Prairie Avenue

Christian Church

Celebrating 100 years...

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

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Sunday, March 9, 2 AM

Celebrating 100 Years of Faith, Hope, and Love

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.

Livestream Update

We will post a recording of the sermon only at this time. You can access recent recordings at our website link: Worship Online.

Parables: Wine and Wineskins

We begin our Lenten season worship series with examining six parables of Jesus. These stories are drawn from the common experiences of people in Jesus' time and place. Parables are stories that "come alongside" with a surprising turn from the common expectation or message. They are not earthly stories with heavenly meanings. These are not for the here-after; they are for the here and now. During the series, we will examine the "traditional" understanding, but also invite an open mind and heart to discover an alternative understanding. If a parable is comforting, then your interpretation is likely wrong. They are meant to cause discomfort and challenge us. They are also meant to meet us at the intersection of reality and imagination, inviting dialogue rather than dictation or answers. If you don't leave a parable with a question, you misunderstood the parable.


This Sunday we examine one of Jesus' short parables about new wine and old wineskins. Sadly, this parable has often been used for supersessionism, that is, that the new wine is Christianity while the old wineskins are Judaism. As usual, context matters. How open are we to the new wine offered in God's realm now available? Do we hold old wineskins too tightly?

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This Week's Prayer Calendar


Congregations: Mechanicsburg Christian Church, IL; First Christian Church Keithsburg, IL; First Christian Church Knoxville, IL; Riverview Park Christian Church, St. Joseph, MI


Sympathy: Family of Thom Welch (February 22)


Community: Decatur Public Schools, Galloway, Nelson, and Clokey Park neighborhoods


Global Ministries: Syria

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.

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

March 6 - 12

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Birthdays

None


Wedding 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!

DID YOU KNOW?: You can automate your giving through your bank/credit union/financial institution! Nearly all online bill pay services can provide your contribution by mail or ACH (Automated Clearing House) without fees.

WEEK OF COMPASSION OFFERING UPDATE: $300.12 has been received to date. There is still time to add to this special offering for the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Dove, Inc. Outreach Project



Our March-April Outreach Collection is Clorox Wipes

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.

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

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

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

Kroger Community Rewards Program News

$25.40 was raised by 13 households who have linked their Kroger customer reward cards to support Prairie Avenue Christian Church. The quarterly contribution is for shopping at Kroger from October 1-December 31, 2024.

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

Around Christian Church in Illinois & Wisconsin and Michigan Region

Disciples Of Christ News and Offerings

Beyond


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