It’s back. Get ready to put your taste buds to the test and cooking skills on display at our 8th Annual Chili Cook Off. Join us in the Women’s Club garden right after the service for fellowship and competition. Awards will be given out in three categories: Best Tasting, Most Creative, and Spiciest. You can find all the details here. If you want to compete, hit the button below to register your recipe.
The Servin family is moving to Texas in a few weeks. We’re sad to see them go, but we’re excited to see what the Lord has planned for them. They are dear, faithful friends, and we want to send them off well. Join us as we celebrate the Servin family with fellowship, dessert, and games. Here are the details:
Friday, August 5th from 6-8:30pm.
Shaffer Park Pavilion located at 1930 E Shaffer St, Orange 92865.
Please RSVP on Facebook or RSVP on Evite. You can find more details there as well. Contact Kirsi if you have any questions.
We’re beginning the last few months of our 2022 evangelism campaign. Last month, we discussed how to use the Bible with unbelievers. This month, let’s consider the role of listening in evangelism.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote the following insightful observation, “The first service that one owes to others consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for [others] is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear.”
When we think about evangelism we often worry about what we should say. And, of course, what we say is of supreme importance. The gospel is a message which must be heard and believed, which means we must speak. But if we aren’t good listeners, we shouldn’t be surprised when our words fall on deaf ears.
Time spent listening to an unbeliever share about their struggles, their doubts, their beliefs, and their worldview is time well-spent. We need to understand them if we’re to share the gospel with them wisely and effectively.
Listen before you speak. Ask questions to get your neighbor talking:
What do you believe about God?
Why do you think we’re here?
What happens after we die?
What’s wrong with mankind?
If you let them talk long enough, they may even just ask you to share your thoughts. That’s your opportunity to speak the truth in love.
Decide who your “one” is for August and prepare to share about them with your small group. If you didn’t share the gospel with your “one” from last month, feel free to pick them and try again!
Honestly assess your listening skills. Are you a good listener? What kinds of questions could you ask your “one” to help draw them out and move them towards a conversation about the gospel?
Review the “Who’s Your One?” webpage and make use of the recommended resources at the bottom.
May we love our neighbors by listening well.
Do you ever experience a disconnect between your feelings and the facts? Often times we do. We have a tendency to lose our affection for the familiar. Sadly, we can even lose the wonder of the Cross. This is where Psalm 22 comes in. Pastor Dustin shows us how Psalm 22 presents the Cross as the apex of Gods love by bringing us into the passion of the Cross.
The greatest need of our souls is communion with God. Prayer is the beginning of that communion. That’s why Scripture instructs us to pray without ceasing. We need God’s help, and we encounter God through prayer. There’s nothing like it. And that’s why we want you to join us. Here’s the details:
7-8pm
Women’s Club (121 S Center St 92866)
Open Invite
Come meet with us as we fellowship with one another and encounter the Lord in prayer. We know God hears us (1 Jn 5:14), so we expect great things.
Serving on our worship team is a privilege. We’re a happy bunch. It’s a joy to lead our church to sing Christ-exalting songs every Sunday. And our church loves to sing!
We raise up musicians who exhibit "undistracting excellence" as they offer their talents to glorify God and build His church. Musicians who get maximum joy when they hear God's people sing.
If you are a member or a regular attender pursuing membership, fill out the form below and we will be in touch about auditioning for the team. It’s a 1-year commitment beginning in September.
*The deadline to sign-up is Sunday, August 14th. Please fill out the form as soon as you can.
You can make a difference in someone’s life simply by running. Up and Running Again is an organization that helps teach hard work and discipline to people living in rescue missions by completing half marathons. You can view their Facebook page here. They work with the Orange County Rescue Mission and our friends at the House of Hope, and they are currently looking for coaches and volunteers. That’s where you come in.
Each week until race day, you’ll be running alongside and training with individuals from the Orange County Rescue Mission. You’ll build friendships and have plenty of opportunities to evangelize—all while getting in shape! If you’ve been thinking about running or ever thought about running a race, this is the perfect time to start.
To sign up or ask how you can help, please contact Diane. Training begins next Monday (Aug 1st) so get ready to race!
We believe that prayer fuels the life and ministry of our church. But can’t we just pray alone from the comfort of our own homes? If God hears us wherever we are, why do we go out of our way to be together? It’s true that we should pray in solitude (Matt 6:6). But we should also pray together. For example, we see this all throughout the book of Acts. Believers frequently gather together for prayer (Acts 2:42). They pray for boldness (Acts 4:23-24). They pray for one another in suffering (Acts 12:5). The list goes on. And each time they pray, things happen and lives are changed.
Likewise, God hears us and meets us when we pray together. We also learn from one another and are better equipped to care for one another. In short, we expect to experience God’s power and presence while strengthening our bonds with one another. There’s nothing like prayer.
Join us this Tuesday (26th) from 7-8pm at the Women’s Club. If you would like us to pray for you, submit a prayer request here. We look forward to seeing you this Tuesday!