Ron will be in Newport for the next three days, Sept 20-22 attending the Senior Pastor’s Retreat. This is a time for pastors to gather to pray for their churches and to plan for future ministry in our region.
Please be in prayer for Ron and the other pastors - for the Holy Spirit to provide wisdom, discernment, and direction as they meet to pray and plan.
Community Groups are starting up again in September…which one do you belong to?
Our community groups are designed for “one another” ministry. We meet regularly to love one another, speak truth to one another, pray for one another and counsel one another.
Each group is unique. We invite you to visit as many groups as you need in order to find the one that fits you best.
Click HERE to find out more about our small groups and when and where they meet.
Join us for an evening seminar - at the OC church - with Jeff Purswell, Director of Theology for Sovereign Grace Churches. We will cover the work of the Holy Spirit, drawing from our revised Statement of Faith. Attention will be given to our continuationist convictions, which have been a distinctive part of Sovereign Grace’s history and ongoing theological emphases. CLICK HERE for more information on the seminar! CLICK HERE to find out more about our Statement of Faith.
As we go through our Summer Series on the Psalms of Confidence, here’s a song to accompany us on our journey toward a greater confidence in Jesus. We’ll be singing this tomorrow. Watch video below:
Verse 1
Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea
I have no defense, my guilt runs too deep
The best of my works pierced Your hands and Your feet
Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea
Verse 2
Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast
The goodness I claim, the grounds of my hope
Whatever I lack it’s still what I need most
Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast
Chorus
Praise the King who bore my sin
Took my place when I stood condemned
Oh how good You’ve always been to me
I will sing of Your mercy
Verse 3
Jesus, Your mercy is all my rest
When fears weigh me down and enemies press
A comfort I cling to in life and in death
Jesus Your mercy is all my rest
Verse 4
Jesus, your mercy is all my joy
Forever I’ll lift my heart and my voice
To sing of a treasure no pow’r can destroy
Jesus, your mercy is all my joy
This fall, we will be joining forces with another gospel-centered church in our area - The Chapel - to build some momentum and provide an opportunity for our youth to build friendships with other Christians their age, receive the benefit of multiple voices encouraging them to grow in Christ, and strengthen our ties with other like-minded churches.
Pastors from both our churches, along with their volunteer youth minister, Brian Anderson, have been incredibly encouraging. Brian enjoyed participating in the JAM Bible Camp this summer with our church, and was excited to hear that there may be more ways for our two churches to serve the Lord together. Brian and I put together a rough draft of a plan to hold joint youth events this Fall (Sept - Nov), and the leadership team / elders from each church have now approved the plan.
One of the benefits of working together with The Chapel is that we will be able to use their facility for meetings. Scheduling is a bit of a challenge trying to fit youth meetings into two church calendars, not to mention fitting these meetings into your busy schedules! In the end, we decided to meet weekly on Wednesday nights at The Chapel. These meetings will alternate between Praise & Worship nights kinda like a mini church service geared specifically toward youth, and “discipleship” nights where youth will split into smaller groups based on age.
Mark your calendars and join us for our first meeting on September 14! This will be a kick-off party / BBQ in the courtyard at The Chapel. More details to come shortly.
By Karen Coulter, MA
A couple months back, I described three aspects of Godʼs love and protection as a strong tower, being covered under His wings and as a secret place in Him. Below are three more ways that God expresses His loving care toward us and provides a refuge we can find in Him alone.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; The Lord lives; blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted (Ps 18:2a, 46). Often I tell counselees that they need to have their lives and identity firmly planted on the Rock. A rock is solid, stable, and unwavering. Life changes; people come and go; circumstances change; sometimes it is stormy and sometimes it is calm. But the rock doesnʼt move; it remains the same.
