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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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Attending weekly gives you the opportunity to re-center your life,
give God honor and glory, and remember what is really important in life.
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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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Reclaiming Our Call:
Be Thou My Vision
1 John 4:7-12
Sunday, March 27, 2022
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Your destination is determined by where you are looking to go.
The best way to get into a pothole or trip over the edge of the sidewalk or a tree root is to be looking at it and telling yourself you are not going to go there.
This Sunday we look at our focus. Because wherever we place our focus, we will direct ourselves. To jog, you need to look around for possible obstacles and not at your feet. In Isaiah 51, we encounter these calls to listen. Isaiah is the longest book of the prophets, and our reading is probably after Isaiah's death but written as his voice. This is a time when the Babylonian exile is over, and many officials and authorities are returning home. They are given the assurances that God will comfort, teach, bring deliverance and salvation. He always has and always will.
Do not look too much into the past, for each person has their own time and season. Do not despair of the present, for God is working within it to bring his purpose about. Do not spend time fantasizing about the future, you will always be chasing escape from the present.
We are in life on an interim basis. We can celebrate our heritage and the inheritance we have received from the past, but we cannot return to it. We can dread the obstacles and difficulties in the present but realize they are either to God. Where we look is where we are going, and whatever is our focus, we are sure to encounter. May our focus be on God's righteousness and purpose.
Attend Worship Online: 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!
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This Week's Prayer Calendar
Congregations: First Christian Church, Rock Falls; Central Christian Church Bourbonnais; First Christian Church Peoria; Fremont Christian Church, Fremont, MI
Global Ministries: Japan
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Pray with Japan, April 3, 2022 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: Isaiah 43:16-21 Prayers for Japan Creator of Heaven and Earth, There is no valley too vast or shadow too dark that you cannot overcome, for there is no end to your power and light. We often dwell on ... 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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Take a class, as you make friends and grow to know what learning, loving, and serving God and neighbor means in everyday life. |
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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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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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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. |
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Week of Compassion: Willing to Respond Registry Opens
We are excited to be part of the launch of a new tool for networking congregations for disaster preparedness and response: Willing to Respond ! As a registry of willing congregations and a library of...
Read more
www.weekofcompassion.org
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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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.
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Thank You for your generosity! |
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Sunday, April 10 and 17, 2022
Your gift to the Easter offering reveals God's enduring love in the world through:
- Developing Disciples
- Forming new faith communities
- Spirit care for those in prison
- Connection with ministry partners around the world
- Serving God's people in need
The Easter Offering supports these general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
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What Is Disciples Mission Fund? |
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Every day, Disciples answer the call to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. In the Preamble to the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we accept our mission of witness and service to all people in the name of Jesus the Christ. We extend God’s welcome to all at the Lord’s Table, because we believe that our shared Christian faith bonds us to each other and to the entire world.
No matter the challenges we face – from combatting racism to ending human trafficking, from starting a church to sustaining a community – Disciples know that by sharing the work, we accomplish what, by God’s design, we cannot do alone.
Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) brings the whole Church together, connecting us to the life-giving and life-saving work we have been called to do. It also simplifies giving for congregations and individuals, providing a way to support the entire Church at once. DMF-funded regional and general ministries offer opportunities for Disciples to serve as missionaries, attend college or seminary, advocate for the least of these, and so much more.
When you make a gift to Disciples Mission Fund, you share God’s love from your doorsteps to the ends of the Earth.
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MOVE-IN STARTER KITS: Items are needed for those individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to housing. The Macon County Continuum of Care is accepting items at Northeast Community Fund (NECF) and distributing them to agencies serving those moving into housing.
- cleaning supplies
- paper products
- bath towels
- kitchen towels
- sheets/blankets/pillows
- plates/glasses/silverware
- kitchen utensils
- pots/pans
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER NEEDS: Disposable 3 ply face masks for clients, washable face masks, vinyl gloves (medium, large, xl), Clorox wipes, aerosol disinfectant spray, paper towel rolls, baby wipes, disposable diapers, pull-ups, new bath towels, new nightshirts-women's, all sizes, new sweatsuits, unisex, all sizes, African-American hair care products, hair grease, hairbrushes-natural & nylon bristles, conditioner, body wash, deodorant (women), disposable cups, plates & eating utensils, plastic (not disposable) drinking cups
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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.
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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 |
$29.12 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 during October - December 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 $7.56 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between July 1 and September 30, 2021.
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Share Your Faith by inviting 5 people to church this year |
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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. |
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Imagine With Me:
Black Disciples Endowment Fund
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In this episode of Imagine with Me, Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary for the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Associate General Minister about the work of the Black Disciples Endowment Fund in imaging a new church for a new world.
"And so, you know, looking at workshops and I think that even the process, right of preparing, a grant application really is an exercise and vision work. It's an exercise in how do I articulate the marvelous things of God is up to, and that God has place in my heart." -Rev. Yvonne Gilmore
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