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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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Did you miss a sermon or can't remember the good statement made by Pastor Jason recently?
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It is relatively easy to make something seem as if it fits in the Christmas story. Put sleigh bells in a song, wrap a present with green and red paper, or cut cookies in the shape of a snowman and it seems that the holiday is right around the corner. Of course, none of these things have anything to do with Christ's birth, but these colors, smells, sights, and sounds are all attached to the season. Sometimes, to get to the heart of what Christmas is, we have to strip away these things or parody them to see them in a new way. A parody is a stylized imitation of something generally recognized. Think Monty Python or "Weird Al" Yankovic. Scripture contains parody as well. The story of Jonah is a parody of the traditional prophetic message, and this story is told this way so that we can cut to the heart of who God is.
So, what could we strip away from Christmas and have Christmas still feel like Christmas? The Grinch seems to think that Christmas is about presents, a tree, certain foods, and celebrations. What does Christmas look like here? Maybe there is something you have been doing in your community of faith that is quite meaningful during the holiday season. Maybe there is something you do during the holiday season that has more to do with the season rather than Jesus, and it is time for the sun to set on this tradition. After all, Christmas is fundamentally about whom God is as revealed in Jesus. Sometimes we think the Grinch is the bad guy in the story, but the Whos' celebration is not without criticism. Maybe the Whos have gone too far in their celebration. Could it be that we have also gone too far?
Some things feel like Christmas but really are not. Other things do not feel like Christmas but really express the Nativity story. Immigration is rarely mentioned in a Christmas carol, but the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to seek refuge is certainly part of Jesus' infancy story. What have we been missing in the Nativity story that needs to be told? It is far too easy to make judgments on whether something is "Christmasy" based on style or preference rather than authenticity. We hold our Christmas traditions with a tight grip, and we should show care not to become the Grinch in someone's experience of the holiday. Rather, the depth of the Christmas story offers additional ways to connect with the mystery of God's incarnation. The hope of Christmas reminds us that there is more to the story than even we realize. In darkness there is light. Let's not set some kind of boundaries on what is and is not Christmas.
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Advent/Christmas Decorating
Saturday, November 27
9 AM
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Let us prepare our hearts to prepare him room this Christmas season. Join us as we gather to decorate our sanctuary for the Advent/Christmas season. |
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This Week's Prayer Calendar
Congregations: Cuba Christian Church, Central Christian Church - Decatur, Vermont Christian Church - Flint, MI
Global Ministries: Thailand
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Pray with Thailand, November 28, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: Luke 21:25-36 Prayers for Thailand Lord Jesus Christ, we know that you suffered, not just one day, but every day of your ministry here. You knew the pain of all people, the longing, the despair, and not just our ... Read more
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
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Morning Devotion
Each weekday (Monday - Friday), Pastor Jason shares a brief 4-7 minute scripture reading, reflection, response, and prayer. The associated devotion is posted to Prairie Avenue's Facebook page.
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The Cost of Discipleship
Book Study Group Continues Sunday, 10:30 AM
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We discuss chapters 6-13 (they are short chapters) this Sunday following 9:30 am service. The Sermon on the Mount, with its Beatitudes, and teachings of Jesus, reveal how disciples should engage in life together, among themselves, and with the world around them. The whole Sermon on the Mount is summed up in one word: love. |
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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Your generous support for students, faculty, staff, and facilities of the 15 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) colleges, universities, seminaries, and divinity houses is appreciated! Our total Thanksgiving offering this year is $700.72. If you would like to give to the Thanksgiving Offering, you may do so anytime online through the Disciples Mission Fund.
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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...
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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 Program News |
$32.73 was raised by 13 households who have linked their Kroger customer reward cards to support Prairie Avenue Christian Church. The quarterly contribution is for shopping at Kroger during July-September, 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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"When you shop for items or gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/37-6056944, AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchases to Prairie Avenue Christian Church at no cost to you!"
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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 $5.33 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between January 1 and March 31, 2021.
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Share Your Faith by inviting 5 people to church this year |
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A Thanksgiving and Advent Message from the Office of the General Minister and President
"So many good words to keep in our ears, as we walk through the Advent season there’s the visions of the prophets, there’s Mary’s Magnificat, the words of the angels that tell us we do not need to fear...." - Rev. Lee Hull Moses
Chief of Staff and Vice President Rev. Lee Hull Moses encourages us to keep "good words" foremost as we move into Advent.
Find out more
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