PRAY FOR THE LORD TO WORK THROUGH JASON’S INTERNSHIP

As a church, we offer internships, albeit unpaid internships, for the purpose of evaluating those who sense a call from the Lord to pastoral ministry. Internships are for the purpose of giving these individuals an opportunity to test out their giftings in particular areas of ministry, as well as for the purpose of evaluation. Thus, this involves you, the church. Your role in internships is to graciously, yet seriously assess whether or not a calling is there. 

You’ve already seen Jason serving in a number of ways – as small group leader and Sunday teams leader, but you’ll see him being positioned in a number of new ways. His internship will last between 6-12 months and we’ll keep you apprised of where it seems the Lord is leading. Please encourage him. Ask him questions. At the end of his internship, we’ll ask for your feedback and your observations. Above all, pray for him his wife, Kayliegh, as they enter this new season together.

JESUS IS GOD’S MAN AND THE GOD-MAN

1 Samuel and the Old Testament as a whole cause us as readers to wonder, “will there ever be a good king? Or a perfect priest? Or the promised prophet like Moses? Jesus’ arrival into this world and subsequent baptism followed by the Father’s declaration, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17), were essentially a loud yes to the above questions. Which of those three questions? All of them.

The title of Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) is translated into English as “anointed one”, which in layman’s terms simply means “the one God appointed”: God’s man. Christ’s identity as God’s Messiah implies that in Him is perfected every role and office that every man and woman in the Old Testament failed to perfect. Jesus is the sum of all our needs; the sum of all necessary parts. Yet, this Christmas season, we need to remember that Jesus did not become the sum of all parts just to be one part of your life. He came and has always existed to stand at the center of your life and all things. Listen to the first message in our 2021 advent series to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THE SEASON OF ADVENT STARTS THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday marks the start of the Advent season! A season that celebrates the “advent” or “coming” of Christ into the world. Over the course of the next 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas, we’ll prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas as we sing well-loved songs about the Savior of the world, see the glory of Christ shining through the pages of Scripture, and celebrate the fact that Jesus not only came once but is coming again!

A WEARY WORLD REJOICES

We celebrate that Christ came into the world in fulfillment of God’s promises of old in order to accomplish our salvation. We long for the day he’ll come again to make all things new. During Advent, we look both backward and forward as we worship the one who came from heaven to earth and will one day come again to usher in a new heaven and earth.

As we prepare our hearts to enter into the Christmas season which is so full of so many wonderful things, would we prioritize the most wonderful of them all: Jesus Christ who was born for us. Prioritize the Christ of Christmas this Christmas season and prepare your heart to celebrate his birth by:

• Studying the birth of Christ - As an individual or a family. Open up God’s word, study the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth, and walk through Advent devotional as you count down the days to Christmas. Here are a few suggested resources:

  • Children
    Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski
    The Promise of Christmas by The Daily Grace Co.

    Adult Devotionals
    The Dawn of Redeeming Grace: Daily Devotions for Advent by Sinclair Ferguson
    Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp

• Singing the birth of Christ - Not just on Sunday mornings, but throughout the entire season! Fill your mind and heart with songs that celebrate the coming of Christ and sharpen your affections for him. Add the following albums to your Christmas playlist:

  • Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music
    Prepare Him Room by Sovereign Grace Music

• Spending time with brothers and sisters in Christ - This Christmas season, prioritize Christ by prioritizing his people. Take advantage of our December “Fallow Month” by prioritizing fellowship with one another in the church. Use the times during the week we’d normally meet as a church to: go ice skating in the city, have a game night, host another family for dinner, or do whatever you enjoy with other members in the church.

• Sharing the good news of the birth of Christ - Make your joy in Christ more full by sharing it with others. Pray for opportunities to share the good news of Christ’s birth with those in your life who have yet to receive him this Christmas season. Join us for an optional Christmas Canvas of our Floral Park Neighborhood on 12/18 at 10am. Invite your friends, families, and neighbors to our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 5pm on 12/24.

Join us for our Christmas Series, “The Christ of Christmas,” as we behold the glory of the One who came to save us!

“GRACE AND PEACE, OH HOW CAN THIS BE; LET SONGS OF GRATEFULNESS EVER RISE, NEVER CEASE”

We are a people who have much to be thankful for!

Thankful that we are loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father!

Thankful that we belong to Christ and have passed from death to life!

Thankful that we have the fellowship of the Spirit who gives us peace, comfort, and joy!

Thankful for all we have received from the gracious hand of God!

Thankful that we get to be the church together here in Downtown Santa Ana!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA!

NOVEMBER 22 - NOVEMBER 28

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, NOVEMBER 28: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT 6PM

In lieu of our regularly scheduled meetings in December, we are coming together for an optional Christmas Party! Save the date for Saturday, December 11th at 6pm at the Houlton Home. Stay tuned to the blog for more details.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST WOMEN’S MEETING OF 2021

As a church, we approach December as a “fallow” month and do not meet for our regularly scheduled monthly meetings. So make sure to join us Monday, November 29th at 7pm- contact us for the location.

Women's Meeting is a monthly conversation in an informal setting, where "women talk like women" about God. The topics are chosen to challenge the group and promote humble theological dialogue.

WE NEED A KING WHO OBEYS THE FATHER COMPLETELY

In 1 Samuel 15, after Saul had presumed to undertake the role and priest and prophet and failed in chapter 13 and 14, he finally and tragically fails in his anointed role as king and God strips his kingdom away from him. In what way did he fail? He only partially obeyed God’s Word. In last Sunday’s sermon, pastor Kyle explained that God did not give Saul his kingdom to turn and only obey some of His commands. However, where Saul failed, Jesus, the King of Kings, succeeded and fully conquered sin and death in us, bringing salvation to our souls. Like Saul, though, we didn't receive salvation only then to turn and allow sin to remain in our hearts. Listen to the sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

SMALL GROUPS WILL NOT MEET IN DECEMBER

Plan on attending small group this Friday! It will be the last small group of 2021, because, as a church, we approach December as a “fallow” month and do not meet for small groups.

Our small groups are a context where biblical discipleship happens within the church. In other words, they’re small expressions of the local church where Gospel ministry takes place. Each group meets in a home, splitting their time between singing, praying, and discussion. Some groups include young children in their meetings. All groups welcome guests.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

“PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING” BY RICHARD BELCHER JR.

Every month, we’ll supply you with a recommendation to add to your library. This is by no means mandatory, but in a world of information overload, it’s important to discern what is valuable, fruitful and helpful from what is either distracting, unhelpful or even worse, damaging to your soul. This month’s book of the month will help you to follow along in our current series in 1 Samuel as well as our upcoming Christmas series. Most importantly, this book will grow your affections for Christ as your understanding of the depth and breadth of His love is expanded by your understanding of His fulfillment of the roles of prophet, priest and king, Pick up the book today.

You can purchase a copy of the book here.