"From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." — John 1:16
The decorations are down. The world has moved on from Christmas.
But here's what the world misses: grace didn't stop flowing on December 26th.
Grace upon grace. Not grace once and you're done. Not grace for the holidays and then you're on your own. Wave after wave. Layer upon layer. Continuously. Without stopping. Grace Continues. The world operates on earning and achieving - you work, you produce, you manage your life. When you stop working, the flow stops.
But that's not God's rhythm.
God's rhythm is receiving. From the fullness of Christ, we receive. We don't earn it. We don't power through on our own. We simply receive - breath after breath, moment after moment, grace upon grace.
You'll need grace in February. In June. In October. On the hard days and the ordinary days. When you fail, when you're exhausted, when you've run out of your own resources.
Grace will be there. Because the Word became flesh, and is still with us. Emmanuel didn't visit for a season - God moved in permanently.
So this week, when you catch yourself white-knuckling your way through the grind; Pause. Remember. You are living by grace, not by achievement.
You are still receiving.
Grace upon grace upon grace upon grace.
Pastor Erin
Check out the Weekly Bulletin to see the full schedule of what’s happening at TLC this week!
Now that the holidays are behind us, many of our weekly 'Happenings' are returning to their regular schedules.
Please join us for Adult Forum every Sunday from 10:20am to 10:50am in the Garden Room.
Upcoming Topics: January 11 – Social Media and Mental Health presented by Faith Community Nurse, Karen Jensen, RN, PhD
Sunday, January 25 | One service at 10:00am, followed by the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting
Join us for our Annual Congregational Meeting immediately following the 10:00am service. We’ll review and approve the 2026 Spending Plan, which is attached for you to review in advance.
Please note that the 2025 income and expense figures are projections and will be updated prior to the meeting.
Please pick up your luminaria and a provided battery-operated tea light from the table in the gathering space to enjoy at home. As you find a special place for its glow, may it serve as a warm and peaceful tribute to remember and honor your loved ones this season.
Join us for this month's The Young at Heart luncheon on January 15 at noon. The sign-up sheet can be found on the Welcome Desk.
Join us for a Bible Study led by Pastor Todd on Mondays at 7:00pm. We meet at Rincon (4100 Telegraph Rd., Ventura). All are welcome!
Join Us for "The Chosen" Season Two! Trinity Lutheran Church invites you to a free weekly screening of The Chosen (Season 2), starting Monday, February 2nd at 3:30pm. Each of the eight one-hour episodes will be shown in the Fellowship Hall, followed by a brief, informal discussion. Everyone is welcome! If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 805-644-7474.
Church member and returning student registration starts Feb 2, 2026. Open to the community on Feb 16, 2026. Email tlcpreschool196@gmail.comwith your name, child's name, date of birth, your phone number, and preferred enrollment days. Check website for updates on Jan 25 for Fall 2026-2027 tuition and info. TLC – the place to be!
Winter Camp, February 6-8, 2026 Middle School and High School Winter Camp is coming up. Be on the lookout for more info.
We are creating a call list for individuals willing to assist the pastors when Leo is out of the office. Duties include greeting walk-ins, answering phones, and providing general assistance to the pastors. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact the office at 805-644-7474.
City Center is in need of dish and laundry soap, paper towels, and canned and packaged grocery items. Please place your donations in the baskets located in the Gathering Space.
Thank you for your ongoing support! As a reminder, residents at The City Center purchase their own food and household items, so your contributions help them redirect those funds toward their children’s needs, such as school supplies and clothing.
December 24 - Pam Berkel, Dell Muntzel December 26 - Sonora Coats December 27 - Linda Park December 28 - Paul White December 29 - Russell Bliese, Gregory Lamp December 30 - Sreypin Kloeung, Margaret Schwalm December 31 - Anna Wagner January 2 - Alexandra Hecht, Jackson Pollard January 3 - Michael Biedebach, Gary Frick, Sa Hung Kloeung January 8 - Lori Frick January 9 - Kathleen Betz January 10 - Rick Lietz, Karen Muller, Emma Zeko January 13 - James Aguirre
'25 Goal based on 2.5%+ over '24 actuals - $548,020.88/52 weeks. '25 YTD Challenge Goal based on 50% over 5 Years (8.5%) - $646,641.45/52 weeks. We are in Year 5
Attendance Week 52, 2025: Individuals in Person - 104 Estimated Individuals Online - 41
Attendance Week 52, 2024: Individuals in Person - 426 Estimated Individuals Online - 94
Have an Announcement to share? Send your request to the church office at least 7 days in advance by emailing office@tlcventura.org.
Do you have a celebration or joy you would like to share with the congregation? Email the office staff at office@tlcventura.org and it will be posted in the bulletin for all to read and celebrate with you.
Get the Latest Youth happenings at TLC! Receive the latest youth updates by downloading the Remind App or Text Group. Add the class below or Text 81010 with the group you want to follow: High School Youth - @snrhgh High School Parents - @hsparnt Middle School Youth and Parents - @mddle Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlcyouth_ventura/
Opt-in to paperless quarterly giving statements: If you'd like to receive your quarterly giving statements via email, please send your email address to office@tlcventura.org.
