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Prairie Avenue
Christian Church
To be learning, loving, and serving disciples of Christ from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.
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Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer |
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REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE |
We host in-person services on Saturdays at 5 pm,
and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am.
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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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What does it mean to abide in Christ? One of the central claims of the Christian faith is that, in some form, Christ is risen and active in the world. He is not simply a spiritual teacher who lived and died two thousand years ago, but the Spirit of light that pulsated within him is at work in the world today. For those of us who would identify as more "progressive," talking this way can feel rather uncomfortable. We would rather rationalize and demythologize our faith, making it strictly about morals and ethics, rather than about some sort of spiritual relationship to Christ.
But another undeniable aspect of what it means to live in a post-resurrection world is that we are invited to an intimate spiritual relationship with Christ. Through prayer, meditation, contemplation, and service, we are invited to open the eyes and ears of our souls, to perceive the living and active Christ at work in and around us at every moment of every day. Jesus himself knew this. Not only did he center his life on outward service to the poor and the oppressed, but he also serviced his own soul regularly through prayer, fasting, retreat, and contemplation. Through this process, Jesus cultivated an intimate and personal relationship with the creator and sustainer of life, even calling God, "Abba," a term of endearment literally translated as "Daddy."
This week, we are being called to turn inward, to establish our own personal connection to God as the prerequisite to being channels of renewal and healing in the world. We need to discern what it looks like for us to experience the resurrection in our own souls and determine which practices and postures help us to feel most connected to God and to our true inner selves. Unless we begin our work as followers of Christ here, it is unlikely that our faith will remain vibrant and active; we will be unable to bear good fruit in the world.
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Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
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Morning Devotion
Each day, except Sunday, Pastor Jason shares a brief 4-7 minute scripture reading, reflection, response, and prayer. During the season of Lent, Pastor Jason is sharing the gospel of Mark, which will be read through by Easter. We encourage you to read this gospel. The associated devotion is posted to Prairie Avenue's Facebook page.
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Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin Announces 2021 Camp
Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp May Friday 28 - Monday 31 There will not be a potluck during Family Camps this year. See registration form for fees. Camp Acts - Service Week Groups and Individuals are welcome to attend during any portion of the...
Read more
cciwdisciples.org
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Parking Lot Attendants / Greeters Needed
We need smiling faces and joyful hearts in greeting and security. I need two parking lot attendants to greet our guests and assist them with their entrance. Once service begins, these parking lot attendants will secure all entrances to the building, locking the doors, closing the garage about 15 minutes into the worship services. I would like to have attendants for each service -Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 8 am & 9:30 am. Contact the church office (217-428-3327) if you are interested in helping assist in guest/welcome services.
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Music Ensembles To Resume Wednesday, May 5, 7 pm
As we look towards in-person hospitality and activity, we need additional assistants at each of our worship services. I would like to have a music ensemble for each worship service: Saturdays at 5 pm and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am. These groups are tentatively called Meadowlands 1, 2, & 3. You will lead the congregation in singing the hymns and leading our expanding list of familiar praise songs and choruses. While the ability to read music is helpful, and holding a musical pitch (no matter what size bucket) is expected, all those willing and able are welcome to join these small ensembles.
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Our in-person services need worship leaders to assist in speaking the call to worship, invocation prayer, and the call to worship for each of our services: Saturday at 5 pm or Sundays at 8 am or 9:30 am. These materials are prepared each week by Tuesday afternoon, so you do not have to create your own! You can sign up a particular Sunday of the month, a particular time, or which service you already (or will eventually) attend in person. Contact Barb Hodges at 217-620-3268 if you would like to sign up or have questions. |
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Pray with Indonesia, May 2, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: John 15:1-8 Prayers for Indonesia O God, be with the people of East Nusa Tenggara Province who were struck by Cyclone Seroja on Easter Sunday; have mercy on those who suffered loss of life, property, and livelihoods....
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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Empowering Families in Rural Cambodia
Akk Oan, 47, lives with his wife and four children in Ang Village in Battambang province. With no farmland or even a home garden plot, they rely solely on his income from daily wage labor for their food and shelter. Before COVID-19, Oan's two...
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www.weekofcompassion.org
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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...
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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 DONATION |
$29.90 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 during January - March, 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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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 $7.39 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between October 1 and December 31, 2020.
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Share Your Faith through inviting 5 people to church this year |
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Dear Disciples
April 23, 2021
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"Church, this is not about politics, left or right. This is about what is right, and what is wrong. This is about human dignity, human life, human flourishing."
General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens reflects on this week's news of verdicts in the trial of George Floyd's killer, Derek Chauvin.
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Regional Church Council + Asian American & Pacific...
Dear Members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin, There is a rising tide of violence and harassment against Asian-Americans and Asian immigrants in our country. We must raise awareness about these incidents,...
Read more
cciwdisciples.org
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2020 Vision New Church Impact Report - New Church Ministry
Starting new churches and making new disciples has been part of the Disciples tradition from its earliest days. The 2020 Vision's commitment to new faith communities wasn't new for Disciples, but it pushed the Church to go further and more...
Read more
newchurchministry.org
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SAVE THE DATE! August 7, 2021 Nothing can separate us from the love of God! #DisciplesConnect2021 Stay tuned to Disciples News Service for details as they become available.
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