On Sunday Pastor Eric preached from 1 Peter 3:1-6. God calls wives to “the beautiful faith of fearless submission” as one author describes it. This is countercultural. It honors women. Christian women draw strength and dignity from the affirmation of God. They are precious to Him.
Our Fall Members Meeting is only two days away. Come ready to learn and participate. Bring a lunch or bring cash for Buck-O-Slice pizza.
Here’s our agenda for the meeting:
Members. We have an updated member roll with new members included and some updates on those who have transitioned out of membership.
Money. The church’s financial health is a reflection of your generosity and our collective stewardship. God is continuing to bless us and we have some good updates for you.
Divorce and Remarriage. The pastoral team has just published a statement on this topic. We want you to be familiar with it so that each of us can be prepared to minister to those navigating the challenges of divorce and remarriage.
Sunday Security. Our deacons have been working on building security for Sundays. Security is a team project. They want to equip us to be involved.
Change. The life of our church is marked by changes in people, programs, resources, and opportunities. More changes are coming. We want to help you navigate them in a way that preserves and strengthens the good things God is doing among us.
Beginning in January, the west region churches of our denomination are beginning a new class for church members focused on theology and biblical studies.
Pastor Mark Alderton of Sovereign Grace Church of Aurora is leading the class. He will be joined by other pastors who will step-in to cover different parts of the material.
The class is designed for both men and women. The commitment is 5 hours of reading per week and 1 video call per month. You’ll get the chance to hear from teachers outside of our church with specific areas of expertise. You’ll interact with brothers and sisters from our partner churches throughout the western United States.
We can’t encourage you enough to consider joining.
Do you have debt you can’t seem to pay down?
Having trouble creating and keeping a budget?
Stressed by the state of your finances?
Aware that this is an area in your life that needs attention?
Once a year we offer a course on the biblical principles of financial stewardship. The classes are conducted in a small group setting, using a discussion format and curriculum adapted from Crown Ministries and Money and the Gospel.
Les and Sue lead the class. Check out testimonies of those who’ve been impacted by it here, here, and here.
Materials cost $30 per person or $55 per couple. Scholarships are available. The registration deadline is January 12th.
Join along with Tony Reinke and a few of us from the church who will be reading through the book of Isaiah in December. This book, like few others in the Bible, sets the scene for life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Spend the Advent season growing more familiar with it.
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. Members, regular attenders, and those considering making Sovereign Grace Church you’re home are welcome to attend. It's a working lunch, the pastors talk and you eat.
Here are 4 reasons to be eager for this meeting:
We love one another. This isn’t a business meeting. It’s a family meeting. Our church is made up of brothers and sisters who love one another and feel the privilege of serving together. We shoulder one another’s burdens. Being there is a demonstration of our love and commitment to each other.
We’re all in this together. The church is a body that has to coordinate its movements. These meetings help us do just that.
We need your input. While the pastors do the lion’s share of the talking, they need you to weigh in and ask questions. Your perspective sharpens their leadership.
We share one mission. God is building His kingdom right here in Orange. We want to discover what He’s doing together and faithfully participate in it as a local church.
This week, join us in praying that God would use our time on Sunday to unify us and strengthen us for the future.
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.
We’re over halfway through November. There’s still plenty time to complete the challenge for this month. Act now, don’t delay.
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:
Record a video and send it to info@sovgraceoc.org. You’re on the honor system. We trust you.
OR
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.
On Sunday Pastor Mike preached from 1 Peter 2:13-25. Jesus, who suffered silently at the hands of unjust authorities, calls His followers to do the same. We are to honor even those who act dishonorably. Politicians. Bosses. We submit to our great Overseer by submitting to those he has placed in authority over us.