Let’s talk voting and politics and faith! I hope you’re still with me after that introduction. We all know that VOTING MATTERS, and yet in the last presidential election, only 56% of registered voters cast their ballots on election day. That means that over 100 million people did not vote. When you realize how close the elections are in our day and age, it’s just not good citizenship not to cast our ballot. It’s a freedom we hold dear. This election year is full of more polarizing views and  confounding issues than any I can ever remember. I want to impress upon you that voting according to your Biblical conscience is so important, but probably more important this year than ever before.

Will you make sure to make your voice heard between now and November 3 by voting?

I wanted to take a few moments to be clear about what I’ve been saying about the upcoming election and the way our church has always approached the political process.

• We believe in the importance of elections.
• We believe that as Followers of Jesus, we have a responsibility to engage by voting and influencing the political process.
• We believe that every person in America deserves the right to vote according to their deeply held values.
• We believe that loving people like Jesus did is our prime directive for how we act and respond to those who have different political views than we do.
• We believe that life will go on after the election, and we want to be part of unifying our country by bringing us together according to our common values.
• We believe that God has called us to be people who LOVE EVERYONE ALWAYS no matter their political persuasion or belief system.
  
  

At the same time, I’m not saying that political positions and platforms don’t matter. We get better through struggle, competition, and cooperation. We must be strong in our beliefs and convictions.

I recently heard Pastor Ray Johnston, whom I respect greatly, say this about how to approach the political issues of our day. “We can’t ignore the political platforms and positions because they matter. And the reason we need to engage is this: Values need to be sharpened. Great changes need to be brought about. Great people need to be put in charge. Our country needs to be moved toward being a place where every single child and adult created by God needs to be given equal opportunity to thrive regardless of race, economic condition, and background. People need to grow up in a world that is safe. People need to grow up in a world where they can thrive.”

Twin Cities family, we must engage in the political process we’ve been afforded as Americans in this great nation. We must be courageous. We must be steadfast to stand up for what is best for all people. But in order to have that kind of world, we must be a people of unity. As Pastor Ray Johnston recently said, “You do not put a country together by tearing it apart.”

Last week I gave my perspective on voting. Here it is again: “People ask me to give them guidance about voting or want me to speak up for their cause or against the cause of another. The best guidance I can give is to vote according to the person or policy or platform that will do the most to protect those who are most vulnerable in our land and benefit the most people while allowing everyone the dignity to pursue their divine destiny and discover their God-given identity as they become all He made them to be.”

Whatever your voting choice is, will you agree with me that unity is more important than division? I hope we can be part of God’s redemptive and healing work in our community and world as we share the love of Jesus with everyone regardless of their political position.

I want to invite you to join us in front of the building – between the prow and the cross – on Sunday, November 1 at 10:15am to pray for the election. We’ll be praying for God to guide the voting and the ramifications in our country no matter who wins. We’ll be praying for civility and humility as we move forward with positive attitudes to help our nation be the best it can be.

Fall Family Festival is just NINE days away, and I’m extremely pumped about our new look for Fall Family Festival for this COVID-19 year. You can look at our website and see the plan John Fairchild and Mare Dibert put together to help our community have a fun and free event for the entire family – but the kids are the ones who will like it most. We’ve served our community 15 years now, and even with the COVID-19 restrictions in place, we believe we can offer a safe experience.

There are three things we need that will be essential to pulling this off: candy, volunteers, and invites. Please drop your candy off at the church or order from your favorite online retailer and have it shipped directly to TCC. You can sign up to serve online or at church and go ahead and use our website link to invite your friends while you’re at it.

Church is back in the house now! That’s right. We’re meeting together each week for great worship, singing, teaching, prayer, and fellowship. So, I’m inviting you to make your way back. Some of you may not be able to because you are considered at-risk or in a vulnerable category. I understand that. If that’s you, we’ll have a seat waiting for you when you return. But, for the rest of you, I’ve noticed how much joy there is as I connect with people before and after our services. We have seats available. We’d love to see you this week as we continue our Uncommon Sense series.

We will be looking in detail at the “Path of Wisdom” on Sunday. If you want to read ahead, you can open your Bible to Proverbs 4. I hope this Sunday will be the week you decide to make your way back. Remember, we have a seat for you.

One way you can go deeper and be even more inspired through our series on Proverbs is to make it a goal to read it each day. Proverbs has 31 chapters so I’m inviting you to join me and make a commitment to read one chapter per day. For example, today is October 22, so you would read Proverbs 22. Just read the Proverb that corresponds with the day. I like to listen to the Proverbs on the YouVersion Bible APP. You might want to try that, too. Let’s grow in wisdom together.

During this time when it’s impossible for us all to be on campus together, please make sure to stay engaged online if you can’t be here with us either outside or inside. Our services will continue to be streamed live at 9:00 and 11:00am, or you can watch them 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.

We plan to add live music back in as soon as possible, but until we do, our Worship Arts Team will keep recording quality and inspiring song sets each week that will allow us to engage in worship together. We will still have the outdoor venue available for those who want to have more space and freedom. We have tents outside. Each week we’ll continue to adapt and flex as we expand that opportunity at both 9:00 and 11:00am. 

Let me encourage our young families that we have space for you and to keep checking the website for new activities.  Please make sure to register your kiddos on our website before you arrive.

Our Student Ministry Team has moved to a format on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm at the church that will allow our students to engage. Junior High students meet with their leaders on one end of the building and High School students and their leaders meet on the other. Students are also meeting at 10:30am on Sundays for connect time and donuts, and then they attend the 11:00am service together. Make sure to encourage your students to be here because they need community in ways they may not even be aware.

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