Prairie Avenue Christian Church 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.

Did you miss a sermon or can't remember the good statement made by Pastor Jason recently? You can access the complete library of sermons at our Prairie Avenue YouTube(TM) Channel The Walk: Serve: Here I Am, Lord, Send Me Joshua 24:15; Matthew 20:26b, 28; Ephesians 2:10 Sunday, February 13, 2022 February 13, 2022 Traditional Worship February 13, 2022 Modern Worship

This week we explore the practice of giving. We live in a world of ubiquitous photographs. A glance through social media feeds reveals a plethora of dinners eaten, items purchased, and grinning participants at a landmark, historic site, or place of interest. One thing I have never seen "selfied" is a tax return. It is the season of tax preparation, but we often do not share our finances with anyone, even hidden from our spouses! Qualified deductions and expenses add up and the filed document is your tax year "selfie" of your economic activity. While there have been changes with the standard deduction that often render an itemized list of charitable gifts unnecessary, you probably have receipts and documents recording your "charitable giving." Your tax filing reveals the level of your giving. Often those living large on life are horrible at giving. For the last fifty years (with one distinct exception), the income tax filing of every President and Vice President has been available for public view. In the tax documents of a recent vice-president, it revealed a total income of $200,000 a year, a large mortgage deduction, and charitable giving of $300. Less than 1/10th of 1 percent. If you are only giving from what is left, you will rarely give any at all. Your tax return and checkbook reflect what is your priority and what you give value to. A desire for money and material possessions can overpower our desire for a relationship with God. If your tax return had to testify to your generous spirit, would it? Scripture reminds us that natural forces, burglars will take whatever "treasures" acquired in life. Our life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. 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!

This Week's Prayer Calendar Week of Compassion Special Offering Global Ministries: Chile

Pray with Chile, February 20, 2022 - Global Ministries Lectionary Selection: Luke 6:27-38 Prayers for Chile O God, Our Creator,help us to be present in the life of others -help us to sit with others in their pain, in their sorrow, in their grief,even when we do not know ... Read more Read more www.globalministries.org

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.

The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life Books Available You may purchase a copy of The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life at the church. Hardcover books are $10.00 Large Print Paperbacks are $12.00

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.

Serve Saturdays Coming to Prairie Avenue

Last Sunday, Pastor Jason Butterick announced a new initiative to provide a regular day of community service once a month with groups and individuals gathering or sorting donations, serving meals or some form of service. Since the third essential practice of the Walk is service, it will be held on the Third Saturday of the month. You can pick a site, an activity, or do it yourself (just let us know what it was so we can tell your service story!) Third Saturdays were also traditionally the day where we have our Adopt-A-Street cleanup activity and neighborhood coffee fellowship hour on the lawn. We are looking forward to resuming these activities. To help facilitate Third Saturdays, we are looking for a Third Saturday Activity Coordinator. The Coordinator will contact social service agencies and community organizations and groups to get up-to-date information on volunteer opportunities and service projects that need to be completed. Service activities and projects will be regularly updated and presented online for interested members to sign up. Third Saturdays are as follows: March 19, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17. April's Third Saturday falls on Easter Weekend, so it will be held on the 5th Saturday, April 30.

Birthdays February 17-24 Rev. Jason Butterick

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.

Put Love into action.  Give to Week of Compassion: February 20 & 27 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and Love.  But the greatest of these is Love 1 Cor. 13:13 Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Your gifts to Week of Compassion bring hope out of despair, find blessings amid the devastation, and help transform loss into new life. Your contributions bring tangible relief and change the course of lives. When you give, you help rebuild communities recovering from disaster. You also empower farmers to grow new kinds of crops in a changing climate; you support refugees; you empower youth through education, and empower women through vocational opportunities. In so many different ways, your gifts of love have the power to transform lives. Love is shelter. Love is a listening ear. Love is community. Love is a hopeful future. Love is a path forward. When all else seems lost, Love remains.  We will receive this special offering on Sunday, February 20 & 27.

Donate to Week of Compassion

Week of Compassion - Mission Moment: Arizona Many of us have gone weeks, months, or even more than a year, without seeing our beloveds during the pandemic. Meanwhile, family separation has been an even harder and longer reality for many... Read more www.weekofcompassion.org

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

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

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.

Thank You for your generosity!

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

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

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 $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.

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

"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 received a $7.56 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between July 1 and September 30, 2021.

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

Installation Ceremony Michigan Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Teresa Dulyea-Parker  Our Stories of Faith: Celebrating our legacy gifts   Join us as we celebrate Rev. Teresa Dulyea-Parker’s installation as the Michigan Regional Minister and hear the stories of participants as they speak of the folks that have shaped their lives. We will gather on March 5, 2022, by Zoom at 11:15 a.m. CST/12:15 p.m. EST To attend you must register and provide a valid email address On the main page of the regional website, www.cciwdisciples.org, Scroll down to the area labeled “In the Region” On the right-hand side click on “Installation set for Michigan Regional Minister” Scroll down and the Zoom Registration will be on the left-hand side

CAMP WALTER SCOTT NEWS:  YOUTH PROGRAMS June 12-18 CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship) | Completed grades 9th to 12th June 24-26 Beginners Camp** | Completed grades K to 3rd* June 26-29 Grandparents & Me | Completed grades K to 5th & Grandparent(s) July 10-16 Chi Rho | Completed grades 6th to 8th July 17-23 JYF (Junior Youth Fellowship) | Completed grades 3rd* to 5th  FAMILY CAMPS May 27-30 | Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp September 2-5 | Labor Day Weekend Family Camp  WORK DAYS June 5-11 | Camp Acts (Service Week) Saturday Work Days | April 23, May 21, September 10, November 5  *Campers who have completed 3rd grade may attend either Beginners Camp or JYF Camp **Parents/Guardians are welcome to register to attend Beginners Camp with their camper(s).  Visit www.CCIWDisciples.org/camp-program to access online registration, camp costs, new COVID19 policies & procedures, and additional information about our camping programs. Dates are subject to change. Registration opens early in 2022 and closes June 1, 2022.  Contact Clayton Summers to RSVP for workdays and service week.  Clayton Summers, CWS Host   Eli Rolo n Jeong, Associate Regional Minister       Visit www.cciwdisciples.org/camp-program for full information about our camping program.  Visit bit.ly/CWS22Promo for flyers, bulletin inserts, and social media files to share in print or digitally.

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