Quick Links

March 3, 2016

Welcome

to this week's edition of

TCFinTouch

the e-newsletter of
Trail Christian Fellowship
in Eagle Point, Oregon

As followers of Jesus

we gather throughout the week for worship, prayer, Communion, Bible study and fellowship. Our overall mission can be summed up as:

Helping People Think Like Jesus

This Sunday...

March 6, our Sunday Service will be held in the Worship Center from 10:00-11:30 a.m. As part of the Great Commission Festival, our guest speaker will be Ray Henion from SAT-7. Programs for youth age Nursery-5th grade, Middle School and Teens meet at this same time in their respective classrooms.

Wednesday Service

Join us next Wednesday, March 9,

from 6:30-8:00 p.m for Bible Study in the Fireside Room. Pastor Matt will be teaching from Psalm 73. Youth programs and AWANA will be held in their respective classrooms at the same time.

Listen to Trail Christian Fellowship Teachings

If you missed a service, or live out of our area, we invite you to click HERE

to listen to our recent Sunday morning and Wednesday evening teachings for free.

From our Pastors...

The Pruning Hand of God

He prunes it so that it will bear more fruit.

John 15:5

When I lived in Eureka, California, I walked by a rose garden nearly every day. In the spring and summer the colors and fragrance of the softly veined petals, saturated the air. However, when late fall came and the uninviting chill of increased, the change was so drastic that it was no longer pleasant to even pass by.

The owner of the property would prune and cut back the once 4-5 ft. lovely ornamented bushes to a gray, cracked 18 inch stub. From an outsider looking in, I thought it was either an impatiently cruel exercise to get the thorny bushes out of the way or a very unskilled gardener that had no idea what he was doing as he lopped away. I thought they were dead for sure.

Yet sure enough, in mid-spring little green buds started to appear and to my shocked wonder the bushes grew back with even greater strength, beauty and pride.

The pruning hand of God has so many similarities in our lives as well. John 15 simply states that Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and God the Father is the Master Gardner.

We are told the reason God prunes and cuts back the branches is so that they will bear more fruit; so true. If you have ever grown grapes or any other fruit bearing tree you know that neglecting to systematically cut back a producing tree or vine will result in wild growth and less luscious produce.

A wise gardener will carefully trim, clean and slice in the precise areas of the branches to hold out promise for even more of a crop the next year.

Interestingly enough, Hebrews 12:5-6, and 11 likens God's discipline in our lives as the pruning process when we read: My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord...for those whom the Lord loves HE disciplines....All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet for those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

So when the Lord perceives that are lives are growing wild or creeping out of the safe boundary lines of His will He will clip, slice and discard the dead wood that takes away life from the vine. This usually happens when we seem to get sloppy and abusive with His grace and our freedom in Christ. It also occurs when we start ignoring the standards of His Word in our homes and lives.

Only the Lord has a way of humbling us and stopping us from our ignorantly reckless ways. His Spirit can double us over with conviction which seems sorrowful at the time but in the end is so appreciated because again we see that He has protected us from another bullet.

Below I've listed examples of times when the Lord's hand may prune us:

*When we start taking our spouse for granted

*When we live with one foot in and out of the world

*When other areas of our life become our idol rather than Christ

*When our finances become everything to us and define our ultimate security

*When we consistently pull back from the fellowship that God invites us to share

*When we no longer show any interest in God's Word

*When we compromise our morality

The list is endless, but the point is still clear. He cuts, trims and prunes His people because as a Father He loves us. He breaks off the areas of our life or takes them completely away to bring us back to our knees so that we can fall in love with Him all over again.

So let the Master Gardner have His way with you. Yield to His pruning blade if you will, in order to experience the beauty of His very life flowing through you again! Praise His Name!

Pastor Bill

Upcoming Events

TCF Directory for 2016-2017

Deadline is March 13!

If you want to be included in the next TCF Phone Directory (2016-2017), pick up a Directory Form at the table near the Information Counter, fill it out and drop it in the basket there, in the Offering, or the Church Office during business hours. Previous year's entries are not carried over! March 13 is the final Sunday to submit your information. To download a form click HERE, fill it out and mail or bring it in.

Questions? Call 541.878.3501 or email: jacki@trail.org

Great Commission Festival

Meet our Outreach Partners this Sunday, March 6 in the foyer before and after service. Find out how you can be involved in Global Outreach. Our guest speaker will be Ray Henian from SAT-7.

Contact the Church Office at 541.878.3501 or outreach@trail.org for further information.

If you signed up for the Dinner tomorrow night, please plan to show up between 5:00-6:00 p.m. The dinner is full and no more sign ups can be taken.

First Sunday Evening of Praise and Communion Service

Come together with others to celebrate and praise the Lord in Worship and Communion, this Sunday, March 6 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Child care is provided.

Global Outreach Prayer

Meet to pray for TCF global outreach Partners and outreaches Monday, March 7 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Nokes' home, 813 Ridgeway in Eagle Point.

We usually meet the first Monday of each month. Questions? Kelly: 541.878.3501.

