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Prairie Avenue
Christian Church
To be learning, loving, and serving disciples of Christ from the depths of our being to the ends of the earth.
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Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer |
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REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE |
We host in-person services on Saturdays at 5 pm,
and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am.
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Did you miss a sermon or can't remember the good statement made by Pastor Jason recently?
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Think about your best friend. What was an attribute that they displayed that earned them your relational commitment and trust? If we think about this question, one of the most common answers is that said best friend "would do anything for me," which is a way of saying that this friend is loyal, selfless, and sacrificial on your behalf. Someone who puts your needs above their own and overflows with affection for you--that's a signature sign of a great friend.
As those who are living in the light of the resurrection of Jesus, we are called to reflect on what following Christ in the realm of relationship looks like. In this weekend's famous passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, to whom he relates more as friends than as "students" (Whoucl would be the common expectation in a discipleship relationship). In the friendship Jesus shares with his disciples, he embodies sacrificial selflessness for these individuals whose own faithfulness to him constantly wavers. In other words, Jesus is the example of a true friend... the disciples, not so much.
To live as incarnations of the resurrected Christ in our relationships is to be willing to see all interactions with all humans through the lens of agape, sacrificial love. Jesus ends his teaching by saying, "You are my friends if you do what I command." What he's not saying is, "in general, do whatever I say, otherwise, I won't consider you my friends." No, he is saying that when his disciples finally obey his command to love each other as one's self, then they will finally cross the line into authentic friendship. This week, let us reflect on what it looks like to be sacrificial friends for the relationships in our lives. How can we better embody Christ's love and grace to those in our relational sphers?
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Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
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Morning Devotion
Each day, except Sunday, Pastor Jason shares a brief 4-7 minute scripture reading, reflection, response, and prayer. During the season of Lent, Pastor Jason is sharing the gospel of Mark, which will be read through by Easter. We encourage you to read this gospel. The associated devotion is posted to Prairie Avenue's Facebook page.
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Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin Announces 2021 Camp
Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp May Friday 28 - Monday 31 There will not be a potluck during Family Camps this year. See registration form for fees. Camp Acts - Service Week Groups and Individuals are welcome to attend during any portion of the...
Read more
cciwdisciples.org
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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90TH BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER FOR RAY MADDOX |
Ray Maddox will be celebrating his 90th birthday on Wednesday, May 12! To celebrate this special occasion, the family has requested a birthday card shower from his church family. Ray served as Elder, as Treasurer/Secretary of Disciples Men Fellowship, and groundskeeper for many years.
His Address Is:
2245 N Seminary St, Apt. 416
Galesburg, IL 61401
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Parking Lot Attendants / Greeters Needed
We need smiling faces and joyful hearts in greeting and security. I need two parking lot attendants to greet our guests and assist them with their entrance. Once service begins, these parking lot attendants will secure all entrances to the building, locking the doors, closing the garage about 15 minutes into the worship services. I would like to have attendants for each service -Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 8 am & 9:30 am. Contact the church office (217-428-3327) if you are interested in helping assist in guest/welcome services.
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Music Ensembles Resume Wednesday Rehearsals
As we look towards in-person hospitality and activity, we need additional assistants at each of our worship services. I would like to have a music ensemble for each worship service: Saturdays at 5 pm and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am. These groups are tentatively called Meadowlands 1, 2, & 3. You will lead the congregation in singing the hymns and leading our expanding list of familiar praise songs and choruses. While the ability to read music is helpful, and holding a musical pitch (no matter what size bucket) is expected, all those willing and able are welcome to join these small ensembles.
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Our in-person services need worship leaders to assist in speaking the call to worship, invocation prayer, and the call to worship for each of our services: Saturday at 5 pm or Sundays at 8 am or 9:30 am. These materials are prepared each week by Tuesday afternoon, so you do not have to create your own! You can sign up a particular Sunday of the month, a particular time, or which service you already (or will eventually) attend in person. Contact Barb Hodges at 217-620-3268 if you would like to sign up or have questions. |
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Pray with Lesotho, May 9, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: John 15:9-17 Prayers for Lesotho Loving God, We give thanks for mothers and for those who have nurtured us, given us life, and loved us into who we are. We are grateful for those in our lives who ... Read more
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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2021 PENTECOST OFFERING
BE THE NEW CHURCH
SUNDAY MAY 16 & MAY 23
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For the past thirteen months, many Disciples living across the United States and Canada have been struggling with social isolation. They’ve stayed away from their various places of worship to protect the health and safety of themselves and others. It has been hard.
How have new church leaders responded? By launching communities of faith in creative and innovative ways. It’s looked like spreading the word about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through Door Dash food deliveries, meeting with folks every week on Zoom to discuss anxiety, and making sure that the spiritual needs of transitioning out of correctional facilities are met.
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From hospital and prison chaplains to tri-vocational pastors, courageous new church leaders have answered the call to be the new church. To support them and their efforts to continue the new church movement, please contribute to the 2021 Pentecost Offering, collected in most congregations on Sundays, May 16 and May 23. Each year, half of the gifts made go to your own Region to support local new church development. The other half goes to New Church Ministry, which trains, equips, assists, and multiplies new church leaders. Through programs such as Leadership Academy, New Church Hacks, and Water the Plants, your gifts make a difference across the life of the Church. By participating in this Special Day Offering, you ensure the viability, vitality, and sustainability of unique new church plants in your area and in states, provinces, and territories far away.
Please give generously. Let’s all be the new church, together.
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Responding To The COVID-19 Crisis In India
In India, COVID-19 infection rates are rising exponentially and the health system is collapsing under the burden. Hospitals in urban centers are overcrowded and often turn people away. Supplies, including oxygen, are running low, and various...
Read more
www.weekofcompassion.org
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General Fund
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...
Read more
www.continuetogive.com
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Fundraising Project - reFresh Capital Campaign
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.
Read more
www.continuetogive.com
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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 DONATION |
$29.90 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 during January - March, 2021.
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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Get Your Disciples Apparel and Gear Here!
Get your Disciples polos, hats, and hoodies in a variety of colors. Order by the 15th to be included in this month's production! 10% of the proceeds benefits the Disciples Mission Fund!
Read more
store.disciples.org
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Prairie Avenue Christian Church is a listed charity with the Smile.Amazon program. Please use smile.amazon.com, and choose Prairie Avenue Christian Church for your generous support. We received a $7.39 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between October 1 and December 31, 2020.
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Share Your Faith through inviting 5 people to church this year |
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Imagine With Me:
Obra Hispana
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"The one thing that I see, Pastor Terri, is, and I am speaking this into the life of the church all across the church; I believe that we're not just in a generational shift. We are being shifted into a new era. And as we're being shifted into a new era, that means that there are things that are going
to change for us all." - Rev. Lori Tapia
General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens and National Pastor Lori Tapia talk about the new ways Obra Hispana (Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries) is living into a new world.
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SAVE THE DATE! August 7, 2021 Nothing can separate us from the love of God! #DisciplesConnect2021 Stay tuned to Disciples News Service for details as they become available.
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