**UPDATED 2/11/21** - A Comprehensive List of Resources To Give To Your Struggling Neighbors
**UPDATED 2/11/21** - A Comprehensive List of Resources To Give To Your Struggling Neighbors

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.

COVID-19 Community Resources

CGSA Neighbor Relief Program - Neighbor Relief — Cross of Grace Santa Ana 

An emergency relief effort of Cross of Grace Santa Ana, first, for the sake of members of our church and secondarily, for the sake of neighbors who have a connection to our church. Funds have been made available to assist those whose regular income has been affected by the coronavirus to the extent that the provision of food and payment of essential utilities has become an acute hardship. 

Santa Ana Resources

Santa Ana CARES - 714-667-2273 - COVID-19 Resources - A one-stop shop for a wide range of community resources for Santa Ana residents 

Santa Ana Residents Rental Assistance - https://santaana.211oc.org/ - Enter your information to determine eligibility.

COVID-19 testing at Santa Ana College - https://sna.epiconnector.com/covid ​ or call 800-446-8888

Eviction prevention for low-income residents - https://www.santa-ana.org/SAVES ​ or call 211

Rental assistance and business resources - https://www.santa-ana.org/covid19 

Blueprint for a Safer Economy - Blueprint for a Safer Economy - Coronavirus COVID-19 Response - Up to date information on “where” we’re at in state re-opening process at the county level. Type in “Orange” in the “County” textbox to check on the status of activities in the county. 

Medical Assistance

  • COVID-19 Testing and Screening - FDA Approved testing in OC COVID-19 Testing, 2020 - By appointment only. No out of pocket cost but your insurance may be billed later. 

  • Santa Ana COVID-19 Testing - AltaMed-Santa Ana Bristol - 888-499-9303 for an appointment.

    • 2720 S. Bristol St. #104, Santa Ana

    • Mon - Sat, 9am - 3pm

  • Additional Testing in Buena Park, Orange, & San Juan Capistrano - 888-634-1123  COVID-19 Test Registration 

  • COVID-19 Hotline - 714-834-2000 

General questions regarding 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 or have questions about the virus.

Financial Assistance

  • Emergency Rental Assistance Program for OC Renters - https://era.211oc.org/ - Enter your information to determine eligibility. Excludes residents of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine. 

  • Protections for Renters - The CARES Acts (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) provides certain protections from eviction and late fees due to nonpayment of rent for most tenants in federally subsidized or federally backed housing.

Protections for renters

  • 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

Financial Assistance

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

Latest News for COVID-19 response; Programs for those in need

  • Rental/Utility/Misc. Assistance - St. Vincent de Paul in Orange County - 714-542-0448 The Society of St. Vincent De Paul OC

    • 1505 East Seventeenth Street Suite #109, Santa Ana, CA 92705 

    • St. Vincent de Paul provides home visits, hospital visits, food pantries and grocery distribution, financial aid for utilities, medication, household items, rent assistance, temporary housing (motel voucher), transportation (bus passes, gasoline), and clothing. 

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

  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) - Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

    • Up tp 39 weeks of benefits to Californians who are: business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, or those with a limited work history who are out of business or have significantly reduced their services as a direct result of the pandemic.

  • CA Unemployment - General Number & Website - English 1-800-300-5616 - Spanish 1-800-326-8937 https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/

  • District 1 Grant for Small Businesses - Orange County: District 1 Grant Program 

    • Andrew Do’s Economic Support Grant Program is designed to assist eligible small businesses (including home-based businesses and independent contractors) and non-profits within the First District of Orange County (which includes Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, a portion of Fountain Valley, and Unincorporated Midway City) that have been affected by COVID-19. Funding will be allocated in the form of $10,000 grants.

Additional State-sponsored assistance

  • OC Social Services Agency - How to 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 home - www.mybenefitscalwin.org 

Job Opportunities

For those in need of employment due to lay-offs or temporary furlough

Childcare Assistance

Mental Health Assistance

  • OC Mental Health Hotlines - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources and Services | Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    • OC WARM Line - 877-910-6412 - Confidential 7-day a week telephone support services for anyone struggling with mental health, substance abuse, etc.

    • Community Counseling - 714-645-8000 - Short term services, Mon-Fri

    • OC-Links - 714-834-2332 - To be linked to county behavioral health services

    • Suicide Prevention Line - 800-273-8255 - 24/7 English & Spanish crisis counseling for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts

Community Resources

Food/Grocery Assistance

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.

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”

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

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Register for Starting Point
Register for Starting Point

IF YOU’VE BEEN VISITING CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA AND HAVEN’T ATTENDED STARTING POINT, REGISTER NOW

Starting Point is a two-hour class for anyone interested in learning more about Cross of Grace Santa Ana. You’ll learn about what we believe and what those beliefs looks like fleshed out in the life of the church. For those wishing to pursue membership in the church, Starting Point is … well … the Starting Point!

