Following God's Purposeful Mission + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • September 1, 2023

Last Sunday was one of the BEST in almost three decades for Kim and me. Words don’t seem to be able to convey the deep feelings we felt as we experienced the love, encouragement, and gratitude from so many people. Twin Cities has always been a place where we express our heart, and Sunday was no exception. 


Thank you for loving us as we are with acceptance and grace. Thank you for the heartfelt words you expressed on the “Well Done” notes, on social media, and through emails. Our cup overflows with joy! If you missed Sunday, please watch the entire service soon because I hope that everyone gets to hear the words of gratitude I was able to deliver even though it was an emotional day. 


Kim and I keep being asked, “What are you going to do now?” That is not an easy question to answer. First, after September 10, when we commission and install Pastor Eric as our new Lead Pastor, I will have a new title – Founding Pastor. I teasingly said on Sunday that I don’t know what that means so maybe I’ll spend my time founding things. That day will also begin a period of lengthy sabbatical away from Twin Cities. 


There are three reasons for this sabbatical. First, I need time to rest. My closest friends say that I have an over-functioning sense of responsibility. Even though I am clear in my mind that this is God’s church, and I am His under-shepherd, I have felt the responsibility of Twin Cities for nearly 32 years, and I just can’t shut that off like you would a light switch. It will take time. I need to rest and heal from the journey I’ve been on the past two years ever since my cancer diagnosis on April 20, 2021. I am not the kind of guy who rests. That is my job for the foreseeable future. I also need time to spend with God as His beloved child, not as pastor. My therapists tell me I need time to grieve and move toward being the healthiest I can be. I need time to reset. 


Second, Pastor Eric needs to be able to spread his wings and lead without feeling he must please the OG (Old Guy). Pastor Eric has had a period when God has been at work in his heart to prepare him for this new season. He has energy, ideas, and a vision for our future that is going to be just what Twin Cities needs for the next leg of our journey together.


Third, you need time to be with Eric and hear his heart and allow your hearts to become one with his. This is a good thing. Up until now you you’ve been attached to my heart. Now it’s time to attach your heart to Pastor Eric’s heart. Friends, you can love me and Pastor Eric. You can be loyal to both of us. It’s okay to have your affections attached to another pastor. 


This weekend we continue our series called Transition: New Season. Same Mission. Pastor Mark will help us take a fresh look at our mission statement – We are engaging together to lead as many people as possible into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 


Please pray for Pastor Eric, Cathy, Ethan, and Grayson as they move their home from Costa Mesa to Nevada County. We want them to know how much we love them – even if we’ve not met them. They are in So Cal right now to load their stuff in a U-Haul and make the trek on Sunday over the Grapevine, and up I-5 to our lovely area. Pray for them in this journey.

 

Here are the links you’ll need to prepare for Sunday’s Service: 


 

Joyfully living on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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Is It Okay to Deconstruct Your Faith? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 25, 2025
Last weekend, we kicked off our Beyond Doubt series by voicing something many of us feel, but rarely say out loud: we have questions that can feel at odds with our faith. But as we’re exploring in this series, doubt isn’t the enemy of belief — it can actually be the doorway to a stronger, more resilient faith. This Sunday, we’re taking on a topic that’s increasingly common, yet often misunderstood: deconstruction . What do you do when the version of Christianity you inherited begins to crack under the weight of hard questions, disappointment, or pain? Is it possible to examine and pull apart your faith without walking away from it completely? We believe it is. This weekend’s message is for anyone who’s ever wrestled with their spiritual worldview — or walked alongside someone who is. We’ll talk about what it means to ask honest questions, seek real truth, and reconstruct a faith that’s stronger on the other side. Join us this Sunday as we move beyond doubt — 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 With hope,

Easter Weekend at Twin Cities – You’re Invited! + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 18, 2025
Easter is almost here — and we’ve got a full weekend planned to connect and celebrate as a church family! Here’s everything coming up: Good Friday Community Service – 12pm @ TCC Join us Friday at Noon at Twin Cities Church as we gather with churches from across Nevada County to remember the triumph of the cross. It will be a wonderful time of worship, unity, and gratitude for the grace Jesus purchased for us. Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast – Saturday at 9am Bring the whole family out for a fun morning filled with pancakes, eggs (the plastic kind), and connection with our local community. It’s a great way to build memories and share the joy of Easter with our neighbors. Easter Sunday – He Is Risen! Celebrate the resurrection with us on Sunday at one of our three Easter services: 8:15, 9:45, & 11:30am . This is the perfect opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or coworker to come experience hope and new life in Jesus. The 8:15am service is typically the lightest attended, so if you’re flexible, join us early and help make space for guests later in the morning. We can’t wait to see 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 With anticipation,

