Exercising Confident Trust + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • March 26, 2021

I’ve been reflecting a lot this week about where we find ourselves after one year of this COVID logjam. I’ve been excited to see how God has used this time in my life to form me to be more like Jesus. As I think back on this past year, I’ve had to pivot more times at work, at home, with family, and plans, than at any time in my life.

 

We’ve done all of this with limited information, changing narratives, political uncertainty, cultural tensions, economic insecurity, and relational tension. Wow, I am amazed at how God built such resilience and flexibility into us when He designed us as human beings. As much as I’ve leaned into Him during this past year, I have found myself more fatigued, anxious, guarded, insecure, and flummoxed than I can ever recall. It’s like a tsunami of waves coming one after another.

 

I’m super proud of our church and the way we’ve navigated these choppy waters during this past year. It’s stretched us, redirected us, and challenged us, and I’m glad God has been here with us the entire time. We have exercised confident trust (we used that phrase last Sunday to describe what it means to become more like Jesus) and faith as we’ve leaned hard into Him.

 

We continue to grow in our COVID awareness and how we observe the guidelines and restrictions. We will continue to observe safety precautions such as wearing masks, distancing socially, and disinfecting common areas.

 

Since we’ve been meeting again in person, our process has been to play music that was recorded during the week for that portion of our worship. We had been doing that during our online only phase. Beginning this Sunday, our music team will join us as we worship together. They will be socially distanced on stage, and over 20 feet away from any person not on the stage. Our room is large and extremely well ventilated with great air flow, and we feel this is a safe approach for us as we move into the summer months.

 

Folks, as we continue to take steps out of our COVID logjam, it’s imperative that we place all our hope in God and our mission to Love Everyone Always. We love people by giving them the freedom to be where they are – even if we may disagree – allowing God to be the ONE we follow. That means we give people the freedom (without judgment) to continue worshipping online or to begin gathering in person. I’m excited to be taking more steps to reopen our services and ministries and provide opportunities for people to hear about the love Jesus has for them.

 

Easter is just one week away! We’re going to have four identical services so you can invite your friends to attend in person with you or gather online with you. You will be able to make sure we can have plenty of space by choosing to attend at 6:00pm on Saturday or at the 8:00am service on Sunday. That will allow us to have plenty of room for everyone.

 

Our Children’s Ministry team has adapted and creatively changed the annual Easter Egg Hunt into an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt. Families will go on an adventure by car to various locations around our community where they will snap a photo, collect candy, and meet some of our Ministry Partners. They will then race to the church and celebrate victory by having a picnic. You can bring your own lunch or buy a Domino’s cheese pizza for $5. Join us on the lawn for live music and games. Make sure to check out the website for all the details.


We’re also going to baptize at all the services for Easter. If you’ve never been baptized, please consider this opportunity. We’ll make sure to be COVID safe, and you’ll be part of making our services even more Spirit-filled. If you’re interested in going public for Jesus, please contact Mare. She’ll give you the scoop and get you ready.  You can attend the baptism class that will meet this Sunday at 9:00am.


We will wrap up our Journey with Jesus series on Sunday as we talk about the third aspect of the spiritual growth vision we’re adopting for TCC. In this series, we are laying out a paradigm of spiritual growth and personal transformation that is powerful for our church family. If you’ve missed the first two messages, you’ll want to watch them soon and be ready to engage with the rest of the series. The key idea is that we’re called to be Followers (Apprentices) of Jesus. Our quest is to carve out space to Be with Jesus so that we Become Like Jesus and then we naturally Do What Jesus Did.

 

Our message on Sunday is Do What Jesus Did. I am so excited to listen as Pastor Mark explains the pillars of this key component of our vision.


Here are the links you’ll need to be fully prepared for Sunday’s Service:


 

If you aren’t ready to attend a public gathering yet, let me encourage you to keep your Sunday rhythms by watching the service live at either 9:00 or 11:00am. I believe that will help you stay disciplined as we walk this road of COVID restrictions together and help our church family feel your nearness and encouragement as we continue to “gather” in His name.           

