It doesn't matter if you're a new believer, an old believer, new to the church, old, young, struggling with your faith or strong in the faith. If you believe, you are ready.
"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’" (Acts 22:16 ESV)
Learn more and register for our September 11th baptisms here.
Our services are designed with your participation in mind. Pastor Eric preached on this last Sunday. The model of one speaker and everyone else a listener is foreign to the scriptures. We aren't an audience. We are the body of Christ, each of us an essential part of the church.
So when we gather together, we all come eager to encourage and build one another up. This can be quite spontaneous and our pastors are committed to ensuring everything we do is done "decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40) This is why one pastor always presiding over the service. He is located adjacent to the lectern and responsible for the liturgy. He ensures our participation is timely, intelligible, and encouraging. At times, he even inserts himself into the liturgy to provide leadership and pastoral care.
There are countless ways to participate before, during, and after our services. Most ministry to one another is done privately. Not every encouraging word or prayer needs a microphone.
However, if during our service you believe the Spirit is prompting you to say something...to read a scripture, pray, an encouragement, even a prophecy, tongue, or interpretation of a tongue...approach the pastor by the lectern (i.e. the presider). He will discern whether or not you should speak. You don't need to be 100% confident. No one ever is. We trust God will work through our pastors as they lead the service.
Here is how these instructions read in our weekly bulletin...
We are eager for God to meet us in the things we have planned and in the things we have not planned. If you believe you have something to share, please see the pastor located nearest to the lectern while we are singing.
Join our pastors in praying for the Spirit's power in our services. Go to church asking God to use you to encourage others. May God be good to us for His glory.
This Sunday our community will hold one of the largest block parties in California. Our church is located one block away. This is going to be fun!
Plan on arriving early than usual to locate a parking spot. The city will be charging to park in many of the lots and so will all the residents in the driveway. It's not really that bad since our service is early. The fair goers arrive later.
We'll be meeting up on the lawn in front of our church offices after the service. Bring some lunch or buy food at the fair. Look for us on the NE corner of Chapman and Grand. We'll be the ones people-watching.
Congratulations to the winners of our 2016 Freestyle Chili Cook Off. And big thanks to the record number of entries, especially the more unusual (and less "hot") items. Hurray for another summer.
Last Sunday Pastor Eric preached from 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, a very practical ending three chapters regarding the power of the Spirit in the life of the church today.
Every week God meets us as we come together. He is using the familiar turns and patterns and endings of our services to do extraordinary things. He's purchased every minute of every meeting. Sundays are a tangible expression of God's goodness to us today.
500,000 people are expected to visit our neighborhood this weekend for the Orange International Street Fair. There will be 15 ethnic streets with 42 food and drink booths. It's the biggest weekend of the year for Old Towne Orange.
We will set up picnic blankets on the lawn outside our church office (the corner of Chapman and Grand). Bring your overpriced street fair food, your kids, and enjoy the shade and fellowship.
It doesn't matter if you're a new believer, an old believer, new to the church, old, young, struggling with your faith or strong in the faith. If you believe, you are ready.
"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’" (Acts 22:16 ESV)
Learn more and register for our September 11th baptisms here.
Last Sunday we welcomed new church members. This is the story of two.
I am Jeff and this is my fiancé Taylor. We are getting married this October and are excited to call Sovereign Grace our home.
We were both saved in 2010, baptized in 2010, met in 2010, and began dating in 2010. We were juniors in High School and regularly attending a youth service when our pastor set out with his family to plant a church in Orange County. So at age 17, we followed and threw ourselves into the life of that church and, long story short, 5 years later it became clear God was leading us in a new direction. Our theology and vision for the church had changed and we began searching for a new home.
It took us nearly six months to find you and we are so grateful we did.
You welcomed us into your community that first Sunday. Dustin greeted us immediately and invited us to sit with his family. This meant so much. It was hard to leave our familiar friends and church. We praise God for the grace he has given to you.
Our second Sunday was your evening Communion service. Again, praise God!
We are delighted to join you, a people who love one another and celebrate so well the gospel of the grace of God. We look forward to meeting more of you, developing friendships, and serving alongside you all.