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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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There are many occasions in the New Testament story of Jesus in which he just says the most offensive things. most of these things have to do with the heart of the gospel message, what I like to call the worst marketing slogan even: "Take up you cross and follow me," Today's passage from Mark's Gospel is, in my opinion, one of the saddest stories in Jesus' interactions with the people he is trying to give his gospel message.
There is a wealthy man who really wants to be a follower of Jesus. he runs up to him one day and falls to his knees, begging Jesus to tell him what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. "Follow the commandments," Jesus tells him, and the young man is sure relieved to hear that. "I've been doing that my whole life long!" he tells Jesus. But then Jesus adds a little caveat: "Go, sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor." The blood must have drained from the man's face when he heard that because the text tells us he is a very wealthy man. Give everything up? Can't I just ease my way in, a little at a time? You mean I have to be all the way in?
There Jesus goes again, shooting himself in the foot. I bet that the young man would be a great addition to Jesus' group of followers, but then Jesus has to start up with that terrible marketing again: Take up your cross, sell what you have, give up your life. These are just not the most compelling messages, and they certainly will not grow your fan base.
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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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You may order your copy via amazon.com or use your local library! Remember an order on smile.amazon.com will generate a donation for Prairie Avenue Christian Church!
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The Cost of Discipleship
Book Study Group Begins Next Week
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In conjunction with our upcoming worship series, Take Up Your Cross, Pastor Jason will be leading a study group book discussion on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship.
What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between "cheap grace" and "costly grace." "Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship....Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know....It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week
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Pray with Israel/Palestine, October 10, 2021 - Global...
Lectionary Selection: Mark 10:17-31 Prayers for Israel/Palestine God of the Rich and Poor, Insiders and Outsiders, Righteous and Unrighteous, the Powerful and those who suffer under their power, we give thanks for the reach of your love, the...
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month
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Reconciliation Offering
September 26 & October 3
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For more than 40 years, Disciples have had a visible ministry to address racism in society. Gifts to Reconciliation Ministry, through its Offering or throughout the year, supports programs and initiatives aimed at dismantling racism.
Thanks to your generosity we have collected $369.00 for these important regional and general initiatives and programs.
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Reconciliation Ministry is not supported by Disciples Mission Fund.
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A Future With Hope
2022 Stewardship Campaign
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Over the past year, we have experienced separation and togetherness, exile and return. At our core, Prairie Avenue Christian Church is a community of reunion, homecoming, and return. Now more than ever, in a world full of exile, our congregation stands as a beacon of hope, welcome, and radical hospitality.
With all this in mind, we invite you to join us in giving thanks for all the resources--spiritual, theological, physical, and financial--that support this indispensable work. You will shortly receive your statement of giving for this year, a special prayer written by a member of the congregation, and pledge cards for 2022.
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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 Program News
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$32.21 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 April - June, 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 through inviting 5 people to church this year
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Life-changing Gifts
Join us in celebrating the upcoming Christmas season by sharing life-changing gifts that bring hope, love, peace, and joy!
Global Ministries believes that these rare and precious gifts should be shared globally. With your Alternative Christmas gift, you can honor, remember, or celebrate your loved ones AND make a difference in the lives of people around the world.
This year, Global Ministries invites you to surprise friends and family with gifts that cannot be found on any shelf. Browse the online Life-changing Gifts Catalog for gift ideas that resonate with what is near and dear to you or your loved ones
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Dear Disciples
October 1, 2021
This is about doing what is right, about making justice happen, about loving our neighbor enough to want for them what we want for ourselves. It is possible for us to change our society and align it with these values that we say ground who we are.
General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens calls on Disciples to put their words into action to help make the world a more equitable place.
Find your legislators here:
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