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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Don’t Just Go to Church — Be the Church + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 29, 2025

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By TCC • August 22, 2025

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By TCC • August 15, 2025

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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.

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By TCC • July 18, 2025

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By TCC • July 11, 2025

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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.