Practicing the Presence of Jesus

TCC • December 17, 2020

God is with us! That’s the beautiful and encouraging message the angel gave Joseph when he shared the news about the baby in Mary’s womb. I know that was messy for them and changed the plans they had for their lives. I can’t even imagine. I want to know more deeply how they had the kind of faith that allowed them to receive this news with such faith, trust, and confidence in God. That realization would help me more easily see God at work in my life like He was in theirs.


Our world is pretty messy right now as we continue to face the challenges of COVID, election animosity, racial tension, and an overall sense of division between people. We’re facing times like none of us have ever been through, and it’s revealing a need for a strong foundation. Actually, it’s revealing the strength of the foundation we already have. I want to express my gratitude to God that even though things have been difficult, I feel secure in His love.


That doesn’t mean that I’ve not had my emotional ups and downs. We all have those, correct? Just yesterday I had a couple of challenges that hit me deep in my soul. I felt fear, sadness, and loneliness. Instead of trying to manage those feelings on my own, I immediately took them to God and practiced being in the presence of Jesus.


At the same time, I listened to a devotional based upon Zephaniah 3:11-13. Here is where I was guided to focus my mind: “Picture the scene where the humble are led to a place of safety where no one will make them afraid. Can you place yourself in the scene? Can you allow yourself to be encouraged by these promises? Is there perhaps a change of attitude you long to see in yourself? In this season of Advent, wait in the presence of God who wants to bring you to a place of safety. Speak to Him openly, as one friend to another, about what is on your heart.”


The key for me was to imagine Jesus talking to me as His sheep and telling me that He was with me; therefore, there was nothing to fear. I was immediately able to do this because I had been practicing the presence of Jesus regularly. What an exciting moment for me in my journey. Will you learn with me what it means to know that He is with us in all moments? That’s what God with us means. Jesus made it possible for God to be with us and now, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have God in us as well.


Several people have thanked me for the 30-Day Gratitude Experiment. I know that I’m finding it to be uplifting as I am able to take my eyes off what is not right or not what I want and place them on what is good around me. After Christmas, I’ll ask you if the gratitude experiment made a difference in your attitude, joy, contentment, peace, and overall satisfaction. Let’s increase our joy together. Just make sure that when you post about gratitude that you use #TCC30DayGratitudeExperiment. Gratitude reminds us of how we’ve been blessed and generates emotional inertia to bless others.  

 

Families, we’ve put a super fun Birthday Party for Jesus kit together for you to help you engage with your kids during Christmas. You can pick up a kit this Sunday from 9:00-11:00am in front of the building at the roundabout. If you can’t make it then, they’ll be available at the church office throughout the week during office hours. Make sure to check the website to find out more because these details may change. 

 

It's Year-End Gift season. When we give to our church, we get to see our gifts at work to help the hurting, the helpless, and the hopeless right here in our community and around the world. But more than that, we know that every gift we give goes to support and provide guidance to people who need to experience God’s love and compassion. What we do has eternal significance. If you want to know more about our Year-End Giving emphasis and how you can give, you can read about it on our website. 


This week the news reported that 50 million Americans are facing severe food shortages and hunger issues right now. You may have seen the video of long lines as people waited hours to receive food from the food banks. Interfaith Food Ministry reported that they have served almost 6000 individuals representing 2500 family units EACH MONTH during the Fall. Wow, that’s a lot of people in our community who need our caring assistance.


We can help Interfaith Food Ministries as we engage in our next "Shop, Stop, & Drop" Drive-Thru Food Drive. This is a no-contact, maximum-impact way to support our community and the growing number of people in need from COVID-19 hardships. We are asking for your help in donating much needed non-perishable food items. There is no need to leave your car. Drive to TCC’s parking lot between 8:00-10:30am THIS Friday, December 18. Just follow the signs and instructions from our wonderful volunteers who will be helping that day.

 

We continue our Advent series this Sunday by looking at Matthew 2:13-23. This is the first time in our history as a church that we’ve covered these particular verses that are part of the Christmas story. They are probably not on the top of most people’s favorite verses for this time of year because they are full of angst, pain and sadness. I want to invite you to watch this week because the message will comfort those who have faced loss and grief. If you know someone who has lost a loved one or faced any other significant loss, encourage them to watch the service on Sunday. It’s called Messy Problems. You might also take time to watch the video Kim and I were able to shoot this week. We talked about how to face tough emotional issues.

 

Our Worship Arts Team is actively working to produce a wonderful and inspiring Christmas Eve service. I am so eager to get a chance to see the final version and share it with our community. The service times will be December 23 at 6:00pm and December 24 at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00pm. You will also be able to view it on demand any time after December 24. Will you help us get the word out? Just click here and consider sending an invitation to your friends. I can’t wait to experience all God has in store for us through this experience.


During this time when we can’t be on campus together, please make sure to stay engaged online. 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. 

 

If you need, you can watch the current service or any archived service on demand any time you want right 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, just 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,

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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