Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer
Why Not Get Rid of It?
Saturday, February 13, 5 pm
Sunday, February 14, 9 am
and Online
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
FEBRUARY 21-28 WEEK OF COMPASSION SPECIAL OFFERING

Our annual special offering for relief, refugee and development will be collected this weekend. Please consider your support of vital ministries in rebuilding and renewing lives both within and beyond our nation.
Way back in 1859, Charles Darwin startled the world by publishing his famous (many would say infamous) book On the Origin of Species, which laid out his theory of evolution. You may know that at the end of his life, Charles Darwin was an atheist. However, that was not always the case. Darwin was raised in the Anglican Church and even considered becoming a clergyman. Many people believe Darwin lost his faith because of his belief in evolution. But that’s incorrect. To the end of his life, Darwin insisted that evolution was completely compatible with the Christian faith. It was bad religion that caused Darwin to become an atheist. For example, when his beloved daughter died at the age of ten, Darwin blamed God. He could not believe in a God that killed off ten-year-old children, or a God that condemns Jews and others to hell, or a literal view of Scripture, or a dogmatic opposition to scientific inquiry. In the end, it wasn’t science but bad religion that caused Darwin’s atheism.

You probably know someone who does not like or approve of religion. They may have been forced to go as children, but in their words, they "outgrown" their childhood faith. In religion, they see nothing but the negatives: arrogance, judgmentalism, closed-minded, anti-LBGTQ+, anti-women, anti-science, and hyper-partisan.

But every attempt to develop or create a completely non-religious nation has failed. And religion has provided good benefits: hospitals, art, music, literature, and even educational institutions to improve quality of life.

When people reject Christianity for any of the reasons discussed above, it is natural for us in the church to feel frustrated, misunderstood, maybe embarrassed. It is easy to get defensive, distancing ourselves from fellow believers who embrace beliefs or engage in behaviors we disavow, agreeing with critics of faith so completely that we forget to tell our own story.

We have a wonderful story to tell. We promote a religion of grace, not judgment; a religion of love,
not hatred; a religion of open-mindedness, not intolerance; a religion of compassion, not legalism; a religion of humility, not arrogance. Living as salt and light, witnesses to the message of Jesus, we can show
this true heart of Christianity to the world. We can shout from the rooftops, “There is another option!”
Just because some people practice bad religion doesn’t mean we have to ditch religion altogether. The answer to bad is not no religion. Instead, the answer to bad religion is good religion.

Jesus understood that. In the face of the arrogant, judgmental, and legalistic religion of his day, Jesus offered a healthy alternative of humility, grace, mercy, compassion, and justice. As followers of Jesus, we are called to continue sharing his message and demonstrating good religion in a skeptical world.
WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE CHANGES BEGIN NEXT WEEK
Beginning next weekend (February 27-28), we will host in-person services on Saturdays at 5 pm, and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am.
Grow in Faith
through listening, paying attention, and reading 5 verses a day
Morning Devotion
Each day, except Sunday, Pastor Jason shares a brief 4-7 minute scripture reading, reflection, response, and prayer. This 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.
New Times New Wineskins

Friday February 19 6:30 PM Meet and Greet - come online and catch up with women from across the Region who you have not seen in awhile. 7:00 PM Bible Study - led by Rev. Melissa Ebken 8:00 New Time, New Wineskins - keynote by Rev.

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cciwdisciples.org
MEMBERSHIP/BAPTISM CANDIDACY CLASS TO BEGIN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 7 PM
Considering membership with Prairie Avenue? Desiring baptism? Both membership and baptismal candidates are encouraged to attend a six-week class led by Pastor Jason beginning on Sunday, February 21, at 7 pm.
Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week
TRAINING CLASS TO BEGIN
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28
Prairie Avenue Christian Church became a Stephen Ministries congregation in 2017. Beginning on Sunday, February 28, at 10:30 am in the Sunshine Classroom, we will offer the training course. This training will be led by Pastor Jason, a trained Stephen Leader, and will include a variety of topics such as listening, Christian assertiveness, maintaining boundaries in caregiving, and grief.

Think and pray about this opportunity. If you decide you would like to be a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Jason to talk about how you can get started. You will also grow spiritually when you serve as a Stephen Minister. When God calls you to service, he also gives you the faith and the gifts you need to do his will.
Pray with Mexico, February 21, 2021 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Psalm 25:1-10 Prayers for Mexico God of all people, in this time of cautious hope, we pray for real, systemic change in our justice and immigration system, so that every man, woman, and child from every country and ... Read more

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www.globalministries.org
DETROIT MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES
July 27-August 1
August 1-5
SLAM (Service, Learning, Advocacy, and Missions) is offering an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives!

The group is organizing two mission trips to Detroit. The purpose is to assist people with home repairs and improvements and yard work. We are partnering with Rippling Hope Ministry.

Rippling Hope Ministry was founded in 2011 by Carl and Robin Zerwick. Carl is a Disciples of Christ minister. This missional ministry has helped over 2500 homeowners in the painting of homes and garages, new handicap ramps, installed or repaired door locks, built new or repair porches and stairs, boarding up abandoned homes, and cleaned unkempt lots.

The workday begins with an assignment and providing the necessary materials and tools needed for the project. Work begins no later than 9 am and concludes between 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Following supper, participants can relax or socialize in Detroit. Devotions conclude the day.

The cost is $180 per person. Meals and lodgings provided. No skills are required, and you are not expected to provide tools or equipment. Minors can attend with adult supervision.

Scholarships are available. The registration deadline is April 1.

Contact Bill Kerns at 217-824-8181 for questions.
Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month
2021 Stewardship Pledges Due FEBRUARY 28
Your pledges to support the ministries and mission of Prairie Avenue Christian Church are important. As stewards, we are called to share generously our tithes and offerings to assist others and share the love of Christ.

You may mail, e-mail, or drop off in-person your pledge card for 2021. We will dedicate these pledges to God's service and for blessing next weekend.
Let Love Grow in Nicaragua

Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, For the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs. ~ Isaiah 49:10 Food insecurity. Political unrest. Climate change threatening the viability of crops.. ...

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

The Organization code for Prairie Avenue Christian Church is: BY235.
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS DONATION
$33.99 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 October - December 2020.

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.
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.
Share Your Faith through inviting 5 people to church this year
In Other News
General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens asks some of the leaders of justice ministries to imagine how we can be emissaries of God's limitless love. Included in the conversation are Rev. Hector Hernandez of the National Benevolent Association; Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray of the Disciples Peace Fellowship; and Rev. Dr. Laurie Feille of Disciples Public Presence, a ministry of the Upper Midwest Region.