Ways to Pray for Ukraine + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • March 25, 2022

Two weeks ago, as we studied Unleashing Hope for Our Community, I shared that one way we can be salt and light is through our willingness to pray. I was challenged because I know how feeble my prayers were for the rapid spread of the gospel message. I realized how little I had been praying for the shalom of our community and world. The Ukrainian crisis has been a wake-up call for me concerning prayer. I’ve found myself drawn to prayer more and more with a deeper sense of urgency, which is why I was eager to gather and pray with our Nevada County churches last Sunday. It turned out to be a great time of prayer, fellowship, and Christian unity.

I want to encourage you to be praying for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. Yes, we are all united through our humanity and by the fact that God says every person ever conceived is created in His image. I read an article by a Ukrainian pastor this week who gave some concrete ways we can pray. Here are two of his suggestions and one of mine:

Pray for Ukrainians. The need for food, water, and basic necessities are at a critical point. Please pray for provisions. Pray for the safe evacuation of all who desire to leave and protect all who are staying.
Pray for churches and church plants across Ukraine. One worker shared that churches in Ukraine have become beacons of hope. Christian Ukrainians are giving spiritual leadership to people caught in the middle of this conflict. Pray that God will use persecution as an opportunity for the gospel to spread.
Pray for peace to spread like wildfire in the entire region. Pray that leaders on all sides will humble themselves and do what is best for all instead of what appears to be best for their nation. Pray that God will break through strongholds that pit nation against nation and that peace will be embraced by all.

Thank you for praying. Let’s believe God answers all our prayers when we pray for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

If you want to give financially to help alleviate some of the burden of the Ukrainian people, you can give to the Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, or Samaritan’s Purse. These organizations are scrupulous in their efforts to make sure that your gifts reach those you intend to bless.

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

FAMILY FILM NIGHT – TONIGHT, Friday, March 25, 5:30-7:00pm at the church in the Student’s Multi-Purpose Room. Bring your own picnic dinner. The movie begins at 6:00pm. 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 12,000 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. Join our team to help stuff those eggs on Wednesday, March 30 and Wednesday, April 6. Please check the website for more details.

The EASTER EGG HUNT is on Saturday, April 16. Come enjoy the greatest Easter Egg Hunt ever at Scotten Elementary School Field! There will be a FREE pancake breakfast before the hunt starting at 8:30am. The egg hunt begins at 9:00am, but come early to park and walk into the field area.

MAN TIME – TOMORROW, Saturday, March 26, 8:00-11:00am. Come enjoy a hearty breakfast, lots of laughs, and fun! Then hang out with us afterward to do some male bonding events like bowling, an adventure hike, or biking. The cost is $5 for breakfast. You need some man time!

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 continue our UNLEASHING HOPE series. In this series, we’re focusing on ways the Gospel message of Jesus can change our everyday lives. This week, we will recognize how the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and God’s church has something to say about the mental health crisis in our land. This is a huge deal that impacts us all at some level, and God wants us to be part of bringing healing and wholeness to those who struggle with mental health issues. Please be in prayer as we move forward to become a church that cares for everyone, including those with emotional health issues. The message is called, Unleashing Hope for Your Mental Health.

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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Confronting Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • May 1, 2026

I’m still flying high from last Sunday’s baptisms. What an incredible celebration as we got to witness 41 brothers and sisters in Christ go public with their faith through baptism. It’s a powerful reminder that God is still changing lives and adding to our number those being saved. This weekend, we’re turning our attention to an issue that is plaguing our culture and readily impacts our community. We live in the most connected age in history and yet our society is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. So, what does God offer as an antidote? This Sunday, we’ll look at the kind of community the Spirit formed in the early church — real relationships, shared life, and a love so tangible that people couldn’t help but take notice. And we’ll explore some tangible steps to help nurture that same kind of hope-filled, transformative community here in Nevada County. I hope you’ll join us. Speaking of sharing, today is the day to donate any items for our Sisters Closet clothing exchange. This is one of those tangible ways we love our neighbors and I hope you’ll take advantage of it. You can drop gently loved clothing items off at the church today between 9am-7pm, and then come back tomorrow between 9am-12pm to update your wardrobe. 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 • April 24, 2026

This Sunday in Walking with the Spirit , we’ll step into one of the most exciting moments in the story of the early church: Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost — the day everything changed. In a single message from a very unlikely source, thousands respond to Jesus and choose to get baptized. Fittingly, we’ll also be celebrating baptisms in both services this weekend. Come prepared to worship loud and celebrate big as our new brothers and sisters in Christ go public with their faith. It’s going to be a powerful 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 See you then,

The Day the Church Was Born + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 17, 2026

