Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-18
June 18th, 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Have you ever been in a storm? Have you ever had to pull off the highway in a driving rain? Have you ever been afraid, in a storm, in a terrible wind or rising tide?
I’ve been in storms and weathered the edges of many hurricanes. When Isabel made a direct hit in my coastal home town in Virginia, I found it to be thrilling: the wind, the sideways rain, the crack of tree branches. We were safe inside. It was fun. The next day when we drove from our house in Portsmouth to my folks’ home in nearby Hampton and saw the damage, my heart sunk. My mother sat in the back seat and wept from Newport News Point all the way to Alleghany Road. Our little boys were silent, transfixed by what the saw, the downed trees, the arborist cutting the trees out of the road, the beleaguered families standing in humid front yards looking up to crashed roofs.
Have you ever been in a storm? Have you ever been afraid?
Listen to this:
Gospel Mark 4:35-41
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
* * *
See you on Sunday at 9:00. The in-person service will be live-streamed at FirstPres.Live.
After worship, we’ll have a brief congregational meeting to vote to concur with Eric Corbin’s desire to end his pastoral ties with us in order that he can accept the call to First Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, IL.
* * *
God is with us in life’s storms. Even when we are afraid, we can trust that we are in excellent hands.
See you Sunday.
9:00 a.m.
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
matt@firstpres.church
* * *
From your Nurture Team — For our final photo guess, your editor shared a photo of himself. Yes, Amy Born, Brandi Lowe, Kathy Schoeffmann, and Emily Beach, you correctly guessed that last week’s photo was of Eric Corbin. From bowl cut to bald.
It’s been fun sharing photos!
* * *
The Choral Division at UI is completing a week of intense study and rehearsal several works of J. S. Bach with a live streamed concert Friday night, 6/18. They begin at 7:30 and continue with half hour breaks through 9:30 PM.
Follow the link below for concert times and the connection.
Joe Grant
https://music.illinois.edu/
* * *
Eternal Father, Strong to Save…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-17
Thursday June 17th 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Today I share some odds and ends. I hope it encourages you.
* * *
This morning as you read this, I’m driving home from Chicago. I drove up on Monday to make a visit and to do some reading for sermons. Some quick observations:
- I hear just as many sirens from my office in Champaign as I do from my hotel in on Huron. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much.
- I met my childhood friend Bret Godfrey on Monday in Chicago. He began, on Tuesday, a motorcycle ride driving the length of the now-decommissioned Route 66, from its origin on Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue. On Sunday, he and a fellow rider hope to dip their toes into the Pacific at the Santa Monica Pier. It’s a long drive—about 5,400 miles from his home outside of St. Paul. I admire Bret’s sense of adventure. He and I grew up together in Hampton and he’s always been restless for the open road. He and his wife teach in St. Paul public schools during the school year. In the summer, Bret always makes a big trip. Imagine how these treks brighten his social studies teaching, as he’s ridden the Louis and Clark trail, seen the redwoods and grand canyon, stood on that corner in Winslow, Arizona, been to Jamestown, imagined the Boston Tea Party from the seawall of the harbor there, met with submariners at their reunion in New Orleans, seen the cranes on Nebraska’s Platte River, and much more. I would have loved having Mister Godfrey as a teacher in 7th grade. (Traveling mercies to Bret.)
- In our stroll around the city, we talked to Harris, a fireman at a big Fire Station behind a bar called Bub City. He told us the difference between an “engine” and a “truck” and shared stories about chasing fires when traffic doesn’t get out of the way. What a nice chat with a nice man on a cool, kindly night.
- This observation from a collection of sermons by Dr. Leslie Weatherhead given to you by our Don Shult: [L]et no one belittle the evangelical value of a lovely anthem well sung. I must confess that for me it is devotionally very often the high-spot of a Church service and never more so than at present.” He wrote that in 1959. It’s especially true for me post-pandemic, 2021. (When have you last thanked Joe Grant for directing our church music offerings?)
* * *
This is a note from former church member Larry Braskamp.
Dear Matt,
I hope you received an invitation of the Memorial service of Judi Braskamp (Sunday, June 20th, Fourth Pres Chicago, preregistration required) . . . I did not mention the influence of the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign in our photo album of Judi. I did not have a picture of your church when we developed it. I do want you to know that the First Church community was very influential for our entire family. We benefitted greatly from being part of this faith community.
