November 2025 TCC Newsletter
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My vision of the church was formed by a very specific experience in my childhood. When I was in fourth grade, my dad agreed to serve as interim pastor for a church in Eastern Washington while they searched for a new senior pastor. He brought the rest of the family with him, of course, so all of a sudden, we had a new church home. What I remember about that time was that unique atmosphere they had. Without a senior minister, everyone had to pitch in to cover the ministries of the church. There was a sense of camaraderie and ownership in that church that affected me even as a child.
I didn’t realize how much it had affected me until much later, when I realized that my best experiences in church had always been during those all-hands-on-deck times when the whole church family was engaged in doing its work. That wasn’t just a fun time–that’s what the church is supposed to be. God’s design is a body in which every member has a part to play. As a pastor, it has always been my dream to recover that atmosphere in the church—but while the senior pastor is still here!
This month I hit my seventh year as a senior minister, and the one thing I have learned is just how difficult accomplishing that vision is. It’s not a simple matter of wanting to involve more people in the work of the church—there are a lot of practical challenges involved that can get in the way of realizing that vision.
This month I invite you all to join me in taking a major step in that direction. Beginning this month, we will be holding Congregational Prayer Meetings on the first and third Sundays of each month. These meetings are open to everyone. The goal of these meetings is to pray over the future ministries of the church, to ask God to reveal to us how we can join the work he is doing in our congregation and community.
In these prayer meetings we will bring our questions to God—but we will also spend time listening to his answers and then discussing what we hear him saying to us. As we lift up a particular need, such as youth ministry or a midweek gathering, God may prompt us to offer new ideas or volunteer to help meet a need.
To be clear, these meetings will not vote or decide anything—they are strictly about speaking with God and discerning his answers. My hope is that the conversations we have in these meetings will provide insight and direction when we do make plans for our ministries, so that our plans are based on the discernment and engagement of the whole church body.
I am really excited about these prayer meetings–not just because of what they could lead to, but because of the meetings themselves. I love spending time with this congregation, hearing your thoughts and ideas, your hopes and dreams, your skills and insights. I hope you will join us as we pray, discern, and dream about the future of our church ministries. See you there!
Let There Be Light!
You may have noticed that the lights in the church building have been a bit dodgy lately. The reason is because the type of light bulb our fixtures use is no longer being manufactured—so we haven’t been able to replace them. Instead, we’ve been working on getting them replaced with new LED lights. We are excited to announce that the arrangements have been made, and we should be getting brand new lighting installed sometime in late November! Thank you for bearing with the old lighting!
Annual Meeting
It’s time for our annual meeting, when the members of the church vote to approve the budget and officers for the coming year. At the beginning of 2025, we suddenly realized that we were facing a budget crisis—our expenses had been exceeding our income for a long time, and our balance was getting too low. This was partly because of a slow lapse in giving, and partly because of budgeting. The congregation responded by setting a new level of giving, and the leadership team made a lot of changes to the way we gather, track, spend and communicate about money. Those changes worked wonderfully, and we were able to quickly set the church on solid financial footing.
The annual meeting is the most important part of how we communicate about finances. This is where the leadership team presents its plans for the congregation, and members can ask questions—and vote–on the new budget. This year the finance team and I have been working to create a new format for our church budget that will make it easier for the congregation to understand the decisions we are proposing and the request we are making of our members. We want this vote to mean something—we want our members to feel that they have understood, approved, and committed to a financial plan for this church that we can support through the coming year.
On November 23rd, during the Sunday School hour (9 AM), we will be holding a Congregational Brunch. At the brunch we will report on 2025 and present the budget and officers for 2026. Please plan to attend so you can be informed before you vote.
The Congregational Vote will be held a week later, on November 30th, immediately following the church service. This meeting will be voting only—we will pass out the ballots after the service, and once you’ve filled it out you are free to go.
Only members of the congregation can vote. If you are not a member of the church, but you would like to be, you will need to place your membership by Sunday, November 23rd in order to vote. There are two conditions for membership: you must have been baptized by immersion, and you must confess your faith before the congregation. If you would like to place your membership, or you have any questions, please contact Pastor Matt.
