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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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Happy 97th Birthday
Prairie Avenue Christian Church
September 26, 1924 - Present
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REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE |
Traditional Service 8 AM SUNDAY. It's not worshiping without the organ, right? This service will have all the "bells" and stops pulled out for traditional hymns and organ offertories for early service.
Modern Service 9:30 AM SUNDAY. The blend of traditional hymns and contemporary choruses that developed over the COVID-19 season, with assistance from our Clavinova, will continue for this service.
Livestream Schedule Traditional Worship and Modern Worship services will be livestreamed.
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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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The Google offices in downtown Manhattan are like an adult version of Disney World. Around every corner, there is a "nourishment station"-- a snack bar or coffee shop or entire restaurant featuring celebrity chefs in rotation. Everything is free, of course. There are Ping-Pong tables all over the place, scooters to ride up and down the long, carpeted hallways, and little rooms with glass walls and comfortable chairs, and lots of whiteboards to foster creativity. The idea, our tour guide told me, was to make work a place where employees wanted to be, a place they would love to spend time. Google's approach seems to be working: "Google's employees work longer days than most, and many of them eat all their meals at work, creating more opportunities for collaboration and creativity to flourish.
This may be good for Google, I am not sure what it does for a society of professionals who already tend to spend too much of their energy and lives working--to the detriment of other parts of life. Still, Google has hit on something that many of us long for: a need to have something in our lives--whether it is our professional work or not--that means something. As one employee said, "Our managers don't want us to wake up in the morning to come to a job. We want to wake up and come to our life-- to be spending our time doing something that really matters."
Our Hebrew Scripture reading this weekend comes from the little book of Esther. Readings from Esther do not appear often in our lectionary, and that is too bad because this is a great story. Esther was a young Hebrew woman whose parents or grandparents had been carried away to exile in Persia. After her parents died, Esther came to live with an uncle, Mordecai, who was a palace official and aide to the most powerful leader in that part of the world at the time, King Ahasuerus. Esther is selected by Ahasuerus as his queen and ascends to one of the highest positions in the land. This was a miraculous turn of events as there was a man in the king's team of advisors, Haman, who hated the Jews and who cooked up a plan to get rid of them once and for all. Esther took the brave step of revealing her nationality to the king and begging for the life of her people. In the end, it was Haman who was executed, and the Jewish people were saved by the brave action of Queen Esther.
You may have heard a verse commonly quoted from the book of Esther when her uncle Mordecai tells her she has come into this position "for such a time as this." She knew for sure that her life meant something, that she had a cause to live for, that when she was gone, people would know what she cared about. How many of us long for our lives to mean something, for us to have a good cause to stand for? A good cause is a critical essential if we want to live a good life.
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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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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Pray with Puerto Rico, September 26, 2021 - Global...
Lectionary Selection: Esther 7:1-6,9-10; 9:20-22 Prayers for Puerto Rico God, Creator of all what we see and what we do not see, our praise, honor, and glory is to you. As the fury of hurricane winds, rain, and earthquakes continue to ... Read more
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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Our special offering will be taken on September 26, 2021, and October 3, 2021. Your advocacy and financial support are much appreciated.
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. Reconciliation Ministry is not supported by Disciples Mission Fund.
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God is Our Refuge: An Update On Recent Responses
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Read more
www.weekofcompassion.org
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Senior Companion Program Volunteer Opportunities |
The Senior Companion Program sponsored by Dove, Inc. provides senior volunteers who are 55 years of age or better, on a fixed income, and living in Macon County the opportunity to improve their quality of life by simply being a friend to isolated seniors. You must commit to weekly hours and you can earn an hourly nontaxable stipend, mileage reimbursement, paid holidays, and more.
Additional information is available here.
If you would like to volunteer, or need more information, please contact Kathy Walters, SCP Coordinator at 217.428.6616
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HSHS Homecare Illinois Hospice Program
Seeks Hospice Volunteers
Do you know how you can give the gift of caring?
HSHS Homecare Illinois Hospice program provides comprehensive care for people who are terminally ill as well as their families and loved ones. Becoming a hospice volunteer creates a way for you to make a tremendous impact on your community by giving families your help when they may need it most. If you are looking for a fulfilling, rewarding experience, and a feeling of community spirit, then this is the place for you. Volunteer duties include a variety of services based on the needs and strengths of each volunteer. We offer virtual opportunities as well! For more information about HSHS Homecare Illinois Volunteer Services, please contact Cassie Delaney at (217) 814-5268, or by e-mail at Cassandra.Delaney@hshs.org
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Immediate Service Opportunities Available |
We have many opportunities, both old and new, to share in service to God and the greater community.
We need worship leaders for 8 am & 9:30 am services. A schedule is being developed. Please contact Barb Hodges a 217-620-3268.
We need greeters! Greeters will arrive 20 minutes prior to either 8 am or 9:30 am service, standing outside of the elevator entrance. They will hold the door for everyone who is entering the building. Greet everyone with a smile and thank them for attending. Give directions to hand sanitizer and sanctuary. Remain at the door until 10 minutes after worship service has begun and secure the door. Greeters will leave worship just after communion is served to open the door following dismissal. Call the church office to get on the schedule for either (or both) services. 217.428.3327
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Board Officer Nominations |
Nominations for Board Officers in 2022 are being accepted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also need two Trustee vacancies filled. If you are interested, please call 217.428.3327. |
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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 |
$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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Bloomington IL – The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) announces the new Associate Regional Minister for Transformation, Rev. Dr. Alex Ruth.
Rev. Dr. Alex Ruth grew up in various Christian traditions, which helps him celebrate the diversity of our faith. Alex first felt the call to ministry while working as staff at a summer camp but was hesitant to relinquish himself to that calling until later in life. Alex and his wife first encountered the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) when they began seeking a church home as they anticipated starting a family. Becoming ever more involved in his faith and the local church reignited Alex’s call to ministry.
Alex earned a Master of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary in 2006 and a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Leadership from Bethel Seminary in 2016. Alex also holds certifications in leadership coaching and uses the coaching model to help clergy and congregations to discern their calling and strive to follow God’s leading. Alex also serves as the Associate Director of Disciples Men and teaches with the Center for Ministry and Lay Training at Phillips Theological Seminary.
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CCIW Announces New Associate Regional Minister of Transformation |
Alex will begin serving on November 1, 2021. As the Associate Regional Minister for Transformation, he will be focused on leader development, spiritual maturation, healthy congregation systems and community engagement. He will create networks and communities of experiential learning where failure is a learning tool. Alex will also support specific ministries: Healthy Congregation Facilitators, Coaches and AIM. He will provide pastoral care and oversight for search and call to congregations in South Central, Illinois as well.
Alex is married to his high-school sweetheart, Jennie. Together they have two young adult children: Mason and Kaia. Alex and Jennie enjoy spending time together cooking, camping, hiking, and canoeing/kayaking. They have two dogs and three cats of their own and live with one of their grandpups. Alex has a wide range of hobbies, including woodworking, cycling, running, swimming, and hunting.
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