Sign Up Today - Baptism
Mark your calendars for one of the biggest events at PTCC. Baptism will
take place on May 21st at 5:00PM. There will be an informational meeting
on Tuesday, May 16th at 7:00PM at the PTCC Building for all participants. MORE

Chainsaw Saturday
This Saturday we continue preparing our new church building! Workers of any skill level are welcome starting at 9:00 a.m. Other Saturday workdays will follow if you can't make this one. To join in, just show up! For more info contact John Taylor at 972 668-3899 or jdtay77777@aol.com

Calling all PTCC parents! Our next baby/child dedication will be on Mother's Day, Sunday May 14th. To participate, simply sign up at the Information Table or drop your Welcome card in the offering bucket. For additional questions, please contact Allison Harrell at info@prestontrail.org.

Mark Your Calendar - Adventure Camp
It's time to start planning that summer calendar. Before it gets too busy, make sure to add Adventure Camp, which will be June 5-9 for graduating 2nd-5th graders. For more information, contact Jeri Taylor at jeritaylor323@msn.com.

Coming Soon - Youth Camp
Also, plan ahead for Youth Camp, which will happen July 17-21 in Corpus Christi, TX. Cost of the camp will be $365 which includes a 4 night 5 day stay in the Holiday Inn - Emerald Beach, meals, as well as a great speaker and band. You don't want to miss out. Contact Ryan Hairston at ryan@prestontrail.org for more information.

Discover Preston Trail Class
New to PTCC? Join Pastors Jim and Paul on Sundays at 11:00 AM as we take a look at our church and where it is going. This is an opportunity for all guests who are new to PTCC to learn more. Session will meet at the AMC Theatre. Please signup at the Life Group table. A 5 week Partnership Class will follow for all those interested in becoming a PTCC partner.MORE

COMING SOON! New Summer Schedule
On Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday May 28th, Preston Trail Community Church will begin its summer schedule. We will have ONE service at 10:00 AM. Curbside and Backyard will also be at this time.
Our last KidStreet will be on Sunday, May 21st. Join us in celebrating our last time with the current KidStreet gang...”So long, gonna miss ya when you're gone...” will never sound the same.
We will resume back to two services starting this fall as we enter our new building. More details will be released as we get closer to that time.

Day of Prayer? Or Life of Prayer?

This morning I went to the Collin County Prayer Breakfast celebrating the National Day of Prayer. Dr. Kenneth Cooper was the guest speaker. He shared how God has guided his life every step of the way, and gave example after example to illustrate how God has blessed him and his work. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to mention that you are the President’s personal physician and are also good friends with Billy Graham! But above all I was struck by the life of prayer that Dr. Cooper has practiced. His blessed life is in many ways a direct reflection of his constant contact with God through praying. So let’s talk a little about what prayer is … and how to pray.

Prayer can sound intimidating, can’t it?

• After all, what do you say to God? He already knows everything!
• How do you focus your attention on Someone who is invisible? It would sure help if we could see Him …
• How do you tune out all the noise in the world? (cell phones ringing, emails arriving in your inbox, etc.) It’s hard to focus on praying when you’re constantly being distracted.

But prayer is not as hard as you might think. Here are some suggestions that Christ-followers have practiced over the centuries to become better pray-ers.

• Start where you are – Be glad that you want to pray, and tell God that. (If you do this, you’re already praying!) If you don’t want to pray, tell that to God too. (Again, if you do this, …!)
• Be open and direct – Since God knows everything, you don’t have to try to impress Him or do a snow job. Just tell the truth about your life and where you sense the need for God.
• Focus on God, others, and you – Tell God that He really is great (that’s praise); tell him about the needs of others you know (that’s intercession); and name your own needs (that’s called petition). Not rocket science …

Now for a true confession: I need to grow in my prayer life. (“No, not one of the pastors! Don’t we pay you to pray?!” Yeah, right!) Honestly, I often find myself praying because I “ought” to pray, not because I want to. I know I should, so I force myself to. I wonder how I would feel if my wife Denise hugged me or kissed me because she knew she “should” – not because she wanted to. Doesn’t feel very sincere, does it? Maybe it’s time to admit my “forced love” to God, rather than posing as a big-time praying pastor. I know He would welcome an honest conversation with me!

That’s my growth point in prayer – honesty with God about my attitude and motivation. How about you? What is your growth point?

Like Ken Cooper – and like Jesus, which is much more important – you can develop an authentic life of prayer rather than just celebrate an annual day of prayer. Let it be, Lord, let it be.

Paul Basden

Read previous Trail Notes here

Click here for more information on Dream Big!

Chapter 2
Join us WEEKLY on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, for a deeper service of biblical teaching, looking into the Life of Jesus. Led by our senior pastors, this will be a meaningful time of prayer, worship and teaching. 7:00 PM AMC Theatre.

LISTEN! Preston Trail Podcast
Sermons now available online! In keeping up with the times, all PTCC Worship Sermons are available for downloading on our website. So, if you missed a service, go here and take a listen.
You will have the option of downloading and listening to them on your computer or even subscribe here to have them come to your computer automatically each time one is added - then play them on your computer or your iPod. CDs will no longer be sold at our Resource Table, however entire sermon series will be available for purchase once our new building is complete.