MEN’S MINISTRY GOLF TOURNAMENT
This spring’s golf tournament will be held Friday, May 18, at Twin Creeks Golf Club in Allen. The 4-man scramble will begin at 8:00 AM. Cost is $50 and includes driving range, bag service, green fee, cart with GPS, lunch and prizes afterwards. Registration forms are available at the Yes! Table at the Men’s Ministry area.

MEN’S COLORADO ADVENTURE
PTCC Men are invited to Durango, Colorado July 30-August 3 for an outdoor adventure. Pick up a registration packet at the Yes! Table at the Men’s Ministry area for further details.

CHILD DEDICATION
Child Dedication is parental recognition of a solemn responsibility and trust - a responsibility to raise your child in the nurture and instruction of the Lord. The Child Dedication Ceremony provides you, as a parent, an opportunity to make this commitment public before God, your friends, and family. On May 13th, we will have a Child Dedication ceremony during both the 9:30 and 11:00 services. If you would like to participate or if you would like more information about Child Dedication, please sign up today in the atrium.

PARTNERSHIP
Take the next step in your commitment to God and to PTCC by becoming a partner, our membership program. Partnership focuses on five biblical principles that we call the 5Gs: Grace, Growth, Groups, Gifts and Good Stewardship. You may complete the self-directed Bible Study found on our website or you may attend our next partnership class on Sunday, April 29th from 9:30 AM - Noon at the PTCC building. Sign up at the Yes! Table today!

MEN'S MINISTRY
PTCC has a new and exciting men’s ministry designed to help men build strong friendships with other Christian men, become better husbands and/or fathers, and grow closer to God. Sign-ups already have exceeded expectations but there's still time to get involved. The schedule and details are on the website. Email Matt Moss for more information.

ONLINE GIVING
Make your life simpler by automating your giving. Follow the easy directions at www.prestontrail.org to setup for debit or credit card for regular giving and dream big donations. All transactions are secure and will appear on your regular statement.

LIFE GROUPS
Sign up at the Information Table or email info@prestontrail.org and get involved in a group!

A Place of Gracious Acceptance

Several weeks ago my friend Charlie did a very courageous thing.  He told his story of sexual addiction on camera for our series on the seven deadly sins.  Many of you who saw the video have commented to me how powerful it was and how it encouraged you to open your own heart to the transforming work of Christ.  I don’t know if you picked up on it or not, but every Monday night Charlie and his wife make a 200 mile round trip to go to a Celebrate Recovery meeting at Watermark Church in Dallas.

Each Monday they meet in separate small groups especially designed to help them experience healing from the addictions and struggles they face.  One of the richest parts of the evening is when the members of all these small groups gather for a time of corporate worship reaching out to God for strength and hope.  Charlie has told me often how powerful it is when people who are honest about their brokenness join their hearts and voices in praise to the one who is the source of their ultimate release.

From the beginning we have envisioned Preston Trail to be a church where people who struggle with the deepest and most debilitating challenges of life could come and find gracious acceptance and hope for their future in Christ.  As we look to the future we sense that God may be leading us to launch Celebrate Recovery as a vital ministry of PTCC.

On the surface just about everyone in our north Texas region looks like they have their act together.  But, when you get behind closed doors, as the old C&W song says, you begin to see epoch struggles with all kinds of addictions.  Many more people than you would ever imagine live their lives in the grip of a craving and desire they can’t shake . . . and it is destroying their lives, their marriages, and their families.

We want to be sure that God is leading our thoughts and passions in this area.  In order to discern this, Paul Basden is going to be putting together a group of our folks to pray and seek God’s blessing for launching Celebrate Recovery.  If you would like to be a part of this strategic group please email Paul at paul@prestontrail.org.  He will be encouraged by your partnership in this endeavor.

BTW . . . We had a record attendance last Sunday for Easter!  Almost 1400 of our friends and family gathered to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.   Thanks for your continued commitment to invite people you know and care about to experience God’s grace here at PTCC.  Speaking of inviting, Paul is continuing our new series Exposé.  This week he’ll help us understand what all the fuss is about concerning these “lost” gospels that we keep hearing about (think Da Vinci Code).  Are they to be believed?  Do they contradict our New Testament?  Bring a friend with you this Sunday who will benefit from a candid look at this recent phenomenon!

Blessings,

Read previous Trail Notes here

LISTEN! Preston Trail Podcast
PTCC worship messages are available by subscription to our podcast or for listening on our website. So, if you missed a service, or want to share one with a friend go here and take a listen.
You will have the option of downloading and listening to them on your computer or even subscribe here (or press the iTunes image on the right) to have them come to your computer automatically each time one is added - then play them on your computer or your iPod while you're exercising or driving.

Calendar at a glance...

April 22 Discover Preston Trail 11:00 - Noon

April 29 Partnership 9:30 AM - Noon

May 13 Child Dedication

May 18 Men's Ministry Golf Tournament

May 20 Baptism 5:00 PM

May 28 - June 2 Youth Camp 2007, Florida

June 11 - 15 Adventure Camp

July 30 - Aug. 3 Men's Colorado Adventure