Welcome to TCFinTouch!
The e-newsletter of
Trail Christian Fellowship
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Don't forget the new Service time and venue! |
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Sundays at 9am in the Outdoor Sanctuary
Children and Youth Ministries Available
Service is Simulcast to the Indoor Worship Center
Service is Livestreamed on trail.org, YouTube, and Facebook
Wednesdays at 6:30pm in Baptismal Courtyard
Children and Youth Ministries Available
Service is Simulcast to the Indoor Fireside Room*
Service is Livestreamed on trail.org, YouTube, and Facebook
*Masks are required for indoor venues
*Please join the TCF family online if you are not feeling well
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Preaching to Your Soul
Psalm 42
The last sixteen months or so have been very hard for many. No matter where you land politically on the issues in the world today, life has been stressful and hard as of late. Many have lost money and businesses; others have lost health and even their lives. I had a Pastor friend of mine share with me the other day that his family in India is just being hammered by COVID and in desperate need of God’s mercy. I know of many marriages that have struggled over these sixteen months, with the added stress, and in many cases, a differing of opinions on how to perceive the issues of the day. The Psalmist reminds us that in the dry and weary place in our lives we need to remember God’s life-giving water and his past faithfulness in our lives. In short, we need to preach to our own souls.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God (Psalm 42).
As a thirsty deer longs for fresh water, so his soul longs for God. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). This life is hard at times and sucks our will to live. Jesus is our source for endless life. Through our faith in Jesus, we are filled with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and given rivers of LIVING WATER! I have found this to be true in my own life, that when I need a fresh perspective, Jesus never fails to breathe life and hope into my soul.
His tears have been his food day and night. I will never forget the one time I have experienced true depression. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness that made my world so dark. I felt so alone! I was in the first few months of my recovery after suffering a severe spinal injury. I had every kind of nerve pain there is coursing through my body, from my neck to my feet. There was no relief! There was no position I could be in or drug they would give me that would make it stop. I remember turning to God one day feeling like all hope was lost and asking, “WHY? Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go on living in this misery? When will this ever stop?”
In the end, I did the only thing I know to do when I have nothing left, I prayed with a heart of thankfulness. Just as Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). After we get done telling our heavenly Father how we feel, we then remember the good he has done. This is what the Psalms reminds us to do. He reminds us to remember the times that God has been faithful in our lives. I remembered how much I have been through in my life. Some of my pain and sorrow was my own doing, others were the results of someone else. In all of it, God has always been faithful and carried me through.
The next thing I did was give thanks for the fact that I wasn’t a quadriplegic. Even though my life was hard, and I was in so much physical and emotional pain, I could still do so many things. I still had my job, which by God’s grace is not physically demanding. I could still drive and was not a burden to my family. So, through my tears I thanked God, just as the Psalmist does, for his mercy in my life. It is always good to remember that it could be worse!
And lastly the Psalmist reminds us that our hope is in God, not in this world. As I was wallowing in the darkness of my depression and feeling like there was no hope, I did as the Psalmist did, I preached to my soul! I reminded myself that even though I felt alone I was not alone. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). I reminded myself that Jesus was with me. That his Spirit was in me, and that he would get me through this dark valley. And I remembered that one day all my pain would be gone! That even though the pain in this life seems never ending at times, it is just momentary. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
It has been five years since my spinal injury and much of my pain is gone and most of my nerve damage has healed. However, one day Christian friend, Jesus will wipe every tear from every eye, sickness and death will be no more, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Pastor Rob
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MyTCF Account
If you consider yourself a part of the TCF family, then stay connected with a MyTCF account! You can manage your contact information, easily register for events and give securely online. Members can view the directory.
Visit trail.org and click "MyTCF Login" from the top menu bar. Need a login? CLICK HERE then follow the instructions.
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TCF is installing a new campus-wide telephone system. Thank you for your patience as we work through the inevitable bugs, kinks, and hiccups. Any message will be returned as soon as possible! |
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TCF’s meals ministry is a very practical way to serve the body of Christ! By helping an individual or family in need of temporary support, and TCF has teamed up with Meal Train to make it easy. Visit https://www.mealtrain.com/groups/tcf for opportunities to reach out, connect, and provide for those in need.
For more about the Meal Train organization, click here.
Note: Meal Train is not just for meals! Help is also needed for transportation to church services, appointments, and errands for those who are unable to drive themselves. Drivers are needed sometimes using your vehicle, sometimes theirs.
For details, contact the Outreach Department (541) 878-3501 // outreach@trail.org
CLICK HERE for TCF’s current opportunities to serve!
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Men's Prayer Gathering
Friday Mornings
6:30-7:30am
Join us in the outdoor Pavilion for our traditional weekly time of nourishment in the Word, a preview of what's to come on Sunday morning, and devotional prayer time led by one of our Pastors or Elders.
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Men's Pack Trip
August 5-8
Lake Isherwood
See brochure for details.
