This Week @ Twin Cities Church!

You are a wonderful group of others-focused people, and I love doing Kingdom life with you. What a privilege it was to serve with the hundreds of you who made our Christmas Eve services a huge highlight for so many. I can’t remember when we’ve had a Christmas Eve experience with such a high level of ownership by all. Thank you for your attitudes that represent the self-sacrificing life of Jesus

I especially want to thank the entire Celebration Arts Team for the hundreds of hours they spent planning, rehearsing and then actually performing. It is such a privilege to serve with such devoted servants. The really cool thing is that everyone…from parking lot volunteers, to ushers, to coffee bar baristas, to dancers, to singers, to techies, to foodies, to children’s ministry workers, to yours truly… EVERYONE who served did it to make sure our guests and family got to see and experience Jesus.

Please pray for all those who said, “Yes!” to receive or renew or reflect on the message of Jesus. I know God touched so many with the clear message of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, Immanuel.

I also want to thank you for your generous understanding toward all of our committed volunteers and servants about why we changed our service times last weekend to Friday and Saturday. I look forward to a new year of vision and purpose as we celebrate our 20 years of doing God’s work together here in Western Nevada County.

FYI – in order for your giving to be attributed to your 2011 records for IRS purposes, you will need to give online or by mail (must be postmarked by December 31) or by bringing your offerings to the church office. We will close at 1:00 on December 30.

Looking forward to a new year with you,

Pastor Ron

This Week @ Twin Cities Church - Christmas Eve Services!

Hey everyone, I am praying for the friends and family you have invited to our Christmas Eve services. If you haven’t yet, I know there is still time to re-gift the gift of Jesus to someone else. A lady told me on Sunday that the concept of re-gifting Jesus has changed the way she is approaching Christmas. Another woman told me that the concept of re-gifting Jesus motivated her the following week to share Jesus with a person who said “Yes” and crossed the line of faith. That is awesome! If you missed the service on re-gifting Jesus, you can watch it online.

Since we’ve moved our service times this weekend to Friday and Saturday that means we won’t have services on Sunday, December 25. I will include a Home Church Guide in your program for Christmas Eve which you can use to slow down and sit with Jesus in your home.

Just a heads up that not meeting on Sunday will impact your General Fund and Year-End giving opportunities as we end 2011. So, here are some options you can choose from for your giving. We will receive offerings at all of our Christmas Eve services on the 23rd and 24th. You can give online anytime, or send your check through the mail, or bring it by the church office (We will be closed December 26). Remember, giving must be made online, hand delivered or postmarked before the end of the day December 31st to be credited to your 2011 charitable donations. If you are making a stock transfer, it must be transferred into our Schwab account by the end of the day on December 31st.

Remember that we will only meet at 9:35 and 11:15 on Sunday, January 1.

May you see Jesus in a fresh way this Christmas and allow Him to fill you with all of His fullness!

Believing in Jesus with you,

Pastor Ron

This Week @ Twin Cities Church - Monthly Food Drive!

I am still thanking God for the NINE people who said “YES” to faith in Jesus as their Savior in the past two weeks. I continue to express gratitude for the way God blesses us with His fruit. Nine individuals nailed down their eternal destiny and began their walk to become like Jesus. I am also grateful for how you continue to be concerned for your friends, loved ones and coworkers so much that you are willing to risk your own comfort by sharing Jesus with them.

Our Christmas Eve services will be a great time to invite folks to experience your God, your faith in Jesus and your church. Our goal this year is to be so crystal clear about Jesus that everyone can understand why He was born. I think you got a good idea of this from our service on Jesus as Savior. If you missed that day, please watch it online. God really used it in my life.

Since we’ve moved our service times next weekend to Friday and Saturday that means we won’t have services on Sunday. That will impact your General Fund and Year-End giving opportunities as we end 2011. Here are some options for you: Sunday services December 18, all Christmas Eve services on the 23rd and 24th, online or mail. You can also bring your giving by the church office. Remember that giving must be made or postmarked before the end of the day December 31st to be credited to your 2011 charitable giving. If you are making a stock transfer, it must be transferred into our Schwab account by the end of the day on December 31st.

This Sunday we continue our “Believe” series by focusing on Jesus as Christ. I know you’ll be drawn into a deeper appreciation for the way God works in our lives as we focus on this title given to Jesus.

Believing in Jesus with you,

Pastor Ron

This Week @ Twin Cities Church - Communion!

Hey everybody, this Sunday our Year-End Giving emphasis moves into full swing. I want to ask that you make this a matter of your prayers. I know we get many requests for giving this time of year. The unique idea about our Year-End Giving approach is that we ask you to give out of your appreciation for what God has done in your life through our church this year.

It’s really cool that each dollar we give goes to improve and enhance ministry. We are able to take ground in ministry areas that would be impossible without this giving. Even better is that, unlike some other giving requests you’ll get this season, giving to our Year-End Gift emphasis not only helps meet people’s physical needs, but it also helps people know the source of hope – Jesus Christ.

Our Year-End Giving is designed to cause us to think through our spending choices. I was amazed when I read in the news this week how many people planned to spend more than they had and go deeper into debt this Christmas. Let’s fight against that tendency and make sure to keep some sanity concerning your holiday spending.

It’s clear that we’re still in the middle of some of the most difficult economic times many of us have ever faced. If you’re in that mix, we continue to pray for you and want to encourage you not to give unless you know God has guided you to do so. It’s not the giving that matters. It’s the heart.

We are observing Communion this week as part of our new series, “Believe.” We’ll look at the promise the angels made that “Jesus came to save us from our sins.” What a great way to start the Christmas season.

Praying about my giving opportunities with you,

Pastor Ron

This Week @ Twin Cities Church!

Hey everybody, it seems like all America is moving at a rapid pace toward December 25. As I watched the news this week about the largest spending weekend in history, it made me thoughtful. Of course, we are all repulsed by the maniacs and over-zealous shoppers we’ve read about. We are all saddened when we hear of people being run over, trampled and even overlooked in emergency situations just to get that best deal.

I gave a challenge on Sunday – “Just be NICE. Let the love of Jesus shine brightly because it’s going to directly contrast with what many people are experiencing.” I pray we will all be civil, polite, and courteous in all our dealings with people remembering that we represent Jesus Christ.

Christmas is really more about love than it is about gifts. It’s more about relationships than it is about parties. It’s more about giving than it is about getting. I ask you to consider how you can serve others this Christmas. Be a surprise to someone else. I got a note on Sunday from a gal who said, “I am in a very difficult time. My hours were cut back last week, and I couldn’t see how I could possibly afford a Christmas tree. Well, when I arrived home, someone had anonymously left a tree outside my door. Miracles happen.” Be someone’s miracle this Christmas.

I hope you will make your way out to Cornish Christmas in Grass Valley on Friday. We have a combined chorus of children and students who will be singing Christmas carols and sharing the love of Jesus. Come on out, enjoy good Christmas music and support our kids in front of the Holbrooke Hotel at 6:30pm.

This Sunday continues our Year-End Giving emphasis. Make sure to spend time asking God to show you what He would have you give as a way of expressing your gratitude to Him and your church.

Pastor Ron