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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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Jesus encounters a blind beggar named Bartimaeus in today's Gospel lesson. In Jesus' day, folks with physical conditions that prevented engagement in typical societal roles often had to support themselves by asking for the help and compassion of others. Perhaps Bartimaeus had become accustomed to asking for help after years of begging for enough resources to survive. Whatever the case, the people around him were uncomfortable with the way Bartimaeus persistently called out to Jesus, begging Jesus to notice him, come alongside him, and give him the help he so desperately needed. But Bartimaeus persisted, and Jesus heard him and healed him. I wonder if the people around him learned the lesson Bartimaeus had to teach them that day: an important part of being human in the world, an important part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, is asking for help.
Cultural Christianity, often underpinned by a theology of individual salvation, has damaged a biblical understanding of corporate salvation--the fundamental truth that we need each other to be God's people in the world. In the challenging task of following Jesus in this world, of carrying our cross, we must learn to ask for help.
Every time our world holds an Olympic Games, some story of human triumph inevitably emerges. In 1992, at the summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, that story was the story of Derek Redmond, a British track-and-field athlete who had trained for years to run the 400-meter relay. He had about one lap around the track left to go when he felt a snap and fell to the ground in pain: his hamstring had torn. As medics rushed to the track to help him, Derek struggled to get up and keep going--he was determined to finish the race. In excruciating pain, however, he could not keep going without help. It was then that his father, running in from the stands, jumping over barriers and pushing away through security, ran to his side, put an arm around his son, and helped him limp the rest of the way until he crossed the finish line to the roars of the crowd.
The crowd went wild when they saw Derek Redmond limp across the finish line with the help of his father, perhaps because they knew a fundamental truth of human life and of the life of faith: we cannot walk this path alone. What's more: we don't have to. Carrying our cross as we follow Jesus in the way of discipleship is not a solitary mission. We need the help of each other, and we need the help of God. Let us not be afraid to ask!
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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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You may order your copy via amazon.com or use your local library! Remember an order on smile.amazon.com will generate a donation for Prairie Avenue Christian Church! |
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The Cost of Discipleship
Book Study Group Continues
Sunday, 10:30 AM
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In conjunction with our upcoming worship series, Take Up Your Cross, Pastor Jason will be leading a study group book discussion on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship.
This Sunday at 10:30 am, we will review and discuss the Introduction and first chapter. Bonhoeffer identifies the temptation toward cheap grace.
- Preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance,
- Baptism without church discipline
- Communion without confession
- Absolution without personal confession
- Grace without discipleship
- Grace without the cross
- Grace without Jesus
Are we preaching, teaching, and sustaining cheap or costly grace? Are we reaping the fruits of our watered-down witness and walk?
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Pray with Lebanon, October 24, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: Mark 10:46-52 Prayers for Lebanon God of love and mercy, we come to you with our prayers of thanksgiving and praise. You are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You do not grow ... Read more
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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Disciples Mission Fund September 2021 Update |
Since the beginning of 2021, Prairie Avenue Christian Church has shared 1% of total received offerings for the generous support of the Disciples Mission Fund. Your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund support numerous ministries across the life of our General and Regional Church. In unique and important ways, all of these ministries fulfill Disciples’ call to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. Your support makes their work possible!
On Special Day Sunday Offerings, we designate 10% of received offerings to total congregational special day support.
Because of your generosity, we can:
- feed hungry neighbors
- support hospital and military chaplains
- provide resources for children and families
- start new congregations
- help churches find pastors
- and so much more!
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Many may recall a time in the life of our congregation where we had a "World Outreach Committee" that would develop and encourage support for local, regional, and general ministries.
September 2021 DMF Support,
Year-To-Date
Disciples Mission Fund: $485.93
Week of Compassion: $582.00
Easter Special Day: $1,060.60
Pentecost Special Day: $540.50
TOTAL SUPPORT: $2,669.03
For more information about ministries supported by Disciples Mission Fund, Click Here
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A Future With Hope
2022 Stewardship Campaign
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Over the past year, we have experienced separation and togetherness, exile and return. At our core, Prairie Avenue Christian Church is a community of reunion, homecoming, and return. Now more than ever, in a world full of exile, our congregation stands as a beacon of hope, welcome, and radical hospitality.
With all this in mind, we invite you to join us in giving thanks for all the resources--spiritual, theological, physical, and financial--that support this indispensable work. You will shortly receive your statement of giving for this year, a special prayer written by a member of the congregation, and pledge cards for 2022.
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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 through inviting 5 people to church this year |
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Life-changing Gifts
Join us in celebrating the upcoming Christmas season by sharing life-changing gifts that bring hope, love, peace, and joy!
Global Ministries believes that these rare and precious gifts should be shared globally. With your Alternative Christmas gift, you can honor, remember, or celebrate your loved ones AND make a difference in the lives of people around the world.
This year, Global Ministries invites you to surprise friends and family with gifts that cannot be found on any shelf. Browse the online Life-changing Gifts Catalog for gift ideas that resonate with what is near and dear to you or your loved ones
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Dear Disciples
October 15, 2021
"I believe that God can take our questioning. I believe that God can take our anger and our lament, as we hear so clearly throughout the Psalms. God can take our shaking our fists and saying why, how long, why, as long as we release those clenched fists into hands lifted upward in praise."
Rev. Terri Hord Owens offers words of encouragement and hope as she prepares for her sabbatical time beginning in November.
Find out more
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