IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE

Every six months, we call a members meeting to order. It’s a “family meeting” of sorts. We come together as a church and discuss topics that we either don’t have time for on a Sunday morning or that are simply better shared in this twice-annual context.

A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHERE GOD IS LEADING OUR CHURCH

We’re a church. Though pastors have the role of leading the local church, the church is better off if the congregation is meaningfully involved in the direction of the church. We want you to be involved in decisions and prayerfully consider the vision of our church. We’ll give you a budget update, a ministry update, bring you into significant decisions that require the prayer and often insight of the congregation.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

More than anything, we gather twice a year to look back in gratitude and praise on what God has done in our church and to look forward in faith toward where God is leading us as a church.

This meeting is mandatory for members, but also open to guests who would like to join.

MAY 16 - MAY 22

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, MAY 20: SMALL GROUPS

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

SUNDAY, MAY 22: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, MAY 22: MEMBER’S MEETING

• 12:00 pm - Ebell Club

HIS JOY BECOMES OUR JOY WHEN WE SHARE HIS JOY

In Luke 15, Jesus shares three parables about things that have been lost: a sheep, a coin, and a son. And his point in all three is to demonstrate God’s love for those whom He’s called, but have become lost. Jesus calls His people to extend His love to those very same lost souls. In order to effectively carry out that mission we must understand three things that the parables in Luke 15 teach us, namely, the danger the lost are in, the value of the lost, and the joy that’s experienced in the salvation of the lost. As a church, we have a mission to spread the joy of Jesus to our Santa Ana neighbors. Listen to this last Sunday’s sermon to ground your own heart in the the teachings of Jesus to spark the evangelistic flame in your life.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ALL GUYS 15 YEARS AND OLDER ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

Men's Meeting is a monthly conversations in an informal setting, where "men talk like men" about God. The topics are chosen to challenge the group and promote humble theological dialogue. Open to all guys, 15 years and older. Meets every second Thursday at the 4th Street Market patio at 7:00 pm.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WILL NOW INCLUDE GRADES 1 - 6

We’re pleased to announce that we’re expanding our gospel ministry to the kids of Cross of Grace Santa Ana by adding a second class to our Sunday morning Children’s Ministry program.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

As of 5/15, Sunday morning Children’s Ministry will be available for kids up to 6th grade and offered in 2 classes:

• Preschool (ages 0-5 years or Nursery-Kindergarten) will be offered in our current Children’s Ministry space.

• Elementary (ages 6-11 or 1st-6th grade) will be offered in the outdoor Courtyard space.

• Both classes will be released from our main meeting at the same time and the check-in process will remain the same.

This expansion is a step in the direction of increasing our efforts of evangelism and discipleship toward the youth in our church. It’s our prayer that all our kids would experience the joy of Jesus as they come to church on Sunday mornings and come to love gathering with God’s people.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP

Register - Register your kids for CM BEFORE the Sunday service begins. All children who are new to CM or joining the new Elementary Class will need to have an updated Health & Safety Form filled out. Prior to the service, we’ll have a CM worker available in Courtyard to provide you with a form and assist you with this registration process. We encourage you to register beforehand as it will save time during the regular check-in process during the mid-service break.

Pray - That the Lord would meet us as we pursue this expansion. Asking that he would provide additional Children’s Ministry Workers, plant gospel seeds and even save our kiddos through age-targeted proclamation of the gospel, and glorify himself as the youngest disciples in our church are built up in Christ week after week.

LET YOUR KINGDOM COME BY SOVEREIGN GRACE MUSIC

We exist to spread the joy of Jesus in Santa Ana. This Sunday we’re singing a new song to spur us on in that mission. You can read the lyrics below and give it a listen here.

VERSE 1
Your glorious cause, O God
Engages our hearts
May Jesus Christ be known
Wherever we are
We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown
The cross has saved us so we pray
Your kingdom come

CHORUS
Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your Name
Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth
Till Your sovereign work on earth is done
Let Your kingdom come

VERSE 2
Give us Your strength, O God
And courage to speak
Perform Your wondrous deeds
Through those who are weak
Lord use us as You want, whatever the test
By grace we’ll preach Your gospel
Till our dying breath

MAY 9 - MAY 15

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:

THURSDAY, MAY 12: MEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Fourth Street Market Patio

SATURDAY, MAY 21: ROCHE’S “GOOD-PIE” PARTY

• 3:00 pm-7:00 pm- Houlton Home

SUNDAY, MAY 22: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

FOR THE SAKE OF REST, PRAYER AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH

It was announced this past Sunday that pastor Kyle Houlton and his family will be taking a 6 week sabbatical this summer from May 22-July 3. Here are three points to help you understand what that means:

1. This is a good thing - Nothing is wrong. No bad thing has happened. Quite the opposite. We believe that God has prioritized rest among His people (the principle of Sabbath) for the sake of admitting we are limited and need a strength outside of ourselves. After 6 years of church planting work in Santa Ana and 11 years in ministry, this 6 week break represents a healthy pattern of rest. In fact, as we dream of Cross of Grace Santa Ana being “the next 100 year church” in our city, we are ambitious that each leader in the church take this kind of rest every 7-8 years.

2. This is for the church - While during that 6 week time period, the Houlton family will be taking a two week vacation and will be relieved from regular weekly church responsibilities, this sabbatical isn’t only for the sake of R&R. Kyle will spend much of the time reading on selected topics, praying specifically, and seeking the Lord’s will for the next several years of our church. After nearly 5 years of our church’s existence, Kyle will be asking the Lord, “where should our church be going, who have you positioned us to reach, how can we further glorify Christ in our midst?”.

3. This is something that requires your prayer - Suffice it to say, we’re hoping that a lot is accomplished through this sabbatical. We’re hoping the Houlton family returns to serving refreshed and rejuvenated for another decade of ministry. We’re hoping that Kyle is equipped and envisioned to lead our church alongside Jeff as they follow Jesus’ - the Chief Shepherd’s - leadership. In order for this to happen, your prayer is essential. Would you pray for the effectiveness of this sabbatical for the good of our church and for the glory of God?

If you have questions about the particulars, please feel free to talk with the pastoral team. Otherwise, more details will be shared at the upcoming May 22 members meeting.

THE KING OF KINGS IS ALL FOR YOU

We spent 9 months walking together through a sermon series in the book of 1 Samuel. It would be a tragedy if after all that time, you left without a big picture lesson to take with you for daily life. So, this last Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached a message from 2 Samuel 1-12 to reinforce a central lesson that’s taught in 1 Samuel and reiterated through 2 Samuel. That lesson? That God’s promised King, who reigns over all other kings and the universe itself, is all for His people. And if you belong to that king - King Jesus - through the obedience of faith, you belong to that people. You can be assured through promises like the one God made to David in 1 Samuel 7 and through the story told in 1 Samuel 11-12 that He has exerted all His power and wisdom over the course of human history to do good to His people. This is a lesson you need to take with you wherever you go. Listen to Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EVERY 1ST AND 3RD FRIDAY

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. Outside of Sunday mornings, these are the most important moments in the life of our local church. Carve this time out in your calendar every other week to be refreshed in the Gospel and to serve your friends by helping to point their lives to Christ.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE