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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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Harvest Accounts: Being Trustworthy
Saturday October 3 Online
Sunday, September 4, 9 am - Sanctuary
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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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Saturday, September 27, 2020 Online Worship
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How can you be generous, but also balance burdensome debt, lifestyle maintenance, and limited retirement savings? How can Prairie Avenue balance its budget without harming those who struggle financially? It does not have to be a struggle. Generosity comes out of faith, discipline, and life balance.
The parable of the wicked tenants ( Matthew 21:33-46) is one of three parables in which Jesus is confronting the religious authorities in Jerusalem. The previous parable revealed the authorities refusal to work for the kingdom of God (the two sons and the vineyard). In another "parabolic trap," an unwitting self-indictment, Jesus reveals the how the authorities are now hoarding the produce of the vineyard and even killing those whom God has sent to collect his share as owner. Those who are responsible for management are acting as greedy owners.
This parable is less parable and more metaphor. When you claim to possess that which you do not actually own, you are disrespecting the owner. And the owner is God. And the vineyard is the area to collect God's harvest, and to share in the work of bringing in a life-giving harvest.
Workers and management must be trustworthy with what God has given. Often times we shift our resources from that which benefits others to what keeps ourselves in the custom of which we believe we deserve. Good stewardship shows when the tenants give to the owner what the owner deserves in the first place. Accountability and transparency is necessary to thrive in generosity.
As tenants of God's vineyard, will we give God's share?
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Hope Unseen
Wednesday, October 7, 6 pm - Parlor
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You may obtain a copy of the book through online or local retail book shops, but purchasing the book is not necessary to join the class.
To register for the class, click here.
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Today's most popular form of eschatology, Premillennial Dispensationalism, goes back to the 1820s and 30s. Its founder, John Nelson Darby, believed that God tests humanity differently at different times (that is, in seven unique "dispensations"). Expectations of Israel's restoration and glory found in the Hebrew Bible would be fulfilled literally.
Darby argued that Christ would return twice, first in secret to "rapture" (from the Latin raptus, "snatch up") the church, thus completing the "dispensation to the Gentiles." Christ would return a few years later to reign on earth, thus completing the "dispensation to Israel."
Darby's interpretation of Scripture is ingenious, but it flies in the face of the biblical witness. It borrows widely from a range of biblical authors and creates a single eschatology that is actually foreign to all of them. IN the process, the biblical writers' own distinctive voices are silenced.
It is only fair to acknowledge the benefits of Premillennial Dispensationalism, such as the urgency it lends to questions of Christian commitment and discipleship. On the other hand, it can produce negative effects, especially disengagement from the world's problems, which will soon be "left behind." We are fortunate that Darby's perspective was ignored by generations of Christian reformers.
Hope is not the same thing as certainty. There is much we do not know about the future, but we may trust the future with God.
Hope in God's future does not excuse passivity. In fact, it demands a higher level of engagement in the present world. Jesus' demands were eschatological in character. Facing them requires eschatological resources.
Christianity is a religion of hope. To live Christainly is to experience newness of life now.
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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.
Wednesday Youth Activities
Our youth group are meeting with COVID-19 guidelines in place. They are meeting every other Wednesday, 5 pm to 7 pm. At this time, no food is being served, but snacks brought from home are welcome!
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Do you have 20 minutes? - Christian Church (Disciples of ...
Twenty minutes is all it takes to choose your own adventure in this new Bible-study tool, A Parallel Journey. Different demographic profiles are included that present you, the learner, with a variety of different decisions and what the outcome...
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disciples.org
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Pray with Egypt Sunday, October 4, 2020
Lectionary Selection: Ex 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 For a millennium, the people of Egypt have witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking - but they have thrived, embodying the ideal that that hardship from...
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www.globalministries.org
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The Reconciliation offering is divided in two parts with one half going back to the region from which it was received and one half going to the General Reconciliation Ministry administered by the Reconciliation Ministry Commission made up of volunteers from around our church body.
The regions choose the method of distributing the funds that remain within their own area. These programs vary widely between regions. Contact your region for a current listing of projects funded in your area.
The Reconciliation Ministry Commission receives, reviews and allocate funds for grant requests submitted by our general ministries, higher education institutions, regions and recognized ministries of the church whose proposals meet the grant guidelines.
Congregational grant requests are to be submitted to their Region for funding.
Prairie Avenue has not collected this offering for many years. Your generous support towards anti-racism/pro-reconciliation efforts will assist to ensure the human dignity of every child, to ensure all have access to Christ’s abundance, to fully flourish in education, and financial stability, and friendships across God’s human diversity. Won’t you join the chorus in shouting out Hosanna, Hosanna blessed are we who come in the name of the Lord. Thank you for your generosity. This past OUR GOAL IS $200
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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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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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WHY IS OUR PATCH OPENING SO LATE IN SEASON? COVID-19 and a logistical error in contacting interest made for late delivery.
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ARE WE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT WITH LESS TIME? No. It will be half the amount of last year due to late arrival.
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CAN WE LEGALLY OPERATE? Yes. Masks must be worn and hand sanitizer available. Pumpkin patches are allowed under Illinois Department of Health regulations.
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HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE? ARE THERE DISCOUNTS? A set of models will be included with delivery disclosing prices, and you simply match a customer's purchase with the model. THERE ARE NO DISCOUNTS, EITHER GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL.
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THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING...
Saturday, October 17
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Once again the yard facing 22nd street will be transformed into a pumpkin patch to raise funds for youth ministry and Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity.
Pumpkins will arrive by truck on Saturday October 17, 2020 at 4 pm. We will need a crew to unload the truck. We also need wagons on hand for customers to use as shopping carts.
Our pumpkin patch will operate Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, beginning October 17 through October 31.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Speak to Pastor Jason or Richard Neeley.
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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 |
$29.64 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 April-June, 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.
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Regional Assembly 2020: FREE - Sat. Oct. 17, 10 am-Noon
Registration for Regional Assembly 2020 is now open. We invite you to celebrate ministry with us during these unprecedented times by Zoom and YouTube. Please click the registration button to the right and begin your registration. All registrants...
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cciwdisciples.org
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