         

You can watch the current service or an archived service on demand any time you want from our website or APP. Here’s an idea: When you’re watching online, please invite your friends to join you. If you haven’t downloaded the TCC APP, go to the APP store and search for TCC GRASS VALLEY and download it today. You can watch the service right from your device.     

   

Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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Living on a Prayer + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • July 11, 2025
Prayer. It’s something many of us struggle with and long to understand better. What is it really for? Does it actually change anything? And how do we pray when we’re not sure what to say? This Sunday, as part of our Beyond Doubt series, I’ll be joined by Pastor Dan Prout, who heads the California Prayer Coalition. Dan has spent decades leading prayer efforts in our region and across the state, and I can’t think of a better guide to help us wrestle with some of our biggest questions about prayer, including, “Does prayer change God’s mind?” and “If God already knows what’s going to happen, why should we pray at all?” I hope you’ll join us for this honest, encouraging, and practical conversation. And if it leaves you wanting more, Dan will also be leading this week’s Grow University session to help you take the next step in your prayer life. Click here for details on that midweek conversation. Finally, we are two weeks away from Hope for Nevada County, our countywide back-to-school effort to help struggling families prepare for the start of the school year. We have all the backpacks, but what we really need are back-to-school supplies to fill those backpacks: pencils, mechanical pencils, glue sticks, binder paper, pens, 2-pocket folders, 1" binders, 70-page spiral notebooks, colored markers or pencils, scissors, dry erase markers, and highlighters. You can purchase multiples of one of these items and drop them off at church by Sunday, July 20 or just have them shipped directly to the church. Click here to find out more about the event. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

At the End of All Things: A Conversation about End Times and What Follows + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • June 27, 2025
Last Sunday, we had a candid and meaningful conversation about death and the afterlife. I’m so grateful for the wisdom Gregory Ingram shared with us — and for the space we had to grapple with honest questions about such a tender topic. I know for many, that conversation stirred up even more questions, which is why I’m excited that Gregory will be continuing the conversation in July as part of Grow University . Click here for details. This weekend, we’ll explore a couple of important topics we didn’t have time to fully address. With so much happening in the world — especially in the Middle East — it’s natural to ask, “Is this it? Are we living in the End Times?” We’ll also wrestle with another big question: "If Heaven is real, what about Hell? Why would a loving God send anyone there?" Pastor John will guide us through these difficult, but important questions as we continue our Beyond Doubt series. You won’t want to miss it. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

A Big Week at TCC — and a Big Topic This Sunday + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • June 20, 2025
What a week it’s been! Our campus has been filled with laughter, learning, and life-changing moments as over 270 kids enjoyed an amazing week at Vacation Bible School. Meanwhile, more than 50 students have been away at youth camp, growing in faith and friendship. A huge thank you to every parent, volunteer, and leader who made these incredible experiences possible! Speaking of investing in the next generation, with all the Father’s Day excitement, we almost forgot to mention that last week marked 20 years since we moved into our current building! This milestone comes at a perfect time — together, we just crossed the $100,000 mark toward our Investing in the Future campaign. I know I haven’t talked much about it (I really don’t like talking about money), but we’re trusting God to help us raise a total of $600,000 to repair our roof, façade, and HVAC so our building remains a safe, welcoming place for decades to come — and to help build a church for a growing community in Uganda. To learn more or join in, click here . This Sunday, we’ll tackle one of life’s biggest questions: What really happens when we die? Do we go straight to Heaven , or do our souls wait until Jesus returns? What will eternity actually be like? Will it be an endless worship service in the clouds — and will we know our loved ones when we get there? To help us explore these questions, I’ll be joined by Gregory Ingram, director of Anew Day and a former hospice chaplain with nearly 20 years of experience walking alongside people in their final days. You won’t want to miss this meaningful conversation. I’m so grateful to be on this adventure of following Jesus together. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Is God Really a Good Father? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • June 13, 2025
This Sunday is Father’s Day, and we know it can stir up all kinds of emotions. For some, it’s a day of gratitude and great memories. For others, it’s more complicated. That’s why we’re asking a big question this weekend: Is God really a good Father? Because let’s be honest, some of what we read in the Old Testament can make God seem angry, distant, or even harsh. But what if those difficult passages are meant to be read through the lens of Jesus, the Son who came not to protect us from the Father, but to show us who He truly is? We’ll explore some of those tough questions honestly and discover a clearer picture of God’s heart. Plus, we’ll celebrate Communion together as a tangible reminder that in Christ, we are fully loved and fully welcomed home. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

