Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer | |
Attending weekly gives you the opportunity to re-center your life,
give God honor and glory, and remember what is really important in life.
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Everyone may have a different definition of home and the places where we belong. Some people may find home not in physical spaces, but instead in belonging to a community that accepts us for the entirety of who God created us to be. The Advent and Christmas seasons are a sort of homecoming. God found a new home among us in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. God will find this home again in the second coming of Christ as we await that return. The dwelling places where we find Christ today can be in our mangers, surrounded by parents, shepherds, magi, and a variety of animals--and also through the moves of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes those dwelling places can take us by surprise; sometimes those dwelling places can also be where we experience the most comfort and joy, where we truly belong in creation. | |
Carols & Communion: Our annual Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 pm and 9 pm on Sunday, December 24. Note: The Sunday Morning Service will be the 4th Sunday in Advent Worship Service, since Christmas Eve observance begins at sundown. Beloved carols of the season, the lighting of the Christ Candle, communion service, and the candlelight closing of Silent Night will bring meaning and purpose to the Christmastide season. | | |
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This Week's Prayer Calendar
Merry Christmas!
Community: Decatur Public Schools Galloway, Nelson, and Clokey Park neighborhoods
Global Ministries: Greece
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Pray with Greece, December 24, 2023 - Global Ministries | Lectionary Selection: Luke 1:26-38 Prayers for Greece Dear God, thank you for your continued presence, protection, and love in our lives and hearts. We bow before you and we lift up our country, Greece, our leaders, and our people in front of ... Read more | | | |
Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
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Take a class, as you make friends and grow to know what learning, loving, and serving God and neighbor means in everyday life. | |
Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week | |
Serve God and neighbor by using your gifts and talents both inside and outside the walls of the church. Each of us have spiritual gifts and natural abilities to use to serve others and glorify God. | | |
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Worship Assistance Needed
The worship service slides are prepared. Coffee is hot, and donuts are served. Pastor Jason greets you at the door.
What's wrong with this picture? These tasks are handled and cared by Pastor Jason's family members in a majority of the situations. Every Sunday.
Help with Door Greeting? Your duties would be to arrive at the church no later than 8:50 am. Greet those at the entrance. Remain at the door until 9:40 am (about the time for "All God's children section of worship) for late arrivals.
Help with Worship Slides? Arrive in the balcony about 5 minutes before worship (9:25). Advance slides appropriately. Additional duties will be checking livestream when up and running.
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Birthdays/Anniversaries
December 24 - 30
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Birthdays
None
Wedding Anniversaries
None
Membership Anniversaries
(When you joined Prairie Avenue!)
None
If you know of a birthday or anniversary that has gone "Missing" from our list, please contact the church office at 217-428-3327. Thanks.
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month | |
Giving regularly not only supports the work of the church,
but also is your way of giving God priority in your life.
What we love is where we will spend first.
When we are able to give, it always deepens our faith
in loving and serving God.
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Thank You for your generosity! | |
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2023 Christmas Special Offering
Sunday, December 17 & 24
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During 2023, we saw a slow transition back to in-person meetings without letting go of the importance of people being able to attend digitally if possible. Disciples Women turned their attention to creation care as Rev. Hannah Fitch led us during the Spring Gathering in April. We have met for Coffee Connections to share ideas and have a conversation on how to minister to and with those who are surviving and coming out of Domestic Violence. The Fall Gathering at Camp Walter Scott was led by Rev. Melissa Ebken addressing the theme Season of Life: Living in Love.
We have encouraged the women of the IL/WI to engage in the "Thursdays in Black Campaign." A program that is designed to raise awareness of the problem of increased violence toward women and children. We continue to engage with International DIsciples Women Ministries through contributions to the Blessing Box and engaging with Just Women, the annual Bible Study that is published in January.
The Women's Ministry Leadership Teaqm continues to meet and plan programming for ongoing and new ways of connecting and supporting one another as we spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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General Fund Supports Operations & Ministry | Donations given to the Prairie Avenue Christian Church General Fund support the year-round ministries of the church. Your generous support keeps our building, staff, and operations working for the mission of the church. The mission of Prairie... | | | |
Building Fund Supports Repair & Updates | Announced at the State of the Church address on June 30, 2015, the reFresh capital campaign has two improvement/update priorities: updating HVAC equipment and internet/network accessibility. | | | |
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Sanctuary Air Conditioning Repair Update
This past summer, the HVAC A/C equipment for the sanctuary wing was failing to keep it cool. King-Lar Company repaired a faulty capacitor and refilled freon. Our thermostats were also replaced. Our bill for service was $865. Contributions to the building fund to offset this expense are appreciated.
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Decatur Crisis Nursery Project Update
This past October, Pastor Jason connected with Heather Seitz, the new Regional Council Manager of Birth to 5 Illinois, to partner towards establishing a Crisis Nursery center in Decatur. Macon County has the unfortunate statistic of being the second worst county in the state of Illinois for childhood abuse and neglect. With church trustee and council approval, we are offering our underutilized Sunday School wing as the potential home for this important community need and service.
The group has been investigating the requirements for building and operations, as well as visiting the crisis nursery centers in Springfield, Effingham, and Urbana. Their next crisis nursery group meeting is Thursday, January 18 at 11 am.
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For instructions in registering your Kroger Rewards Card, Click Here.
The Organization code for Prairie Avenue Christian Church is: BY235.
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Kroger Community Rewards Program News | |
$30.06 was raised by 14 households who have linked their Kroger customer reward cards to support Prairie Avenue Christian Church. The quarterly contribution is for shopping at Kroger from July to September 2023.
Joining to support the ministries of Prairie Avenue Christian Church is FREE. Any transactions moving forward using the Shopper’s Card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program, at no added cost to you. Kroger donates annually to participating organizations based on your percentage of spending as it relates to the total spending associated with all participating Kroger Community Rewards organizations.
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Share Your Faith by inviting 5 people to church this year | |
The God you worship is always revealed through your words and actions. Awkward conversations (i.e. "Are you saved?") are not necessary when your words and actions reveal the God you seek to learn, love, and serve. | | |
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The Wise Men Continue Their Journeys...
Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior continue their annual seasonal journey to see Jesus starting this week.
To remind ourselves of the journey to meet Jesus during the season of Advent, our Wise Men figurines travel to various places in Central Illinois on their journey. Each week during Advent we will post photographs of our wise men on their journey. Try and figure out where they have visited.
If you would like to "adopt a wise man" to take on a weekly journey, please sign up with Pastor Jason.
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