Ongoing Response to COVID-19
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-01
Daily Advent Reading
TUESDAY | 1 PETER 1:13-16
Set your hope fully on grace. This, Scripture tells us is how
we prepare our minds for action. Focus and anticipate and
hope in grace — not efficiency or power or intelligence
or even wisdom, but grace. Hope in grace runs counter
to our culture obsessed with righteousness or winning,
consumption or acquiring. What would it mean to set your
hope fully on grace today?
Gracious God, grace seems like a risky bet given the state of
our hearts and the state of our world. Won’t those who hope in
grace get exploited in the face of evil and sin? Besides, we take
delight in seeing people get what we think should be coming
to them. Help us to desire grace not only for ourselves, but
for everyone. Show us again the unmatched, transformative
power of your grace. Amen.
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-30
Monday November 30th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
NRS Joshua 1:9
I hereby command you:
Be strong
and courageous;
do not be frightened
or dismayed,
for the LORD your God
is with you wherever you go.”
* * *
News
“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
* * *
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask and ask for money.
* * *
Good Word:
From The Confession of 1967, 9.44
God has created the peoples of the earth to be one universal family. In [God’s] reconciling love, [God] overcomes the barriers between [us] and breaks down every form of discrimination based on racial or ethnic difference, real or imaginary. The church is called to bring all [people] to receive and uphold one another as persons in all relationships of life: in employment, housing, education, leisure, marriage, family, church, and the exercise of political rights. Therefore, the church labors for the abolition of all racial discrimination and ministers to those injured by it. Congregations, individuals, or groups of Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize [others], however subtly, resist the Spirit of God and bring contempt on the faith which they profess.
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.
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Daily Advent Devotion
MONDAY | HEBREWS 11L1-3
Hebrews tells us that faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. As you
begin the Advent season and reflect on the year, what
are your fervent hopes for yourself, your community,
church and the world? Write those hopes down,
envision them and pray about them. Can you be
convicted and assured of their coming to fruition, even
if you do not yet see them?
Gracious God, align our hopes with yours so that our dreams
and visions participate in your good and certain future for
all creation. Do not let our fear overtake our hope. Do not
let us capitulate to lesser desires or false teachings. Grant
us the faith to hope for nothing less than the redemption of
the world that Jesus comes to bring. Give us the courage to
participate in the new, good, life-giving thing, your near
kingdom, present and coming. Amen.
* * *
ESL Café Time
What? We miss seeing you and catching up like we did in person! This will be a monthly café time on Zoom for us to see our friends and tutors from other classes. We will be split into small groups so that we can discuss and catch up. This is a great opportunity to practice speaking in English. Bring your favorite hot drink and a snack to café time.
When? Second Thursday of every month at 10 am. The first one is December 10th at 10am. The next café times are:
- January 14th at 10am
- February 11th at 10am
- March 11th at 10am
- April 8th at 10am
- May 13th at 10am
Zoom Information:
Please email jeanette@firstpres.church for the Zoom meeting information.
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-27
Friday November 27th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
Happy (?) Shopping Friday
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
A litany of detachment:
All the centuries before me:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All the nations of the earth:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All kings, generals, and governors:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All the wars, plagues, and tragedies:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All human achievements by individuals and groups:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All sickness, sin, and error:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All our identities, roles, and titles:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All hurts, grudges, and memories of offense:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All enslavement, abuse, and torture:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All disease, afflictions, and lifetime wounds:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All rejections, abandonments, and betrayals:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All human glory, fame, money, and reputation:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All comforts, luxuries, and pleasures:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All ideas, information, and ideology:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All image, appearance, and privacy:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All our superiority, self-assuredness, and expertise:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All human rights, ambitions, and fairness:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
All personal power, self-will, and self-control:
Gone, gone, entirely gone!
Holy God,
your Son emptied himself in the service of others,
setting for us a daring example.
Jesus’ love of and trust in You
compels us to love and trust with hope.
The power of your Holy Spirit assures
us where nothing else can.
Help us let go of things that
weigh us down and hold us back,
that we might serve you fully
with energy,
intelligence,
imagination,
and loving-kindness.
AMEN.
* * *
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. Be amazed. Tell somebody.
See you on Sunday, FirstPres.Live
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
* * *
PHOTO Challenge!
From your Nurture Team — Last week, there was a “photo finish.” Carol Ann Green‘s guess by email came in at 8:27 AM. Linda Sandquist‘s guess by Facebook comment came in at 8:28 AM. Both correctly guessed Mary Lou Bauer in the photo.
Here’s this week’s photo, our first couple.