In this life of uncertainty Iʼm glad I have the Lord Who does not change. I can depend on Him to be there for me. “When I need a shelter, when I need a friend I go to The Rock.” My mom recently went to be with the Lord, which was sad but also a blessing since she is in Heaven and not suffering anymore. During this time I was holding on to my Rock. I remember driving down the road and singing “And though the storms may come, I am holding on, to The Rock I cling.”
Psalm 61:2 says, From the end of the earth, I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Some people hang on to money or other people or things that waver like the sand of the sea. But Psalm 62:6,7 tells a different story where it describes God as my only rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Another great word picture - He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (Ps 40:2). We sing, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground IS sinking sand.” Are you standing on solid ground?
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him (Ps 18:30). A shield is a defensive barrier between you and the enemy, a protective screen that guards you from danger. No matter what Satan or the world throws at you, God is a shield of defense and protection. This doesnʼt mean that you will not have problems. The fact that you need a shield says that you are going to experience trouble. However, God will be with you in your trials. What seems impossible and overwhelming, discouraging and without an answer is suddenly an opportunity to trust God and see what He is going to do! Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield (Ps 33:20). Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him (Pro 30:5).
In counseling we talk about the pieces of armor in Ephesians 6. Without the shield of faith, we are bombarded by Satanʼs darts, lies or tricks and can only duck! Of course we must fight back with Godʼs Word. Psalm 28:7 says that the Lord is our strength and shield and when we trust Him we rejoice and sing praise to Him. We sing, Thou, oh Lord, are a shield about me, Youʼre my glory and the lifter of my head (Ps 3:3) and You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word (Ps 119:114). So when the darts are being thrown at us, our head does not have to hang low. We can sing knowing that He is our shield and hiding place. Do you respond to the enemy with your Shield in place?
We were like sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls (1Pet 2:25). Like sheep, we wander from God our Shepherd and go our own way without protection, heading to our death. Yet He loves us so much He sacrificed His life for us so that we could have eternal life. I am the Good Shepherd; the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (Jn 10:11). He has redeemed us and brought us back to Himself.
A shepherd guards, defends, protects, leads and cares for His sheep. In Psalms 23, we see God providing for our needs, giving us rest, guiding and directing our path. He promises to be with us even in the threat of death. He corrects us for our own good. He guards and defends us from danger. Isaiah 40:11 says, He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in his arms; He will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are young. What a tender picture of how God cares for us! He loves us and gently leads us and even carries us when we canʼt go on.
He understands us and knows us individually. I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me (Jn 10:14). He knows our weaknesses and strengths, and our personality. God made us and knows what is best for us. Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He Who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Ps 100:3). Often we think we should be in control and should be able do our own thing. Like sheep we have a mind of our own and go off wandering our own way and do not realize the danger we are in. Our Shepherd gently warns us that we need to change our direction. Do you listen to your Shepherd, or do you continue on your own path?
God is my firm Rock on which I stand, my Shield of defense against the enemy of my soul, and my Good Shepherd Who watches over me until Iʼm Home safe. Do you know my God and have you found your refuge in HIM alone? He is waiting for you with open arms!
This summer, we are going through a series titled Psalms of Confidence. Last week, Tim taught from Psalm 23 and yesterday, Ron spoke on Psalm 27. You can listen to the sermons HERE. Over the next few days, we want to share with you a resource that can be used as further study with both sermons to help you walk out these confidence-boosting truths in your daily lives.
By Karen Coulter, MA
“All of YOU is more than enough for all of me, for every thirst and every need, YOU satisfy me with Your love and all I have in YOU is more than enough!” (by Chris Tomlin)
Does this describe your relationship with God? Many come to saving faith and look forward to being with God in Heaven. However, many fail to recognize their opportunity for an intimate relationship with God on earth, to see God as a place of safety in their deepest need and to draw on His wisdom and power for daily problems. God wants us to run to Him and this is illustrated in three ways below.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe (Pro 18:10). Many years ago, strong high towers were places where people could run for safety, stronger and higher than all the other buildings in a city. An example is Judges 9:51, a place of refuge and defense, safety and security. God is our strong tower where we can run for defense and safety in times of trouble. He is our strong tower against the enemy (Ps 61:3) and He is a refuge for those who put their trust in Him (Ps 91:2).
