Ongoing Response to COVID-19

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/event/illinois-bach-academy-young-artists-recital
 
 * * *
 
Eternal Father, Strong to Save…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7o4Ltq_Dz8
 


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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)
 
The Heart of Mission
June 15, 2021
 
This coming Sunday, June 20, is World Refugee Day. First Presbyterian Church Champaign supports a variety of mission agencies, partners and coworkers, whose arms reach out to welcome the refugee in our midst and those far away. We support The Refugee Center which helps immigrants and refugees here in Champaign Urbana settle and find a footing. We supported the coming together of mission and social agencies into shared space with The Refugee Center such as the Immigrant Services of Champaign Urbana. We support world mission partners like Frontera de Cristo and even our world mission coworkers in Africa and South Asia who in turn support root spiritual needs with communities that feed the refugees plight. Our local agencies like CU at Home and Salt and Light often find themselves assisting refugees who are seeking safety and find themselves wanting. How hard it is to be in a country, regardless of the country, when you don’t speak the language and you have no resources. World Refugee Day is a time to ponder the interdependence of the world. Just read through our list of mission agencies at the bottom of this newsletter and you will see a thread in each one that weaves us together.  I decided that it would be useful to reprint for you the World Refugee Reflection from the PC(USA) Mission Yearbook found online. May it enrich your week as you consider the Christ in our neighbor.
 
Peace,
Rev. Rachel Matthews, Mission Coordinator
 
(https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/june-20-2021/)
 
For two decades, June 20th’s designation as “World Refugee Day” has drawn global attention to both the plight of refugees living on the edge of survival and their strength and courage. It is also a day to remember the promise made by 146 countries, including the U.S., to provide safe haven and long-term recovery to those forced to flee their homelands.

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:

  • The people of Syria after 10 years of war
  • Cameroon, particularly the conflict with the Anglophone regions
  • The Tigray Region of Ethiopia
  • The Gedo Region of Somalia
  • Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador
  • The Mexico border with the U.S.

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
Or alternate First Reading 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16
Psalm 9:9-20
Or alternate Psalm Psalm 133
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Gospel Mark 4:35-41

 

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Robyn McEvilla, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
John McFayden, Board of Pensions
 

Let us pray:

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
   a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
   for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:9–10)

Today we pray for all those who have been forced to leave their homes, their homelands and all they hold dear that you may grant them safe passage, wisdom and courage. And we pray for host communities around the world to have open hearts and eyes to see God’s servants in the faces of those seeking refuge. In the name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
 



You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Local Addendum:
 
CU at Home UPDATE – You may have read this in the News-Gazette but it is helpful to know that CU at Home keeps us informed of their practice. Please pray for them to find new staff to hire.
 
June 11, 2021
 
 
Good afternoon friend!
 
I wanted update you on the progress we have made here at C-U at Home over the past few weeks. While there is still progress to be made, I am extremely proud of the hard work that our staff has put in over this past month!
 
Severe staffing shortages, especially in our overnight shelter, have forced us to operate at a reduced capacity at the emergency shelters and street outreach and reduced hours at our daytime drop-in center this past month. We have continued operations in other areas of the ministry, including our transitional housing program, as usual.
 
I’ve been involved in conversations where I’ve heard folks mention a “total shutdown” of services since early May, so I want to emphasize that while we have had to reduce capacity in some areas, the ministry has not been “shut down” for the past few weeks.
 
When we made the decision to reduce services last month, we set a VERY tentative date for returning to full operations on June 14th. While we have made immense progress towards our goals, hiring continues to be a slow process. We have expanded our job boards, increased the hourly wage and salaries of open positions, extended into more digital marketing opportunities, and even recently connected with several Deans at the University of Illinois to share employment opportunities and hire quality employees. Suffice it to say we are leaving no stone unturned relating to finding applicants!
 
Sadly, upon call back of several of the applicants, many do not have voicemails set up, others do not return phone calls, and some even have been scheduled for an interview and then not shown up. We are continuing to schedule interviews as we look to fill our available daytime and overnight positions. I am confident we will be able to reopen for full operation in the very near future, but unfortunately not on June 14th.
 
During this past month, we have not only focused much attention on hiring, but also have been working in a number of areas to improve the quality of our services:

  • visiting shelters around the state and improving our security measures
  • updating policies and procedures in all areas of ministry (especially our shelters)
  • refurbishing both the men’s shelter and Phoenix drop-in center space
  • creating a separate space for both the men’s shelter and drop-in center
  • adding bunk beds to the men’s shelter, a Resource Center to our Phoenix Center, and a multitude of other ministry updates.

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!
 
I close with a few thoughts. First, “Thank YOU!” for your prayers, notes of encouragement and kindness, and continued support. We couldn’t navigate this difficult time without YOU! Secondly, even though hiring has been a frustratingly slow process, I am THRILLED about the progress we’ve made in other areas! There is a forward momentum within these walls that invigorates my soul as we look to come back even stronger than before! Finally, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at rob@cuathome.us with any questions that you may have. I’d be happy to share more information with you!
 
Thank you for your support and passion for those without an address! We will continue our commitment to those most vulnerable members of our community and our goal to “come back stronger” than ever!”
 
C-U at Home Board of Directors and Staff
 
We want to keep our mission partners in our prayers. Listen for God’s call to you in their ministry.
 
Our PC(USA) Mission CoWorkers:
Mark Adams and Miriam Maidonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Bob and Kristi Rice (South Sudan)
 
Our regional and global mission partners:
Kemmerer Village (and Camp Carew)
Lifeline Pilots
Marion Medical Mission
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Opportunity International
Friends of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan Presbyterian Cuba Partnership
Special Offerings of the PC(USA)
Theological Education Fund
Young Adult Volunteers
 
Here in Champaign – Urbana:
CU at Home
CANAAN S.A.F.E. HOUSE
CANTEEN RUN
COURAGE CONNECTION
DREAAM
eMPTY TOMB, INC
FAITH IN ACTION
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY
THE REFUGEE CENTER
RESTORATION URBAN MINISTRY
SALT & LIGHT
 
Here at First Presbyterian Church
FPCC Amateur Preachers
FPCC Environmental Committee working with Faith in Place
FPCC Presbyterian Women
FPCC ESL
FPCC Children, Youth and Families
FPCC Mission Possible/Go and Serve
FPCC Mission Team, World Mission and Community Mission Deacons

 
 
A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated
 

  302 W. Church Street
  Champaign, IL 61820
  217-356-7238
  info@firstpres.church
 
 

 
   
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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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