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August 11, 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...

August 14 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, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for our Through-the-Bible study. Elder Andrew Burns will be teaching from John, Chapter 14. 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 Master's Touch

"And a leper came to Him, imploring Him, and kneeling said to Him, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand and touched him and said to him, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean." ~Mark 1:40-42~

I can't tell you how often I feel like this leper. Can you imagine the broken, unclean, unworthy hopelessness that the leper must have felt? He was an outcast, shunned by his friends, his community, and the world. He had to inform anybody that came near him that he was unclean and to stay away. No matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able to heal himself, and this would be his condition for the rest of his life. A permanently broken man...unworthy.

What is worthiness? What is "worth"? It is essentially value affirmed or bestowed upon us by others. It is something that we cannot bestow on ourselves, any more than the leper could make himself whole. In this day and age it is easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives with that of this world. But, it is things of this world that have battered and bruised us. It is almost like looking through a cracked mirror; the real image doesn't come through. We look into the shattered mirror of society and see the broken, unworthy human standing before a world that is just as broken, yet we judge our worth by what we see, not the reality that comes with being in Christ. Friends, often we forget the worth, the value, bestowed on us by the grace of Christ.

Look at the grace that Christ showed the leper. The man was unclean, yet Christ made him clean. Because of Christ's touch, that man went from worthlessness to worthiness. This was not by anything he said or did, but all by the touch of the Master's hand.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come." ~2 Corinthians 5:17~

In 1921 Myra Brooks Welch wrote a famous poetic parable that reminds us of what the Lord does as He touches our broken lives:

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?"

"A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; going for three..." But no,

From the room, far back, a grey haired man came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loosened strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet, as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three?

Three thousand once; three thousand, twice, And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand.

What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply, "The touch of the Master's Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine, a game - and he travels on.

He is "going" once, and "going" twice, he's "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Pastor Garret

photo: Lisa Rosnick

Upcoming Events

Darkness into Light Training

Last Sunday to Sign Up!

Preventing child sexual abuse is an adult responsibility, yet many adults do not know how to help. A Child Advocacy Training, Darkness into Light, will be held Monday, August 15, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at TCF. Please sign up at the Information Counter by August 14, no charge. Child care provided with sign up.

Basic First Aid/CPR Class for TCF Volunteers

A Basic First Aid/CPR Class will be held Saturday, Sept.10, from 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Youth Center. If you volunteer at TCF we encourage you to take this class. Register at the Information Counter or pay online at trail.org. Cost is $25. Bring a sack lunch. No child care. Space is limited. This certification for First Aid/CPR is being offered at this reduced rate for TCF volunteers and staff. It is not intended to satisfy requirements for medical professionals. Questions? Contact Debbie Conley: 541. 878.3501 or Debbie@trail.org.

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

Save the Date!

The Fall term for Bible Study will begin Friday, September 16, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. Sign ups for new students and details will follow next week.

Ladies Fall Retreat Oct. 7-9

The Ladies Fall Retreat sign ups have begun! You can register at the Information Counter 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

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...

Fall Semester classes will begin the week of August 29 and end the week of December 9. Pick up a flyer at the Information Counter 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!

Retired Public School Teachers Needed

PBC is looking for Math, Science, and Physical Ed teachers. These are adjunct paid positions. Call 541.776.9942 or check pacificbible.com.

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 Information Counter for a list of needed items. For more information: Rachelle Benthin: 541.601.3318.

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

Foundations for Recovery Festival & Carnival

at Harry & David Field

Come out for this family friendly 2-day event starting Friday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. for Battle of the Badges, the Police vs. Fire Depts. square off for a Homerun Derby Fundraiser at Harry & David Field. There will be raffle prizes, a free hot dog & drink, and a silent auction.

Saturday, September 10 at 9:00 a.m. come to the Carnival, with booths, pony rides, bounce house, prizes and more. There will be a motorcycle raffle prize drawing, tickets are $10 and you must be present to win. See the Guns and Hoses III softball tournament between the Police and Fire Depts. There will be food vendors, merchants, and info regarding drug and alcohol education, treatment and prevention, including programs for parents and youth. No admission charge, some tickets have a low price.

FFR: 541.245.4673

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...

"Comfort, O comfort My people,"

says your God.

"Speak kindly to Jerusalem;

And call out to her,

that her warfare has ended,

That her iniquity has been removed,

That she has received of the Lord's hand

Double for all her sins."

Isaiah 40:1-2

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