May 28, 2021
Dear Prairie Avenue Family,
This past weekend we had 17 at the 9:30 am service. In-person. A number we have not seen (at least physically) in over 15 months. Our mask policy is simple: fully vaccinated - no mask. Partial/No-Vaccination - requires a mask. Singing resumed. Les Ruffner is joining on the guitar and voice during communion. I am anxious to see our worship leadership resume: worship leaders leading the call to worship, opening prayer, call to offering and offering dedication, and elders assisting at the table.
It is almost normal. COVID-19 post-normal. Things have changed. Some changes are still temporary. Some changes are permanent.
The gospel is a permanent message and call to become part of God's redeeming love. How the gospel is delivered may be in a variety of ways, but mostly it is person to person, hearing and receiving. Responding and then acting.
As we continue to resume our routines and activities into a post-COVID-19 world, I hope you will join me in seeking what God is calling Prairie Avenue to do, how it should respond to the brokenness of our world, and how you will become engaged in God's call and work of reconciliation.
Worship This Weekend:
More Than Meets The Eye: Something within Me
We have a drawer in our kitchen that is called the container drawer. There are all kinds of plastic containers of different shapes and sizes stored in them. Sometimes we have lids but no containers that fit. Other containers seem to be without lids. And I have heard a rumor that the missing matches of socks become the mysterious lids without any containers.
It is probably what you use for routine storage, even leftovers in the fridge, right? There are those special dishes and containers, safely stored in the china hutch and buffet, used only for special (and likely holiday) occasions.
As we begin our exploration of the Apostle Paul's 2nd letter to the church in Corinth (likely the fragments of several rather than a single letter), Paul reminds the cosmopolitan church members of something profound: treasure in clay jars. As believers in Jesus, they hold in their lives this treasure. Clay jars were like the plastic containers of our time; the ordinary, day-to-day packages for routine things, not treasure chests.
Treasure is not found usually in plastic containers. Yet God has placed his treasure into our bodies, our minds, our hearts. God does not have much use for showy or fancy chests or safes: human beings are just as good as a secured vault.
Like the story of God's redemption came not in the fancy china, but the plain hands, hearts, and minds of ordinary believers crossing your life's path. The same is true about sharing God's redemption; you are carrying it to share with others.
COVID-19 GUIDELINE & PROTOCOL CHANGES
Governor Pritzker announced the state of Illinois has entered the "Bridge phase" towards full reopening next month (June 11). Fully vaccinated individuals do not count towards capacity limits, which are now lifted to 50% or 50 persons, whichever is smaller. All worship services have a 50 non-vaccinated person limit.
The CDC also announced new guidance about masks and vaccinated people. It has indicated that the chances of a fully vaccinated person contracting COVID are very low, and if they do, chances of having a life-threatening case of it are negligible. Therefore, fully vaccinated people (I trust your honesty in claiming vaccination) no longer are required to wear masks in worship. Fully vaccinated people are also encouraged to sing! The masking requirement is still recommended for unvaccinated persons and will be in place.
2021 PENTECOST OFFERING UPDATE: Be the New Church
Your generosity for New Church starts and leadership development is appreciated. As of today, we have collected $540.40. Through designated offerings, as well as our policy of automatically "matching" 10% of general contributions on a special day offering Sundays, we are showing our covenant commitments to the greater church beyond our programs and facilities. You can still designate donations for this important work by placing "Pentecost" in the memo of your check, on a cash envelope, or directly through the Disciples Mission Fund Donate Page.
Building Fund Needs
Thank you for your generous response to our campaign! We have collected $1340 of our $5000 goal. The final cost of our circulating pump repair was nearly $2,300. Our building fund is not as robust as it should be to handle this expenditure in addition to the anticipated capital needs associated with the elevator modernization project later this year. I am asking you to consider a one-time special offering or a recurring gift to increase our building fund balance by $5,000. Each donor with offering envelopes has building fund envelopes included to solicit support for costly maintenance and anticipated replacement, remodel, and repair costs outside of the operating budget. Please mark your donations as "building fund" if not using a building fund envelope.
Invite friends to join you for worship
this weekend, in person, online
In-person on Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday mornings at 8 am or 9:30 am (masks and social distancing required for unvaccinated).
See you this weekend online or in person,
Blessings to you all,
