OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 7

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, OCTOBER 3: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park grass area

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4: SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00pm - Houlton, Roenicke, & Erkelens Home

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7: THE BRIDGE COURSE

• 7:00pm - Hopper & Burr (202 W Fourth St, Santa Ana 92701)

  • Registration is open throughout the course - invite a friend anytime!

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD

On Sunday, we were joined by guest preacher, Eric Turbedsky from Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. He came to us with a story about how delicious bread is. Through the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:1-15, we learned how hunger teaches us about what it’s like to be satisfied in Christ. We fervently try to stuff our souls and to fill that vacuum with anything that will make us feel full. But Jesus alone fulfills our deepest longing. If you don’t have him, you’ll starve. But if you do, you’ll feast upon the bread of abundant life.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

With the summer potlucks behind us, we are transitioning back to a discussion based format. Tonight the ladies of CGSA will meet to spur on each other’s walk with Christ as they gather around his word and pray for one another. We hope to see you there!

JOIN IN TONIGHT AT 7PM AT THE CUNNINGHAM HOME

ALL CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS SATURDAY AT 9:00AM

Our mission to spread the joy of Jesus to our Santa Ana neighbors includes our very nearest neighbors: the kids of Cross of Grace Church. Each week our Children’s Ministry Team comes alongside the parents of our church to show our kids that there’s nothing better than believing in Jesus and belonging to his people. To all these volunteers we say a big “THANK YOU!” and are eager to provide this upcoming training so that you can “excel still more” (1 Thess 4:10).

Whether you’ve been actively serving in Children’s Ministry or if you’ve just recently joined the team, please plan on arriving at the Livingwell Multipurpose Room by 9:00am. Pastor Jason will lead a time of equipping and encouraging and our CM Lead, Rebecca will be conducting a time of practical classroom training.

We’ll have coffee and refreshments. Childcare will be provided, please reach out to us to get the details.

PLEASE CONTACT LIZ WITH ANY QUESTIONS

REMINDER: ELEMENTARY CLASS WILL TAKE A BREAK every 5th sunday

This Sunday is the 5th Sunday in September, so we’ll only offer the Preschool Class. All kids 6 and up will remain with us after the singing portion of our service to hear the preached word outside of their usual classroom setting. We’ll have coloring sheets, our pastors will prepare the kids to listen well to the Sunday sermon, and children and their parents will hear the gospel side by side.

We believe this break provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between Children’s Ministry and the regular life of the church and get our kids ready for what comes next once they graduate from the Elementary Class. We also believe it provides a helpful pattern of rest for our Children’s Ministry volunteers who serve so joyfully and selflessly every Sunday morning.

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 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.

SEPTEMBER 24 - SEPTEMBER 30

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, SEPTEMBER 26: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park grass area

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00pm - Schlieder Home

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28: CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING DAY

• 9:00am - Meet at LivingWell Multipurpose Room (2010 N Tustin St C, Orange, CA 92865)

  • Contact Liz with any questions

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30: THE BRIDGE COURSE

• 7:00pm - Hopper & Burr (202 W Fourth St, Santa Ana 92701)

  • Registration is open throughout the course - invite a friend anytime!

9/24 -9/26

Starting today, the Senior Pastors of our Western Region will be gathering for a time of fellowship, encouragement, and prayer. We’re trusting that these days away would strengthen our pastors and strengthen our churches in the West.

Join us in praying their time together. Here are a few things to cover:

• That the Lord would freshly affect them with the joy of their salvation

• That the weary would be comforted and refreshed

• That times of fellowship and ministry would be sweet

• That our partnership within the Western Region would be even richer and more robust and our shared gospel mission galvanized to the glory of God, the joy of our churches, and the good of our neighbors

THANK GOD FOR PASTORS

WHAT ARE YOU AFTER IN WORSHIP?

Isaiah 58 is proof positive that the greatest threat to God's people is not what's "out there," but always what's "in here." Chapters 56 and following, envision the people back home from Babylon, and even though their enemies have been defeated and they've returned to the land, the problem remains as close to home as ever. It’s the wayward and hearts beating in their chests. This proneness to wander is revealed in the compromised worship of the people. Isaiah 57 makes it clear that even after the collapse and comforting of Judah, the allure of idolatry remains and the people are going hard after what is false (57:9-10). God speaks to them in Isaiah 58 and says, "If only you were so sincere in true worship!" This brings us to the heart of the matter: we're all worshipers. It's not a question of IF we will worship but WHAT we will worship. Apart from Christ, that worship is ultimately directed at ourselves. But even for those in Christ, we're still prone to go through motions of religiosity, engage in overtly spiritual hypocrisy, and make worship about us (58:1-2). We must be uncompromising in keeping God as the goal and great reward of our worship. Trusting that as we do, it will result in true love toward our brothers, sisters, and neighbors and a proper enjoyment of all the rest of God's good gifts.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

JOIN US AT 7PM

Every first & third Friday at 7pm, three different groups meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus, care for one another, and apply the gospel to each other’s lives. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend one this Friday.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE