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:
7:00 pm - Erkelens and Houlton Homes
10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
After nearly four years of existence, we’ve been as financially conservative as possible. We’ve invested in our Sunday meeting space and in our neighborhood. We’ve purposefully and joyfully been an ordinary church. We’ve sought to fund what’s fruitful. Now the Lord has borne fruit, our church has grown and we believe the church needs more pastoral bandwidth to care for existing needs related to pastoral care and to continue the outward spread of the Gospel into our Santa Ana community. As a result, we’re thrilled to announce that Jeff Schlieder has accepted the offer to become Cross of Grace Santa Ana’s first full time staff pastor. He’ll be transitioning from his bivocational role to his full time role on Tuesday, July 6.
This will be the biggest stretch we’ve ever placed on our budget. But you have given sacrificially and joyfully until now and we believe that the Lord will provide through our shared commitment to the spread of the joy of Jesus in our neighborhood in this next season. Pray for Jeff and Taylor as they prepare to transition into this next season. Pray for the Lord to save Santa Anans through the onboarding of a full time pastor. Pray for members of our church to be even better cared for. Above all, praise God for His faithfulness to provide leaders, to satisfy us in Him and to bear fruit in our mission in the city of Santa Ana.
October 8-10, 2021
Idyllwild, CA
When you look at the possibilities of what your future might hold, do you hope for the absence of trials … or do you hope for the grace of God in the midst of the trials that might come. In the middle of Acts 28, Paul finally arrives in Rome - the fulfillment of God’s promise to him. However, his journey there was fraught with roadblock after roadblock, including a massive storm and a shipwreck. But in the midst of it, he experienced and depended upon the sustaining grace of God, teaching us not to hope for the absence of storms, but for grace to endure the storm.
This Sunday we introduce a new song in our service: I Have A Shelter by Sovereign Grace Music. As we hear Sunday’s sermon on Acts 27:1-28:15, Paul’s shipwrecks and snakebites will remind us that following Jesus doesn’t exempt us from rough seas, but in fact, often leads us into stormy weather. Take time to listen and get familiar with this song so that we can celebrate Jesus, who is our unfailing shelter in the midst of the storms of life, by singing it together this Sunday.
VERSE 1
I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love
That comforts all my sorrows
VERSE 2
I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvation
VERSE 3
I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven
In just two short weeks, we’ll be wrapping up our series together in the book of Acts after over 10 months. We’ve seen and discovered the timeless traits of the Church. As we seek to be molded by God’s Spirit to conform to these traits, the reality is that over time, we as a church and individuals become … disoriented.
One of the many ways that the beautiful and multifaceted book of Psalms can be described is that it’s a book of songs which give expression to our need to be oriented to God, our tendency to become disoriented and overcome with grief, doubt, worry, fear, and sin and our longing to be reoriented to His Gospel by His truth and gracious presence. The Psalms is a songbook that gives voice to the deepest stirrings of our hearts. They’re songs that don’t sugarcoat the Christian life, but deal honestly with our struggle against sin, Satan and the world. We need a book like the Psalms and God has graciously given one to us.
As you prepare for our six week series in the Psalms this summer, begin reading through the Psalms in your daily devotions. Read one a day or even set up a plan to read all the way through by the end of our series.
If you’ve been visiting for any length of time and would like to learn more about what we believe as a church and how those beliefs take shape in the life of the church, this class is for you. The aim is to help you discern whether or not this is the church family the Lord is calling you to. If we discover together that this isn’t the church for you, we want to help you find another church. If by the end of the class you believe this is where the Lord is leading you, then we’d love to take steps toward welcoming you as a member and assisting you to plug into the life of the church.
Our monthly women’s meeting is tonight at 7 pm. Join the ladies in the church as they finish up their study in the book of James.
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:
7:00 pm - Schlieder Home
10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
Immediately after church at French Park
We’re resuming a tradition that’s been on hold for nearly two years. The location is different, but the idea is the same: we’re entering into our Santa Ana neighborhood to spend time together among our neighbors. We exist to spread the joy of Jesus in Santa Ana and this is just another way we expect the Lord to accomplish that mission through us.
Here are directions to French Park.
Bring a brown bag lunch with you to church for every member of your household
Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for every member of your household
Plan on walking straight from church to French Park immediately after the service has ended. It’s 200 yards north of the Ebell Club, so no need to drive. You may keep your car parked in the Ebell parking lot.
