October 6, 2022 Newsletter

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.

Worship Series Continues

What do our prayers say about our faith? Each week we will explore some fundamental aspects of prayer from the Gospel of Luke, empowering us to speak to God more boldly and honestly. Fear of "praying wrong" keeps some people from praying at all, but Luke shows us that prayer is ultimately a way of practicing dependence on God.

Gratitude is a funny thing. For one thing, it is invisible. I cannot tell when you are grateful. Gratitude becomes visible only when we give thanks. I have always been tempted to oversimplify the story of the ten lepers and say that surveys show nine out of ten lepers were found ungrateful, but that is not what the story says. I have no doubt that the other nine lepers at the temple were thankful, too.

But only one gives thanks, and so he is the only one we know was grateful because gratitude that does not translate into thanksgiving is invisible. That is why I do not think we have a gratitude problem in this country--I think we have a thanksgiving problem.

I think most of us have a lot of things we are grateful for. The problem is we do not always show that gratitude. We do not always give thanks where it is due. If you count mealtime prayers, "thank you" might be the most common prayer you pray. But how often do you really mean it? How often do you go out of your way to pour out thanksgivings to God?

Maybe what all of us need is a little more reckless thanksgiving, a life full of unnecessary thank-yous, a life of raising our voice to the one risen King.

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

Week of the Ministry

Christian Church Illinois-Wisconsin/Christian Church Michigan Regional Assembly (October 14-15

Global Ministries: Egypt

Pray with Egypt, October 9, 2022 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Jeremiah 29:1,4-7 Prayers for Egypt LORD who is with us, lead us in seeking the prosperity of our cities, especially Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Asyut, and Minya. As a community that is a numerical minority, be present with Egyptian ... 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, October 12, 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- Engaging/Testifying; Everywhere: The Magic of Paying Attention. 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.

Birthdays/Anniversaries

October 6 - 12

Birthdays

None

Wedding Anniversaries

None

Membership Anniversaries

(When you joined Prairie Avenue!)

6, 1963 (59) - Peggy Bergen

6, 1957 (65) - Dixie June Govro

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!

Hurricane Update

Mid-afternoon Wednesday, September 28, HURRICANE IAN made landfall on the central gulf coast of Florida, as a category 4 hurricane, and one of the strongest in the state's history. While now at Tropical Storm status, Ian has continued to move across the width of Florida, and is expected to move into the Atlantic Ocean, before making a likely second landfall in the southern Atlantic coast over the next few days.

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

$29.72 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 April to June 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 $6.91 from the AmazonSmile Foundation due to AmazonSmile program activity between January 1 - March 31, 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

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