October 16, 2020
Dear Prairie Avenue Family,
Today we were able to do final installation of our new solar power generating system. It marks the last pieces of our commitment towards sustainable practices first proposed in 2018! Power was briefly disconnected this morning to finish connections into our distribution system, and as each inverter (6 total) was updated, each of the solar panels (183 in all) revealed their capacity to meet our energy need by collecting energy from a source 4 billion years old: the sun. The meter did indeed roll back for a couple of hours today. Unfortunately, since our service meter has not yet been updated for on-site generation, we had to turn off the system until final permission from Ameren is received. Since it is a Friday afternoon now, I think we will receive such permission early next week. I cannot wait to switch this switch, announcing our entry into renewable energy!
This is not the only delay we now face. This past Wednesday we received word that due to continued disruptions with transportation availability delivering our pumpkin patch, our deliver originally scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed, with notice to be sent when it is finally confirmed. There is a national pumpkin harvest shortage, but a poor pumpkin growing season did not impact our production at the Navajo Indian reservation. It may be a short sale season. We will need volunteers to host and handle sales Monday-Saturday 10 am to 7 pm. You do not have to work the entire day. Take a couple hours. It will help.
Speaking of logistical issues, it became very clear with Illinois Department of Health Guidelines for COVID-19 safe Trunk 'n' Treats that we would have to alter so many aspects of our annual event that it would simply be too much to do with our limited volunteers and space concerns. We will look forward to a less restrictive Halloween season in 2021.
WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND - Thriving: Living in the Generous Life
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; render to God the things that are God's. As we continue to explore what it means to live in the generous life, to thrive in good stewardship, we encounter a rather familiar subject: taxes. Jesus is approached by two opposing sides united in one purpose: to discredit or reveal a legal reason to stop him. One group is the Herodians, a group that is only mentioned in the gospel, but likely a Roman-endorsing party. The other is Pharisees, a Roman-opposing party. Slathered with hypocritical praise, the two groups ask about a legal/teaching interpretation. If Jesus endorses Roman tax collection, he will be discredited. If he condemns it, he is endorsing treason and rebellion.
He does neither. Ironically, he reveals the Pharisees complicity by not having any money and asking for the coin used for the tax. Someone in the temple, where graven images are strictly forbidden, has the image of an emperor declaring himself the divine son of Caesar Augustus.
We recognize the first half of Jesus' remarkable answer to those who strangely agreed to trap him in the first place: pay whatever the emperor orders. We rarely discuss the implication of the other half: give to God what is God's.
Your life is God's.
Your well being is God's.
Everything (even what an emperor claims as his) is actually God's in the end.
Perhaps it is even more telling what Jesus reveals when he asks: "Whose image? Whose inscription?"
Every human being bears the image of God.
Every human being bears the inscription of God's gracious love.
Do you pay more in Emperor fees than Godly contributions?
RECONCILIATION OFFERING UPDATE
According to yearbook records, Prairie Avenue Christian Church had not participated in the Reconciliation Offering since 2007. The Reconciliation Offering is the Pro-Reconciling/Anti-Racism fund for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It supports regional church and local group efforts towards ensuring all have access to Christ's abundance, to fully flourish in education, and financial stability, and friendship across God's diversity. Our goal was $200. We raised $155.
While the offering is traditionally collected on the last weekend of September and the first weekend of October, you may give anytime online.
Thank you for your generous support of this important work. We will be looking for opportunities to participate in activities and events to educate and address systemic racism in our community.
OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK
Regional Church Assembly The FREE online only assembly for the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin will be held on Saturday, October 17, 10 am to Noon. You can register to participate in the public activities and worship. I was nominated and consented to serve as secretary of the Regional Church Council, the administrative board of the regional church that I have served on for the past year as an at-large delegate. I will be formally elected to this position during the business meeting.
See you in worship in the sanctuary on Sunday morning at 9 am or Saturday online at 5 pm this weekend!
