FROM THE CITY OF SANTA ANA

Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of our community members whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities. The event commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to U.S. society at large. Santa Ana's population is over 75% Hispanic/Latino, so we are going to highlight some of our favorite aspects of Hispanic culture in our city this month! Stay tuned for local features, and be sure to check out our story to submit and vote for your favorites!"

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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was filled with delicious food, great conversations, plenty of laughing and a good kind of crying as the pastoral team expressed their sincere gratefulness to all the volunteers who have served at Cross of Grace Santa Ana. Here are some additional photos of the event!

THE KING WHO IS, IS A KING WORTH TURNING TO

It took 20 years (1 Samuel 7:2). 20 years after falling under the oppressive hand of the Philistines and 20 years after trying to manipulate God into being their tool for victory and 20 years after remaining committed to their idols … that Israel was finally able to turn back to God. The Biblical term for this act of turning is “repentance”. 1 Samuel 7 demonstrates through Samuel’s leadership that repentance isn’t just saying “sorry” or even merely confessing your sin, but a turn from sin and to God with both heart and action. Moreover, 1 Samuel 7 points forward to the cross and shows us that though God is the one offended by our sin, because of the now-completed work of Christ, He is very much worth turning to.

LISTEN TO LAST SUNDAY’S SERMON HERE

This year marked our 3rd annual Festival of Nations celebration. It was a celebration of the beauty of unity in diversity in and through Christ Jesus. On the same week as our city celebrates Dia De La Independencia, we celebrate our dependence on Christ and what He has created in our small church. See some of the moments we were able to capture on camera. Congratulation to Allie Brooks, winner of Best Dessert, Scarlet Madrigal, winner of Best Kids Dish and Haiyan Shelton, winner of Best in the World.

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7PM

There are 3 different small groups that meet in homes throughout Santa Ana. We will be splitting our time between singing, praying and discussion. For more information on small groups or to connect with a group, click here.

SEPTEMBER 13 - SEPTEMBER 19

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, SEPTEMBER 17: SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00 pm - Houlton, Schlieder and Erkelens Home

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18: VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER

• 5:00 pm - Benchmark Restaurant

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUESTS INVITED

Every six months, we hold a brief members meeting after service which usually lasts about 30 minutes. This meeting is mandatory for all members, but guests are welcome as well. This meeting is a time to communicate what we wouldn’t communicate on a typical Sunday morning. We’ll look back on what God has graciously done in the last 6 months in our church and look forward to where we believe God is taking us as a church. Come on the 26th eager to hear what God is up to in our church.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR LOCAL MISSION IN SANTA ANA

This past Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing from guest preacher, Tommy Cota from Hope Alive Church in Santa Ana. He preached from Ephesians 2:11-22, reminding us that we who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, making us one in Him. The unity we experience together as a local church and with our brothers and sisters in our city only strengthens our mission together. Listen to last Sunday’s message and be encouraged as you take the Gospel to your Santa Ana neighbors.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

SUNDAY 9/12 IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER!

If you’ve been delaying registering, now is the time to pull the trigger. If finances are an issue and you’ve put off talking to a pastor, shoot Kyle or Jeff a text today. You might be asked to pay what you can, but scholarships are still available.

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS

We’re excited for our 2021 CA Celebration Family Retreat, and we know you are too! Since this will be the first time our church is participating in an event like this, we wanted to provide you with some answers to your most frequently asked questions.

What is a family retreat?

It is a time for the whole family to gather around for singing, teaching, meals, games and free time.

What will the accommodations look like?

Each household will have its own private cabin or apartment. If you’re coming solo, we’ll work with you on your roommates.

Are there separate activities for the kids?

There will be a program during the four main adult sessions for children 11 and under. Your kids will stay with you during meals, games and free time.

Who is coming?

Members of our church, Sovereign Grace Church of Orange and Sovereign Grace Church of Pasadena are all joining us. Everyone from every church us invited and we hope everyone will be there!

Where is it?

Tahquitz Pines in beautiful Idlyllwild, CA is hosting us.

When does is start and end?

Our first session is on Friday evening, October 8th. You’ll have time to get up there after school or a short workday. Grab dinner on your way up. The final session is Sunday morning, October 10th. We’ll be leaving by lunch which should give you plenty of time to get home and ready for the week ahead.

What about our Sunday Service in Santa Ana?

There will be no Sunday service in Santa Ana on October 10th. We’ll be up in the mountains. So come with us! If you can’t, then encourage another gospel-preaching church by visiting their service.

I’d like to go but don’t think I can afford it. What should I do?

We don’t want money to stop anyone from coming. We have a scholarship fund available to help. You may be asked to contribute a portion of the cost. Contact the church office to apply.

When is the final day to register?

September 12th is the final day to register. Don’t delay; register here!

Contact the church office if you have more questions we didn’t cover here.

MORE THAN A POTLUCK

This Sunday, September 12th, we’ll be hosting our fourth annual “Festival of Nations”. Coinciding with Fiestas Patrias and Dia De La Independencia, we want to celebrate what God has built in our church through the Gospel - the gathering of people from all different nationalities and heritages into one new family in Christ.

HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?

1. Bring a dish (entree, dessert or side) representing your national heritage. Bring your best effort. The results will be judged and the “Best In The World” award will be given to the individual whose dish impressed the most. Multiple dishes per family are ok! 

2. Our youth are highly encouraged to join in on the fun! There will be a new “Best In The World” award given to the kid whose dish impresses the most.

3. Join us at 4pm on Sunday, September 12th in the Schlieder backyard in the heart of Santa Ana.