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Prairie Avenue
Christian Church
To be learning, loving, and serving disciples of Christ from the depths of our being to the ends of the earth.
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Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer |
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Did you miss a sermon or can't remember the good statement made by Pastor Jason recently?
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The Grinch has succeeded. Everything that has anything to do with Christmas now sits in the Grinch's sleigh ready to be pushed off the mountain's edge. He waits to hear the weeping and wailing coming from Whoville, but he is shocked that the song he hears is not sad at all. It seems that Christmas came anyway!
Surprise is Christmas' specialty. Often we fell asleep on Christmas Eve (if we were not fighting sleep to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus' arrival!) with a vacant Christmas tree, only to be greeted Christmas Day with a vision of numerous wrapped gifts appearing beneath!
It may have been something in the Whos' carol that started transforming the Grinch's heart, but what it was we are never told. Many of our life's moments are shaped by the power and gift of music. It is a powerful gift from God, and fundamental to our human experience. Most of us cannot imagine our sanctuary not filled with the sounds of our 1980 Wicks pipe organ, or the notes of a piano, Clavinova (TM), or otherwise. Since COVID-19 struck, we have been without the sounds of choral or praise songs, even having to refrain from congregational singing! You may take or leave the sermon, but not singing or sharing in a beloved hymn or chorus is too much. It is no surprise that the Advent and Christmas season is saturated with music. Often people's faith is expressed, not with words of scripture, but rather words from songs!
Music seems to be the natural outflowing of joy. It is like when Mary and Elizabeth meet and the child in Elizabeth's womb (John the Baptist) leaped for joy and Mary responds with what we traditionally call "the Magnificat."
The Whos had every right to march up Mt. Crumpit and demand their Christmas bauble back, or even seek revenge against the Grinch. Yet, as terrible as the Grinch was, at the end of the story he was still welcomed as a guest around the table. How often does God invite us back to the table and encourage us to invite one another to the table? It is one thing to have a changed heart. It is quite another for that transformation to be trusted, welcome, and incorporated into the community's life.
Joy is the steadfast assurance that God is with us, even when our heart is not as big as it should be. Maybe that is the real story of Christmas--God putting on flesh, not only so our heart might grow three sizes by making room for joy, but to show us how to welcome even the Grinch among us, to make room for each other.
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This Week's Prayer Calendar
Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin - Ministries supported by the Christmas Special Offering
Congregations: First Christian Church of Quincy; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kalamazoo, MI
Global Ministries: Kenya
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Pray with Kenya, December 12, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: Luke 3:7-18 Prayers for Kenya Pray for: The global church that our hearts and minds will be transformed Pray for more equitable access to the COVID vaccine in Africa and the world over Pray for the OAIC's work ... Read more
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
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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.
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The Cost of Discipleship
Book Study Group Continues Sunday, 10:30 AM
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We discuss chapters 14-17 (they are short chapters) this Sunday following 9:30 am service. The Sermon on the Mount, with its Beatitudes, and teachings of Jesus, reveal how disciples should engage in life together, among themselves, and with the world around them. The whole Sermon on the Mount is summed up in one word: love. |
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Longest Night/Blue Christmas Service
Sunday, December 19, 7 pm
FACEBOOK (TM) LIVE
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When the days are at their shortest, and darkness grows deeper, many experience depression in contrast to the expectations of joy. The loss of a loved one - due to death or divorce, unemployment, ill-health, or a sense of isolation can all contribute to a deep pain that is intensified when everyone around us seems to be celebrating.
In a season proclaiming hope, love, joy, and peace, it is difficult to acknowledge and remember it is still a season of loss. Join us online as we pause to remember what we have experienced as loss, yet see the still glimmer of the Holy Light present in our grief.
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Christmas Care & Share is the Annual Christmas Basket Drive sponsored by Dove, Inc. This is a combined effort with the Northeast Community Fund, Salvation Army, and Dove, Inc., and is supported by hundreds of churches, businesses, and groups throughout the community. A Dove and NECF partnership started in 1972 and Salvation Army joined in 2020. Traditionally the drive provided food and gifts to over three hundred households each holiday season. They became the local distributor for Toys for Tots in 2019.
Donating money or new items such as toys, stocking stuffers, hats, and gloves, wrapping paper, and tape, new socks, games, books, and puzzles.
We are collecting items for senior citizens and will be distributing them to residents at Decatur Rehab, Fairhaven, and Heritage in Mt. Zion. If you would like to donate or make homemade items for our seniors, that would be wonderful also! We are hoping to give each resident a nice blanket, a stocking with stocking stuffers, candy and snacks, warm socks, or slippers, reading material, large print crossword puzzles and word search books, etc. Anything that might make someone smile on what may otherwise be a lonely holiday (especially with Covid still in play).
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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God's Love Revealed through
the Committee on Ministry
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The Committee on Ministry members walk with leaders through the process of becoming Ordained or Commissioned Ministers. This Regional Committee is important to the vitality of the Christian Church in Illinois-Wisconsin Region and the larger church. Here is a testimony attesting to God's Love being revealed through this process.
"In my many years of church service this has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding committees to serve on. I've even enjoyed the preparation needed in reading papers and other documents. I will miss all of this but especially the fellowship with the other committee members." - Larry Pepper
Thank you for revealing God's Love in your offering to support the ministries we share through The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin. Your offerings make a difference! 100% of your gifts to the Christmas Offering support the work and ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois-Wisconsin.
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General Fund
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...
Read more
www.continuetogive.com
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Fundraising Project - reFresh Capital Campaign
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
www.continuetogive.com
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For instructions in registering your Kroger Rewards Card, Click Here.
The Organization code for Prairie Avenue Christian Church is: BY235.
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Kroger Community Rewards Program News |
$32.73 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 during July-September, 2021
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.
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Get Your Disciples Apparel and Gear Here!
Get your Disciples polos, hats, and hoodies in a variety of colors. Order by the 15th to be included in this month's production! 10% of the proceeds benefits the Disciples Mission Fund!
Read more
store.disciples.org
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"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!"
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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 a $5.33 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between January 1 and March 31, 2021.
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Share Your Faith by inviting 5 people to church this year |
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Christmas Eve
@ Prairie Avenue
Friday, December 24
7 pm & 9 pm
In-person & Online
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Two in-person Christmas eve services will be held on Friday, December 24, at 7 and 9 pm. Masks are required if social distancing is not expected or observed.
We will have Facebook Live premiere at 7 pm and it will be posted on our website online worship channel at 9 pm.
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New Regional Associates - Christian Church (Disciples of ...
Published by Neil Topliffe January begins a major change in leadership for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Michigan Region. With the retirement of our current Regional Minister, the Rev. Eugene W. James, Jr., we enter a new direction...
Read more
www.michigandisciples.org
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