(Blessings to Larry and family as they grieve the physical death of Judi.)
* * *
Observations from Bill Gamble: I have sometimes joked that the US and Australia are two countries separated by a common language, especially slang. The same applies to Canada, maybe to a lesser extent.
North of the border, “Semi,” referring to a large truck, becomes “Seme.” “Out and about” becomes “Oot and aboot”. The last letter of the alphabet is Zed rather than Zee. And “Canadian Bacon” is unknown, but rather exists as “Breakfast rashers.” And that dollar coin is a “Loonie.”
* * *
And this wonderful note from Marilyn Hunter Shimkus:
My first husband of 52 years of marriage kept jokes, etc. for when he was asked to speak to a group. A few more out of his 4-drawer file cabinet:
- Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
- Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.
- Cooking lesson No. 1. Don’t fry bacon in the nude.
- Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
- If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
- When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
* * *
And here’s a note from our old friend Don Kuhlman:
I have many fond memories of First Pres that I want to share. I know Donna would agree. She passed away on Dec 19, 2017. We treasure our friends at First Pres and their love of Jesus Christ. You feel the warmth and welcome of the congregation when you enter the sanctuary. The greetings, “good to see you” by all our friends on Sunday mornings are precious. The sermons by Pastor Matt and Eric are special. The music is tremendous.
I do watch the Sunday services on my iPad and enjoyed and appreciate the sermons, music, and GIP during this pandemic. I look forward to the weekday mailers via email from Matt. They make me feel like I’m still in C-U.
I moved to Chandler, AZ on October 24, 2018 to be near our sons, Dave and Dan. I live at the Gardens At Ocotillo in Chandler, a nice retirement complex for 125 residents.
A note about Arizona. You’ll always get a warm welcome ! Temp highs will reach 117 this week. Then it really gets hot in July and August.
My warm best wishes to everyone at First Presbyterian Church of Champaign !!!!!!
* * *
A HOUSE INSIDE OF ME
I have a house inside of me
A house that people never see
It has a door through which some pass
And windows but they’re not of glass.
Sometimes I like to go inside
And hide and hide and hide
And doctor up my wounded pride
When I’ve been treated rough outside.
And sometimes when I’ve been to blame
I go inside and blush with shame
And get my mind in better frame
And get my tongue and temper sane.
I meet my Heavenly Father there
And He steps down to hear my prayer
To heal my wounds and cure my care
And make me strong to do and dare.
Then after I am made quite strong
And things are right that were all wrong
I go outside where I belong
And sing a new and happy song.
And then I hear the people say
“You’re blithe and bonny good and gay”
And it’s because I feel that way
But they don’t know the price I pay.
You have a house inside of you
Where you can go and fight your battles through
And God will tell you what to do
And make your heart so strong and true.
* * *
NEWS:
There will be a Congregational Meeting this Sunday, June 20, immediately following the 9 am service to act on Eric Corbin’s request to dissolve his relationship with the church, so that he may began a pastorate in Woodstock, IL.
* * *
Good Word:
I Corinthians 12:13
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
Let us pray (I’ve shared this one before.)
Glory to you, Prodigal Provider,
for the bumper crop of generosity
being harvested in this season.
I pray your heart gladdens with delight
as you see children’s encouraging
sidewalk art,
or an exhausted parent’s calming hug;
hear sweet music from balcony soloists
or virtual choirs;
smell donated flowers,
aromas from chef-prepared meals
donated for the poor,
or fresh baked goods left at
the front lines of care;
feel the pulsing flow from donors’
veins to blood banks,
or the touch of nurses’, doctors’,
or chaplains’ gloved hands on the brows
of the sick or dying, while still speaking
words of hope, comfort,
or blessing to those in need.
In the midst of the bombastic bedlam
of the self-serving, may I not miss
these beautiful, bounteous blessings
discretely planted, fed, and nourished
by your goodness and grace. Amen.
(Rev. Dr. David Hindman)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-16
Wednesday June 16th 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
HERE IS AN IMPORTANT LETTER from Ruth Craddock, written last Thursday, on the eve of Illinois entering “Stage Five.”
The state of Illinois [resumed, June 11th] ‘normal’ operations, after 15 months of ‘altered’ operations related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Your Covid Committee met periodically throughout this pandemic with the intent of keeping our congregation safe. We are a committee of people from various walks of life—scientists, clergy, clerical, construction trades, physicians, lawyers. Our goal was to stay informed about the pandemic using knowledge and data available to us from news outlets, scientific journals, and our public health departments, both local and national. With this information we discussed operational details that would help keep our congregation safe as we all tried to navigate the ever-changing landscape. We made recommendations to Session, who acted on those recommendations as they deemed appropriate.
Masks, social distancing, hand washing—all ‘tools in the toolbox’ to help stem the tide of the virus. I never liked the term ‘social distancing’; while we needed to be physically distanced, we needed to stay socially connected. I would like to thank our clergy and staff who worked hard to keep us all connected, even though we were apart. They continued to address our needs, physical and spiritual, large and small, with creative and technical solutions. I would also like to thank all the Covid Committee members who gave of their time and expertise to keep us all safe.
Masks, social distancing, hand washing—it’s now clear that the vaccines have made the biggest difference in allowing us to return to ’normal’. We encourage anyone who can to get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and incredibly effective at preventing severe disease and death from Covid 19. It’s possible that vaccines will be made available to children as young as 5 by this fall, and studies are ongoing looking at safety and efficacy and appropriate dosing for children as young as 6 months.
We are set to resume ’normal’ worship! Unvaccinated people will need to continue to mask up, to both protect themselves from getting infected as well as to minimize their ability to shed virus through aerosolized particles and infect others. Vaccinated people are highly unlikely to either get sick from Covid 19 or to spread it. In an effort to support our kids, who have yet to be vaccinated, and any immunosuppressed people who might be in our sanctuary, it is always acceptable to continue wearing a mask indoors.
I look forward to seeing everyone in church again!
* * *
NEWS:
There will be a Congregational Meeting this Sunday, June 20, immediately following the 9 am service to act on Eric Corbin’s request to dissolve his relationship with the church.
* * *
Humor:
Q: What do you get when you cross a pig and a centipede?
A: Bacon and legs.
Q: What do you call a bear standing in the rain?
A: A drizzly bear.
* * *
Good Word:
Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine;
hate what is evil,
hold fast to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
be patient in suffering,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints;
extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another;
do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;
do not claim to be wiser than you are.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought
for what is noble in the sight of all.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you,
live peaceably with all.
Never avenge yourselves, but leave room
for the wrath of God;
If your enemies are hungry, feed them;
if they are thirsty, give them something to drink;
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.
Let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-15
Girls reading. (Photo by the late Rev. Kelly Allen) One of the lectionary readings for today is the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4–11, 19–23) 32–49. It occurred to me recently that this story is a good metaphor for the U.S. asylum system, with David as an individual asylum seeker and Goliath as the U.S. immigration system. Like David, many refugees are ordinary people who stand up for themselves and the rights of others. They must summon enormous courage and rely on their faith in a loving and just God to deliver them. When they arrive at an international border, they must muster the courage once again to tell their refugee story to the “powers that be” in hopes that they will not be sent back. Whether at the U.S. border or waiting in a refugee camp in Kenya, refugees must overcome impossible odds for their survival. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance partners with churches and organizations on the ground to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and forcibly displaced people. On this World Refugee Day, we lift up situations where PDA is currently active through our PC(USA) partners:
In the U.S., we acknowledge and give thanks for San Fernando Valley Refugee Children’s Center; the Interfaith Welcome Coalition; Angry Tias and Abuelas; Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees; Home for Refugees; El Shaddai Vision Church; the Presbyteries of the Pacific, San Gabriel and Riverside; Church World Service; and the hundreds of PC(USA) congregations for their ministries of welcome and accompaniment. An intercessory prayer, other worship resources and World Refugee Day materials can be found at pcusa.org/refugee. Susan Krehbiel, Associate for Refugees and Asylum, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, June 20, 2021, the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)First Reading 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49 Let us join in prayer for:PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff Let us pray:The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
Local Addendum:
Every action we take is laser focused on providing a more effective and safe array of services to meet the needs of our friends on the street in response to feedback we have received from them. We also will continue to make hiring of staff our highest priority! |
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-14
Monday June 14th 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
We are coming out of pandemic.
