Church Member Meeting
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Immediately following our service

Twice a year we host church member meetings. These are the pastoral team's way to equip you to be Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. They're short and sweet but packed with exciting updates and plans for the future.

If you are a member or regular attender who considers Sovereign Grace Church your home church then this is for you. It's a working lunch, the pastors talk and you eat. Make sure to bring a lunch or a few dollars for Buck-O-Slice pizza.

Your 2019 Challenge

This year we’ve challenged you to the 12 Bible Verses Every Californian Needs to Know challenge. Each month we provide a Bible verse and you commit it to memory. For those who complete all 12 months, we will throw a party celebrating the ways God has strengthened you through His word.

November’s Verse: Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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.

Carols, Candles, and Cookies

We know it feels early to be talking about Christmas, but it’s coming quick. Our 7th Annual Christmas Eve Service is happening next month. We will be singing traditional Christmas carols, reading Scripture, playing with fire, and eating cookies. 

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Pray that God would meet us as we preach the light of the gospel to our city.

Get all the details.

Also, consider adding your voice to our choir.

This week your pastors are off to Orlando for our denomination’s annual pastors conference. A few days to learn, listen, sing, and be refreshed. Leading our church is their privilege and every year this conference better equips them to serve us.

Here are a few ways you can be praying:

1. Pray for unity, joy, and progress in our shared mission with Sovereign Grace Churches.

2. Pray for the speakers’ messages to have a lasting impact.

3. Pray that weary pastors and ministry leaders would be encouraged.

4. Pray for those traveling, especially internationally, that God would meet them in their time at the conference.

5. Pray for family members and church members back home who are sending their loved ones to the conference.

Membership is a key feature of our church. We practice it because it’s biblical, it encourages other members, it provides a context for ministry, and it leaves nobody wondering whether or not Sovereign Grace Church is their church.

Our church’s approach to membership has always been straightforward. And the bulk of it is staying the same. However, we are changing the way we do the membership class.

For the last year, our membership class was called the ‘Intro Course.’ We have closed down the Intro Course and are in the process of finishing a series of online classes that will present the same content, but will allow those pursuing membership to complete it at their own pace.

If you’re a regular attender considering membership, head here to read a little bit about membership and fill out the form so we can be in touch.

For church members, if someone is asking about membership direct them to a pastor and to this spot on our website: www.sovgraceoc.org/membership. Thanks for loving those who want to get to know us better.

May God be glorified as He continues faithfully building His church in Orange.

Even on the cross, Jesus thought of others

On Sunday guest preacher Dave Taylor, from Sovereign Grace Church of Sydney, preached from John 19:23-27. At the height of his pain and depth of his shame, hanging on the cross, Jesus had compassion on his mother and his beloved disciple. For us, we can always return to the cross and find a gracious Savior ready to show us compassion.

Listen to the sermon.

Grab Your Tissues

This song makes Pastor Dustin misty-eyed.

Anticipation is part of the Christian life. We have seen God work. But we are also waiting to see Him finish what He’s begun. We long for that day with deep and persistent anticipation.

This Sunday we will sing a new song to foster that sense of longing in our hearts. Listen above and come ready to join in with us.

WHEN WE SEE YOUR FACE

Verse 1
Though the dark is overwhelming
And the brightest lights grow dim
Though the Word of God
Is trampled on by foolish men
Though the wicked never stumble
And abound in every place
We will all be humbled when we see Your face

Verse 2
And the demons we've been fighting
Those without and those within
Will be underneath our feet
To never rise again
All our sins will be behind us
Through the blood of Christ erased
And we'll taste Your kindness when we see Your face

Chorus
We will see, we will know
Like we've never known before
We'll be found, we'll be home
We'll be Yours forevermore

Verse 3
All the waiting will be over
Every sorrow will be healed
All the dreams it seemed
Could never be will all be real
And You'll gather us together
In Your arms of endless grace
As Your Bride forever when we see Your face

Tag
And You'll gather us together
In your arms of endless grace
As Your Bride forever when we see Your face

Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana is celebrating their second anniversary this Sunday. Praise God for planting and establishing a church of dear brothers and sisters the next city over.

Join us in praying their neighbors will join in. After all, there are tacos and kickball!