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 - click here for map).

PT JOB OPENING
We have a part-time job opening at PTCC for director of finance. The job requires someone skilled in accounting and bookkeeping. If you are qualified and interested, or if you know someone who is, please see the job ad on our website.

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.

WOMEN’S RETREAT
Looking for a weekend get-a-way this summer? Some fun before the school year kicks in high gear? Well, you’re in luck! PTCC Women’s Ministry is having their first annual Women’s Retreat on Friday, August 17th - Saturday, August 18th at Lantana Lodge. This weekend will include great teaching, worship, and tons of fun! Cost is $80, and a $40 deposit is due upon registration. The full payment will be due by July 1st. Spots are limited, so sign up now at the YES! Table.

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
Signup Deadline May 27
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. Applications and $50 deposit must be in by Sunday May 27. 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!

One Sunday, Two Celebrations!

This Sunday is huge at PTCC – we get to have two celebrations in one day! That’s right – we are going to celebrate communion and baptism on the same Sunday! We’ve never done that before, but it sounds to me like a recipe for great joy. Here’s why …

First there’s communion. It remembers Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf. It reminds us of God’s great grace that forgives our sin. It celebrates the unlikely means by which a holy God reconciled our rebellious human race to himself. All of that is symbolized in two simple elements: bread and a cup. The bread represents Jesus’ body, which was sacrificed for us; the cup represents Jesus’ blood, which was spilled to cover our sins. Taken together they reveal God’s lavish love that he poured on us through his Son. I can’t think of any better reason to claim joy in your life today than this – through Jesus’ death your sins are forgiven, forgotten, forever!

Prior to our celebrating communion this Sunday, Jim is going to be teaching on it. He will focus on “The Table” and go into rich detail about its meaning for our lives. Don’t miss this wonderful experience.

Then there’s baptism. It remembers Jesus’ resurrection to new life. It pictures his victory over death. It signifies his power over sin and evil. It celebrates the fact that we can actually be born again into God’s own family, through faith in his Son. Again, these profound truths are symbolized in a simple element and action. The element is water, that universal picture of washing and cleansing; the action is immersing – a perfect picture of how God buries our sins with Christ and raises us up to walk in new life with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I can’t think of any better reason to claim joy in your life today than this – through Jesus’ resurrection you can be born again!

We will have a baptism party this Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM at the home of Brian and Cindy Reinken. (4401 Mira Vista Drive - click here for map) By God’s grace, we will baptize eleven people: five adults, two teenagers, and four older children. Some of these have been followers of Christ for a while, but have never been baptized as believers; others have just recently said YES to Jesus. Since the Bible says that there is a huge party in heaven when one person turns to Christ, we want to share that celebration on earth. So we will all join around the Reinken’s pool this Sunday afternoon, sing praises to God, cheer for these folks who are getting baptized, and rejoice in the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect Sunday. But if there is, we may get to experience it this weekend: two celebrations in one day. In the eyes of God, it doesn’t get much better than that. May God let us see what he sees, and rejoice as he rejoices.

Looking forward to a wonderful day,

Paul Basden, senior pastor

PS – On a completely different note, we have a part-time job opening at PTCC for director of finance. The job requires someone skilled in accounting and bookkeeping. If you are qualified and interested, or if you know someone who is, please see the job ad on our website.

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.
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Calendar at a glance...

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

Aug. 17 - 18 Women's Retreat