“Our God is greater, our God is stronger; God, You are higher than any other...”
Where is your refuge? Is it the television? A friend? Do you see God as stronger than your problem? Do you open your Bible and look for answers from His Word? Do you trust that no matter what the circumstance that God has your back and has a sovereign plan for you?
Another metaphor the psalmist used likens God to a bird that covers and protects her babies. Birds instinctively protect their young even if they are in danger themselves. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge (Ps 91:4). My soul trusts in you and in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge, until these disasters or storms of destruction have passed (Ps 57:1). This illustrates Godʼs gentle and loving protection for his children, a place of rest. Remember this old hymn? “Under His wings, under His wings, who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.” Where do you hide when you are struggling? In a bar, in a book? Do you receive your comfort from ice cream, drugs, illicit sex? Or do you trust that God will go with you and cover you through your trial?
For in the time of trouble, He will hide me in His dwelling (home); in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me (Ps 27:5). You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence (Ps 31:20). This is a very private and intimate place with God, abiding with the Most High, being at home with Him in a hidden, sacred place. With whom do you share your secrets? Where is your place of intimacy? God wants to abide with you and be involved in all your secret thoughts. He wants to hear your prayers and wants you to cast your burdens on Him
(1Pe 5:7). God is ever present; He is the friend that we can reach out to any place, any time.
Many seek refuge or escape from trouble in things like food, alcohol, drugs, sex, television, the Internet, gambling and a hundred other places. People and things will not satisfy and many are not safe. It may feel good for the moment but will not last! I challenge you to find your safety and security in God alone - in His tower, under His wings and in His secret place.
When you are afraid or in danger, where do you run for safety?
(To others for help? to solitude, recoiling in fear? to negative thinking and emotions?) What/who is your strong tower? (Escape through amusements, pride of self-confidence? OR the Lord?)
* Study Psalm 27; memorize Psalm 56:3,4.
Where do you hide that you believe protects you? (Defensiveness, blame-shifting, denial, escape?) What/who brings you comfort and guidance? (Culture, pop-psychology OR the Word?)
* Study Psalm 1; memorize Psalm 119:9-11.
What do you do in secret? (Whine and complain? Sulk in anger and plan vengeance? Worry?) Where is your ultimate safe dwelling place? (Self-help? OR in Prayer?)
* Study Psalm 138-139; memorize Psalm 139:23-24.
Tim, Ron and Bill
The elders are having their annual Evaluation and Planning Time this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, August 2 and 3, Ron, Bill and Tim will be meeting together to pray, evaluate the past ministry year and plan out the next 12 months of all the areas of ministry in the church. Please be in prayer for our leaders as they spend time seeking the Lord’s direction, guidance and wisdom for leading the church.
Would you be willing to pray for our pastors? Here’s an article from Kevin DeYoung that lists out 12 Pastoral Commitments from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - you can use this as a list for prayer - not just for this week- but for ongoing prayer.
“No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me.” - Charles Spurgeon
JAM Bible Camp - July 25-29, 2022 9AM - NOON
This will be a fun-filled week with stories, crafts, games and great discussion about who Jesus is and how we relate to him. Snacks will be served each day!
Victory Park - 2575 Paloma St. Pasadena, CA 91107
We will be on the south-west corner of the park closest to Altadena Drive.
This is for children ages 5-12
Cost: Free
You can register online (see form below) or onsite.
We are excited to announce the launch of Sovereign Grace’s new digital presence! Our main website is focused on reaching the Pasadena community and the central hub will help to facilitate the life of the church. We are hopeful that this initiative positions us well to reach the surrounding area, and serve our members and visitors effectively. Here's an introduction.
