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June 2, 2016

Welcome

to this week's edition of

TCFinTouch

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

photo: Buffy Boren

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...

June 5 our Sunday Service will be held in the Worship Center from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Pastor Rick will be teaching. 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, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for our Through-the-Bible study. Pastor Garret will be teaching from John 4:43-54. Programs for youth age Nursery-2 year-olds, Middle School and Teens meet at this same time in their respective classrooms.

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

Some Thoughts for Parents

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

President Andrew Jackson was used to getting death threats in the mail. One day he received a letter that read: "You dam'd old Scoundrel....I will cut your throat whilst you are sleeping. I wrote to you repeated cautions, so look out or damn you I'll have you burnt at the Stake".

The signature at the bottom was the name of an acclaimed Shakespearean actor who was popular in the day, Junius Brutus Booth. Fortunately he never did carry out his plan to kill Andrew Jackson, but his son, John Wilkes Booth, killed President Lincoln 30 years later, stemming from his own rage over the outcome of the Civil War.

This is a rather vivid example of how parental values tend to be caught rather than taught. Our reaction to frustration becomes a model to our children whether we intend for it to be or not. Attitudes about money, the opposite sex, work, even parenting seem to quickly become the paradigms our children follow in adulthood. We can say "Do as I say, not as I do." But actions trump words every time.

St. Paul in his outline for familial relationships gives us some wonderful wisdom for parenting that is easily caught by our sons and daughters. First, we are told not to "provoke" our children to anger. This certainly doesn't mean we can't make decisions we know our children are not going to like but are for their overall good and well-being. What does provoke anger in young people is when they are treated unjustly or sense a sibling is especially favored because they don't have to follow the same rules in life. Injustice spawns a kind of anger in people that is not easily healed.

Second, we are to rear our children in the "discipline" of the Lord. Now when I was a kid, discipline generally meant the 'board of education' being applied to my 'seat of understanding.' This would properly be called punitive correction or learning the hard way that 'no' really does mean no! But the word St. Paul uses here is much broader. It certainly does not exclude punitive correction, but it is inclusive of actively training a child to living a disciplined life that honors God. Just as we don't send our soldiers into war without boot camp, we are to train our children to live virtuous lives by a positively reinforced example.

Finally, we bring our sons and daughters up in 'the instruction of the Lord.' Just as children are to obey their parents in the Lord (Eph. 6:1-3), they need to be taught and instructed in the Word of the Lord. I hope you have a plan for this beside sending them to Sunday school and/or Christian school. These are both well and good, but they are supplemental to the home, not replacements for it. This sort of instruction is done with Bible stories when the children are little and then graduates to discussions when they are more mature about theology and passages in the Scripture--a tall order for any parent, especially when the cultural trend of today bends towards extreme busyness (sports, school and church activities) for kids and their parents. Certainly, as parents we do need to dial this busyness of schedule down a bit (for many reasons), but more importantly, we need to look to our own hearts.

What we love, we worship in every way with our time, attention, imagination, money, and energy. Whether the Lord is on the fringes of your life or at the center, it will be reflected in how you spend your week. This in turn will be observed and 'caught' by your children. Thus the most important thing you can do as a parent is live your own life with Christ at center and cultivate your walk with Him. What your children see you do, what they know you love, is without question the most powerful instruction you can offer.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Chris

Upcoming Events

First Sunday Evening of Praise

Our First Sunday Communion Service will be this Sunday, June 5 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Join us for an hour of worship and Communion. Child care is provided.