Sigh.
My pastor friends around the country find themselves in different places in the post pandemic world. Fourth Presbyterian in Chicago is awakening from their hibernation with reservation-only face-to-face services. The Old First Presbyterian in San Francisco hopes to be open for face-to-face services in August, if not before. Black Mountain Presbyterian near Montreat is open.
It’s been a long road.
Our church is fully open. I’ll say that again: Our church is fully open. No reservations. No taking temperatures at the door. No contact tracing. No limited seating. No social/physical distancing. We still have some lingering hold-outs: no donuts (yet) in fellowship hour. No congregation-wide sit down dinners. Yet. All that is coming very soon. (I may sneak in illegal donuts.)
Sunday Services resume at 9:00 a.m. on June 20th (Father’s Day). That service will be live-streamed for all our peeps who aren’t ready to come back yet for face-to-face (or for those accustomed to worshiping in PAJAMAS!) We have collected friends from around the country: Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, Maryland, Florida, Arizona. Hopefully, those not coming in-person will continue to log on.
I’m tempering my giddiness by keeping in mind that, according to the CDC, 597,195 people have died of Covid-19 in the United State (25,481 in Illinois). Over 3.7 million people have died worldwide. Those unvaccinated still face risks from the disease for which we have no cure.
Yes, we should celebrate and thank God that this hellish night appears to be ending. It also makes sense to continue praying for our world, thanking God for health care workers, and praying that vaccinations progress.
* * *
I need your advice. Please respond.
I began these daily emailers to keep our flock connected and to make as personal a touch as possible to you in lonely isolation. Now that we are ‘coming out’, the time to draw these daily missives may be coming to a close. I’ll continue to write weekly Friday emails with a hopeful eye towards Sunday worship. Please let me know what you think about the Monday-Thursday notes.
* * *
NEWS:
There will be a Congregational Meeting this Sunday, June 20, immediately following the 9 am service to act on Eric Corbin’s request to dissolve his relationship with the church.
* * *
Humor:
This jewel-in-the-rough from Bill Gamble. I meant to share it from the pulpit on Sunday. I did have the presence of mind to share it at last week’s wedding rehearsal when friends and family of the Jaqueline Prestegaard and Bain Wilson gathered from Kansas, Virginia, North Carolina, and lots other other places. Here it is:
From vaudeville days:
On a North-bound Illinois Central local passenger train.
Conductor: Arcola! and a bit later Tuscola!
Passenger: What’s next, Coca Cola?
Conductor: No, Champaign.
* * *
Good Word:
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Let us pray:
Oh God,
thank you because
goodness is stronger than evil,
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours,
Victory is ours
through you, O God, who loves us.
Victory is ours,
Victory is ours
through you, O God, who loves us.
(adapt. Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-11
June 11th, 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Your Session’s Covid-19 Response Team has been meeting throughout the pandemic to discuss (and pray about) how to do ministry and “be church” safely. We met early this week and the Session approved the report below. Next week, I’ll be sharing a great letter from the leader of our Covid Team, Dr. Ruth Craddock. For now, I’d like to try to summarize where we are.
- The Covid-19 Response Team strongly urges all persons who can get vaccinated to do so.
- All unvaccinated persons must wear a mask at all times indoors at the church.
- Vaccinated persons are invited—not required—to wear a mask in worship. (See the wording below).
- We are easing into congregational singing. Not now, but soon.
- We aren’t, yet, eating at congregation-wide, indoors, sit-down events. (Smaller groups of vaccinated people, sure. And we are resuming coffee and tea in Westminster after 9 a.m. worship,
- We will resume full, in-person worship at 9 a.m. That service will be live-streamed for our friends at home, and all over the country.
Please know that your Covid Team (Ken Chapman, Eric Corbin, Ruth Craddock, Ron Deering, Judy Geistlinger, Matt Matthews, Carol Miles, Mark Schoeffmann, and Tom Ulen) has been trying to provide the safest place for ALL our members and friends. They have attempted to do all they can to ensure that our church is a true, safe, sanctuary for all people. Please thank, have patience with, and pray for these saints who are doing their best.
May I reiterate one word: patience. Let’s work on loving and being patient with each other. We’re almost there. Hallelujah!
I hope to see you on Sunday.
