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June 30, 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...

July 3 our Sunday Service will be held in the air conditioned 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, July 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for our Through-the-Bible study. Pastor Chris will be teaching from John, Chapter 8. Programs for youth age Nursery-4 year-olds in Room 2, age 5-5th grade meet for Dog Days (see details below in Youth section), 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

Growing Older Gracefully

II Timothy 9b-18, Part 2

As Christians we should be growing more gracious as we get older, not grumpier. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:16 that even though "our outward man is wasting away, our inner man is being renewed day by day".

One of my prayers as I age is that the Lord would give me the grace to not be the stereotyped complaining, picky and impatient older man, in spite of my ever-increasing ailments.

I was changing my shirt recently and my 5 year old granddaughter said, "Papa you have a big tummy...but you still have a cute face." I told her "Well at least I have something working for me!" As gravity does its work on our anatomy, and our muscles and joints start complaining to us, Paul says, we are being enlightened in our spirit and soul through the power of the Holy Spirit. We're supposed to be getting spiritually better or more gracious as we age not worse.

As stated in last week's article, Paul is an excellent model of finishing well, as well as aging gracefully, as seen in II Timothy 4.

As we look at the above verses carefully, let's dig out a couple of gems through Paul's final instructions to Timothy.

The first gem to note is in vs.11 when Paul asks Timothy to "bring Mark with him as he is now useful for him in his ministry". That is true growth in grace by Paul. Twenty years earlier, he refused to go on any other mission journeys with young Mark since he defected and left the field because of the intensity on the last missionary journey. Not long after that, Mark's cousin, Barnabus, tried to talk Paul into giving Timothy a second chance. Paul not only stubbornly refused but had a sharp disagreement with Barnabus to the point that they parted ways (Acts 15:36-41).

In other words, Paul in his later years, softened his disposition toward a past circumstance and person that once infuriated him. His whole attitude changed toward Timothy as he left the past in the past. Growing older gracefully means we let the past disappointments go and quit reliving them in our minds.

The second gem is seen in his request for Timothy to bring him "the scrolls and especially the parchments." Even though Paul is incarcerated in the Mamertine Dungeon in Rome and realizes his time is short and his purposes in life are coming to a close, he doesn't roll over and die.

Scrolls and parchments refer to the Scriptures as well as other readings. He isn't going to allow his mind to grow cob webs. He is going to stay fresh, sharp and informed until his last breath.

This is a man growing older without any trace of self-pity or regrets. He pro-actively fills his mind with truth and hope rather than depressing thoughts of what should have been. Growing older gracefully means that we keep our faith and mind sharp with truth.

The third gem is seen in the words, "at my first defense everyone deserted me"...and "Alexander the metal worker did me a great deal of harm." Paul reflects back a couple of years when he stood before a tribunal in court and not one of his disciples or believer showed up.

He uses the word "deserted." His brothers, in Christ, hung him out to dry that day in court for fear of imprisonment. Yet as a graciously aging Saint, Paul says, "may it not be charged against them." There is not a hint of resentment or bitterness, just stating the facts of what happened. He doesn't carry the hurt but leaves it to the Lord's justice and asks Him not to hold it against them.

Then he mentions the metal worker, Alexander, who did him a great deal of harm and concludes by saying that, "the Lord will repay him." Amazing! Was it not enough for Paul to be in a cold moldy dungeon waiting to die? Now the salt of rejection from others is poured into the wound of his circumstances? But Saints who age gracefully do NOT allow the "root of bitterness to defile them" (Hebrews 12:15).

The fourth gem of growing older gracefully is to enter our golden years with a life full of forgiveness and grace. Paul experienced the kind mercy of Jesus over and over again and in his final hours made sure that all accounts were cleared by extending the same mercy to others that Jesus had extended to him.

So are you aging gracefully? If you are, then there is a good chance that you have let the grip of the disappointments in your past go, you are not feeling sorry for yourself but are keeping your mind and heart fresh with God's truth, and you have forgiven every and any person in your life that has caused crushing pain for you and those you love, knowing that God knows and judges justly.

So may the Lord Jesus, whose plans and purposes for us are altogether lovely, be seen through the lines of grace in our faces as we age.

