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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Change Is Worked for, Not Wished For + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 23, 2026
The first step to true and lasting change is to change our minds, but it’s definitely not the only step. There’s a huge difference between thinking a new way and actually living a new way. That’s why information alone doesn’t transform us and why willpower alone tends to be insufficient to the task. If you’ve ever felt discouraged by the gap between what you believe and how you live, this week will put language to that struggle and point toward a pathway forward. We will also equip you with a tangible tool to help you take an honest look at how you’re currently being formed. 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 We Change Our Minds + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 16, 2026
Last weekend we talked about a simple but important truth: you are being formed. Not just by big moments, but by the steady rhythms of everyday life – what you give your attention to, the voices you trust, and the patterns you repeat. So, the question isn’t whether you’re being shaped, but what’s doing the shaping and where it’s leading you. As we discussed last week, we don’t want to live a life shaped by the pressures of the world, but by the transforming work of the Spirit from the inside out as He helps us renew our minds. Which raises an important follow-up question: how does that happen? How do we renew our minds so that we can know and live out God’s will for our lives? That will be the focus of this weekend’s conversation. 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.

You Are Being Formed – The Question is By What? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 9, 2026
This weekend we’ll continue our How We Change series with a simple but important truth: you are being formed. Not just by the big moments, but by the steady rhythms of everyday life — what you give your attention to, the voices you trust, and the patterns you repeat. The question isn’t whether you’re being shaped, but what’s doing the shaping and where is it leading you? But there’s another way: a life shaped not by the steady pressures of the world, but by the transforming work of Spirit from the inside out. If you’ve been longing for real and lasting change, come join the conversation this weekend. Also, we’d love for you to join one of our Bible reading plans so we can read Scripture together as a community. You can choose a plan that takes you through the entire Bible, or a plan focused on the New Testament. Click here to join the plan of your choice. 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 celebrate with you!

Remembering God’s Faithfulness to Us This Year + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 26, 2025
As we come to the final Sunday of the year, we’ll pause to do something sacred: remember . Together, we’ll look back and reflect on the many ways God has been faithful to us, celebrating the stories, milestones, and blessings He has poured out on our church family over this past year. It’s a moment to give thanks and to recognize that every good gift truly comes from Him. We’ll also gather around the Lord’s Table and celebrate communion, our tangible reminder that while we are grateful for what God has done, the best is still ahead. Because of Jesus, we don’t just look back with gratitude, we look forward with hope. We have eternity with Him to look forward to. Year-End Gift As we close the year, we’re also inviting those who feel led to give one final financial gift to help us finish the year strong. Every gift — large or small — helps us care well for our church family, support our ministry partners, and honor the staff who serve so faithfully. Your generosity enables us to continue being a church marked by gratitude, faithfulness, and generosity. Click here to learn more about our Year-End Gift or to give now. I am incredibly grateful for all God has done in and through Twin Cities Church this year, and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in the New Year. See you Sunday. 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 celebrate with you!

Unwrapping Advent + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 19, 2025
This Sunday, we come to the final week of our Reclaiming Christmas series, and we’re turning our attention to a tradition many celebrate… and many others don’t understand: Advent. For some, Advent is a sacred rhythm — way to slow down, prepare their hearts, and anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth as well as look forward to His second coming. For others, it’s simply a countdown marked by tiny doors holding a daily dose of Christmas chocolate. And for some, it doesn’t factor into Christmas at all. But where did Advent come from? What does it actually mean? And how might reclaiming this ancient practice reshape the way we experience Christmas today? Join us as we unwrap the history, purpose, and surprising depth of Advent and discover how it can draw us closer to the hope, peace, joy, and love we celebrate in Jesus. Also don’t forget that Christmas Eve is only a few days away! We will gather for three candlelight services on Tuesday, December 24, at 2, 4, and 6pm. Invite your friends, your neighbors, and anyone who needs the light of Christ this season. 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 celebrate with you!

Who Got Their Claus in Christmas? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 12, 2025
Why do we give presents at Christmas? Why does Santa show up in living rooms, movies, and mall photos every December? And how did a generous bishop from the 4th century become the jolly icon of Christmas consumerism? This Sunday, we’re digging into the surprising story behind one of Christmas’ most beloved (and debated!) traditions. We’ll trace the journey from the first Christmas gifts in Scripture… to Saint Nicholas and his secret acts of mercy… to Santa Claus and the swirl of expectations that often define our holiday season today. But more importantly, we’ll explore what all of this means for Followers of Jesus now. How do we practice generosity without fueling entitlement? How do we parent wisely in a culture of over-the-top gift-giving? And what do we do with Santa — embrace him, rethink him, or retire him? It’s going to be an eye-opening, thought-provoking and, possibly tradition-reshaping conversation that you won’t want to miss. A quick pastoral note: because we’ll be taking an honest look at Santa’s history and role in our celebrations, if you’re a parent of young children and haven’t yet had “the Santa talk,” you may want to prayerfully consider whether to have them with you in the service or check them into Children’s Ministry and choose what to share afterward. 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,

Oh Christmas Tree + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 5, 2025
Ever wonder why we bring a tree into our living rooms every December? Is it just nostalgia or something deeper? This weekend, we will look at the ancient roots of our evergreen tradition. Join us as we discover why our Christmas trees might preach a better sermon than we realize. 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 I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Why Follow Jesus? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • November 21, 2025
This Sunday, we are concluding our Walking With Jesus series. We will consider those moments when even Jesus’ closest followers had to wrestle with their expectations of who they thought He would be and decide whether they would keep following Him when the path became costly, confusing, or different than what they hoped for. Spiritual maturity means learning to trust and follow Jesus not just in the moments when He feels close or when He meets our needs, but also in the seasons when emotions fade, answers aren’t clear, and obedience requires surrender. We will also celebrate baptisms at the end of each service! Baptism is a powerful, public declaration of a person’s decision to follow Jesus wherever He leads, so come ready to celebrate with our brothers and sisters who are going public with their faith. And if you’ve sensed that God may be inviting you to take this step, we’ll make space for you to respond as well. 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 I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Walking WITH Jesus, not just doing things FOR Him + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • November 14, 2025
We live in a world that celebrates busyness disguised as faithfulness. But in Luke 10:38–42, Jesus gently reminds us that what He desires most isn’t our activity for Him, but our presence with Him. This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, Pastor Ron will help us unpack the story of Mary and Martha — two sisters who loved Jesus deeply but expressed it in very different ways. Through their story, we’ll discover how easy it is to get caught up doing things for Jesus while missing the invitation to be with Him. We will learn what Jesus really wants us to do (hint: it’s not more) as we grow in our intimacy with Him. Interested in getting baptised? We’ll be hosting a baptism class during the 9:00am service this Sunday, and another class on Tuesday at noon for those ready to take this step of faith and publicly declare their trust in 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.
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