY

For the second year in a row we will be hosting a Christmas Eve service right here in DTSA. This service is an excellent opportunity for us to reach out to our friends, family, and neighbors - many of whom may not know the deep and all-satisfying joy of the birth of Christ. The service will be held outdoors in the Ebell Courtyard and will include a message preached in both English and Spanish.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 5:00PM AT THE EBELL CLUB OF SANTA ANA