SEND YOUR ANONYMOUS PRAYERS - Our new series of messages for July is on prayer. Our aim is to help you communicate with God more meaningfully and honestly. To succeed in that goal, it would help to know what you’re praying these days. So, would you send some of your current prayers - anonymously - to a website that we have set up for this purpose? Whether your prayers are filled with praise or anger or fear or loneliness or thanksgiving, just send some of them to www.7729.org. They are strictly anonymous, so you can be 100% honest with yourself and with God.

PTCC NIGHT OUT
Everyone is invited to join the fun at the PTCC NIGHT OUT on Sunday, July 29 from 5-8PM at the Lakes Tennis Academy (4000 Legacy Drive in Frisco). The evening will include catered food, fun (Lifeguard-monitored swimming, tennis, inflatables, & family games to name a few), and great fellowship! The cost is $5 per person, $15 max per family. No advance tickets sold. Pay at the door. Come out and meet hundreds of new friends from PTCC!

“LEAD TEN” - Our 1st Annual Small Group Leader Training Dinner
On Friday, August 3rd our small group leaders from women’s, men’s, life groups and youth ministry will join together for a special night of training and celebration.
Mark your calendars for 7PM at the PTCC building for this special event in which we learn the importance of “Lead Ten”. Childcare is available. Signup at the Yes! table.

THE SAMARITAN’S HEART - A MINISTRY OF COMPASSION
We are seeking volunteers to join us for local nursing home visits two times a month. Help us as we strive to instill hope and faith in Jesus Christ to senior residents through fellowship, worship, and prayer. We meet every other Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Victoria Gardens of Frisco (at Rolater and Hillcrest). For more information, contact Peter & Alainna Palmer at 214-432-7575 or pandapalmer@tx.rr.com.

WOMEN’S RETREAT
Looking for a weekend get-a-way this summer? Some fun before the school year kicks into 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 July 15 from 9:30 AM - Noon at the PTCC building. Sign up at the Yes! Table today!

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!

Heads Up!

It’s hard to believe that we have been in our new home for just six months.  It seems like eons since we were doing the weekly setup takedown dance.  And who is really missing our Preschool Corrals???  The longer we are here the more we realize what a gift God gave us in this building.

I realize that you are probably aware of this, but since we moved in, every ministry in our church has doubled!  Pretty amazing!  As you can imagine we are still getting used to our spaces, finding out where we did a really good job of planning, and also discovering some additional things that we need to address.  With that in mind, I wanted to share with you three major projects that the Building and Stewardship Teams have on their radar.

1)  PAVED PARKING!  Who would have thought 12 months ago that the drought would be over and that we would have so much in common with “Evan Almighty!”  As the fall arrives and our crowds pick up even more, a rainy weekend will really put a crunch on our ability to accommodate the people who are coming to PTCC for worship. 

The challenge we are facing right now is discerning whether or not to do a $17,000 temporary fix by spreading gravel on our one acre lot, or wait until late fall to get the whole job done at once.  Our Teams could sure use your prayers on this one.  Ask God to give us an extra measure of discernment!

2)  Turn our large storage room into flexible PTKids/Youth space.  Our Youth Ministry has tripled since last summer, and as we move into the fall we are anticipating needing even more room.  We are going to need additional space for our Middle Schoolers or our Grade Schoolers depending on what we determine is the best way to adjust to our growth.  In addition, we will be putting in our permanent stage and turning our backstage space into new storage and workspace. 

3) Update all of our sound, video, and lighting in the Worship Center and PTKids Theatres.  You may recall that we purchased almost no new sound, lighting, and video equipment when we moved into the building.  We simply piece-mealed everything we had and made do.  The life expectancy on our equipment was significantly reduced by loading and unloading it for 4 ½ years in the theatre.  We are going to bring our equipment and theatres up to what is considered best practice for churches.

We are still in the prayer and deliberation mode about how to fund these next steps for our church.  God and you, the people of PTCC, have been so generous and faithful in helping us get to where we are today.  I can’t wait to see what doors open for us enabling us to complete the renovation of our new building.

You won’t want to miss our Weekend Services this week.  Paul continues his series 7729: Connecting to God Whenever.  This week he’ll be helping us learn to pray when we feel guilty.  You’ll be relieved to hear of God’s gracious provision for forgiveness!  We will also be celebrating Communion at the conclusion of the service so it should be a powerful service that will transform our hearts!

Grace!

Jim  

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.

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...

July 15 - Partnership Class - 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

July 22 Life Group Connection 10:35 - 11:05

Aug. 12 Discover Preston Trail - 11:00 Corner office

Aug. 17 - 18 Women's Retreat