BAPTISM
Mark your calendars for one of the biggest events at PTCC. Baptism will take place on May 20th, 5:00PM at the home of Brian and Cindy Reinken (4401 Mira Vista Drive). If you are interested in being baptized, please sign up at the YES! Table, or email us at info@prestontrail.org

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!

ADVENTURE CAMP
PTCC children and friends completing grades 3-5 are invited to "Deal or no Deal" June 11-15. The week will include awesome adventures, bowling, Hawaiian Falls, Bible lessons, a Rough Riders game, an overnight campout and more. Cost of the adventure is $160. Register at the Yes! Table or email Jeri Taylor.

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 door, a tub, and a table

Some of you are old enough to remember Johnny Carson who hosted The Tonight Show before Jay Leno.  A fastidious dresser, Carson played a recurring character named Carnac the Magnificent.  Carnac was a mysterious visitor from the east who wore a purple plumed turban and carried with him a stack of sealed envelopes.  Ed McMahon, Johnny’s co-host, would invariably remind everyone the envelopes had been “hermetically sealed” and kept in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnall’s porch since noon that day.

Carnac’s special gift was the ability to divine the answer to a question sealed in the envelope.   Here’s an example of how the dialogue went:

(Carnac holds the sealed envelope up to his turban)
CARNAC: Sis boom bah.
ED McMAHON: Sis boom bah.
(Carnac rips the envelope open and removes the card)
CARNAC (reading): Describe the sound made when a sheep explodes.

Usually the jokes were pretty corny (like this one) and if the audience groaned too loudly Carnac would pronounce a curse on them . . . something like, “May you fall asleep under a camel with post nasal drip.”

Now I know you are bound to be asking, “Why the history lesson on the Tonight Show?”  Well, in the spirit of the great Carnac I wanted to introduce our next message series. 

A door, a tub, and a table . . . Carnac’s answer might well be, “Name the top three upgrades requested for new homes in Arkansas.”  Our answer is a bit different,   “What are three pictures that help us understand the essence of our life in Christ.”  The series is entitled “Picture This” and we will be using these three images to help us see what life is meant to be in Jesus.

The first message, May 6th, will be a creative presentation of the gospel.  If you have been in conversation with a friend about faith, this would be a super Sunday to invite them to hear a clear and compelling message that lays out how one can connect with God in a life altering way.  In fact if you don’t invite someone to come along with you we may call down one of great curses of Carnac the Magnificent, “May a diseased yak squat in your hot tub!”

Joy and peace!

Jim

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 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