Drop Shadow Accent Image

photo: Mark Wojdylak

Quick Links

www.trail.org

Pastor Rick's Blog

Pastor Chris' Church History Blog

Bill Gallagher's Teamworks

Recent Messages

TCF's APP

July 28, 2016

Welcome

to this week's edition of

TCFinTouch

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

photo: Maura Lolandi

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 31 our Sunday Service will be held outdoors in the Pavilion area behind the church from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Pastor Rick will be teaching. See announcement following for more details. 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, August 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for our Through-the-Bible study. Pastor Bill will be teaching from John, Chapter 12. 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

The Eight "I am" Statements of Jesus

pt. 2

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Jesus spoke these words in front of an extremely dramatic backdrop. John's gospel connects this teaching with the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. Alfred Edersheim, a 19th-century expert on Jewish history and customs, reports that during the last days of this event 16 giant torches stood in the temple court. These were fueled with olive oil and used as their wicks the old undergarments of the priests. In a world with no streetlights or light pollution of any kind, the glow from the temple mount over the city of Jerusalem must have been spectacular. As Jesus stands in front of these amazing, brilliant lights, He says in effect, these speak of who I am. Normally people who make everything about themselves are considered egotistical. However, in the case of Jesus the Messiah, the Temple (and the Tabernacle that preceded it) was an illustration of His person and work. It really is 'all about Him'.

As this statement touches our understanding, I think it suggests two things: first, that apart from Christ our default position is to walk in darkness; second, we only see life clearly through the light of Christ. We live in a dark world morally and spiritually and intellectually. Romans 1:21 tells us that humanity has "darkened hearts" because of their refusal to acknowledge and worship God. This leads to the situation our culture is in today where everything that was commonly known as wrong is now right and what was commonly known as right is seen as wrong. We do not lack knowledge today, we lack understanding because we seek to interpret the world based on our own thinking instead of from the perspective of the Holy Creator who made it. Doing what is right in our own eyes will always lead to disaster because our vision is very, very clouded apart from the Spirit ( Judges 17:6, Proverbs 16:25).

Light is a symbol in many religions but in the Old Testament light is a reflection of God's glory. His glory entails His great love, holiness, goodness, justice, power and knowledge. In the New Testament, the light of Christ means all these things but also points to the special disclosure of God in the Son of Man. Jesus Christ is the fullness, the completion of God's revelation to mankind (Heb. 1:1-2). To have this light, is to have life. To live in darkness is to remain under the wrath and condemnation of God. There is an exclusivity to this and all of Jesus's "I am" statements. He is the only source of light because He is the only true God.

How do I know I have this light? Like all the gifts of God it is acquired by virtue of relationship. To be in relationship with Jesus Christ is to be drawn into the circle of love in the Trinity and to experience the blessings the Son experiences. To be a person in Christ is to have the light in oneself.

May you bask in His light today!

Pastor Chris

Upcoming Events

Outdoor Service this Sunday

Come outside and worship with your Church Family under the open sky this Sunday, July 31, 10:00-11:30 a.m., weather permitting. In case of bad weather, service will be held indoors. Lunch will be served afterward for a small donation (optional). No indoor seating. Our last outdoor service will be held August 28. If you'd like to volunteer for set up or help with the lunches, contact Jacki: 541.878.3501 or jacki@trail.org

Hope & A Future Back Pack Drive

July 31-Sept. 4

Be a blessing to women being released from prison or jail by providing a back pack of hygiene products, basic clothing, a Bible, and more. Hope & a Future Ministry will collect and distribute the back packs. You may donate filled back packs, empty back packs or items to fill them. Pick up a Flyer at the Outdoor Office and meet Chaplain Rachelle Benthin. For more information: Rachelle 541.601.3318.

Global Outreach Prayer

Come together with others to pray for TCF's Global Outreach Partners and ministries, Monday, August 1 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Eagle Point. Call Kelly for directions or questions: 541.878.3501 or globaloutreach@trail.org

First Sunday Evening of Praise

Our First Sunday Evening of Praise and Communion service will be held Sunday, August 7, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Child care provided.

Save the Date

A Child Advocacy Training, Darkness into Light, will be held Monday, August 15, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at TCF. More details will be available next week.

Our next Baptism and Potluck Dinner will be held Sunday, August 21. The Potluck Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m., please bring a dish to share for 8-10 people. The Baptism will follow at 6:30 p.m. along with worship and Communion at the Baptismal behind the Church Office. If you want to be Baptized, please pick up a loaner CD at the Willingheart Window. You may also listen on line HERE.

Call the Church Office for any further questions: 541.878.3501. or email information@trail.org

Women's Ministry

Ladies Fall Retreat Oct. 7-9

The Ladies Fall Retreat sign ups have begun! You can register at the Outdoor Office or online.
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

Men's Pack Trip July 29-31

3 spots left! You can sign up until the morning we leave, or until all the spots are filled.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). Sign up by calling the Church Office: 541.878.3501.
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

High School Camp

Hey High Schoolers! Don't miss a great Summer Trip! August 18-21, for those 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...

Green Bag Day is August 7

We are collecting the Green Bags full of non-perishable food on Sunday, August 7. If you participate, leave your filled bag at the food pantry box near the Information Counter and take a new bag. Pick up a flyer there for more information. The next collection day will be on Oct. 2. These food donations are distributed to families in the Upper Rogue at the Access Food Pantry held weekly at St. John's Lutheran Church. Volunteers are needed to distribute this food every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Call Pastor Matt: 541.878.3501 if you can help.

Fall Semester classes will begin the week of August 29 and end the week of December 9. Pick up a flyer at the Outdoor Office with a listing of all the classes offered. There are many exciting classes in Bible/Theology, Psychology, and General Studies. Don't delay as classes fill up quickly! Call 541.776.9942 or check pacificbible.com.

Seeking volunteers

Has God been tugging on your heart strings to volunteer? Now is the time. The Pregnancy Center is doing its next volunteer training on August 16, 17, 23, 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come by 2019 Aero Way, # 103, (behind Walmart) pick up an application, complete it and turn it in BEFORE the first class. Contact Sunny, 541.772.1921

Host Families for Local Schools Needed

Our local schools are seeking host families for foreign exchange students for next school year, (this Fall). Would one of these boys fit in your family? James, age 15 from So. Korea, Tyler age 17 from China, or Ignacio, 15 years old from Spain. Other students are available from many countries. For more information, please contact Kathy Forte: 541.297.8009 or klforte2002@gmail.com

In Closing...

My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold;

I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

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