Celebrating With Gratitude + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • September 10, 2021

Let’s celebrate with gratitude the response we had to our Hospitality House offering on August 29. Hospitality House (HH) has been under duress from COVID restrictions and complications that have reduced their income and restricted their volunteers. The result is that they have been forced to do more (since their clientele has increased) with less (since their income and staff has been reduced). Pastor John was able to deliver goods donated at the last Drive-Thru Food Drive and over $4000 in donations that you gave to help alleviate the shortages and care for a group of people who struggled to care for themselves. Thank you for your caring and generous response.

SISTER’S CLOSET. One of my favorite community events we offer is Sister’s Closet, and it’s coming up October 9. This is a time where women and teenagers can come and shop for free to augment their wardrobe for the Fall and Winter seasons. My heart is so moved each time we offer this event as I watch many women and girls shop with joy on their faces as they peruse the wonderful clothing items, shoes, and accessories donated by the generous women of our church. What an opportunity to bless others out of the blessings we’ve been given. It’s a joyful and even tear-filled frenzy. If you would like to help with set-up or tear-down or during the shopping, please get in touch with Mare. She will help you find a way to serve the women of our community and church who need our support.

FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL. One of our largest community service projects each year is FFF. This year’s theme is Animal Adventures. We’re going to spread out and utilize as much of our facility – indoors and outdoors – as possible to create a fun and irresistible environment where families can come and enjoy the inspiring opportunity we provide as they relax and play together. FFF is such a FUN event, and we’re beginning signups for a whole army of volunteers to help make sure that every family who attends will feel welcomed, have fun, and leave with all the candy they could ever have imagined. You can sign up to serve on our website or by contacting Mare or John. Many families in our community get their first real contact with our church through this event. That makes FFF a high-impact investment as we get to have a personal touch with the families of our community.

LIFE GROUPS FALL LAUNCH. We’re entering a new season with a time of clarification as we launch our small groups. 2021 was a time for us to sharpen our focus as a church to be more intentional in our approach to discipleship and be clearer in our vision to engage together to lead as many people as possible into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We have four pillars to build on – Share Life, Strengthen Faith, Serve Others, and Spread Hope. The Share Life pillar includes our relationship with Jesus and how He calls us to Share Life with Him and each other. The natural outflow of that is that we want our small groups to be intentional in sharing life with each other, therefore we are going to call our small groups – LIFE GROUPS. If you're going to become part of a LIFE GROUP or want more information on what it means, please email Laura or Mark, and they will help you get connected. Our goal is that we will all find a place where we can know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, and celebrate and be celebrated as we grow to become more like Jesus.

GOSPEL ILLUSION SHOW. Children’s Ministry is inviting everyone, children and adults, to join the fun and illusions on Sunday, September 26 in the Student Room. Bernard Bradshaw’s Gospel Illusion Show has been bringing the message of God’s love for the past 21 years. He grabs people’s attention through the gift of illusions helping them to better understand and remember the stories of Jesus. Bring a picnic to eat right after church at 12:15pm. Children’s Ministry will be providing free Taco Bell soft tacos. The Gospel Illusion Show will begin at 1:00pm.

SUNDAY, we get to start our RADIATE LOVE series based upon the New Testament book of 1 John. John writes to correct error that had seeped into some of the second-generation church teachers in the region of Ephesus. He writes to encourage the Followers of Jesus in that region to live in such a way that exemplified the words of Jesus when He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John, who was known as the “Disciple of Love” wrote it this way in 1 John 4:7-8, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I’m really looking forward to this series because our world is desperate to know a love like that.

COMMUNION IS THIS WEEK. Make sure to be prepared for Communion whether you are here on site or engaging online from home.

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

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

CANCER SURGERY UPDATE. (This is the same as last week, but since people keep asking, I’m going to repeat myself.) I find myself in a place where I cannot predict or plan the date for my surgery. I am at a new moment of trust as I WAIT for an extensive hospital system to guide me to the surgery schedule. I’m a planner, and it’s hard for me to wait. In a prayer gathering last week, one of the women who spoke to God on my behalf reminded me that Jesus is with me in the waiting as much as He was with me in the days of chemo/radiation treatment and recovery. Would you please pray that I can wait with faith? Please pray that I can grow stronger as I wait because I’m still weak and fatigued from the chemo/radiation treatment I underwent. Please pray for God’s favor because ultimately, He is responsible for schedules and plans. I want to be in the center of His will. As I’ve shared with you, Psalm 27:13-14 are the verses God gave me for this phase of my journey. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. WAIT FOR THE LORD; Be strong and take heart and WAIT FOR THE LORD.”

New Paragraph

< Older Post Newer Post >

Secure in the Spirit + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 12, 2025

Last week, we saw how Jesus’ ministry began with the Father’s blessing and identity spoken over Him . But what came next? Rejection, criticism, and pressure to compromise or conform at every turn. How did Jesus stand strong when others doubted, opposed, or even tried to silence Him ? He was secure in His Father’s love and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This Sunday, we’ll look at what it means to live with that same Spirit-filled confidence, rooted in God’s voice and empowered by His presence, not the world’s opinions. 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.

