FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1

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. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

• Basketball in the Park

  • 6:30pm - El Camino Real Park

    • Reach out to Manny for more info

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Women’s Meeting

  • 7:00pm - Schlieder Home

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

• Young Adults Gathering

  • 7:00pm - Lopez Home

    • Reach out to Robert for more info

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

• Communion Service Dinner at the Ebell Club

  • 5:00pm - Meeting Room: Ballroom

    • Sign up here to bring something to share

EXODUS 15:22-17:7

This past Sunday, we read through 3 different scenes, 3 different stories about food and water. All filled with the same pattern of hungering or thirsting which gives way to grumbling and complaining. All really asking one and the same question: “Will God give us what we need to stay alive?” Yet, beyond this immediate need, there’s a deeper question still: "Will God really satisfy?" At this point in the journey, Israel has been freed from slavery in Egypt, but they're wondering if life is actually better with God. Ex 15:22-17:7 shows us that nothing satisfies like life with the Savior.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EVERY 1ST & 3RD THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

This week, 4 groups will meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus and apply his gospel to each other’s lives. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience God’s grace through one another.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

LAUNCH NIGHT @ 7PM

We’re launching a Young Adults Gathering that focuses on fellowship, mutual care, and encouragement toward love and good works, grounded in Hebrews 10:24. A monthly meet-up that comes alongside our regular rhythms of life to deepen relationships, receive God’s good gifts, and welcome non-Christian friends to come and see the joy we have in Jesus.

This is an informal gathering for young adults ages 18-30+ who are either single or married without kids. Guests are invited and encouraged to attend.

The gatherings will rotate locations monthly. Keep up with the newsletter for all the details.

JOIN IN FOR THE FIRST GATHERING AT THE LOPEZ HOME

A MEAL THAT REPRESENTS THE LIFE WE SHARE

Our annual Communion Dinner is March 1st at 5:00pm. Morning service is cancelled for a celebration of the Lord’s Supper over the course of a full meal. We’ll eat, drink, and behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. You can look at last year’s photos here.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal, we’ll share in its preparation. Households of every size, please sign-up to bring a dish or dessert at the link below. Reach out to Liz if you want to help with setup & tear down, decor, photography, or serving the meal.

SIGN UP TO BRING AN ITEM HERE

LOVE YOUR PREBORN NEIGHBORS

On March 7th, join us as we partner with LivingWell to spend the morning walking together in support of their ministry and the women and babies they serve!

Here are the details of the event:

Date: March 7th, 2026

Check-in Opens: 8:30am

Walk Start Time: 9:30am

Location: LivingWell Parking Lot (2010 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865)

In order to participate, we encourage you to start collecting sponsors! All the donations you collect will be used to support LivingWell’s center - offering free women’s health services to the community and support groups for those suffering from past pregnancy losses.

We will have sponsorship forms at church this Sunday on the welcome table, or you can download a sponsor form, here.

For any questions and to RSVP to walk with us, please feel free to reach out to Peter Cunningham.

FEBRUARY 16 - FEBRUARY 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. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Small Groups

  • 6:30pm - Lee Home

  • 7:00pm - Roenicke Home

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Davis & Erkelens Homes

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

EXODUS 15:1-21

When the people of Israel came upon the Red Sea shore, they must have been like astronauts returning to earth. The ordeal they suffered in Egypt is finally behind them. Life in the Promised Land is before them. They fall down to their knees and kiss the ground under their feet. But then, they look up and direct their gaze beyond where astronauts have ever gone. They turn their eyes to heaven and they raise a song to God. This moment in the story teaches us that we should sing too. Not that this text is really about singing. This text is about God. But what this text tells us is that when you see God for who he really is, you can’t help but sing.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

LET’S CELEBRATE HIM WELL

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ‭‭- Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬

Singing is a major part of our life together. In Sunday’s sermon on Ex 15:1-21, we received a few simple applications for singing in church.

1. Come to church expecting to meet with and be met by the God who parts the sea. Come with the awareness that the God who conquered the Egyptians by the power of his right hand is the God we all too often treat so casually in worship. Treat this as the holy moment that it is and come into this time ready for a real encounter with the God of gods.

2. Be on time to sing. Don’t treat this as a non-essential part of our gathering. Prioritize being here with enough time to receive God’s call to worship and sing to the Lord with us.

3. Sing loud enough for others to hear. So that they’d be encouraged by your voice in those moments where their words are failing them. When they’re broken and struggling to believe. When their words feel empty. When you sing to them you declare, “Because this is true for a sinner like me, it can be true for someone like you too.”

4. Sing expressively. Clap your hands. Stomp your feet. Strive to match the outward expressions of your affections to the realities we’re singing about.

Let’s be a church who loves to sing. Not because we’re the best singers or to put on a show or to get ourselves or our guests caught up with emotions. Let’s be a church who loves to sing because we’re a church that loves God. And when we see his glory in the gospel we just can’t help but celebrate it.

EVERY 2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Tonight the men of Cross of Grace will gather together to sit under the word, bear their brother’s burdens, and call out to the Lord in prayer. All guys 15 years and older are welcome to join in at the Robles’ home tonight at 7pm. They’ll be discussing the Red Sea crossing & reflecting on just how tempting it can be to return to Egypt - even after everything God has done. Come ready to be challenged, encouraged, and built up as men in Christ!

REACH OUT HERE FOR THE ADDRESS