2nd Wednesday Jam

Come together with other musicians and singers to learn new worship songs and jam. We'll meet Wednesday, March 9 at 5:15 p.m. in the Green Room (next to the Worship Center stage). Questions? Call Ken Rensi: 541.951.1584.

Game Night

Join the fun Friday, March 18, from 6-9 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Bring your favorite board or card games and finger foods or dessert to share. For child care (nursery-10 years) please contact Pastor Garret by Wednesday, March 16. No sign up, just show up.

Mark your calendars for the week of March 20-27. Events will include The Path of Passion--an interactive journey of the last week of Jesus before the Resurrection (Wednesday-Saturday), a Monday Teaching, Tuesday dinner, Wednesday Bible study on Psalm 88, special Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. Children's ministry provided. A flyer will be in the Bulletin with all the details.

Questions? Pastor Garret: 541.878.3501 or email garret@trail.org

Marriage Ministry Small Group Study

Sign up now for our next small group study, Growing Together In Christ, Thursday nights, April 7-May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Six weeks of small-group discussions will cover the power of prayer in marriage, following Christ together, and having a spiritual influence on those around you. Sign up at the Information Counter using an Event Envelope, enclose $20 per couple and indicate child care needs. Space is limited. Contact Ben & Theresa Wewerka for more info at 541.826.7489.

Women's Ministry

Women's Conference in April

TCF ladies are invited to attend a valley-wide Women's Conference, "Fight Like a Girl" on April 1-3 at Path Church in Central Point. For more information and to Register go to: www.conference.pathchurch.com

Ladies Bible Study

You are invited to join the Friday Women's Bible Study from 9-11 a.m. Our topic is "Our Life in Christ" taught by Norah Gorden, cost is $12. Child care is provided. Questions? Christean White: 541.664.2054

MOM's Group

The TCF MOM's Group will get together at TCF on Tuesday, March 8, 9:00-11:00 a.m. in the Youth Center. This group usually meets twice a month (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) and we enjoy a breakfast, a devotional or mentor guest speaker, and fellowship centering on Christian family life.

Check our Facebook page: TCF Moms Group or call Cyndi Harrington: 541.826.9415.

Youth Ministry

Jesus is Alive!

Our Children's Ministry will be putting on two special presentations of "Jesus is Alive!" The premier will be Wednesday, March 23, 6:30-7:00 p.m. with cookies and normal children's ministry following until 8:00 p.m. The 2nd show will be held Saturday, March 26 after the Potluck in the Youth Center. To be involved or for details contact Debbie at 541.261.2605 or email

debbie@trail.org

Eggciting Easter Celebration

TCF members are invited to a Potluck lunch at 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 26 in the Youth Center. Please bring a main dish or salad to share. Around 12:45 we will enjoy the 2nd presentation of "Jesus is Alive" and the Egg Hunt. Donations of plastic eggs, wrapped candy, and small trinkets are needed by March 13. Questions contact Debbie at 541.261.2605 or debbie@trail.org.

Investors Needed

Awana Helpers are needed on Wednesday nights from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. Invest in a child's life by listening to them recite Bible verses. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.." Mark 10:45 For more information contact Aaron Bradley at 541.210.1057 or river_bum@msn.com

Men's Ministry

Men's Retreat

Sign ups will start this Sunday, March 6 at the Information Counter for this year's weekend retreat at Lake Bradley that will be held April 15-17. Pick up a brochure with all the details. Questions? Contact Pablito: 949.246.9615 or email: pablito@trail.org

Early birds, bring other guys (friends, neighbors and relatives) for a time of food, teaching, and fellowship. Breakfast is on a donation basis. Questions? Contact Pablito: 949.246.9615 or pablito@trail.org.

Celebrate Recovery...

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered resource for rising above life's hurts, habits and hang-ups. Through eight simple principles people will move from bondage to freedom and will experience a new joy and peace in life. Join us in the Fireside Room for open meetings every Tuesday: Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Child care is provided. For more information contact Paige Harrison at 541.821.0459 or email celebraterecovery@trail.org Visit us on Facebook: Click Here

Area Events...

Thank You from the TCF Pastors and Staff

We appreciate all your kind words of encouragement, notes, prayers, gifts, meals and goodies. May the Lord continue to provide you and your family with much insight and joy as you study His Word with us.

Biblical Higher Education Summit

Pacific Bible College invites 9th-12th grade students, parents, pastors and educators to the Biblical Higher Education Summit, Thursday, March 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Cascade High School Gym, 855 Chevy Way, in Medford. Recruiting representatives will be onsite from Corban, Multnomah, New Hope, Northwest Christian and Simpson Universities for academic counseling. Pacific Bible will be awarding two scholarships for their Liberal Arts Degree. Guest speaker will be Dr. Patrick Blewett. For more information call PBC: 541.776.9942.

In Closing...

The Lord is righteous in all His ways
    and kind in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
    to all who call on Him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him;
    He also hears their cry and saves them.

Psalm 145: 17-19

photo: Maura Lolandi

Thank you for keeping in touch with the family of Trail Christian Fellowship via TCFinTouch. We welcome your questions and comments.
Feel free to contact us at

tcfintouch@trail.org