December 29, 2022 Newsletter

Prairie Avenue

Christian Church

217.428.3327

www.prairieavenuechristianchurch.org

To be learning, loving, and serving disciples of Christ from the depths of our being to the ends of the earth.

A Stephen Ministry & Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Congregation

Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer

Attending weekly gives you the opportunity to re-center your life,

give God honor and glory, and remember what is really important in life.

Merry Christmas! (Day 4 of 12)

We will greet and receive Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazaar in worship this Sunday as part of the Christmas season. These are the traditional names of the Magi, the "wise men" mentioned in the gospel of Matthew who came from the East to seek the one "born King of the Jews" in Jerusalem, not Bethlehem.

Everyone who encountered Jesus at his birth or as a toddler changed somehow. The shepherds went from the fields into evangelism, proclaiming the good news for all people, a Savior has been born in the city of David, whose reign shall never end. Our wise men (who will be received with the traditional door greeting above our sanctuary entrance 20+C+M+B+23) came a few years later (no more than 2, as Herod the Great's killing of the infants testify) and being warned in a dream, traveled home a different way than the one way they had used to follow the star.

As we begin a new year and have once again stood in the presence of the infant King of Kings born in a manger, growing in a house in Bethlehem to the age of 2, how will we be changed?

Will we be like the shepherds, as evangelists for him? How might we share the hope and love he brings with others? Will we tell it by our words? Our actions?

Will we travel like the wise men, taking a new path this year? We all have familiar roads and pathways we know without looking, knowing exactly where it goes and where it ends. But is it a rut, or worst, an unchanged, unaffected life? Could there be new ways to reveal the difference Christ has made in our lives?

We encounter Christ. We will be changed. But does it show? And will we show it?

Attend Worship: 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. Join us in person or online... it will count! IF YOU ATTEND THIS SUNDAY (JANUARY 1) YOU WILL HAVE "PERFECT" SUNDAY ATTENDANCE FOR 2023!

NEW WORSHIP SERIES BEGINS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8:

SPIRITUAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER–

Seasonal Affective Disorder happens when a lack of sunlight affects our moods and ability to cope effectively. Spiritual Affective Disorder can also be a condition when we have had prolonged stress and life is disturbingly uncertain. What is our faithful response to our strained mental health? What if everyday life activities could become spiritual practices—deepening our experience of a meaningful life and helping us shine a light on the “blahs?”

This Week's Prayer Calendar

Happy new year!

Congregations: Gerlaw Christian Church, First Christian Church Gibson City; Clay Hill Christian Church, Cadillac, MI

Global Ministries: Lesotho

Pray with Lesotho, January 1, 2023 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Psalm 148 Prayers for Lesotho from Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA) Our Lord, we thank you all for the life and partnership with Global Ministries as we journey together confronting the challenges we are faced with ... Read more

Grow in Faith

through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day

Take a class, as you make friends and grow to know what learning, loving, and serving God and neighbor means in everyday life.

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.

You may also access it on the church website: prairieavenuechristianchurch.org/daily-devotional. It is posted around 8:20 to 8:30 each morning.

Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week

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.

Birthdays/Anniversaries

December 22 - January 4

Birthdays

None

Wedding Anniversaries

None

Membership Anniversaries

(When you joined Prairie Avenue!)

None

If you know of a birthday or anniversary that has gone "Missing" from our list, please contact the church office at 217-428-3327. Thanks.

Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month

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.

Thank You for your generosity!

2022 Christmas Offering Update

Thank you for your generous support of the 2022 Christmas Special Day Offering for support of the mission and ministries of the Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin! Our giving response was $360.50.

Stewardship/Finance Updates

2022 Contribution Records: Your contribution record for 2022 will be sent to you prior to January 31. Consistent support, in whatever given amount, gives us the ability to provide and present the message and hope of the gospel to others. Thank you!

2023 Offering Envelopes: You may pick up your 2023 offering envelopes in the Narthex. If you are not able to pick them up, do not worry! We will mail the remaining envelopes next week. These envelopes may seem unimportant or unnecessary, but it helps us process your gifts quickly and accurately. It also encourages the most important habit of stewardship: consistency. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the church office. Your generous support is greatly appreciated!

General Fund Supports Operations & Ministry

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...

Building Fund Supports Repair & Updates

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.

For instructions in registering your Kroger Rewards Card, Click Here.

The Organization code for Prairie Avenue Christian Church is: BY235.

Kroger Community Rewards Program News

$28.95 was raised by 14 households who have linked their Kroger customer reward cards to support Prairie Avenue Christian Church. The quarterly contribution is for shopping at Kroger from July to September 2022

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.

"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!"

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 will receive a $5.42 donation from program activity between April 1 and June 30, 2022.

Share Your Faith by inviting 5 people to church this year

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.

In Other News

A Christmas Message from General Minister and President Terri Owens

Learn more about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at https://disciples.org

A Christmas Message from Terri Hord Owens

General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, Rev. Terri Hord Owens wishes the church a holy Christmas.

"As we celebrate the birth of Jesus the one whom we confess as the Son of God, Lord and Savior of the world I pray that your day is filled with all the joy that God gives us through Jesus." -Rev. Terri Hord Owens

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