God is Near + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • December 10, 2021

I had an enlightening time today as I recounted the past six weeks with my therapist. One key element he asked me to recount was how the doctors and nurses responded to me while I was in the hospital. First, there was the way that I faced the ups and downs with a faith and resilience that was evident. Second was the way I handled the ups and downs with grace and acceptance.

As I faced a long delay in going home, I was so encouraged at how the nurses and doctors began rooting for me to get the keys to leave the hospital. At the same time, they didn’t want me to leave. In fact, a couple of nurses took extra shifts in order to be “my” nurse. One nurse actually worked five nights in a row so that she could give me her individual attention. Another nurse gave me a hug when I was released, and we both cried to know I was FREE and able to go home. They told me that I was a kind, courteous, and caring patient, and in a place like a hospital where people can be uncomfortable, angry, and out of control, that I was a bright light.

I’m not trying to toot my horn, but my therapist wanted me to hear the positive in what they were saying to me through their words and actions. He said, “What they were witnessing was the years of soul-work you’ve done in spiritual formation to let Jesus transform you.” Did you know that our circumstances do not automatically lead us to maturity, but they reveal our spirituality?

Folks, this was what God did in me even though I was suffering from pain, inconvenience, and being out of control. I was not hearing from God. I felt that He was distant or absent. And yet inside I knew His assurance – as we talk about so often – that God is near. He never leaves our side.

I am excited to say that I am moving onward to the other side of the valley in my recovery from all I have been through. I do get to have one more procedure on Tuesday, December 14, in San Francisco to remove a stent that was placed in my “new” esophagus during one complication they encountered during my surgery. Please pray that all goes well, and that I am able to complete my recovery regimen. I love you and am so grateful for your prayers, care, and support. One last thing, I hear through the prayer channel that there are many people in our church who are dealing with cancer. Will you join me in bringing all of these to the Father in prayer? Especially Linda Wilbur, who will have surgery on December 22nd.

Here are some upcoming opportunities to SHARE LIFE and SPREAD HOPE to our family and community.

HOLIDAY SERVE OPPS are in full swing. Let me encourage you to go to our website and look at all the ways we’re serving our community this holiday season. Even though the baskets and stockings are all due this week, our community has many places where we can serve and help. People tell us with deep appreciation that our engagement really boosts the hopes and spirits of those who are in desperate situations in these challenging times.

It’s YEAR-END GIFT time and I want to encourage you to give a special gift to our church as an act of worship and appreciation to God for how He has used TCC in your life over the past year. The beauty of this giving opportunity is that it allows us to generously serve even more people throughout the year. You can get more information on our website.

Our next BABES WHO BRUNCH, for young adult women, is December 18, in the church lobby. This group is just one example of how we continue to work to engage the next generation in the life of our church. Will you please pray with me for the success of this group? We are committed to seeing God use us to reach the young adults of our community.

THIS SUNDAY we continue our Advent series by focusing on a really cool aspect of this series – GIVE MORE. I think you will be surprised at the application of this series and how the best gift we can give to others is the gift of ourselves.

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

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

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New Series Starts this Weekend + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 10, 2026

What an incredible Easter weekend we just shared. I’m so grateful for all God did in our midst and for the new faith decisions that were made. Please keep praying for those who made a decision to follow Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to help their fledgling faith take deep root and grow into a lifelong walk with Jesus. This weekend we’re starting a brand-new series through the book of Acts called Walking with the Spirit . Acts is the origin story of the Church and it’s a reminder that what Jesus began then is still what He’s doing now: reaching out to His prodigal image bearers through ordinary people, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We’ll kick things off by looking at the often-overlooked space between promise and fulfillment — the place where God does some of His deepest work in us. If you’re in a season of waiting, longing, or wondering what’s next, this Sunday is 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 See you Sunday,

Easter Weekend: Come Celebrate the Resurrection of Our King + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 3, 2026

Easter weekend is finally here, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Today is Good Friday and, as I’ve said before, it’s the single most meaningful day of the year for me. If Easter is the celebration of the hope we have in Christ, then Good Friday is when the greatest act of love in history was carried out. So, while we look forward to Easter, we begin here. Today, there are two opportunities to gather and remember: • Community Good Friday Service at 1st Baptist Church of Grass Valley — 12:00pm • Twin Cities Good Friday Service at TCC — 6:00pm I plan to be at both, and I hope you can join us for at least one. Then tomorrow we’ll host our annual Pancake Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt . This is one of our largest community outreaches as we welcome families from across our county who wouldn’t normally step onto our campus. Even if you don’t have kids, come help us love our neighbors well. Finally, on Sunday we’ll celebrate with three Easter services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30am . I can’t wait to celebrate the day our hope was resurrected. And don’t come alone. There are people in your sphere of influence who don’t have a church community — and many will come if they’re simply invited. Take that step and bring someone with 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 See you soon,