Visit http://fb.com/groups/
Please join in the fun! We would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@
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A mellow offering from Ben Rector
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-25
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
Happy Thanksgiving (Tomorrow)
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
A Child’s View/A guest Essay from Rev. Kevin Murphy:
It’s amazing to me that every time I return to a piece of scripture I get something new out of it. It’s as if I lower my bucket into this deep and ever-renewing well and I draw up new insights and inspiration each time. This passage from Mark’s gospel is one of those amazing pieces that reveals itself to me anew each time I drop my bucket. I started with the common understanding of this passage that we are to be as innocent and trusting as little children in order to receive God’s kingdom. As true as that is, it has been stretched (abused) to mean we should not question anything about God. We should just accept what we hear and leave it at that – like good little children. Next I focused on the phrase “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child…” How do little children receive things? With great expectation and excitement and joy! That’s a great way to receive the kingdom of God!
Now, having a one-year-old living in my house, I’m coming to a new understanding of this passage. All the world is new to him. When I take little Felix for a stroll around our neighborhood, he notices everything. He takes in all the sights and sounds and smells. He wants to touch things. He wants to examine and explore everything – from the buzzing of bees to little creepy crawling bugs. Jesus too notices the little things – mustard seeds, lilies of the field, sparrows, a bruised reed. He also notices the little people – fishermen, little children, a boy with a lunch, widows, shepherds, foreigners. And he appreciates them all for what they are and for what they can teach us. Here he notices little children and uses them to open our eyes to the newness of God’s kingdom.
When we notice the little things, we too come to a deeper appreciation, wonder and understanding of God and our neighbor. Little smiles, a gentle touch, a small gesture, a kind word softly spoken are all little things that carry with them the weight of the kingdom of God. Notice them. Appreciate them for what they are, not necessarily what they might become. It’s common to say that children are the future of the church. But, children are the church as much as you and I are. They may not have the education or sensibilities yet to serve the church in leadership roles, but the things they can show us about the kingdom of God are limitless and necessary. Receive the gifts of God like a little child. Look closely at the spots on the back of a ladybug. Admire the beauty of a butterfly’s wings. Glory in Morning Glories. Soak up the richness of a smooth creek rock. Appreciate the small kindness of a bag of groceries or baked goods on the porch. Love back, the way a little child loves – openly, without hesitation or reservation. When we do so, we are one small step further along in our journey toward God.
Let us pray. You create each little bug and slug. Help us to learn from them the lessons of your kingdom. You create each little child and they bless us with the things they teach us of your love for us. Help us to notice and appreciate the small and seemingly insignificant as each are a part of your creation, your world. We thank you that you love us so much and want the best for and from us so deeply that you give us the little things. Amen
News
Music lovers! Join us for a real feast tonight….We received so many compliments on Leslie Thomas’ piano playing for our services that we invited her to record a recital of sacred music for us. This will be featured TONIGHT at a service of fellowship and music at 7 PM.
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
I stepped on my scale this morning. It said: “Please practice social distancing. Only one person at a time on scale.”
* * *
The spread of Covid-19 is based on two things:
1. How dense the population is.
2. How dense the population is.
Good Word:
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16
LET US PRAY:
Our Father in heaven,
HOLY is your name.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-24
News
- Join us TONIGHT, November 24, at 7 pm for our second virtual dessert. Share a preview of your Thanksgiving dessert and…
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
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- Music lovers! We received so many compliments on Leslie Thomas’ piano playing for our services that we invited her to record a recital of sacred music for us. This will be featured on the Wednesday night service of fellowship and music on November 25 at 7 PM.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
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 The Heart of Mission November 24, 2020 Thank you! These young men from DREAAM are grateful to FPCC for purchasing this computer cart for their virtual learning work here at the church.
Faith in Place: Just a reminder to our Green Team and all those interested in God’s Creation:Join us at Light the Way, Faith in Place’s first ever virtual Annual Celebration and Fundraiser! Tuesday Dec. 8th | 7:00-8:00pm CT Join at 6:45pm CT for the Pre-Party with DJ Antonio Cesar.At Light the Way, we will celebrate the resilience of our Green Teams and share highlights from 2020 when we reimagined what justice-focused environmental work looks like in the midst of a pandemic. At the event, we will raise funds for 2021, and celebrate with a very special announcement about the future of Faith in Place! To register log into https://www.faithinplace.org/
Salt & Light Ministry will be participating in GivingTuesday on December 1 and we need your help! 1. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. We will be posting updates, stories, and videos, leading up to Giving Tuesday, which is also the last day of our fall fundraising campaign. 2. GIVE. You don’t have to wait until Giving Tuesday to help us reach our $80,000 fall fundraising goal! Click on the donate link at the bottom of this email or HERE to donate securely. Write “fall fundraiser” in the notes section so that we know to add your donation to this specific campaign. 3. SPREAD THE WORD. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating a real impact on December 1 by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support our organization. Make sure to use hashtag #GivingTuesday and tag us so we can share! |
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