Hey family,

As promised we have posted the video from Sunday's Service. Enjoy!

This Week at Twin Cities - September 24, 2009

Hey Gang,

The “love” ripples are being felt everywhere I go. Thank you so much for your support and participation in this opportunity to grow in love. Please send me your stories of how this spiritual growth emphasis is impacting you, your family and your Small Group. We had our staff Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday, and the consensus was that, apart from the specific acts of love we’re engaging in, the huge impact has been the heightened awareness of the people around us – all who need love. I received this email on Sunday afternoon:

“Today at Church I prayed that I would see the world through the eyes of Jesus so I could see who needed to be loved. In the early afternoon I left to do some shopping and then it happened. As I turned the corner I saw an elderly man struggling across the street with his small shopping cart on wheels, (would have never noticed him any other day). Then I saw a homeless teenager with his dog sitting on the curb with a sign asking for money. Finally, I pulled into the parking lot and saw a man asking for help. By this time, my heart was breaking. I gave the man some money, but the thought going through my head was how it must break the heart of Jesus to see all this need and all His people who could help but don’t. I know there is something that I am being led to do, don’t know what it is exactly, but seeing through holy eyes sure is opening mine. I lead a Small Group on Tuesdays, we will talk about this experience and how we all might make a habit of seeing the world the way Jesus does. Thanks for leading this encounter - it will make a difference in lives and in our church.”

This week we continue our 40 Days of Love series with, “Love Is Encouraging.” Hope to see you there.

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - September 17, 2009

Hey Gang,

This week has been amazingly full of excitement as our 40 Days of Love Small Groups have kicked off. Almost everywhere I go, excited Twin Cities group leaders or members are making time to stop me to talk about their enthusiasm. It’s not too late for you to join a group. On Sunday, just stop by the Small Groups tent and ask for help. There you can pick up the Participant’s guide you’ll need.

We have a limited number of the 40 Days of Love DVD sets available for those who just can’t make a Small Group fit your schedule. Go by the Next Step Bookstore on Sunday and pick one up, and maybe you can ask a neighbor to join you and learn all about love together.

We want to hear your stories! Please email me directly, or you can go to our TCC Family Life page and click on the TCC Blog where you can write your comments, or you can go to our Facebook page and leave your story on our wall. If you prefer, I can still read words on paper, send me a letter. Whatever form you choose, I want to hear how God is using 40 Days of Love in your life. I hope some of you will tell me how God used the One Person Assignment this week.

We’re in full swing to get 2000 boxes filled for our Uganda Christmas Child emphasis for the Love Globally portion of our Compassion Assignments. We have sold over 1000 boxes to date. That leaves two more weeks to buy your box and begin filling it for our October 4 collection date. I hope you’ll take these opportunities seriously as we learn how to give love to others.

We’re focusing on compassion on Sunday as we look at how Jesus loved people and learn from Him how we can be people of compassion in our world. I am so excited to learn more about how I can become a person who is growing to love like Jesus loved.

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - September 10, 2009

Hey Gang,

We were made to love and be loved, and Jesus showed us both. He showed us how much we are loved as He gave Himself away for us. He showed us how we are to love by the things He taught, but more than that by how He lived. We were also made to show love to the world. 40 Days of Love will help us learn and experience both His love for us, the love He wants us to experience with each other and the love He has for the world.

As we focus on love, I want to share this email I received a few weeks ago from one of our faithful attenders. Here’s a short piece of that email:

“On a recent Sunday morning a car broke down at the front of the entrance to our church. When I stopped to see how I could help, I saw that it was a couple, and one of the first things the woman said was "We're getting run over by church people"... We assessed the situation and decided it would be best to push the car up the road. I thought surely at this point someone would stop and jump in to help push, but no. There were cars coming into TCC from both directions during the few minutes this took place, and I was surprised and disappointed at the lack of response. I guess I just expected more. I know a lot of the people coming in were families or older but what an opportunity to teach our kids. I remember as a kid many times we'd be driving along and all of a sudden we're pulling over - someone needed some help so we were stopping to help.”

I am sure you will agree that within each of us is the ability to over-look those who need help. I am praying that this series will help us become more aware and willing to share because we want to be a church full of people who Love God, Love Each Other and Love the World.

Pastor Ron

Sunday, September 13: Attend Sunday Services - Join A Small Group - Pick Up Your Study Guide - Get Your Uganda Christmas Box

This Week at Twin Cities - September 3, 2009

Hey Gang,

We were made to love and be loved! This Sunday is the preview week for 40 Days of Love. I am more excited about this series and its potential than I’ve been for any message series we’ve ever experienced. Imagine if all 2100 of us would step up and engage in learning to love as Jesus loved. Imagine the lives that would be impacted, the hearts that would be changed, the families that could be restored, the marriages that could be renewed. The ripple effects of 40 Days of Love could change our community.

This series will definitely change those who participate and those who are the recipients of our love in action. On Sunday I said that our church’s future and destiny would be determined by the choices made by those who are part of our church. It’s true. So, if that’s the case, what does the future of our church look like based upon the choices you are making in your life right now concerning loving God and loving people? Make sure to spend some time thinking about your choices and the impact they have on our destiny.

This Sunday we continue signups for 40 Days of Love Small Groups. We’ll also hand out the 40 Days curriculum to everyone who is present. We want everyone to participate. We sent a letter to you last week listing all the groups in your area. Make sure to sign up for a group in your area and get ready to love like Jesus loved. You won’t want to miss out on this spiritual growth opportunity.

Pastor Ron

Did you know: 45 People were baptized Sunday at LWW!!! Thanks to all those who were part of the faith story of those who were baptized. Together we get to be part of what God is doing.