I didn’t realize how much it had affected me until much later, when I realized that my best experiences in church had always been during those all-hands-on-deck times when the whole church family was engaged in doing its work. That wasn’t just a fun time–that’s what the church is supposed to be. God’s design is a body in which every member has a part to play. As a pastor, it has always been my dream to recover that atmosphere in the church—but while the senior pastor is still here!
This month I hit my seventh year as a senior minister, and the one thing I have learned is just how difficult accomplishing that vision is. It’s not a simple matter of wanting to involve more people in the work of the church—there are a lot of practical challenges involved that can get in the way of realizing that vision.
This month I invite you all to join me in taking a major step in that direction. Beginning this month, we will be holding Congregational Prayer Meetings on the first and third Sundays of each month. These meetings are open to everyone. The goal of these meetings is to pray over the future ministries of the church, to ask God to reveal to us how we can join the work he is doing in our congregation and community.
In these prayer meetings we will bring our questions to God—but we will also spend time listening to his answers and then discussing what we hear him saying to us. As we lift up a particular need, such as youth ministry or a midweek gathering, God may prompt us to offer new ideas or volunteer to help meet a need.
To be clear, these meetings will not vote or decide anything—they are strictly about speaking with God and discerning his answers. My hope is that the conversations we have in these meetings will provide insight and direction when we do make plans for our ministries, so that our plans are based on the discernment and engagement of the whole church body.
I am really excited about these prayer meetings–not just because of what they could lead to, but because of the meetings themselves. I love spending time with this congregation, hearing your thoughts and ideas, your hopes and dreams, your skills and insights. I hope you will join us as we pray, discern, and dream about the future of our church ministries. See you there!
Let There Be Light!
You may have noticed that the lights in the church building have been a bit dodgy lately. The reason is because the type of light bulb our fixtures use is no longer being manufactured—so we haven’t been able to replace them. Instead, we’ve been working on getting them replaced with new LED lights. We are excited to announce that the arrangements have been made, and we should be getting brand new lighting installed sometime in late November! Thank you for bearing with the old lighting!
Annual Meeting
It’s time for our annual meeting, when the members of the church vote to approve the budget and officers for the coming year. At the beginning of 2025, we suddenly realized that we were facing a budget crisis—our expenses had been exceeding our income for a long time, and our balance was getting too low. This was partly because of a slow lapse in giving, and partly because of budgeting. The congregation responded by setting a new level of giving, and the leadership team made a lot of changes to the way we gather, track, spend and communicate about money. Those changes worked wonderfully, and we were able to quickly set the church on solid financial footing.
The annual meeting is the most important part of how we communicate about finances. This is where the leadership team presents its plans for the congregation, and members can ask questions—and vote–on the new budget. This year the finance team and I have been working to create a new format for our church budget that will make it easier for the congregation to understand the decisions we are proposing and the request we are making of our members. We want this vote to mean something—we want our members to feel that they have understood, approved, and committed to a financial plan for this church that we can support through the coming year.
On November 23rd, during the Sunday School hour (9 AM), we will be holding a Congregational Brunch. At the brunch we will report on 2025 and present the budget and officers for 2026. Please plan to attend so you can be informed before you vote.
The Congregational Vote will be held a week later, on November 30th, immediately following the church service. This meeting will be voting only—we will pass out the ballots after the service, and once you’ve filled it out you are free to go.
Only members of the congregation can vote. If you are not a member of the church, but you would like to be, you will need to place your membership by Sunday, November 23rd in order to vote. There are two conditions for membership: you must have been baptized by immersion, and you must confess your faith before the congregation. If you would like to place your membership, or you have any questions, please contact Pastor Matt.
Join us on the first and third Sundays of each month at 6:00 PM for a focused time of congregational prayer. Together, we seek God’s guidance for the future mission of our church—listening and discerning for the paths He is preparing. Whether you come with vision, questions, or quiet hope, this gathering is a space to align our hearts with God’s purposes
and pray boldly for what’s ahead.
and pray boldly for what’s ahead.
Barbara Sorensen
passed away and went home to the Lord on October 11, 2024.
A service was held at TCC on October 26th.
passed away and went home to the Lord on October 11, 2024.
A service was held at TCC on October 26th.
Hazel Brinlee
Was born on October 2, 2025
6 lbs, 14 oz; 19 in
Hazel joins Mom Brooke, Dad Kyle,
and brothers Hunter and Luke
Henrietta Lynn Matson
was born on Thursday, October 9
8 lbs 4 oz, 20 ¾ in
Henrietta joins Mom Bryana, Dad Colton,
and sister Katherine
Was born on October 2, 2025
6 lbs, 14 oz; 19 in
Hazel joins Mom Brooke, Dad Kyle,
and brothers Hunter and Luke
Henrietta Lynn Matson
was born on Thursday, October 9
8 lbs 4 oz, 20 ¾ in
Henrietta joins Mom Bryana, Dad Colton,
and sister Katherine
Seniors Game Day & Lunch
Monday, November 3rd • 11:30 am -- 2:30 pm
November 3rd is the day that you will be able to challenge someone to a game
of checkers or another game of your choice. There will be some games available
but if you have a special game to share bring it with you! Lunch will be served.
Invite a friend, neighbor or a family member to join in the fun.
Please register online at: https://turnerchristianchurch.subspla.sh/tgnpzsr
or at the registration desk at the church.
Monday, November 3rd • 11:30 am -- 2:30 pm
November 3rd is the day that you will be able to challenge someone to a game
of checkers or another game of your choice. There will be some games available
but if you have a special game to share bring it with you! Lunch will be served.
Invite a friend, neighbor or a family member to join in the fun.
Please register online at: https://turnerchristianchurch.subspla.sh/tgnpzsr
or at the registration desk at the church.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We ship these simple gifts outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease.
Churches in the greater Salem area have packed over 2000 shoeboxes that are going to be shipped overseas this month. It costs $10.00 to collect, process and ship each shoebox overseas. Multiply that by the 2000 shoeboxes we prepared and that comes to quite a large amount, but well worth it!
If you would like to help with this expense, please mark your contribution on your check or an offering envelope (available on the back of chairs in the sanctuary or in the church office) “for Operation Christmas Child Shipping.”
Churches in the greater Salem area have packed over 2000 shoeboxes that are going to be shipped overseas this month. It costs $10.00 to collect, process and ship each shoebox overseas. Multiply that by the 2000 shoeboxes we prepared and that comes to quite a large amount, but well worth it!
If you would like to help with this expense, please mark your contribution on your check or an offering envelope (available on the back of chairs in the sanctuary or in the church office) “for Operation Christmas Child Shipping.”
On November 23rd, during the Sunday School hour (9 AM), we will be holding a Congregational Brunch. At the brunch we will report on 2025 and present the budget and officers for 2026. Please plan to attend so you can be informed before you vote.
The Congregational Vote will be held a week later, on November 30th, immediately following the church service. This meeting will be voting only—we will pass out the ballots after the service, and once you’ve filled it out you are free to go.
The Congregational Vote will be held a week later, on November 30th, immediately following the church service. This meeting will be voting only—we will pass out the ballots after the service, and once you’ve filled it out you are free to go.
Please join us after the worship service to help prepare the church building for Christmas! We need people capable of stringing lights, decorating trees and putting up other décor. All ages welcome!
The Country Mouse Holiday Market offers a wide variety of handcrafted gifts, edibles, art, jewelry, woodcrafts, collectables and so much more! Come peruse over 90 booths in two historic buildings: the Tabernacle built in 1891 and Pioneer Hall built in 1886. The atmosphere is worth coming for! Local food trucks and other eating options are available onsite. Bring your friends and make a day of it!
The Country Mouse Holiday Market is a community building fundraiser. The Holiday Market helps fund the ministry equipping sponsored by the Northwest Christian Network.
The Country Mouse Holiday Market is a community building fundraiser. The Holiday Market helps fund the ministry equipping sponsored by the Northwest Christian Network.
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