Registration opens at the end of June.
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From hiking to swimming to biking, there's a lot to do this summer! Click the link below to view the Trail Teens for Truth summer activities...
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Trail Teens for Truth Middle School Camp
For those entering 6th grade through 8th grade
July 5th - 9th
Enjoy tubing at Lost Creek, rafting on the Rogue, campfires, tent camping, great food, adventure, as well as worship and the Word!
Cost is $99 per person // Register HERE
Space is limited so register NOW!
Questions? Contact Rob Milton: 541.821.7261 or robert@trail.org
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Trail Teens for Truth High School Camp
For those entering 9th grade through 12th grade
August 5th - 8th
EARLY SIGN UP
BY JULY 1 - $110 PER STUDENT
LATE SIGN UP
JULY 2 - 22 - $135 PER STUDENT
ALL PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION DUE BY JULY 22
Space is limited so register NOW!
Questions? Contact Rob Milton: 541.821.7261 or robert@trail.org
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Sunday, July 11
Thank you for being a part of Children’s Ministry!!!
See flyer for details.
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Do you have a talent that kids love?
The TCF Children’s Ministry is looking for members who can contribute their skills of puppetry, mime, music, storytelling, ballooning, clowning, or (fill in the blank). With only a modest commitment of a couple of Sundays per year, God can use you in big ways in the lives of our kids!
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Wednesdays
6:15pm - 8:00pm
Summer is coming and TCF has lots of fun planned for our kids ages 4 through 5th grade! This year's theme is "Answers for Kids" beginning in the book of Genesis. Click on the flyer link below for more details...
Debbie Conley: 541.261.2605
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We need you!
Awana volunteers make a difference because “Kids matter to God”
Each Wednesday night from 6 - 8pm, you could help a child learn scripture verses, be a Game Director, or help with check-In!
Kids need you to be part of their team 😊
Contact
Aaron Bradley at aaron@trail.org
Debbie Conley 541.261.2605 or debbie@trail.org
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Dedication Ceremony
June 20, 2021
If you’d like to have your child dedicated, please read the Dedication brochure then register. The Dedication will be done at the outside venue in the Pavilion.
Dedication Questions: Pastor Travis Connick at travis@trail.org.
Scheduling Questions: Jacki at jacki@trail.org or 541-878-3501
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June 28-29 or June 30-July 1
Ages 5-10
TCF Pavilion
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July 30 - August 1
Ages 8-12 (and only going into 6th grade)
Mountain Lakes Bible Camp
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Monday, June 7, 2021
6:30pm
TCF Fireside Room
Join together to pray for TCF supported partners and outreaches.
Open to all
(No childcare provided)
Contact: 541.878.3501 // outreach@trail.org
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Prayer Warriors by Email
If you would like to be a regular part of praying for the Children's Ministry and receive an email prayer letter periodically to keep up with what God is doing with the next generation, email debbie@trail.org to get on the list. This will be a blind copy email and your email address will not be shared with others.
Debbie Conley: 541.878.3501
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Trail Life USA
June 10, 6:30 - 8:00pm at TCF
Trail Life USA is a Christ-centered outdoor character development adventure program for boys and young men ages 5-17. TCF’s Trail Life troop meets twice a month on Thursdays from 6:30-8pm during the school year. For more information about the Trail Life USA organization, click HERE.
- For TCF’s Troop Information, and to confirm meeting times, contact Matthew Paradela: 541.625.0359
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WE NEED YOU!
Bottle Drop Blue Bag Drive
Trail Christian Fellowship
May 2 - June 6
American Heritage Girls OR4519 is seeking your help in collecting cans to purchase class B uniforms. These uniforms are worn during service projects, camping trips. and various other events where the official uniform is inappropriate. And additional funds will go toward special events.
Pick up your blue bags or drop off your filled bags at the TCF Youth Center
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A Christian 12 step program for those struggling with any addiction, abuse or other hurts, habits or hang-ups. We meet every Tuesday at 6:30pm (masks required).
You're welcome to come early at 6pm.
No nursery or child care program available at this time.
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The Pregnancy Center
Baby Bottle Drive
Pick up a bottle at TCF, fill it with your donations (money and/or check) …then return it to the inside Information Counter in the Worship Center (not outside), the Church Office during business hours or at TPC (2019 Aero Way # 103, Medford, 97504) by Father’s Day, June 20. You may also make a donation at their webpage: https://thepregnancycenter.us/
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Redemption Ridge, a local non-profit dedicated to bringing hope and healing to young women devastated by the effects of commercial domestic sex trafficking, is in need of dedicated, caring women to fill our Care Specialist employee positions at Grace House. Other positions are also available. More information and a link to apply online can be found on our website under the "careers" tab: redemptionridge.org
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Thank you for visiting TCFinTouch
the weekly e-newsletter of Trail Christian Fellowship
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Church Office Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
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