Praying for Our Country and Each Other

TCC • January 21, 2021

We watched two significant moments yesterday. One was the final remarks from President Trump as he said farewell to America. It was sobering to see him walk up the steps to Air Force One, wondering what he felt as he left office – not like he would have liked. Second was the inauguration of our 46^th President, Joe Biden. Once again it was sobering to think of the job before him. He has said that his number one goal is to unify our country. That, my friends, is going to take a miracle from Heaven.

Will you commit with me today that we will pray for President Biden and his team? Let’s pray for God’s mighty hand to work in ways that we can’t even begin to imagine or dream. I was talking with a friend right after the inauguration who said, “We pray for God’s will to be done in America as it is in Heaven.” I agree.

You can find strength in praying our 2021 Church Prayer. I’ve seen great encouragement this year by engaging in that prayer each day. If you look at it in context, it comes from the Apostle Paul’s instructions on how to be prepared for spiritual warfare. Prayer is both defensive armor and an offensive weapon. I encourage you to pray this prayer with your church family.

Friday is the day we pray for each other. I know that the COVID restrictions have led to relational loneliness, financial loss and devastation, family stress, career derailment, and emotional depression in so many people. I want you to know you can count on me praying for you every Friday. Folks, COVID will end its run. In the meantime, let’s all do what we can to stay connected in the ways we can. If you’re struggling – feeling isolated, or have financial hardship, or need emotional support – please reach out to your church for care.

In this time, we must keep our faith alive by looking for ways we can remain connected as a church family. One couple I know decided that they wanted to grow in their faith and connect with other Followers of Jesus, so they launched a new group. You may want to consider something like that. Gather 8-10 people in your home to study the Bible, watch the Sunday service, or reflect and pray using the Message Notes from Sunday. One person wrote this to me recently, “We are hoping the church will be able to open soon so we can resume worship as a group again, however, the fact that we can't meet as a church doesn't stop us from worshipping in small groups and doing whatever we must to continue our journey as Christians.”

Grow University begins soon, and now is the time to choose which class you want to take to help you grow. Here are this session’s classes.

Resolving Everyday Conflict helps you improve your communication skills and learn to resolve conflict in a healthy way.
GriefShare helps you find healing after loss and learn ways to cope with the deep sadness, loneliness and confusion that comes with the loss of a loved one or someone close.
Financial Peace University helps you gain financial stability and learn how to manage your money and reduce your debt.
Be with Jesus helps you deepen your relationship with God and learn practices that will draw you closer to Him.

No matter which area you are hoping to grow in this year, remember: God is WITH you every step of the way and He’s already moving mountains for you because He loves you. And with God on your side, who can be against you? Our team is here to support you and help you. GROW now through Grow University! You can register online through our website. If you have any questions about any of the classes or need help getting registered, you can email Laura or call her at 530.273.6425 ext.300.

We continue to extend compassion to the hurting in our community through our monthly Drive-Thru Food Drive. Nevada County Food Bank has had a reduction in the amount of food provided by the government, which has put an increased burden on all of our food distribution outlets. We support Interfaith Food Ministry, and our monthly food drives go a long way to helping them have the food resources they need to help meet the increased demand. So, go shopping for non-perishable food items and bring them by the church on Friday, 8:00-10:30am. You won’t have to get out of your vehicle. Our team will receive your food and help the Interfaith volunteers sort and box the food before it is transferred to their distribution center.

Another way we extend compassion is through our involvement with LivingWell Medical Clinic. LivingWell has been one of our ministry partners for over 28 years. Just like all non-profits, their fundraising efforts have had to be restructured. Unfortunately, that also meant that their income was hindered. We’re going to pitch in and receive a special offering this Sunday, January 24 to help them during this tough time. If you want to give, you can go to our website or directly to their giving platform. Please pray about how you might want to give to help protect the unborn.

On Sunday, we continue our Walking the Way of Wisdom series. This week, we’ll take a look at what Proverbs has to say about Wisdom and FRIENDS. The past ten months have really challenged us, and it’s shown us how deep our friendship pool is. Some of us are finding that our pool was pretty shallow. Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship – how to make friends, how to forge friendship, and how to enrich friendship. I hope you’ll make sure to tune in online this weekend to hear God’s Word for you.

We’ll also observe communion on Sunday, so make sure to have juice and bread or a cracker on hand so that you can engage in this deeply moving spiritual practice. If you want, you can make your own communion bread. Here’s a recipe I use that makes fantastic bread for communion. Join me in making this experience interactive and involve your entire family.

During this time when we can’t meet in person, 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 and will help our church family feel your nearness and encouragement as we continue to “gather” in His name.

If you like, 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,

New Paragraph

< Older Post Newer Post >

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.