May 12, 2022 Newsletter

Prairie Avenue

Christian Church

{Work Phone}

www.prairieavenuechristianchurch.org

To be learning, loving, and serving disciples of Christ from the depths of our being to the ends of the earth.

A Stephen Ministry & Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Congregation

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.

Answers do not usually come by staring up into the sky.

We jump ahead in the post-Easter experience, some 40 days after the shock and disaster of trial, crucifixion, and death. The disciples have gathered on a hill (in Luke's version it is the Mount of Olives or Bethany) and Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of God. They may be feeling a return to "normalcy," Jesus the resurrected teaching and sharing life after death with them.

But then, he rises away from them. It is not a departure or an exit, but rather a glorification. Jesus has revealed their plan: stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrives, then be my witnesses from the familiar (Jerusalem) to the distant (the ends of the earth).

Sometimes we get stuck looking up, like the disciples, wondering what we should do. Directions rarely come from above, and the disciples are told by two messengers (whom they did not see in their staring up into the sky) to get about doing what Jesus has already said.

Often we know the first step we should make, yet fail to take it, enraptured by a dreamy vision. Will we keep looking up for a sign, or see the opportunities just within walking distance?

Attend Worship: Pastor Jason has encouraged an "A grade" of 90% worship attendance (missing less the 5 Sundays in a year). You can keep up your attendance by joining worship online through our Facebook premiere or our worship online page on the website. Join us in person or online... it will count!

This Week's Prayer Calendar

Congregations: First Christian Church Metropolis, Barney's Prairie Christian Church, First Christian Church Mt Carmel, First Christian Church Henry, Lomax Christian Church, Cowden Lake Christian Church, Coral, MI

Global Ministries: Palestine

Pray with Palestine Sunday, May 15, 2022 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Revelation 21:1-6 Prayers for Palestine O God of every nation, you hold the whole world in your hand. Today, we lift up before you the people of Palestine. You know how they long for freedom and peace. In your mercy, grant ... Read more

Grow in Faith

through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day

Take a class, as you make friends and grow to know what learning, loving, and serving God and neighbor means in everyday life.

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.

You may also access it on the church website: prairieavenuechristianchurch.org/daily-devotional. It is posted around 8:20 to 8:30 each morning.

Wednesday Night Study

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

In Person/Online

Continues

We had our first hybrid discussion group this past Wednesday as Les Ruffner was able to join via his phone through our RightNow Media subscription (Don't have one? Link is below).

Next Wednesday, May 18, at 7 pm, we will discuss Sabbath.

How do you typically spend your days off? How do you fill up your days when you don’t have to work?

For many people, taking a day off means running errands, working on personal projects, or possibly working more. Unfortunately, our culture tells us that staying busy is much better than doing nothing and makes us feel guilty for resting.

In this session, John Mark is going to discuss what the sabbath really is and why practicing the sabbath will help us be present with Jesus and enjoy the life he has given us.

Prairie Avenue Provides Access to RightNowMedia

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Jason announced Prairie Avenue Christian Church would offer unlimited access to RightNow Media--the world's largest streaming library of video Bible study resources (it's been called the Netflix of video Bible studies).

Besides video-based Bible studies, RightNow Media offers videos for everyone in your family on a variety of topics like marriage, parenting, personal finances, mental health, and more. There is even a library just for kids with over 2,000 safe, entertaining videos (Including VeggieTales!). RightNow Media also has a free app that is available on all major streaming devices so you and your family can access content anywhere, anytime, by phone, computer, or SmartTV.

Enjoy a devotional while waiting for an appointment. Learn about the power of prayer, or explore something about faith or the Bible that has perplexed you for years.

Several have already signed up for this program, and you can too!

You can sign up here:

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/PrairieAveCC

Or you can text PRAIRIEAVECC to number 49775 to get a welcome/registration.

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.

Birthdays/Anniversaries

May 12 - 18

Birthdays

May 12 - Raymond Maddox (91)

May 17 - Hank Laskowski (83)M

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.

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.

Thank You for your generosity!

Turning Struggle into Steadfastness -

2022 Pentecost Special Offering

Stories of struggle are nothing new to the church.

From the persecution faced by early Christians to civil rights movements led by faith leaders, the church has found its strength in times of unrest.

The COVID-19 pandemic is yet another chapter in this long history, both nothing unique and yet entirely different.

Through it all, Disciples have been steadfast. By launching emerging congregations, they have stepped up to care for communities in need.

But they don’t do it alone.

With the help of regional and general ministries, these brave leaders have been provided with facilities to conduct their outreach activities and with online educational opportunities, such as Leadership Academy.

By making a gift to the 2022 Pentecost Offering, received in most congregations on Sundays, May 29 and June 5, you can ensure that the new church movement continues to prosper in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Each year, half of these gifts 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 across the United States and Canada through programs such as coaching, New Church Hacks, and Water the Plants.

Planning, nurturing, and sustaining new places of worship is part of the Disciples’ vision – participation in this Special Day Offering helps this vision come to life.

The Work You Do

Serving on behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world, toward the vision of a world where God's people transform suffering into hope. That is the work and witness of Week of Compassion.

DOES YOUR BANK/FINANCIAL INSTITUTION PROVIDE BILL PAY SERVICES? If so, you can make sure your tithe/gift/offering arrives whether you are able to attend or not! Often when someone is absent, their offering is also. Or you left it on the table while coming to church! You can set up Prairie Avenue Christian Church as a "bill" (we are not, of course) and schedule timely checks to be mailed at no cost to our address. Many members have taken advantage of our online giving portal, but it also charges fees each time! Avoid the service charges and fees by setting us up as a regular payment through your bank/financial institution. Without fail, your support will arrive. Set your "payment" plan today.

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...

Capital Campaign 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.

For instructions in registering your Kroger Rewards Card, Click Here.

The Organization code for Prairie Avenue Christian Church is: BY235.

Kroger Community Rewards Program News

$35.20 was raised by 12 households who have linked their Kroger customer reward cards to support Prairie Avenue Christian Church. The quarterly contribution is for shopping at Kroger from January to March 2022

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.

"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!"

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 $7.56 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between July 1 and September 30, 2021.

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.

In Other News