Outreach Website: sgcpasadena.org
Our new website has been built from the ground up with a singular goal: outreach. It's streamlined and tailored to people who are searching - either for a church home or for answers to life's biggest questions. The website provides an introduction to Sovereign Grace Church Pasadena and encourages new folks, no matter their background or story, to visit on a Sunday morning and hear the life changing message of the gospel.
So what can you find on the new website?
Our beliefs, values, mission, and partnerships
What a new visitor can expect on Sunday morning + directions
A place where people can get to know the leadership team
The ministries we offer and ways to plug in and serve
Featured sermons that give an introduction to the preaching
In addition, this site gives you a tool to reach your friends, family, and co-workers. Because it was built with new folks in mind, you can share the site via social media, text message, email, etc. and those folks can easily get to know our church family.
We're excited about it and we hope it's a great resource for you!
New Church Hub: hub.sgcpasadena.org
The new Central Hub was built with members and new visitors in view. We realize that in the past it could be difficult at times to find the information you need. The Hub is intended to be your single resource for any information pertaining to the day to day life of the church. That includes things like:
What time does fill in the blank event start (Calendar)
I'm new. What steps should I take to get connected? (I'm New)
How do I sign-up for a ministry team or for an event? (Resources)
Where can I listen to a past sermon? (Sermons)
How do I find a Community Group? (Ministries)
Consider bookmarking the Hub for easy access as we'll be referencing this site often. We believe this new platform will help to facilitate all that is happening here at the church and can grow with us over time.
We hope these new websites achieve two goals: reach more people in our area for Christ and serve you, our members, so that technology aids church life and doesn't get in the way.
We're grateful for you, Sovereign Grace Pasadena!!
-- SGCP Leadership Team
We are rejoicing with the Owens on the purchase of their new house here in California! Thank you so much to everyone who had been praying for a miracle - that they could purchase a house. God has graciously provided a wonderful home for them in Azusa on the border of Duarte.
For the next couple weeks, Tim will be finishing up his studies, taking his exams at the Pastor’s College and packing up his home in preparation for the move across the country. He has been selected to preach at the Louisville Sovereign Grace Church the Sunday after graduation. Please keep Tim, Becca and the kids in your prayers as they enter into this very busy time finishing up the Pastor’s College, packing up their home and beginning the 2000 mile journey. It’s looking like they’ll be arriving June 18th, but we’ll update you as the time gets closer. We’ll be calling for “all hands on deck” to help unpack their trucks and get them settled in to their new home. We will keep you posted.
Mark your calendars! We’ve got big plans for the summer and we hope you can join us. We will be having monthly Backyard Worship Nights at the Boomsma’s home on the 2nd Saturday nights of each month: June, July and August.
We are thanking God for our new church home at 85 E. Holly Street, in Old Town, just 2 blocks from City Hall. God providentially provided this place for us before we even knew that we needed it. How kind of the Lord to go before us and give us a space to meet! We are so grateful to be in downtown Pasadena.
We know that the past couple years of Covid has forced us to be flexible and willing to pivot as needed and the trend continues with moving into to our new church home. This space is a wonderful gift to us: where we can have a suitably sized, climate controlled meeting room - a beautiful outdoor space patio for church dinners - a huge, restaurant quality kitchen - and a couple great lobby spaces for fellowshipping before and after the service - not to mention the coffee bar right in the lobby!
While we had, by necessity, to change our meeting time to 3:00 pm, we know that God is sovereign and will use this change for our good - and His glory. We understand that this change in routine poses a few challenges for many of us, but we are confident that we, as a body, can embrace all that God has for us in this new season and in this new space. To be right in the middle of Old Town Pasadena is such a wonderful opportunity to be reminded of our mission as believers and disciples of Jesus. We pray that God will revive us individually and collectively and give us a heart for the people of Pasadena as we settle into our new home.