Worship Each Week & Daily Prayer
WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE
We host in-person services on Saturdays at 5 pm,
and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 9:30 am.
The Answer to Division is Community
Saturday, March 20, 5 pm
Sunday, March 21, 8 am & 9:30 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
LIVESTREAM EQUIPMENT UPDATE: Wayne Rutherford has continued to install our new video and audio broadcast equipment in the sanctuary and balcony this past week. It is possible we will go "live" next weekend!
I once heard a prominent national religious leader say, "I don't know how people can call themselves Christian and still be Democrats." His statement deeply offended me. And I would have been just as offended if he had said, "I don't know how people can call themselves Christian and still be Republicans." Partisan religion, left or right, is inappropriate and unhealthy and has no place in the church of Jesus Christ.

For one, church endorsement of political parties or individual politicians is illegal in the United States, but more importantly, partisan politics divide congregations. It damages our relationships as fellow Christians and diverts our attention from the primary tasks of the Church.

I am a proud active member of the Stephen Decatur Chapter of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (ask me about joining!), and patriotism is not wrong, but when it becomes ultimate, rather than good, it builds barriers between us and people of other nationalities--people we are called as Christians to love and serve. To be a Christian means our ultimate allegiance is to God, not our country. We can love God and country but always in that order. The two are not equal.

The concept of Christian friendship and community is a crucial teaching of the Bible. There is a lot of "one another" phrases in the New Testament. You cannot be an independent Christian, you must be a community one. Rarely does it mention "I" or "me;" usually it always reads "We" and "us."

There will be disagreements, and we may at times not like one another, but we are called always to offer forgiveness to each other. It is never good when we divide or separate because both sides actually lose in the end. God calls Christian believers to connect, love, and support one another as we love and serve God and neighbor. When we build fences, we often find ourselves trapped. When we build bridges, we never will be.
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. 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.
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
TRAINING CLASS CONTINUES
SUNDAYS AT 11 AM
GOLDEN CIRCLE ROOM
Amanda Butterick is our first member to begin exploring Christian caregiving through Stephen minister training! This training is led by Pastor Jason, a trained Stephen Leader, and includes a variety of topics such as listening, Christian assertiveness, maintaining boundaries in caregiving, and grief.

The training lasts about an hour and a half, with a brief 15-minute break. If you would like to check out a session, you can! To qualify as a Stephen minister, you will need to complete all 18 sessions.
Pray with Kenya, March 21, 2021 - Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Prayers for KenyaEternal God of glory, no one is like you. You are true and wonderful, great and strong, alive and fearful, glorious and powerful, and your power is liberating. All power is yours. Thank you ...

Read more
www.globalministries.org
Give Regularly through five acts of generosity each month
Several times a year, congregations receive a special offering to support the ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These gifts are given above and beyond the regular core support of Disciples Mission Fund.

The Easter Offering, received by most congregations on March 28 and April 4, 2021, supports several of the general ministries of the Christian Church. Your gift supports college students in leadership development programs, global mission partners, health and social service ministries, the formation of new congregations, support for pastors and chaplains, and so much more. 

Your gift has the power to change lives around the world. Give online now or through your congregation. Thank you.
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.
Christian Church Foundation offers Legacy Planning

God is the ultimate giver, and because we are made in God's image, we reflect God's generosity. Making charitable contributions is an excellent way to extend God's presence to others. There are many options available for you to make a planned...

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www.christianchurchfoundati...
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.
Share Your Faith through inviting 5 people to church this year
In Other News
Rev. Terri Hord Owens reflects on the pandemic and the hope we have in God..
As you may have read, the Michigan Disciples Region and the Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin Region (CCIW), have begun conversations toward possibly forming a Partner Region relationship in which both Regions would share the services of a Regional Minister, beginning in January 2022. 
 
More Details
  1. Read Joint Partnership News Release
  2. Read the Proposal outlining a Joint Partnership – two Regions sharing one Regional Minister
  3. Signup for Listening Conferences via Zoom March 15, 16, and/or 18th at 6:30 pm. CST
Please place us in your prayers. Share these requests with your congregation and your prayer groups that they may join in. There are many prayers that can be offered. Here are some we suggest:
  1. Prayers of support for the journey of exploring a new partnership in 2022.
  2. Prayers for the information online conferences on March 15, 16, 18 might provide clarity and assurance in the direction God is taking us.
  3. Prayers lifting up the Michigan and Illinois/Wisconsin Regional Board/Council meetings that they might receive God's direction, leading up to and during their March 27 decisions.
  4. Prayers for finding qualified Regional Associate Ministers in Michigan to work with the Partner Regional Minister.
  5. Prayers for the churches in our Regions as they continue to share the Word with their members and communities.
  6. Prayers for CCMR Regional Minister Eugene James & CCIW Regional Minister Teresa Dulyea-Parker in this time of transition and new opportunities.
  7. Prayers for the CCMR Property Committee exploring options for selling or leasing the Regional Office.
  8. Prayers for members of the CCMR Search Committee and Shared Region exploration partners in CCIW.
  9. Prayers for CCMR Vision 2021 Task Group as it seeks to carry out the directions of the year-long study for the Michigan Region’s future ministries.
  10. Prayers of thanksgiving for technology that is keeping members of churches linked despite the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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.