Prairie Avenue

Christian Church

217.428.3327

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.

Jesus does a pretty miserable job of leading the new members class. Rather than leading with the promise of heaven or even the fair-trade coffee in the narthex, he launches into just how bad it is going to get for those who choose to follow him. There will be wars, rebellion, famine; even the sky will seem to come apart. The faithful will be taken hostage, abandoned by their families, even executed. This, Jesus says, is what you are signing up for.

These words sound rather odd from the predictable confines of our Sunday morning worship experiences, but we do well to remember that they were valid for many of Luke's early readers and some modern Christians in places around the world. Yet our sanctuary rose window shows Jesus in the agony of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, with thorns just in the corner and the city of Jerusalem looming behind.

Our lesson is twofold, even for those whose faith seems to require less of us: (1) the world is broken, and what happens here does not always reflect the will or intention of God; and (2) our faith calls us into those broken places, not away from them.

For those of us whose faith will never be immortalized in stained glass, who will never stand before a firing squad for our Savior, and who are sometimes guilty of turning a blind eye to the suffering of this imperfect world, the bill for our discipleship may not come due in one dramatic payment. But make no mistake, we are called to the same courageous hope, paid in infinitesimal daily installments--one foot after another, following where he leads.

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

Thanksgiving Special Day Offering

Eureka College

Disciples Divinity House at the University of Chicago.

Global Ministries: Lebanon

Pray with Lebanon, November 13, 2022 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Isaiah 65:17-25 Prayers for Lebanon God of travelers and migrants, The road is long, and the journey is perilous. But we know you promise a shady spot to lay down at the end. We call out for you ... 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.

Next Steps Book Study Continues

Wednesday, November 16, 6 PM

As Prairie Avenue approaches its 100th anniversary, a new chapter begins. To develop a deeper discussion on the mission and call in the 21st Century, we continue a study of two books: Thrive by Ruth Fletcher, and Everywhere You Look by Tim Soerens. Chapters to be read in each: Thrive- Building Capacity & Giving Thanks; Everywhere: The Same Team. You do not need to have read the materials to participate in the discussion. This is a church-wide conversation, open to all.

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.

"Not Quite Choir" Ensemble Begins

Like to sing hymns, or miss the anthems and special music of the times before COVID? Join us on Wednesday, November 16, 7:30 pm - Sanctuary.

Church Thanksgiving Dinner

Sunday, November 20, 1 PM

Please join us next Sunday at 1 pm in the Fellowship hall for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

Birthdays/Anniversaries

November 10-16

Birthdays

None

Wedding Anniversaries

None

Membership Anniversaries

(When you joined Prairie Avenue!)

November 14, 1999 - Jolene Fahnestock

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!

Thanksgiving Special Day Offering:

Sunday, November 13 - Sunday, November 20

The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. Throughout our history, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning to educate students and form leaders to make a difference in the world. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses.

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...

Building Fund 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

$28.95 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 from July to September 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 will receive a $5.42 donation from program activity between April 1 and June 30, 2022.

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

Church Council Meeting -

Wednesday, November 16, 10:30 AM

For purposes of discussion, oversight, and decisions, a church council has been established to handle routine business and strategic planning. Meetings are open to all.

This week's meeting will be receiving the October 2022 financial report, an update from Pastor Jason, and continuing discernment and strategic planning for the ministries of the church into 2023.

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