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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.
**NOTE: NO SATURDAY, MAY 15 SERVICE**
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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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This week's Gospel reading comes from what has become known as the "high-priestly prayer," a prayer that Jesus offers at the end of his life, as he sees his crucifixion looming and is wrestling with the deep affection he has for his disciples. One of the most famous lines in this prayer comes from verse 16, "[My disciples] do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world." But what exactly does this mean?
The Gospel of Jesus is always one of tension. It calls us to embrace our present moment and reality, while also straining toward a more just and generously reality. Jesus is not teaching us that we are to separate from the world with all its diverse peoples. Rather, he calls us to live by a different set of standards, a different rhythm of living, a different reality. The kingdom of God, as Jesus calls it, is not a singular city that exists somewhere in the universe, but the gradual transformation of this world into the more beautiful world that God desires.
It is, in one sense, easier to share a "gospel of escape." That gospel asks us to put Jesus in our hearts in order to escape Earth for Heaven when we die. Too many believe this "gospel."
But the gospel in our scriptures commands my allegiance to Jesus (and only totally) and to participate in that loyalty in bringing Heaven to earth while we still live.
One is a myth, the other is life to its full. Which one do you show the way to?
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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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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 the Philippines, May 16, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: John 17:6-19 Prayers for the Philippines Again, we call upon You God of Life, Love, Compassion, and Hope. Again, we bring to you our broken hearts, our anguished cries, and our hopes teetering on the edge of despair ... Read ...
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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Safe and Secure: Long-Term Recovery in Northeast Florida
In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma had devastating impacts across much of the state of Florida. Week of Compassion responded immediately through local congregations, helping meet critical needs in the aftermath of the storm. But even in those...
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:
Re-Imagine Covenant
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Join General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. Terri Hord Owens as she welcomes Rev. Nadine Burton of the Great Rivers Region to discuss the work of the General Board to re-imagine the church's covenant relationship.
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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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