This weekend in our Walking with the Spirit series, we’re stepping into one of the most significant moments in the story of God’s people: the day the Holy Spirit came and the church was born. It’s an incredible moment in history, one which has forever changed our world. And, as we will see, that moment has a very clear message: God doesn’t just work around His people — He chooses to work within them, empowering ordinary men and women to bear witness to Jesus in a way they never could on their own. And that’s where it gets personal: when the Holy Spirit moves, things change. That change can be beautiful, disruptive, and even a little uncomfortable, but it’s also exactly how God grows His church and reaches people who are far from Him. Come ready to lean in, worship, and ask God to do what only He can do in us and through us. 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,

New Series Starts this Weekend + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 10, 2026

What an incredible Easter weekend we just shared. I’m so grateful for all God did in our midst and for the new faith decisions that were made. Please keep praying for those who made a decision to follow Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to help their fledgling faith take deep root and grow into a lifelong walk with Jesus. This weekend we’re starting a brand-new series through the book of Acts called Walking with the Spirit . Acts is the origin story of the Church and it’s a reminder that what Jesus began then is still what He’s doing now: reaching out to His prodigal image bearers through ordinary people, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We’ll kick things off by looking at the often-overlooked space between promise and fulfillment — the place where God does some of His deepest work in us. If you’re in a season of waiting, longing, or wondering what’s next, this Sunday is for 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,

Easter Weekend: Come Celebrate the Resurrection of Our King + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 3, 2026

Easter weekend is finally here, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Today is Good Friday and, as I’ve said before, it’s the single most meaningful day of the year for me. If Easter is the celebration of the hope we have in Christ, then Good Friday is when the greatest act of love in history was carried out. So, while we look forward to Easter, we begin here. Today, there are two opportunities to gather and remember: • Community Good Friday Service at 1st Baptist Church of Grass Valley — 12:00pm • Twin Cities Good Friday Service at TCC — 6:00pm I plan to be at both, and I hope you can join us for at least one. Then tomorrow we’ll host our annual Pancake Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt . This is one of our largest community outreaches as we welcome families from across our county who wouldn’t normally step onto our campus. Even if you don’t have kids, come help us love our neighbors well. Finally, on Sunday we’ll celebrate with three Easter services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30am . I can’t wait to celebrate the day our hope was resurrected. And don’t come alone. There are people in your sphere of influence who don’t have a church community — and many will come if they’re simply invited. Take that step and bring someone with 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 soon,

Taking a Closer Look + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 27, 2026

This Sunday we begin our journey to Easter with Palm Sunday and it’s going to be an adventure. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the streets were packed with people carrying huge expectations about what He was coming to do and how He would do it. They were ready for a revolution… but they had the wrong enemy in mind. Palm Sunday has a way of confronting our assumptions, clarifying what kind of King Jesus is, and inviting us to follow Him on His terms, not ours. Come ready to lean in, reflect, and prepare your heart for Easter. And don’t miss the beginning of the service. Our Children’s Ministry has a special surprise for us, and you’ll want to be there for it. Also, you have the ability to help change the eternal trajectory of someone’s life. Surveys consistently show that a high percentage of non-churchgoing adults say they would attend an Easter service if invited by someone they know. That means your personal invite to a friend, coworker, or neighbor is far more impactful than any post or mailer we could produce. So please prayerfully consider who you will invite to join you this Easter. I’m looking forward to celebrating the resurrection of our King. 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 Try Harder + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 20, 2026

This weekend, we’re wrapping up our How We Change series, and we’re ending with a simple but freeing truth: real change doesn’t come through more willpower, but through steady surrender and training with Jesus. In a world that craves instant results, spiritual growth is often slower than we want, but as we walk with Him over time, the Holy Spirit does the deep work of shaping us into people who live and love more like Christ. This weekend, we’ll look at how lasting change really happens — and how to keep saying yes to Jesus one step at a time. Also, don’t forget: this Saturday is our Man Time Breakfast , and it’s not too late to sign up. It’ll be a great morning to connect, eat well, and be encouraged together. More info and sign up here . Hope to see you this weekend. 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 Service Helps Us Grow + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 13, 2026

This week we’ll continue our series on how we change by exploring something simple, but deeply transformative: service. It’s easy to think of serving as addressing needs or helping out, but serving doesn’t just bless others, it forms us. It reshapes our hearts, reorders our priorities, and trains us in the way of Jesus. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your growth, weary in your faith, or hungry for something more grounded than good intentions, this weekend will point us toward a path Jesus Himself walked. 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 Blessing of Suffering + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 6, 2026

Life doesn’t always go the way we hoped it would, does it? Disappointment, loss, conflict, unanswered prayers — suffering is a very real part of the human experience. But as painful as it is, our suffering isn’t necessarily meaningless, nor is it beyond God’s ability to use for good. This weekend, our founding pastor, Ron Thompson, will explore how God meets us in hardship and how the Holy Spirit can use even our trials to strengthen and shape us to become more like Jesus. I look forward to learning alongside you. Please remember that this Sunday is Daylight Savings time and we will be springing forward an hour. We’ll see you bright and early and we will have coffee ready. 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.