Taking a Closer Look + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 27, 2026

This Sunday we begin our journey to Easter with Palm Sunday and it’s going to be an adventure. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the streets were packed with people carrying huge expectations about what He was coming to do and how He would do it. They were ready for a revolution… but they had the wrong enemy in mind. Palm Sunday has a way of confronting our assumptions, clarifying what kind of King Jesus is, and inviting us to follow Him on His terms, not ours. Come ready to lean in, reflect, and prepare your heart for Easter. And don’t miss the beginning of the service. Our Children’s Ministry has a special surprise for us, and you’ll want to be there for it. Also, you have the ability to help change the eternal trajectory of someone’s life. Surveys consistently show that a high percentage of non-churchgoing adults say they would attend an Easter service if invited by someone they know. That means your personal invite to a friend, coworker, or neighbor is far more impactful than any post or mailer we could produce. So please prayerfully consider who you will invite to join you this Easter. I’m looking forward to celebrating the resurrection of our King. 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.

Don’t Try Harder + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 20, 2026

This weekend, we’re wrapping up our How We Change series, and we’re ending with a simple but freeing truth: real change doesn’t come through more willpower, but through steady surrender and training with Jesus. In a world that craves instant results, spiritual growth is often slower than we want, but as we walk with Him over time, the Holy Spirit does the deep work of shaping us into people who live and love more like Christ. This weekend, we’ll look at how lasting change really happens — and how to keep saying yes to Jesus one step at a time. Also, don’t forget: this Saturday is our Man Time Breakfast , and it’s not too late to sign up. It’ll be a great morning to connect, eat well, and be encouraged together. More info and sign up here . Hope 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 See you Sunday.

How Service Helps Us Grow + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 13, 2026

This week we’ll continue our series on how we change by exploring something simple, but deeply transformative: service. It’s easy to think of serving as addressing needs or helping out, but serving doesn’t just bless others, it forms us. It reshapes our hearts, reorders our priorities, and trains us in the way of Jesus. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your growth, weary in your faith, or hungry for something more grounded than good intentions, this weekend will point us toward a path Jesus Himself walked. 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 Blessing of Suffering + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 6, 2026

Life doesn’t always go the way we hoped it would, does it? Disappointment, loss, conflict, unanswered prayers — suffering is a very real part of the human experience. But as painful as it is, our suffering isn’t necessarily meaningless, nor is it beyond God’s ability to use for good. This weekend, our founding pastor, Ron Thompson, will explore how God meets us in hardship and how the Holy Spirit can use even our trials to strengthen and shape us to become more like Jesus. I look forward to learning alongside you. Please remember that this Sunday is Daylight Savings time and we will be springing forward an hour. We’ll see you bright and early and we will have coffee ready. 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.

Made One, Made New + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 27, 2026

I’m still overwhelmed by last week’s baptism service, where 40 of our brothers and sisters in Christ went public with their faith. It was a powerful reminder of the transformative work God is doing in our church community. Speaking of community, this Sunday, Pastor Mark will be sharing about the transforming power of doing life in community. More often than not, the deepest change happens through relationship. God works in and through His people to heal, strengthen, and grow one another into the likeness of Jesus. This weekend will remind us why God intends for us to do life together in Christ. 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.

Spirit of the Loving God + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 20, 2026

This weekend we’re continuing to explore the role that the Holy Spirit plays in real, lasting transformation. We’ll talk about the core changes that God does within us, both in the moment of our surrender as well as the fruit of our continued surrender to His love. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to actually live in step with the Spirit day-to-day, not just on Sundays, this is a weekend to be here. We’ll also be celebrating baptisms in both services! Baptism weekends are, without a doubt, my favorite weekend and you won’t want to miss it. If you’ve been considering baptism, it’s not too late to participate. We have one more baptism class today (Friday) at noon at the church. Even if you can’t make that class, you can still get baptized. Just show up 30 minutes before either service and meet near the baptismal. I can’t wait to celebrate with 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 See you Sunday.

The Spirit of Change + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 13, 2026

This weekend we’ll continue our How We Change series by exploring the person and power of the Holy Spirit — because if lasting change is possible, it won’t come from willpower alone. It will require God’s presence and power at work within us. This is such a broad (and often misunderstood) topic that I’m inviting my friend Dan Prout of Sierra Ministries to join me for a live conversation. Here are a few questions we’ll explore together: What does it actually mean to be “born of the Spirit” — not just improved, but remade from the inside out? What is an appropriate way for believers to think of and relate to the Holy Spirit? What does our “part” look like — how do we cooperate with the Spirit without slipping into either striving or passivity? And what can we do when we feel dry, stuck, or unchanged? If you’ve ever felt unsure, curious, skeptical, or hungry for more — this weekend is 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 See you Sunday.