The class will take place immediately after the Sunday service at the home of Kyle and Kelsey Houlton. Lunch will be provided and childcare options are available if needed.

REGISTER HERE

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Men's Meeting Thursday
Men's Meeting Thursday

7PM AT THE 4TH STREET MARKET PATIO

Our monthly Men’s meetings resume this Thursday in-person (masks required) in DTSA at the Fourth Street Market. This is a context for men to come together, enjoy one another's company but also talk seriously about life through the lens of what God has said about who we are and the lives we live. It's a great opportunity to be encouraged, to learn, to sharpen and to be sharpened by other men around you. Feel free to invite friends, family members and neighbors to join the discussion - all men, high-school aged and up are welcome.

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What’s In Your Wallet?
What’s In Your Wallet?

NOBODY AND NOTHING CAN STEAL YOUR JOY

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas find themselves in prison after enduring a severe beating, an unjust condemnation, harassment from a demon and facing general opposition to their proclamation of the Gospel. Yet what their fellow prisoners and jailer heard resounding from their cell at night was not groaning … but joyful singing. That very night, the same joy they possessed in Jesus was shared with their jailer and his entire household. It’s clear - nothing could steal the joy that Paul and Silas possessed. Do you find yourself struggling for joy? Do you long for the kind of joy that endures even the deepest trials and sorrows? Then listen to last Sunday’s sermon and rediscover the joy of Jesus.

Listen to the sermon here.

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Starting Point Class Coming Soon
Starting Point Class Coming Soon

STARTING POINT- SUNDAY, June 26

The church is like a body with many members (1 Cor. 12:12). Our lives are connected. We need one another. Church membership is our way of ensuring everyone who belongs to our congregation enjoys the benefits and privileges of being a part of Cross of Grace Church.

We want to make it simple for anyone interested in becoming a member of Cross of Grace Church to pursue the process. If you’ve been visiting for any length of time, this class is for you. If you are interested in this class, register here.

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This Week at Cross of Grace
This Week at Cross of Grace

FEBRUARY 1-7

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, FEBRUARY 7: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Outdoor Courtyard

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5: IN-PERSON SMALL GROUPS

  • 7:00pm - Houlton home and Erkelens home

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Church Administrator Update
Church Administrator Update

LIZ MADRIGAL WILL BE THE NEW CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

For the past month and a half, we’ve been searching for our new church administrator. Multiple candidates applied and interviewed. We’re thrilled to announce to you that Liz Madrigal has accepted an offer to fill the position. However, given an upcoming maternity leave, Liz will not start in the position until summer of this year.

KELSEY HOULTON WILL BE THE INTERIM ADMIN UNTIL LIZ STARTS

In the interim period, another candidate who applied and interviewed for the position, Kelsey Houlton, will fulfill the responsibilities of the church admin until such a time as Liz is ready to give herself fully to the position.

Please join us in congratulating both Kelsey and Liz and for the time being, please direct any questions, concerns or needs that were communicated to our former church admin to Kelsey.

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Small Groups Resume This Friday
Small Groups Resume This Friday

ABSENCE HAS MADE OUR HEARTS GROW FONDER

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. For the first time since November, our midweek meetings will resume and they’re kicking off with small groups this Friday at 7:00pm. Both the Houlton and Erkelens small groups will be meeting outdoor, with masks and social distancing. Come prepared to receive and serve others with the ministry of God’s Word and prayer.

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The Spirit of God, the Timeless Establisher of Our Steps
The Spirit of God, the Timeless Establisher of Our Steps

GOD’S PLANS ARE BETTER THAN YOUR BEST PLANS

Paul’s second missionary journey in Acts 15:36-18:22 catalogues the movement of the Holy Spirit as He leads Paul and his colaborers through multiple cities, checking in on previously-planted churches and establishing new works in new regions. However, very little of what is described by Luke on this journey is what Paul had initially intended to take place. The Spirit had different plans than Paul. What happens in your heart when God’s plans prove to be different from your own? When your plans are frustrated, upended or altogether cancelled? What does it mean to live the Spirit-led life when His leading seems to be in a different direction than where you were willing to go?

Listen to the sermon here.

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Don't Forget To Write A Note Or Letter Before The End Of January
Don't Forget To Write A Note Or Letter Before The End Of January

WRITE TO SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH, A FAMILY MEMBER, A NEIGHBOR OR ANYONE ELSE

This year’s annual challenge 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.

January is days away from drawing to a close. Who can you write to let them know how you’re praying for them? Is there someone that would be encouraged by a note from you describing how you see God at work in their life? Have you been particularly blessed by someone to whom you would do well to write a sincere note of gratitude? Maybe you could share with a friend or family member how the Lord has been graciously meeting you in your devotional times in His Word. Maybe you have another idea.

If you need stationery, let the pastoral team know. We’d be glad to help.

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