First Monday Global Prayer

Come together to pray for TCF global outreach and partners, Monday, June 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Nokes' home in Eagle Point. Call Kelly for directions: 541.878.3501

2nd Wednesday Jam Cancelled

The June 8 Jam has been cancelled. Our next Jam is scheduled for July 13.

baptism Baptism

If you have not been Baptized you have two opportunities to partake of this sacrament. Sunday, June 12 and June 26 there will Baptisms right after service in the new Baptismal behind the Church Office. Stop by the Willingheart Window and pick up a loaner CD, Steps to Baptism, or you may listen online HERE

Church Office: 541.878.3501

Reminder: Bring the Baby Bottles Back

If you took a Baby Bottle to fill with change, please remember to turn it in by Sunday, June 19. This is the Pregnancy Center's biggest fundraiser of the year and each bottle counts. Even if the bottle is not full, please bring it back. 541.772.1921

North Africa Trip Sharing

Pastors Rick, Chris and Kelly will be sharing photos and stories from their spring trip to North Africa and Cyprus, Sunday, June 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Light refreshments will be available. No charge, no child care.

Women's Ministry

Save the Date

The Ladies Camp Out will be July 29-31 at Lake of the Woods. Space limited to 18. Signups begin June 26, and will not be accepted sooner.

Janice Cantore: 541.727.6041.

The Ladies Spring Tea will be held Saturday, June 11, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Norah Gordon will share on "Free Indeed" (John 8:36). Ladies age 12 and up are invited, and child care is available with advanced sign up. Register at the Information Counter, indicate if you'd like to "Host a Table" or child care needs. Kandy Sullivan: 541.944.3424

Youth Ministry

Camp Mahanaim Fundraiser

The Camp Mahanaim Scholarship Fundraiser will be June 10-11. We are in need of unbroken, used items in good condition to sell. Please call Debbie Conley for drop off instructions. 541.261.2605

Summer Camp

Sign ups for Kid's Summer Camp start June 5 and close June 26.

Camp Wonder is for kids age 5-10 and is held in the Pavilion at TCF June 27-June 29.

Camp Mahanaim is for kids age 8 through 6th grade and will be held at Camp Apserkaha on Howard Prairie lake, July 8-10.

Pick up a flyer with prices and details at the Information Counter or in the Youth Center. You can download or fill out the forms online at www.trail.org, click on the rolling banner for Camp Wonder and/or Camp Mahanaim.

Debbie Conley: 541.878.3501

Dog Days means Summer Fun!

Wednesdays, May 18 - September 7, Children's Ministry features Dog Days of Summer for kids 5 years - 5th grade (6:15- 8:00 p.m.) beginning with a hot dog meal. Check-in at the Youth Center. Regular childcare for 0 - 4 years available in Room 2. Pick up a flyer at the Information Counter or in the Children's Ministry office for more details. Debbie Conley: 541.878.3501 or Debbie@trail.org

Men's Ministry

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

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 Visit us on Facebook: Click Here

Area Events & TCF Messages...

Celebrate the Class of 2016, Tuesday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Eagle Point Community Bible Church, 27 S. Shasta Ave., in Eagle Point. Please join with us as we encourage, pray for, and send off our graduating seniors. All seniors and their families are welcome. Light refreshments to follow. Questions? Contact Kim at 541.826.2767

Volunteer Host Families Needed

Christian host families are needed to open up their hearts and homes to foreign exchange students for the 2016-2017 school year through Cultural Homestay International. All students speak English. For more information please call Amanda Stebbins: 541.601.2787

Access Food Pantry

A reminder for the TCF volunteers at Eagle Point Access Food Pantry, this is your week, Wednesday, June 8. Thank you for helping out.

If you're looking for a way get to know people and to help those in our community, here's an excellent opportunity.

Food & Friends provides hot, nutritious meals and a friendly visit to hundreds of seniors in Jackson and Josephine counties. Through our services, homebound seniors are able to maintain their independence in the comfortable surroundings of their own homes.

The demand for meals is growing and home delivery drivers are needed in Eagle Point and White City. Deliveries are generally between 10 and noon. Mileage reimbursement is available.

For more information call Linnea at 541.734.9505 Ext. 4

In Closing...

We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God,

In the midst of Your temple.

As is Your name, O God,

So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 48:9-10

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