Pastor Bill

Upcoming Events

Memorial Service Friday

The family of Margaret Richardson invites TCF family and friends to a Celebration of Margaret's life tomorrow, Friday, July 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the Worship Center.

First Sunday Evening of Praise

Come out for an hour of worship and Communion in the Fireside Room, Sunday, July 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Child care is provided.

All Church Hike

Saturday, July 2, we'll meet at TCF at 8:00 a.m. to car pool. We'll hike from Woodruff Bridge to Natural Bridge along the Rogue River trail, then back to Woodruff Bridge. It'll take about 3-4 hours round trip. If you only want to hike one way to Natural Bridge, we can have a car shuttle you back to Woodruff Bridge.
Bring snacks, water bottles, bug spray, camera, First Aid kit and comfy shoes.

This is a pretty easy to moderate hike with some minor inclines on a well-established trail system. The views are great and temperatures will be cool along the river during the early part of the day with old growth timber providing shade and the river breeze.

Questions? Call Terry Birch 541.944.3767

Church Office Closed

TCF's Office will be closed Monday, July 4. We will re-open Tuesday, July 5 at 9:00 a.m. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Upcoming Outdoor Sunday Services

Come outside and worship with your Church Family under the open sky! This year's outdoor services are scheduled for Sunday, July 31, and August 28 (weather permitting). In case of bad weather, service will be held indoors. Lunch will be served after service for a small donation. No indoor seating. If you'd like to volunteer for set up or help with the lunches,

contact Jacki: 541.878.3501 or jacki@trail.org

Women's Ministry

Ladies Camp Out

The Ladies Camp Out will be July 29-31 at Lake of the Woods. Space is limited to 18. There are only a few spots left! Sign up using an Event Envelope, enclose a $5 deposit. Remainder of cost to be determined and paid at camp.

Questions? Janice Cantore: 541.727.6041.

Ladies Fall Retreat Oct. 7-9

The Ladies Fall Retreat sign ups begin Sunday, July 3 at the Information Counter and online. (The link to sign up online will not be available until Sunday.)
Pick up or download a brochure with registration information, cost is $120 through August 28). We will be returning to Camp Bradley and our guest speaker will be Michelle E. Caswell.
Questions? Denise Green: 541.664.9871

Men's Ministry

Pack Trip Sign Ups Begin

The Men's Pack Trip sign ups begin this Sunday, July 3. This year's pack trip will be to the Marble Mountains in Northern Calif. We'll use pack animals to carry some gear for our 6 mile walk (modest elevation gain). Enjoy worship and fellowship in God's creation. For directions and items needed, pick up a flyer. Cost is $40 per person (includes food and water) using an Event Envelope.

Space is limited to 25 guys who register and pay, no reservations.

Questions? Bary Kaiser: 541.821.2259 or Dave Facciuto: 541.773.9550

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

Youth Ministry

Camp Mahanaim July 8-10

Sign ups for Camp Mahanaim close Sunday, July 3, cash or checks only.
Online sign ups close July 1.

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 Mahanaim (through July 1).

Debbie Conley: 541.878.3501

Jr. High Summer Camp August 2-7

at Creation Fest

Pick up a flyer with details and register in the Youth Center or online: www.trail.org, click on the Jr. High Camp slide. For kids going into 7th-9th grades. Six days of camping, worship, praise and fun! Sign up by July 17 as there is limited space. Questions? Dakota: 541.951.1100

High School Camp August 18-21, for kids who have just completed grades 9-12, we'll be going on a Klamath/High Mountain tour. Sign up in the Teen Room. Nate Bailey: 541.951.6952

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

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...

Baby Bottles

If you took a Baby Bottle to fill with change, please remember to turn it in as soon as possible! 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, it costs TPC a lot for the bottles. 541.772.1921

Sanctuary Food and Drink Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that water is the only beverage that can be brought into the Worship Center Sanctuary. Please do not bring any kind of food, coffee, tea, soda or juices. Many thanks!

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...

Remember Your congregation,
which You purchased of old,
Which You have redeemed to be the
tribe of Your inheritance...

Psalm 74:2

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