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. We invite you to join us for one two-hour class on a Sunday afternoon immediately following our worship service. The aim of the class is to provide an introduction to what we believe and how those beliefs shape our life together as a church. Lunch and childcare are provided.

If you are interested in this class, register here.

THE CHURCH CAN’T BE THE CHURCH WITHOUT ALL HER MEMBERS

On Sunday, guest preacher Trey Richardson from Center Church in Gilbert, AZ preached from 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. He helped us to behold the beautiful picture of the church as the body of Christ. A body that is beautiful because it is the unity of many different members under one Savior & Head, in which every member matters, and all members are serving and being served. If you’ve ever looked at the local church and wondered, “How can I be sure I belong? Where do I fit in? What’s my place here?” listen to this message and learn just how you need the church and the church needs you.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

OH, HOW GOOD IT IS BY KEITH & KRISTYN GETTY

This Sunday, we’re introducing a new song that celebrates the joys of belonging to Jesus together. Take time to read the lyrics and give it a listen so that you can sing it loud when we gather together. Listen to “Oh, How Good It Is” here.

Verse 1
Oh how good it is
When the family of God
Dwells together in spirit
In faith and unity
Where the bonds of peace
Of acceptance and love
Are the fruit of His presence
Here among us

Chorus
So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we'll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees
The Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people

Verse 2
Oh how good it is
On this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy
And weep with those who mourn
For the weak find strength
The afflicted find grace
When we offer the blessing
Of belonging

Verse 3
Oh how good it is
To embrace His command
To prefer one another
Forgive as He forgives
When we live as one
We all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father
And the Spirit

4 DIFFERENT PASTORS OVER THE NEXT 4 WEEKS

We’ve recently began our summer sermon series, “The Beauty of the Church.” A series that will span the course of 6 weeks, feature 6 pastors, and explore 6 different reasons we love the local church. Pastor Kyle kicked it off last Sunday and Pastor Jeff will bring it to a close. But in between now and then, we’re privileged to be joined by 4 different Sovereign Grace pastors from 4 different churches in 4 different cities.

We’re eager to hear from 4 pastors who’ve spent a combined century beholding the beauty of the local church! These men have faithfully served the church for decades. They joyfully partner with us in mission. Would you join us in welcoming the following pastors and their families as they come to Santa Ana:

• Trey Richardson - Associate Pastor of Center Church in Gilbert, AZ.

• Tim Lambros - Associate Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Tucson in Tucson, AZ.

• Mike Davis - Associate Pastor of our sending church, Sovereign Grace Church of Orange in Orange, CA.

• Abelardo Muñoz - Associate Pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Gracia Soberana de Cd. Juarez in Juarez, Mexico.

Please join us in thanking God for our gospel partners, praying for their travels and time with us, and extending them a warm, Cross of Grace welcome!

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

Women at all stages of life are invited to come and learn how to be women whose lives honor God - women who live in light of the Gospel.

Tonight, they’ll be discussing chapters 10-13 in What is Biblical Theology, by James Hamilton Jr. An excellent little book that helps us understand the grand storyline of Scripture. Don’t have the book? That’s okay! Reading is not required for participation. Just come eager and expectant to dive into the riches of God’s word.

Join us tonight at 7pm at the Schlieder Home. We hope to see you there!

BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE ON SUNDAY

Immediately after Sunday service, we’ll be walking over to French Park to eat lunch and enjoy one another’s company while in the midst of the neighborhood God has placed us in. Here are the details:

• It’s “BYOL” (bring your own lunch). If you forget your lunch or your favorite lunchbox isn’t clean, there are plenty of great restaurants nearby in DTSA.

• It’s optional - but we highly encourage coming!

• Bring some folding chairs - unless you like sitting on the grass, bring something to sit on.

• Expect the Lord to build existing relationships and create new ones with our neighbors

MAY 23 - MAY 29

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 26: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, MAY 29: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, MAY 29: PICNIC IN THE PARK

• 12:00 pm - French Park

DO YOU LOVE THE CHURCH?

This past Sunday marked the beginning of our summer sermon series, "The Beauty of the Church.” 6 weeks. 6 pastors. 6 reasons why we love the local church. This is a sermon series for those who: struggle to see the qualities of the church, tirelessly serve within her ministries, are dismayed by her apparent failures, have been “burnt” by the church, who have rare, unsustainable glimpses of her beauty, and at bottom, are most focused upon what the church does for us and not who she is. And when we ask the question, “Who is the church?” the foremost biblical response is, “The beautiful bride of Christ.” Acts 20:28 tells us why she’s beautiful. Because she is the “church of God,” whom God, the most beautiful of all, has chosen to reflect his glory to the world. Because she’s been made beautiful through cross of Christ, ransomed “with his own blood,” to magnify the grace, beauty, and love of her bridegroom. Learn to see the church as Jesus sees her and listen to the sermon here.

PARTICIPATING IN GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP AROUND THE GLOBE

We joyfully partner with Sovereign Grace Churches. We’re grateful that we’re not on our own as we carry out our mission. One way we express that partnership is through prayer. Below is a list of global prayer needs from Sovereign Grace Churches. Join us as we pray for our gospel partners:

• Pray that God would give the members and pastors of Sovereign Grace churches a renewed desire, and opportunities to share the gospel with unbelievers in our communities, on our campuses, and in our workplaces.

• Pray for the churches in Dnipro, and Sinelnikovo, Ukraine that Sovereign Grace is relating to, and sending money for relief efforts, asking God to protect them, and to use them to offer gospel hope as the war continues in that nation.

• Pray for the 8 men who will be graduating from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College in June asking God to give them perseverance to finish their PC year, and grace for their transitions back home and/or into their next step in pastoral ministry.

• Pray for the WorshipGod 22 Conference, July 27-30 in Louisville, KY asking God to equip worship leaders, musicians, songwriters, vocalists, and tech folks to return home and serve their local churches even more effectively.

• Pray for the 5 men in the Sovereign Grace Australia Pastors and Planters Academy asking God to use this next year to equip them for future pastoral ministry or church planting opportunities in Australia and the Asia Pacific part of the world.

• Pray for the short-term missions trips that different Sovereign Grace churches are leading over the summer to Guadalupe, Mexico; Playa Azul, Costa Rica; and an outreach to Muslims in London, England asking God to open hearts to hear and respond to the gospel.

• Pray that God would continue to provide financially for Sovereign Grace Churches so that we can fund the gospel opportunities He is giving us throughout the world.

EVERY 1ST AND 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

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