AFTER A LONG THREE-YEAR ORDINATION PROCESS …

… Jeff will finally be ordained as an elder/pastor/overseer (three terms that are used interchangeably in the New Testament but refer to the same office) of Cross of Grace Santa Ana.

YOU’LL PLAY A PART IN THIS FINAL STEP

Jeff is not being made a pastor by an outside organization - he’s being received as a pastor by the church which walked alongside him in the ordination process. So, on Sunday, you, the congregation, will be asked a series of questions confirming your commitment to follow his leadership as an under-shepherd (1 Pet. 5:2-4) of the Chief Shepherd. Come ready not just to watch, but to participate.

A BIG MOMENT FOR THE SCHLIEDER FAMILY

Though Jeff has walked through the specific steps of the ordination process, he’s done so with the unwavering support of his wife, Taylor. Sunday marks the end of a process and the beginning of a new journey together for both of them and we want to commission Jeff, thank them both and celebrate with them the wonderful grace of God at work in their lives. See you Sunday!

JANUARY 18-24

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:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Outdoor Courtyard

ROB AND HAIYAN ARE BAPTIZED!

This past Sunday, we had the joy and privilege of witnessing the profession of faith of Rob and Haiyan through baptism. They were each immersed in water and raised up from it, reflecting the rhythms of the sacrificial work of Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection (Col. 2:12). It’s an outward work of obedience that reflects an inward reality that has been achieved by grace through faith in Jesus. Celebrate with Rob and Haiyan by reading excerpts from their testimonies below:

ROB

Seven years ago I had something happen to me that would change my life forever. This change set me into a deep dark depression that I didn’t know how to get out of. I looked to many places for help including doctors, medications, professional counseling, friends, and family. After years and months of struggling with my thoughts and my health, there seemed to be no end to my struggles.

Until one day, my wife and I went to the Orange County fair. While we were walking through the vendor section where they sell different crafts and merchandise. An old man in his 70’s or 80’s was standing in the middle of aisle handing out small pocket size bibles. I approached this man and he handed me a bible, this is where things got a little blurry for me. I think he asked me if would accept the lord Jesus Christ as my savior, but I was stunned by the bold strong conviction of his eyes.

Ever since that night I’ve been reading the bible, attending church, listening to others preach the gospel, and listening Christian music. I have had many struggles along the way and asked God, through His Spirit, to convert my worldly life into a godly life. During this time, I have learned more about life and myself that no doctor or medication can fix. I believe I have started to find my way only to realize this is the only true way to know my true self. My old self is behind me, along with my past and everything that happened in it.

I want nothing more to grow closer with god through Jesus. I look forward to my relationship with the Lord and want to continue to grow in his wisdom and grace.

HAIYAN

I came from China ten years ago. I had never been exposed to Christianity before I came to America. We only know Christianity is about believing in Jesus Christ. My life revolved around family, kids, and work.

After coming to the United States, the first few years were about making money and living for myself. I never thought that one day, I would believe in God. I met friends that would ask me “Do you believe in God?“ I replied “no”, I only believe in myself.

One day my husband ask me if I wanted to go to church. I was very curious, because I have never been to church before. I was very excited to go but I didn’t know what to expect. Going to church was the first time I had seen people sing songs, pray together and listen to the preachers sermon. 

After a few visits to church my husband bought me a Bible in Chinese and English. He told me it was a good book and I could learn about Jesus and study English at the same time. Every Friday morning I learn English with the bible with a Bible class on Zoom. The teacher is from Hong Kong and many students are from all over the country. I’m starting to learn many good words and more about jesus.

I would like to be baptized today to confess that my heart has been opened to God’s love, and that I have believed in Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior.

Krista Alvarez has officially moved on to a new job opportunity after spending a year and a half as our church’s first administrator. She built many of the systems which now serve our members and free up our pastoral team to prioritize prayer and the ministry of the Word. We expressed our gratitude to her through a small gift on Sunday.

We’re allowing the open position to remain posted for a minimum of a month, after which we’re looking to hire a new replacement as soon as possible to continue on the good work the Lord had started through Krista.

THEY’RE UNSAFE IF THE TRUTH IS UP FOR GRABS

Most of us, at the very least, tend to shy away from disagreements. Many are tempted to avoid them at all costs. Still others will boldly enter disagreements, but do so standing on their own opinion, perspective or experience. It’s the latter which often makes engaging with those who disagree feel unsafe in the first place! In the church, we know we will inevitably disagree with one another if we’re living in close fellowship together. So how do we deal with disagreements? Listen to last week’s sermon from Acts 15, which tells of two historic disagreements, and learn how a shared commitment to the Gospel turns disagreements from a threatening danger into a redemptive opportunity.

Listen to the sermon HERE.

LA SALVACIÓN ES DEL SEÑOR

This Sunday, a new Spanish song will be introduced. It’s a song that proclaims the security and victory that has been achieved in and for us through the salvation of the Lord. Whatever threats may be uttered by the fears within our hearts, Christ’s salvation speaks a better word. Take a few minutes and read the lyrics below and watch the music video online to familiarize yourself with the song. If you’re an English speaker, plug the lyrics into Google translate and read, learn and meditate on them before Sunday.

VERSO 1
Aunque el mal se levante contra mí
No temeré, no temeré
Y aunque vea mi carne perecer
No temeré, no temeré
Si al sufrir se conmueve mi fe
No temeré, no temeré

PRE-CORO
Y diré al Señor
Refugio mío, mi fortaleza
Tu nombre bendeciré
En todo tiempo
En Ti confiaré

CORO
Escudo alrededor de mí
No temerá mi corazón
La salvación es del Señor
Mi vida escondida está
En Cristo por la eternidad
La salvación es del Señor

VERSO 2
Todo el peso de tu ira recayó
Sobre Jesús y no temeré
Perfecto amor que ha cubierto mi maldad
Y echó fuera mi temor y no temeré

PUENTE
//Mi alma espera en el Señor
Él es mi roca y mi canción
Me aferro a Sus promesas
Que en Cristo ciertas son
La salvación es del Señor

PRAYER IS THE POWER OF THE POWERLESS

As we heard in the new year’s sermon, prayer is one of the greatest tools and weapons at our disposal. Even when we feel we might have nothing, we still have access to the throne of the Lord and Creator of all things, who acts on behalf of those He loves in power. Why wouldn’t we pray? Here are a few topics of prayer to guide your prayers this week.

1. Pray for the leaders of our city, state and nation (1 Tim. 2:1-2) as unrest continues to prevail and the inauguration of a new president is on the horizon.

2. Pray for those in our city who are experiencing new or perpetuating stress financially, familial or otherwise.

3. Pray for courage for one another in accordance with last week’s sermon from Acts 13-14 - courage in the midst of trials, courage to spread the joy of Jesus to our neighbors, courage to be ambassadors for Jesus in a world opposed to Him.

4. Pray that the result of such courage would be the reduction of grumbling and complaining in our hearts, no matter the situation (Phil. 2:14)

5. Pray that the Gospel would be demonstrated and proclaimed through baptism this Sunday

6. Pray for our Zoom small group meetings on Friday night - that the Lord would meet us and do a work among us by His Spirit in the virtual setting.

7. Pray for any who receive a positive covid test or who are needing to quarantine as a result of exposures.

8. Pray daily for your spouse, your children, your roommates and those closest to you.

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

JANUARY 11-17

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:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15: SMALL GROUPS (VIRTUAL)

• Check with your small group leader for more information

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Outdoor Courtyard

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17: BAPTISM

• Immediately after the Sunday service - Location: Houlton home front yard

WRITE ONE NOTE, CARD OR LETTER TO ANYBODY EVERY MONTH

Our 2020 church challenge, if you’re able to recall, was a hospitality challenge. We chuckle to think that there has never been a worse year to do such a challenge. It is true that man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).

This year’s challenge, however, is pandemic-proof. Our encouragement to you (including kids) is to make it a point to write one handwritten card, note or letter to a different person every month this year.

Why this challenge? On the surface, nearly every single book of the New Testament is a letter. But beyond this, writing letters is a way we can love one another (John 13:34) even when we can’t see one another. It’s a way that we can consider the needs and interests of others above our own (Phil. 2:4). Writing is a means of letting someone know how you’re praying for them (James 5:16), why you’re grateful for them (2 Thess. 1:3) and how you see God at work in their lives (2 Tim. 1:5). It can even be an effective way to share the joy of Jesus with your neighbor.

A NEIGHBOR, A CHURCH MEMBER, A FAMILY MEMBER …

Who should you write to? Anybody. There are no restrictions here. If you write to others in the church during some months, we’ll likely see a church built up in faith and encouragement this year. If you write to unbelievers, we hope we hear testimonies of Santa Anans coming to saving faith by the end of 2021. You could write to someone as close to you as your spouse and as relationally distant from you as an estranged family member.

A SPECIAL DINNER FOR ALL WHO WRITE 12 LETTERS

Everyone who fulfills this challenge (including kids!) in every month of 2021 will be invited to a special dinner in early 2022 to celebrate, eat good food (contingent on the state of the pandemic) and tell stories of what God did through the simple discipline of letter-writing.

Ready, set, go …

On Sunday, Jason Roenicke preached from Acts 13-14. These two chapters represent the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. They also represent the initial fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that His disciples would be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). But taking the message of the Gospel would be met with adversity and hot opposition, as became abundantly clear for Paul from the outset. Persevering in the mission, then, requires courage. Where does this courage come from? What does courage look like? Where do we go to find courage that will sustain a lifetime of witnessing to the name of Jesus in a world that’s opposed to Him? Listen to Sunday’s message to learn more.

Listen to the sermon here.