Let’s Take a Walk With Jesus + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 5, 2025

This Sunday we’re kicking off a new series, Walking With Jesus . Together, we’ll journey through Luke’s Gospel and learn how Jesus stayed rooted in the Father’s love, stood firm against pressure, and never lost sight of what mattered most. Our journey will begin where His public ministry began, grounded in identity, love, and blessing from the Father. That secure foundation shaped everything Jesus did, and it’s the same foundation we desperately need today. I hope you’ll join us as we take the first step in Walking With Jesus . 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 Just Go to Church — Be the Church + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 29, 2025

It’s so easy to think of church as a place we go for 70 minutes on Sunday. But Jesus had something far bigger in mind. The church isn’t a building or a service; it’s people. WE are the church. We comprise this brand-new movement that Jesus came to start and it’s a movement that moves beyond a building and permeates every area in our community. When you step into your school, workplace, neighborhood, or family, you bring the presence of Jesus with you. This Sunday we’ll wrap up our Brand: New series by exploring what it means to live as the church everywhere we go and how each of us has a unique role to play in God’s mission. 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 Way Up is Down + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 22, 2025

Have you ever noticed how the world works? The ones on top call the shots, set the rules, and expect others to fall in line. And deep down, we tend to think that’s how change happens, by overpowering those who oppose us. Jesus had a different idea. He looked His disciples in the eye and said, “Not so with you.” True leadership isn’t about getting your way; it’s about giving yourself away. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to lead, serve, and live in a way that flips the world’s expectations upside down. Take the Next Step: If you’re ready to go deeper in your relationship with Jesus and connect more with our church community, join us after 2nd service for Growth Path classes. This is your chance to learn, grow, and discover how you can make a difference where you are. Click here to learn more. 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.

What Does Love Require of Me? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 15, 2025

This week we continue our Brand: New series with a question that can reshape every relationship, every decision, and every interaction you have: What does love require of me? Jesus replaced rule-keeping religion with something far simpler, yet far more demanding. He taught that our devotion to God is best demonstrated by the way we treat the people around us, especially those who are hardest to love. Join us Sunday as we explore how to live out this radical, world-changing way of love. Then, join us Sunday afternoon from 4:00-7:30 for our annual Picnic at the Park & Baptisms at Pioneer Park in Nevada City. Our cooking team will be grilling chicken and hot dogs for everyone. We just ask that you bring either an app, salad, or dessert to share. Then at 7:00 we’ll head over to the Pioneer Park pool to cheer on those taking the next step in their faith journey through baptism. You can find out more details about the picnic and baptisms here . 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.

What’s Love Got to Do With It? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 8, 2025

This weekend, we continue our series Brand: Ne w with a look at how Jesus launched a movement unlike anything the world had seen before. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus gave a defining command: "Love one another... By this, everyone will know that you are My disciples." John 13:34–35 This wasn’t just another rule — it was the foundation of a brand-new way of living. Early believers embraced this wholeheartedly, building a community marked by generosity, grace, and sacrificial love that even the unbelieving world couldn’t ignore. But over time, the Church drifted back toward an old, rule-based, temple-model mindset — sacred places, sacred people, sacred texts in the hands of a select few. Power replaced love, belief trumped behavior, and this simple command of Jesus got buried under layers of religion. This Sunday, we’ll explore how we can reject the temple model in our own lives and return to the movement Jesus intended, one where relationship replaces religion, love outweighs law, and people matter more than places. 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.

Brand: New – Why the Old Way No Longer Works + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 1, 2025

This weekend, we’re continuing our Brand: New series by looking at why the “Temple Model” of religion, with all its rules, rituals, and spiritual scorecards, is incompatible with the brand-new covenant of grace Jesus came to give us. Paul says it best in Galatians 5: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. ” But for many of us, letting go of old ways of earning God’s love feels almost impossible. We like the idea of grace… but we still want to “pay what we can.” This Sunday, we’ll see why Jesus’ new covenant isn’t just an upgrade to the old system. It’s a completely different way of life. Bring a friend and join us as we discover how freeing and powerful this brand-new movement really is. 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 Benefit of Doubt and a Chance to Make a Difference + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • July 18, 2025

This Sunday, we wrap up our Beyond Doubt series, not because the questions have run out, but because they never will. Doubt isn’t a detour from faith; it’s part of the path. So we’ll end where we began: exploring how our honest questions can actually lead to deeper trust in God. We’ll look at one of the psalms of lament and discover how engaging our doubts can strengthen a resilient, grounded faith. Also, don’t forget that our Hope for Nevada County Backpack Giveaway is just one week away! We’re excited to bless local families with the tools their kids need to start school strong, but we’re still in need of several key supplies: • 1" binders • 70-page spiral notebooks • Pencils (both regular and mechanical) • Colored pencils • Glue sticks • Scissors • Highlighters Please choose one or more items, purchase multiples of them and bring them with you to church on Sunday or have them shipped directly to the church. Click here to find out more about the event. Thank you for being a church that shows up for our community in real, practical ways. 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.

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.