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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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How would our lives change if we lived with the idea that we already have enough: enough to love, enough to give, enough to know, enough to live? I suspect the change would be staggering because living with a sense of abundance is literally divine--God's way of looking at the world. Our human way, by contrast, is so mean, so limited, so scarce. We constantly are hemmed in by what we cannot do, have, know, love, give hope, try. We end up actually limiting the work of God in our lives and in the world. By contrast, God is full of endless possibilities and unlimited resources. All we have to do is shift the way we see our lives and the world to reflect the abundance God wants for us all.
Our scripture reading presents us with a small part of Jesus' passion narrative, as told in the Gospel of John. Jesus has just lived through one of the hardest nights of his life: a last supper with his disciples, hours of tearful prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the brutal betrayal of a friend--of several friends--that has found him in the headquarters of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who is trying as hard as he can to defuse a civil crisis. Pilate does not really care about Jesus or his message. What he does care about is the possibility of civil unrest, the disruption of his easy life, and possibly the disapproval of his superiors. It is almost with a sense of exasperation that Pilate asks Jesus a simple question: "Are you the King of the Jews?"
Pilate does not get a straight answer from Jesus, because Jesus does not seem to be sharing his perspective. If he saw the situation as Pilate sees it, he would be overcome with fear of the sure disaster that lies ahead. But instead, as Jesus tries to explain to Pilate, "My kingdom is not from this world." In other words, Jesus is saying that the reality from which he sees the world is not limited to the power and politics of the Roman regent in Galilee, or even the rulers of the temple in Jerusalem. God's reality, the power of God in the world, is so much bigger than the immediate disaster. Perhaps that larger perspective gives Jesus the courage to live into the larger reality instead of being dismayed by the bleak reality of the immediate situation.
This can be a critically important lesson for us as we think about how to live into God's expectation of abundance and generosity. The immediate reality we face is not the whole story; God is always doing something bigger, something that leads us toward wholeness and hope. And embracing that reality--God's reality--can give us enough courage and strength to live and to create a world where others can to.
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Advent Worship Series Begins Sunday, November 28, 8 am & 9:30 am |
Rediscover the gift of Advent that comes without packages, ribbons, and bows.
We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. During this season of Advent, we explore the faith themes in the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including, how did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes come Christmas morning? How did Christmas save the Grinch? Could it be that the very thing we think we hate is the one thing that changes our lives? This Advent and Christmas season, look at a familiar classic through the lens of faith and see how Christ speaks to us through our culture.
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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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The Cost of Discipleship
Book Study Group Continues Sunday, 10:30 AM
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We discuss chapters 6-13 (they are short chapters) this Sunday following 9:30 am service. The Sermon on the Mount, with its Beatitudes, and teachings of Jesus, reveal how disciples should engage in life together, among themselves, and with the world around them. The whole Sermon on the Mount is summed up in one word: love. |
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Use Your Gifts by sharing five acts of love and kindness each week |
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Pray with Lebanon, November 21, 2021 - Global Ministries
Lectionary Selection: John 18:33-37 Prayers for Lebanon Can you hear the shouting, God?Can you hear the rumble in the streets, our frustration, our fear?God, we need you to listen to us.God, help us to open our hearts and our ears ... Read more
Read more
www.globalministries.org
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Advent/Christmas Decorating
Saturday, November 27
9 AM
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Let us prepare our hearts to prepare him room this Christmas season. Join us as we gather to decorate our sanctuary for the Advent/Christmas season. |
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Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month |
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From the very beginning of the movement, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning, encouraging students in their intellectual pursuits. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education.
On November 14 and 21, Disciples churches across the US and Canada will collect the Thanksgiving offering. As we continue to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our higher education institutions are facing unprecedented challenges and need our support now, more than ever. Even as they work diligently to ensure safe and healthy learning environments, the financial realities faced by many of our schools are adding additional stress to students, faculty, and staff.
This November, please give generously to this year's Thanksgiving offering. your gifts make a world of difference as Disciples continue our legacy of supporting education and our institutions of higher learning.
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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 by inviting 5 people to church this year |
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Church Thanksgiving Dinner
Sunday, November 21, Noon
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Please join us on Sunday, November 21, at Noon in the Fellowship Hall for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. |
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IMAGINE WITH ME:
Poor People's Campaign and William Barber
“We have the money. That’s not the issue. We have the ideas. That’s not the issue. What we have not had is the moral commitment. And that’s why we have to have a movement to make that come into existence. … The fact is a nation’s budget tells where her heart is. ” – Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, senior pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsboro, NC
Rev. Terri Hord Owens talks with Disciple pastor, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, III, MacArthur Genius Award recipient, about his work for justice in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
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