Ongoing Response to COVID-19

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?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTgzZXPVQhM
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO_LV-yInc8
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz4fWky0VxI

* * *

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. 

Visit http://fb.com/groups/firstpreschampaign to make your guesses, or email them to photos@firstpres.church.  

 


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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
 
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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

 
   
                                                       

 

 

 
The Heart of Mission
June 9, 2021
 
Tell me the old, old story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story simply,
As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary,
And helpless and defiled.

Refrain: Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Me_the_Old,_Old_Story)
 
Hymnary.org, a database of songs, lyrics and histories of hymns from many, many sources, tells us that the author of this hymn was Kate Hankey (b.1834-d.1911) She was an Anglican, from England, an abolitionist, a Bible school teacher, a hospital visitor, and a mission supporter. She sang her story!!
 
The Amateur Preachers are telling the Old, Old Story to our friends at Windsor Savoy as well as throughout the Presbytery. John Muirhead reminded us in his sermon last Sunday of how we, like the Woman at the Well, like Simon Peter, have a story to tell. World Mission Committee will be hearing a few of you soon tell your story to their committee. I hope in the coming days when you get a call asking if you would be interested in telling your story encountering the Christ and that you would consider sharing it in  whatever small group that you are a part of. Stay tuned for a seminar on how to strengthen your telling of such good news.
 
CU at Home sends out a weekly enewsletter with good news from our streets and those working with friends without an address. In it Rick Williams, Ministry Development Assistant, writes,
 
More than ten years ago, God began a “good work” here at C-U at Home. It is exciting to watch all the transformations currently taking place that will help us move closer to the “completion” God has promised in Him!
 
One of the major transformations underway this week is happening in our Phoenix Daytime Center, which for the past 18 months has also served as our C-U Men’s Shelter. To restore the pre-pandemic feel of the Phoenix, the large open room will be divided with partitions to provide a separate space for shelter area. The old concrete floor is being refinished. New furniture and other updates are planned for the Phoenix, and 20 bunk beds have already been donated for the shelter so we can move away from mats on the floor!
 
A new resource center is also being set up so our friends, with the help of staff and volunteers, will be able to use computers for job searches, to create resumes, and to access other community resources and services. If you are interested in becoming part of a solid core of volunteers to help with this or any the many other essential services we provide, join our new Volunteer Text Group by texting HelpCU to 844-939-3727.
 
Check our Facebook page to see daily updates and photos of our progress and some “shout outs” to the people and business who are helping with our efforts to “come back stronger!” We appreciate your support!
 
—– 
And in case you want to hear  Tell Me the Old, Old Story, check out this YouTube video of a youth choir from St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Delaware Valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjoyRlQhdAg
 
I hope you are inspired!
 
Peace,
 
Rev. Rachel Matthews, Mission Coordinator
 
We want to keep our mission partners in our prayers, those who are waiting to go back to their place of ministry and those who are able to work where they are. 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
 
 

 
   
Attachments:

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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-06-08

Tuesday, June 8th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends,
 
Yesterday, the Session voted to call a meeting of the Congregation for Sunday, June 20th, immediately following the 9 a.m. service (which will probably be in person) for the purpose of voting to concur with Eric Corbin’s desire to terminate his call here at First Pres Champaign so that he can accept the call of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodstock, IL.
 
Steps are coming together to discern next steps for us (including having a goodbye party for Eric and his family) and that timeline will be shared soon. Eric’s last Sunday with us will likely be in July.
 
Eric’s letter follows here.
 
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to phone me. Join me in praying for our flock and our brothers and sisters in Woodstock as Eric prepares to become their next pastor.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Matt@FirstPres.Church
864386.9138
 
Eric’s pastoral letter is here:
 
June 6, 2021 

Just over eight years ago, three Corbins entered the doors of First Presbyterian Church of Champaign for the first time. We were new to the area and looking for a community of faith in which to worship, serve, and fellowship. We found many opportunities for each of those in this congregation, and found this a great place for our family to follow God’s call. A few months later, two more Corbins joined the family, and you welcomed them with loving arms, too. All five Corbins became part of the life of this congregation, and over time, two of us joined the staff. Kristi was first, becoming Mission Coordinator in January 2015. A few months later, Eric was invited to join the staff as Covenant Associate Pastor.
 
In those six years that I have been on the staff, we have continued to worship, serve, and fellowship together. We’ve celebrated together and grieved together. We’ve grown together through study of God’s word, as we’ve embraced new ideas and new ways of being the body of Christ together. We’ve stood together at the sides of graves and at the sides of the baptismal font. We’ve gathered for worship in the sanctuary, Westminster Hall, Centennial Hall, and the Chapel. We’ve learned together in Sunday School, Confirmation Class, VBS, and Adult Education. We’ve met at swimming pools, parks, picnic tables (turquoise and otherwise), area ministries, and Habitat for Humanity homes. We’ve traveled to presbytery meetings from Sparta to Danville. I’ve been in your homes minutes after the death of a loved one, for sharing Holy Communion, for meetings, and for lovely Christmas gatherings. We’ve discussed big issues of how to follow Jesus and how to reach out to our interfaith neighbors. I’ve sat in meetings throughout the buildings and now in my basement via Zoom. I am grateful for all that we’ve shared, and the ways that you have invited me into your lives. I treasure the moments of deep connection, of tears, and of cheers. 

When I became your Covenant Associate Pastor, the church was in a time of transition. Rick Snyder had retired, and Chuck Carlson had become your Interim Senior Pastor as the Pastor Nominating Committee began their diligent work. As a “Covenant” Associate Pastor, I was hired by the session, rather than called by the congregation. My ministry here was originally conceived as a two-year position, while the PNC sought your next Senior Pastor. As time went on and the PNC continued their work, my position was extended for another two years.

A few months after Matt Matthews arrived as your Senior Pastor, he and I, along with the Session, began discussions about my tenure here. Per Presbytery rules, my position as Covenant Associate Pastor could not be extended again. As we all felt God leading us to continue our relationship at that time, the Session called a meeting for the congregation to vote on calling me as your Associate Pastor, dropping the “Covenant” portion of my title. My position has gone through changes and adjustments over the years.

From the beginning, however, my ministry here was defined as temporary and so part of me has always had an eye to the future. Now, the congregation is on a solid footing, ready for ministry for the future as in-person worship and meetings emerge from a long season of pandemic life. 
In God’s timing, the people of First Presbyterian Church of Woodstock, Illinois, have called me to be their next Pastor.

The congregation has a similar long history in its community, having been founded in 1846. Like you, they are committed to worship, service, and fellowship, and I am honored to join them in that ministry. My ministry there is tentatively set to begin on August 1st, so I will be here, ministering alongside you until mid-July. I look forward to finding ways to say our farewells as we reflect on how God has led us together in ministry. 

I am and will always remain grateful to God and to you for the ministry that we have shared together during the eight years my family and I have been part of this congregation. You have entrusted me with important moments in your lives and in the life of this community, and I will always carry with me your love and support. My favorite mug says “Ministry is serving God by serving others.” It has been an honor to serve God with you. 

With my thanks and praise to God for you, 

Eric 


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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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