Prayer is central to our mission. In 2023, on a rotating basis, our small groups will take to the Park on the first Friday of the month to pray for our neighbors. Asking Jesus to save Santa Anans, meet our neighbors according to his grace, and open doors for sharing his gospel and spreading his joy.
The Roenicke small group will be meeting for Prayer in the Park on 2/3/23 at 7pm.
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, which we call “Starting Point”, is for you. If you are interested in this class, register here.
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:
6:30 am - French Park Grass Area
6:00 pm - Prayer in the Park (Roenicke Small Group)
7:00 pm - Small Group (Houlton & Erkelens Home)
10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
12:30 pm - Houlton Home
The Lord met us graciously this past Sunday for our first ever Women’s Seminar. The ladies of our church gathered together to learn what the Bible has to say about Christian friendships and how to grow in glorifying God in those relationships. Guest Speaker, Charlotte Richardson, graciously spent the afternoon with us to teach and encourage us to view friendships how Christ has designed them. We left well-served, prepared to lean into those friendships with one another, and profoundly grateful for our partnership with our sister churches.
See above for a photo recap and below for the full list of resources Charlotte suggested for further study.
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Paul Tripp
Blessed by Nancy Guthrie
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
Biblical Womanhood in the Home by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
We are a month into our weekly French Park Run Club. Thank you to all who have joined, and for all who have helped spread the word about our weekly run club. If you haven’t had a chance to come out on a Thursday morning, we will be there this Thursday!
In addition to spreading the word via digital means, we have printed some flyers. Take some flyers will you this Sunday as a reminder to you and to pass out to others.
We’re excited to see how the Lord will use this time weekly to engage with our French Park neighbors. Contact us with any questions.
This past Sunday we had the privilege of hearing the preached word from Trey Richardson, from our sister church, Center Church in Gilbert, AZ. We were reminded that in one way or another, we're all affected by the enemy of anxiety. Life often feels like too much. We're prone to be overwhelmed, paralyzed, or fearful as we look at what's before us today, tomorrow, or in this new year. In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul addresses our problem of anxiety by holding out the promise of prayer. Prayer is the weapon God provides to fight against anxiety. Because through it, we entrust ourselves to a sovereign God who's greater than any anxiety.
Our Women’s Ministry exists to spur women on in their pursuit of Christ through biblical discussion and building friendships. This month, we’ll break from our usual location and meet at the back patio of 4th Street Market. Join us for a night of fun and fellowship in the center of our city!
This weekend, the pastors and wives of Sovereign Grace Churches across the west region (California, Colorado, Arizona and West Texas) will be gathering in Irvine to engage in fellowship and to strengthen their marriages. Pray that the Lord would meet them and accomplish much among them before this upcoming Sunday.
In his devotional book, “Life As A Vapor: Thirty One Meditations For Your Faith” John Piper writes this about prayer: “We pray to God for the enablement of what He calls us to do, and what He calls others to do. In fact, that is exactly why prayer is necessary.” Piper is right. Prayer is necessary. It is vital. Without prayer we can’t fulfill what God has called us to do as a family of churches. Therefore, as we start 2023, let us consistently, and fervently pray for one another asking God to enable us to do what He has called us to do in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world for His glory alone.
To aid your prayers for our family of churches, please see the "Sovereign Grace Churches First Quarter 2023 Prayer Requests” listed below. May God answer our prayers, enabling us to accomplish all that He has planned for our family of churches in 2023 in a way that brings Him glory.
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 and workplaces.
Pray for the Ark Church in Dnipro, Ukraine asking God to protect them, and to use them to meet practical needs, and to offer gospel hope to people impacted by the war.
Pray for the U.S. National Church Planters Assessment that will be held in Southern California in January asking God to give wisdom to Greg Dirnberger and John Loftness in assessing future church planters in Sovereign Grace.
Pray for Jefferey, Jo, Dave Taylor, and Mark Prater as they lead an Asia-Pacific Pastors and Wives Conference March 28-30, 2023, in Manila, Philippines. Pray that God would use the singing, preaching, and fellowship to strengthen and encourage the pastors and wives attending the conference in the gospel.
Pray for the Sovereign Grace Leadership Team as they lead a retreat, February 6-8, 2023, that will include our U.S. Regional Leaders, Global Leaders, and a group of future leaders asking God to envision, strengthen, and equip our leaders to serve our churches throughout the world.
Pray for Fred and Dawn Weindelmayer, Sovereign Grace missionaries in Thailand, asking God to continue to open doors for them to share the gospel with unbelievers.
Pray for Jeff Purswell, our Director of Theology and Dean of the Pastors College, as he teaches a new Pneumatology class, January 31-February 3 in Louisville, KY that many Sovereign Grace pastors plan to attend asking God to deepen their understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
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 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:
6:30 am - French Park Grass Area
7:00 pm - 4th St. Market in DTSA (contact Kara Davis for more details)
10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom
12:30 pm - The Spurgeon Building Atrium
