October’s Verse: John 15:1-5 (ESV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

2 Weeks Left

We’re over halfway through October. There’s still plenty time to complete the challenge for this month. Act now, don’t delay.

How to Participate

For memorizing, we recommend you read the verse 10 times then recite it 10 times. Do this each day and within a few days it will stick. Learn more about how to memorize Scripture here and here.

Once you have it memorized, recite it for us before the month is over. You have two options:

1. Record a video and send it to info@sovgraceoc.org. You’re on the honor system. We trust you.
   OR

2. Head to our Welcome Desk on a Sunday morning and recite it to one of the Connect Team members. After you do, send an email to info@sovgraceoc.org letting us know which Connect Team member you recited it to.

How is the Word of God to be heard and read?

Question 42 from the New City Catechism will be answered during Sunday School this week. If you want to better benefit from Bible reading and preaching, then join us. We learn more when we study together.

Sunday at 9:30am in the Woman’s Club gardens. Check out the details.

Every year the city of Orange shuts down the Plaza for Treats in the Streets. It’s family-friendly. It’s fun. We’ll be there and so will our neighbors. Plan to join us.

Thursday, October 24th
4pm-7pm

From being examined to giving the exams

Pastor Dustin is in Phoenix conducting oral exams for two men from fellow Sovereign Grace Churches who are currently in the pastoral ordination process.

Join us in praying for these men to be clear-headed and at peace as they go through the exams. Pray also that God would raise up more called and qualified pastors in our churches.

On Sunday we announced that Roger Servin is stepping out of the rotation as a worship leader. Roger is to be commended for his years of faithful service to us. His leadership has shaped the singing culture of our church.

We are so grateful to God for him and grateful for his willingness to make room for other worship leaders to grow. He is a model of Christlike servant-heartedness and humility that we should all seek to emulate.

And thankfully, he’s not going anywhere! Roger is one of our small group leaders. He and his family are involved all over the church. Their ministry will continue to impact our lives.

We asked Roger to share with us about his transition this past Sunday. Here is what he shared:

Good morning church! Our family has been here since January of 2010, so it will be ten years this January. When we arrived here Pastor Mike was faithfully leading worship most Saturday evenings with only his voice, a drummer and a bass player. Yes, he is that awesome.

At first I thought it was a bit odd.

I mean, I came from a big church with a band full of musicians. But that’s what you do when you’re in a young church plant with limited resources, everyone steps up to make the service happen. I was really blessed by this and quickly learned that if we were going to stick it out here we would need to step and serve as well.

It didn’t take long for Eric to ask me if I had served in any way at my previous church. I told him I had served as a worship leader and his eyes lit up. As we talked I was encouraged when he told me how blessed he was that God was answering his prayer to bring people to this church who could serve and lead in various ways. I saw God providing in this way as well, as the church was already crawling with brothers and sisters who were happy to serve. God has been so kind to bring faithful men and women all along the way!

I have been so blessed and encouraged to serve with such tremendous people. Serving on the worship team has built up my faith in many ways. I’ve seen God at work in the way they love and care for each other, how self-less they are, how hard working they are, and how gifted they are as musicians. Trust me when I say that God has been very, very good to us! It has been a great joy to serve with you all.

One of my favorite things has been watching you worship our King from up here. It makes my heart swell to see they joy on your faces as you make a joyful noise to the Lord. One thing I know is that you love Jesus, and you love to make much of Him in the way you sing! Seeing this first hand has brought me much joy and gratitude.

Remember when I said earlier that God has been faithful to bring men and women who can lead and serve? We now have 5 men in the church including myself who can lead worship. That is unheard of in a church of this size. To God be the glory!

I am thankful they are here and I’m eager to see them grow in grace as they step in to lead. It’s my joy to step away from the team so that others can be used by God in the same way I’ve been used.

Though I won’t be leading from up here I will still be singing with you from amongst you. May you always be a church who loves to sing the Gospel, for His glory and for the good of your souls.

Reformapalooza is coming on 10/27/2019. And no Reformation party can be a Reformation party without plenty of food and plenty of fun.

We want your kids to love the Reformation as much as we do.

We’ve got our best minds working on a play area for the little ones. Reformer bean bag toss, pin the 95 theses on the door, and other awesome Reformation-themed games are in the works. We plan to keep your kids entertained long enough so you can enjoy your fill of bratwurst.

Members, we need you to bring stuff.

We’ll be in the garden at the Woman’s Club right after our service. Members, plan to bring a salad. If you’d like to bring another food item, let us know.

This is going to be so much fun.

“When God has something very great to accomplish for his church, it is his will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of his people. When God is about to accomplish great things for his church, he will begin by remarkably pouring out the Spirit of grace and supplication.”

—Jonathan Edwards

Our Tuesday morning prayer meeting is the outgrowth of the work God is eager to do in our church. He drives us to pray so that He can answer our prayers.

Consider joining us on an upcoming Tuesday morning. All the details are here. You can even sign up for text message reminders. Come have your faith stirred as we pursue God together.

Change Your Mind

On Sunday Pastor Eric preached from 1 Peter 1:13-21. We are to set our hope fully on the grace that will come to us at the 2nd coming of Christ. Hope grows in our hearts when we focus our minds on that day. It grows our reverence for the Lord which manifests in changed lives.

Listen to the sermon.