The Problem of Suffering + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • June 6, 2025
The single most asked question we got was some form of the following: If God is good, why does He let us suffer? Maybe you’ve asked it in a hospital room, or in the middle of a sleepless night. Maybe you’re asking it right now. If so, you’re not alone. It’s one of the deepest and most difficult questions of faith, and we’re facing it head on this weekend as we continue our Beyond Doubt series. We’ll explore what the Bible says about suffering and how viewing it through the lens of Jesus can shift our perspective. It won’t erase the pain, but it may help us see that God has not abandoned us in it. In fact, He may be closer than we ever imagined. If your heart is heavy or your hope feels thin, come. Let’s seek God’s presence and peace — together. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

The Bible’s Rosetta Stone – A Conversation You Won’t Want to Miss + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • May 30, 2025
This Sunday, we’re continuing our Beyond Doubt series with a conversation I’ve been really looking forward to. I’ll be sitting down with Dr. David Timms, Dean of New Testament and Leadership at Jessup University to talk about how we make sense of the Bible as a whole. More specifically, we will discuss the lens which he suggests best brings the whole of Scripture into focus and reveals the heart of God most clearly. It’ll be an honest, thoughtful conversation about questions many of us have had — especially when different parts of the Bible seem to paint very different pictures of God. David has a gift for making deep theology accessible, and I think you’ll find his insights both challenging and encouraging (his accent is pretty awesome, as well). If you’ve ever struggled with how to read Scripture or wondered how it all fits together, this one’s for you. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Can’t wait to share it with you,

Twisted Scripture: How to Read the Bible Responsibly + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • May 23, 2025
This Sunday, we’re continuing our Beyond Doubt series with a crucial follow-up to last week’s message on trusting the Bible. Now that we’ve established what the Bible is, we’re turning our attention to how we read it — because let’s face it, the Bible has been used to justify both beautiful and terrible things. So how do we make sure we’re interpreting it responsibly? We’ll talk about why context matters, how our personal lens can unintentionally distort God’s Word, and why a single verse — ripped out of its context — can be twisted to say almost anything. You’ll learn a practical, easy-to-remember approach to reading the Bible faithfully and responsibly — not just devotionally. If you’ve ever struggled with conflicting interpretations or felt unsure about how to make sense of the Bible, this message is for you. Together, we will discover how to let God’s word shape us — without being reshaped by us. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,

Can I Really Trust the Bible? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • May 16, 2025
This Sunday, we continue our Beyond Doubt series by asking one of the most foundational questions of all: Can I trust the Bible? For many of us, the Bible has shaped what we believe about God, ourselves, and the world. But have you ever wondered how this ancient library of books came to be? How the early church decided what made the cut? And whether what we read today matches what was originally written? We'll explore how the Bible was formed, and evidence for why it's still trustworthy and relevant today. If you've ever struggled with doubts or wrestled with tough questions about the Bible, this message is for you. You just might come away with a renewed sense of confidence in the truth you hold in your hands. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,

Donuts, Doubt & Dedications – Celebrate Mother’s Day at Twin Cities

By TCC • May 9, 2025
Last Sunday, we got to celebrate as 31 of our brothers and sisters in Christ went public with their faith through baptism. What a powerful moment for our church family! And we’re not slowing down. This weekend, we’re pulling out all the stops to make Mother’s Day meaningful and memorable. First, there will be donuts. Because what’s a celebration without some guilt-free carbs? Sweeter still, we’ll hear from Kim Thompson, the founding mother of Twin Cities Church. Kim will be sharing a timely message about doubt and identity — how easy it is to forget who we are when life gets loud. If you’ve ever wrestled with your worth, your calling, or your place in God’s story, this message is for you. Then we’ll close the service with Family Dedications — a beautiful moment where we not only dedicate children to the Lord, but also commission parents for the sacred journey of raising them in faith. Whether you come with your mom, your kids, or just a heart ready to celebrate, you’ll be surrounded by family. We can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,
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