Great Expectations + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 11, 2025
This weekend, we’ll prepare our hearts for Easter by reflecting on Palm Sunday. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, crowds lined the road shouting, “Hosanna!” — a cry of praise and hope. They had big expectations for what He had come to do. But just days later, their cries would turn to “Crucify Him!” We’ll explore how quickly expectations can turn to disappointment — and how dangerous it can be when we carry those same kinds of expectations into our relationship with God. Join us as we walk with Jesus into Holy Week and open our hearts to the kind of King He really is — not always the one we expect, but always the one we need. 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 Looking forward to seeing you Sunday,

Welcome to the Resistance + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 4, 2025
This weekend, we wrap up our study through Ephesians with a powerful call to stand firm in our God-given identity. Throughout this letter, Paul has reminded us that we are not meant to be shaped by the world around us. Just as the Ephesian believers faced immense pressure to conform — socially, politically, ethically, and spiritually — we, too, are constantly tempted to fit into the mold of our culture. But Paul’s message is clear: Don’t give in. Don’t be shaped by the world. Stand firm IN CHRIST. Join us this Sunday as we embrace our role in God’s quiet, subversive revolution. We’re also in a special season of investing in the future — both here at Twin Cities and in Uganda. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen our church home while helping build a new church for our partners in Uganda. Click here to learn how you can help make a lasting impact. 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 Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

Power Play + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 28, 2025
Last weekend, it was such a joy watching Ron and Kim unpack Paul’s exhortations to husbands and wives. But marriage is only one of the relationships that Paul addresses in Ephesians. He also speaks about the dynamics between parents and children as well as the first century version of employers and employees. However, rather than just providing some tips on how to be a better parent, employer, or spouse , we are going to dig beneath the surface to the underlying power dynamics that often make relationships so contentious. And we will discover that what Paul is offering us is far more than some tips for a better marriage. He’s actually offering a radically different vision for how to approach every relationship. I can’t wait to explore this incredibly rich and relevant topic with you this Sunday. We’re also in a special season of investing in the future — both here at Twin Cities and in Uganda. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen our church home while helping build a new church for our partners in Uganda. Click here to learn how you can help make a lasting impact. 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 Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

The Spirit of Marriage + An Exciting Opportunity! + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 21, 2025
This Sunday is going to be an exciting one. Our founding couple, Ron and Kim Thompson, will be unpacking Paul’s words about how to honor Christ and support one another in marriage. Whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between, this message will be deeply relevant and will help us grapple with what it means to live as Children of God within relationship with other imperfect image bearers. You won’t want to miss it! Investing in Our Future We’re in an exciting season of growth — both here at Twin Cities and in Uganda. As I shared last weekend, our church home needs a few critical updates, and we also have the opportunity to help build a new home for a sister church in Uganda. We’d love for you to be part of this lasting impact. Click here to learn how you can invest in the future. 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 In His grip,

Appetite for Destruction + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 7, 2025
Have you ever felt the pull of old habits, the struggle between who you were and who God is calling you to be? As we continue our study through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he will challenge us to leave behind our former way of life and embrace our true identity in Christ. This weekend, we will explore the destructive nature of sin – the way it deadens our sensitivity and hinders us from ever finding true satisfaction. Thankfully, there’s hope! True transformation and freedom are possible if we will allow the Holy Spirit to help us clean house. Our lives depend on 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 In His grip,

Gifted and Equipped — What’s Your Role? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 28, 2025
As we step into the second half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the focus shifts from who we are in Christ to how we are called to live in light of that truth. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to be gifted and equipped by the Holy Spirit — not just for our own benefit, but for the strengthening of the Church. Each of us has been entrusted with spiritual gifts, uniquely intended to build up the body of Christ. But if we don’t recognize or use them, we miss out on the part God has called us to play in being the body of Christ. What are spiritual gifts really for? How do we discover them? And what does it look like when we fully embrace them as a church? Join us as we dig into Ephesians 4 and uncover how we can step into the fullness of God’s calling. Also, a quick reminder — Grow University begins next week! If you're looking for a way to get more connected and discover how God has uniquely shaped you, this is your next step. Click here to learn more or to sign up. Looking forward to diving into this 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 In His grip,

Embodying the Fullness of God + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 21, 2025
As we reach the midpoint of our journey through Ephesians, we come to a pivotal transition. Paul has reminded us that we are deeply rooted in God’s love — but what does that mean for how we live ? This Sunday, we’ll explore what it truly means to embody the fullness of God — not just as individuals, but as a church. We are called to be more than attendees; we are the dwelling place of His Spirit, sent to reflect His heart in the world. This conversation will challenge the way we define success as a church. If we truly are the body of Christ, how do we measure whether we’re living out that calling? Hint: it’s not about counting attendance or the quality of our programs. Below, you’ll find resources to help you prepare your heart and mind for 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 In His grip,
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