Representing Jesus Well + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • March 4, 2022

We began 2022 with our annual Church Prayer. I’ve been reflecting on the prayer inspired by a prayer written by Paul concerning his passion and focus on the importance of the church in his day. He prayed for the rapid spread of the Gospel message of Jesus. He knew that this message of grace and steadfast love was what the people in his day needed most. Then he goes on to pray that the church would be focused on God’s plan to spread the love of Jesus to our world.

When you go to our fantastic TCC website, the banner greets you with this thought: Where Hope Is Found. That doesn’t mean that we believe hope is found in us, but we want everyone to experience the message of hope found in Jesus, whom we reflect. As Pastor John talked about in his message from Sunday, we are Christ’s ambassadors, placed here to represent Him well.

As we celebrate our 30th birthday on Sunday, we want to remind ourselves that we are here to spread the fragrant aroma of God’s love and mercy to our world. We are here to be salt and light. We want everyone to know the hope of what it means to follow Jesus, become like Jesus and love like Jesus loved.

Kim and I have poured over hundreds of pictures of our 30 years here in Western Nevada County. As we did, we saw countless faces of people who have been touched by the purpose and passion of our church. It was so satisfying, and we made sure to pray, thank God, and give Him all the glory for what He’s done through our church. Seeing these pictures also caused me to want to experience even more of God’s love, power, and presence. We heard from a young woman who brought her kids to check out TCC last weekend, and she was so thrilled with her experience that she is coming back this weekend and bringing friends with her. Folks, I’ve written about this before: We are in a season of rebuilding. Let’s engage together to lead as many people as possible into a growing relationship with Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday – either in person or online – for our celebration and DONUTS!

Here are some upcoming opportunities to SHARE LIFE, STRENGTHEN FAITH, SERVE OTHERS, and SPREAD HOPE to our family and community.

FAMILY FILM NIGHT – Friday, March 25 at the church in the Student’s Multi-Purpose Room. We’ll be watching 'Twas The Night Before Easter by the VeggieTale gang.

EASTER EGG CANDY COLLECTION – After two years off because of COVID, we’re ready to bring our families and community together for an incredible Easter experience. We want to have over 10,000 eggs stuffed with candy for the Egg Hunt. Will you help by bringing candy to church? You can order online and have your candy shipped to the church if it’s easier. Please make sure to order individually wrapped miniature candy. The deadline to receive candy is Wednesday, March 30 so we can get it stuffed in our plastic eggs.

The next DRIVE-THRU FOOD DRIVE collection day to support Interfaith Food Ministry is Friday, March 25, from 8:00-10:30am. Please bring your non-perishable foods to the church, and we’ll make sure all the food gets delivered to Interfaith. This is a huge help to the resource-challenged in our community. We’re also receiving specific items to help Hospitality House. Here’s how you can find out what they most need. Just bring items from this list with your food donations.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. We have two part-time jobs open right now for the person who not only wants to work but wants that work to make a difference in the lives of others. Here is the link to see the current job openings. If you’re interested in any of these positions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the person listed. We look forward to having you join our team of motivated servant leaders.

THIS SUNDAY, we get to begin our UNLEASHING HOPE series. In this series, we’ll talk about the ways the Gospel message of Jesus can change our everyday lives. The MOVING FORWARD series talked about where we’re headed as a church. It showed us just what we can expect as we walk this road together. I loved this quote by Richard Rohr: “A good journey begins with knowing where we are and being willing to go someplace else.” I have been praying for you and me – that we will join Jesus on the journey He has for us. We can be people who continue to be transforming because of the hope we have in Jesus. This week, we will focus on how this message is the best hope our world has.

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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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.

This Weekend at TCC — Count the Cost + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • November 7, 2025

As we near the end of our Walking With Jesus series, we’re stepping into one of the most challenging and sobering teachings Jesus ever gave: His call to count the cost of following Him. Many of us first come to Jesus hoping He’ll fix what’s broken in our lives — and He often does. But Jesus also invites us into something deeper: a life of surrender, transformation, and daily choosing Him over our comfort, desires, and autonomy. As we’ll see this weekend, discipleship is costly, but what we gain in Christ is far more valuable than anything we lay down. If you’ve ever found yourself asking: Why does following Jesus sometimes feel so hard? What is He actually calling me to surrender? Is following Him really worth the cost? …this message is for you. Join us this Sunday as we explore what it truly means to take Jesus at His word and follow Him with our whole lives. 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.

Dying to Live + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 31, 2025

In Luke 9, Jesus calls His followers to “deny themselves and take up their cross daily.” In a world that celebrates comfort and success, that’s a shocking invitation. Yet as we’ll see, it’s only by dying to ourselves that we discover what it truly means to live. This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, we’ll explore what it means to lay down our own desires and trust that God’s way is better — even when it costs us something. Because on the other side of surrender is life, freedom, and joy in Him. This Sunday also marks the end of daylight saving time, which means you get an extra hour of sleep, so I look forward to seeing you well rested and ready to learn. 😊 And don’t forget — tonight is our Fall Family Festival from 5–8pm ! This completely free, family-friendly event is a chance to shine the light of Jesus’ love into a night that’s often marked by darkness. Bring your family, invite your friends and join us as we love on our neighbors. I hope to see you there. 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.

Walking With Jesus: Spiritual Authority + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 24, 2025

This weekend, we’re continuing our Walking With Jesus series by exploring a topic that’s both fascinating and often misunderstood — spiritual authority. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus teaches and heals with astonishing authority. But what’s even more surprising is that He extends that same authority to His followers. What does that mean for us today? How do we understand and engage with the authority God has given His people? To help us navigate this conversation, I’ll be joined by my friend Dan Prout, founder of Sierra Ministries International . Together, we’ll look at what Scripture teaches about spiritual authority and how to walk in it with humility, faith, and confidence 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.

The Spiritual Battle for Our Mind + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 17, 2025

Last week, we saw how Jesus meets us with both grace and truth — grace that meets us where we are, and truth that calls us into something more. But that journey of transformation doesn’t happen automatically. There’s a battle taking place for what we believe about God, about others, and especially about ourselves. This Sunday, we’ll continue Walking With Jesus as we look at how He leads us out of the false identities and broken narratives that have shaped us, and into the freedom of knowing who we truly are in Him. I hope you will join us as we learn how to let go of the lies that hold us back and live in the truth that sets us free. 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.

Grace and Truth + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 10, 2025

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and feel like we’re doing “pretty good.” Maybe not perfect — but at least better than t hem . But when we start measuring our worth that way, we miss the heart of God entirely. This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, we’ll look at a powerful moment in Luke’s Gospel that shows us how Jesus meets people with both grace and truth — and what that means for us today. Whether we’re weighed down by guilt or quietly confident in our own goodness, Jesus’ invitation is the same: come close and let His love change 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.