Matt Matthews
FCC COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
June 8, 2021, Meeting Minutes
Present: Ken Chapman, Eric Corbin, Ron Deering, Judy Geistlinger, Joe Grant (to discuss congregational singing), Matt Matthews, Carol Miles, Mark Schoeffmann, and Tom Ulen
By Zoom
Matt presided over the meeting in Ruth’s absence and convened the meeting at 5:35pm. He had spoken with Ruth and gave her report to the committee. Ruth said that the Governor is expected to declare that the State is in Phase 5 at 12:01am on Friday, June 11. Everyone and everything in the State can return to pre-pandemic activities and status. All of our precautions can be relaxed as of Friday.
Vaccinated people are “good to go.” Those who are not vaccinated proceed at their own risk. Ruth reported and Ken confirmed that the probability of vaccinated persons getting the virus is very small and that if they do get the coronavirus, they are likely to have a mild case. Unvaccinated people need to wear masks indoors; immune-compromised people (even if vaccinated) need to remain masked. Matt suggested that vaccinated people may wish to wear masks to be in solidarity with those who are unvaccinated or immune-compromised.
Ken said that continuing to wear masks indoors, especially when children are around, might be a good idea. There is a new variant of the coronavirus from India (called the “Delta variant”) that is now common in the UK and is expected to arrive in the US soon. Ken reported that the three or four major vaccines appear to be effective against the Delta variant. Ken (and Ruth) urged everyone to be vaccinated as soon as possible. He said that Covid-19 will be with us for a long time and may require a regular booster shot. Our hospitals are not going to be overwhelmed if many of us are vaccinated. Ken said that if one has a cold, seasonal allergies, or respiratory infection, one should wear a mask.
There was vigorous discussion about how to phrase the general feeling in the group that wearing masks in worship was a good idea. Mark pointed out that a general policy of wearing masks could minimize the discriminatory feeling that those who are not vaccinated might feel. Matt added some generous thoughts about the advisability of continuing to wear masks during worship.
Others pointed out that unless people felt that all or almost all of those attending worship were vaccinated, they might not come back to in-person worship for some time. But we also agreed that we want all to feel welcome at worship, even if they are not vaccinated but are wearing a mask.
Matt proposed and the group accepted unanimously this wording:
Out of abundant concern for others, particularly for the unvaccinated, such as children and the medically compromised, the Covid-19 Response Team suggests that, out of Christian love, we continue to wear masks during indoor worship at this time.
We recognize that it will be hard to mandate mask-wearing for those who are vaccinated. Also, it will be hard to insist that only the unvaccinated wear masks or to enforce such a policy. So, we agreed on the language above – with “suggests” rather than “requires.” And we recognized that matters might change; so, we added “at this time,” at Mark’s suggestion.
Carol reported that the Worship Committee proposes that we move to an unlimited in-person worship beginning with the 9am service on June 20, 2021. In addition to the in-person service, the streaming of the service will continue. As of that date, the 10:15 service will be ended.
There was vigorous discussion of the advisability of having a basket of donuts at the 10am fellowship hour. The group felt that it would recommend not having donuts at the fellowship hour but that coffee, tea, and water would be alright. We need to find a more sanitary manner of serving donuts before we resume that practice.
We postponed any further modification to the worship services till later.
With regard to fellowship between the 9am and 11:15am services (the “Gathering” service is slated to begin on July 18 or soon thereafter), Carol pointed out that that fellowship is taking place anyway, regardless of whether drinks and donuts are available. The Nurture Committee has always provided the volunteers for coffee making and serving. That committee is meeting on Thursday, June 10, and should be advised of our decisions in order to staff the fellowship hour after the 9am service on June 20.
We turned to a more general discussion of fellowship and food. Eating events need to be started eventually. It’s okay to have meals, but families with children will be problematic. What about outside eating? We agreed that that is OK. However, we are uncomfortable at this time to have congregation-wide indoor meals. DREAAM will continue to follow the Unit 4 guidelines. Mindy is familiar with those guidelines and can inform this team on what those are.
We then turned to a discussion of singing in worship. Joe and Eric had attended a webinar on singing in in-person worship and reported on the consensus in that webinar. Joe said that the webinar participants suggested good spacing, singing for less than an hour, and being mindful of the fact that it takes time for air to turn over in a space. Joe could not yet make a recommendation that we go back to congregational singing. He recommended that the live quartet sing at the end of the worship service, while masked. The webinar mentioned that if there is congregational singing, that it take place only at the end of the service. Joe recommended that we wait until July at the earliest before moving to congregational singing. The committee unanimously concurred.
Eric posted this article for the team: Keep COVID-19 restrictions during in-person worship, ecumenical guide suggests – The Presbyterian Outlook (pres-outlook.org).
We then discussed the advisability of participating in spoken liturgy during in-person worship. We agreed that the spoken liturgy does not have the same risk as singing. We will, therefore, move forward with including spoken liturgy in worship.
This team will administer the Covid-19 account funds, which now total $15,000. We unanimously approved the following expenditures:
- 2 replacement Blue Air purifier filters for rooms 204 & 206 = $139.98 (6 months longevity)
- New air purifier for room 205 = $299.99.
- New air purifier for room 207 = $299.99.
- New air purifier for café = $979.99 (larger unit needed for larger room volume).
- Additional Owl device for the Chapel = $1,000.00.
Tom, as chair of Building and Grounds, will investigate with Mindy if any further air purifiers are needed.
These additional suggestions – with no dollar amounts included – were discussed:
- Reduce gun violence/gun buy back
- Families
- Immigrants
- Courage Connection
- CU at Home
- Drug Use
- Vaccine Clinic Event/Park (July 31, 1-5 pm – School supplies/back to school; food trucks/shaved ice for free)
Mark noted that Covid-relief donors wanted their donations to go specifically to pandemic-related projects.
Mark also proposed this agenda item for our next meeting: Can and should we require our staff to be vaccinated as a condition of employment?
We have tentatively called our next meeting for Tuesday, July 6, at 5:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Judi Geistlinger
Tom Ulen
* * *
I can see clearly now!!! A great end-of-pandemic song from the inestimable Johnny Nash…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
* * *
From your Nurture Team — There were no correct guessers of last week’s photo of Kathy Haynes (wife of former Associate Pastor Leroy Haynes).
Here’s this week’s photo, which will be our last — at least for now.
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-10
Thursday June 10th 2021
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
I haven’t shared any jokes lately . . .
Q: Why did the robber wash his clothes before he ran away with the loot?
A: He wanted to make a clean getaway.
Q: Why did the invisible man turn down a job offer?
A: He just couldn’t see himself doing it.
Q: Where do generals keep their armies?
A: In their sleevies.
Q: Why can’t you play hide-and-seek with mountains?
A: Because they’re always peaking.
* * *
Right now, the Session is considering the Covid-19 Response Team’s suggested new guidelines as we open up out of pandemic. This will be certain: The team urges all unvaccinated people who are medically able to do to get vaccinated. And all unvaccinated people must remain masked indoors at all times.
I hope to have a letter and a list in tomorrow’s emailer.
Good Word: Romans 5:1-5
5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Let us pray:
GOD, you bring our days to an end
like a story that is told.
Help us to remember that
at the end of our small day,
is the eternity of your love.
Amen.
(Reinhold Niebuhr)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-09
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Refrain: Tell me the old, old story, |
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-08
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-07
Monday, June 7th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Friends,
Yesterday, First Pres began offering a thirty-minute preaching service for the residents of Windsor of Savoy. The morning went off without a hitch. Elder John Muirhead delivered the sermon. John is the coordinator of our “Amateur Preachers” group.
You’ll be hearing news this summer about how we are hoping to grow our Amateur Preachers ministry. You (yes, you) will be called upon to consider preaching a sermon at Windsor of Savoy or in a small congregation whose minister is on vacation.. You might have one or one hundred sermons in you. Please be thinking about this. Rachel Matthews is coordinating our efforts at Windsor of Savoy, and besides our Amateur Preachers, Judi Geistlinger (a Certified Lay Pastor), your pastors, and Rachel will be preaching.
I’m reminded what many wise people have told me, Many hands make for light work. Thanks, in advance, for thinking about this.
* * *
Humor
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, ‘And all girls.’
This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, ‘Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?’
Her response, ‘Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying ‘All Men’!’
* * *
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”—Howard Thurman
* * *
PEACE to you all,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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