Ongoing Response to COVID-19

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-16

Wednesday December 16th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
I had a great conversation with some old Richmond, VA, friends. Jeff was the best man at our wedding, and he and Joan have been some of those abiding friends with whom we share a lot of history. I hiked a tiny part of the Appalachian trail with Jeff and remember inserting all of the canned stew into his pack. He was stronger than me, but also smarter and made me divide the packs more evenly. 
 
Have you been connecting with old friends and family? Do you have some stories to share? Bill Gamble has one, below. Tomorrow, I have a special one by Nancy MacGregor.
 
I still keep thinking about last week’s dialogue sermon that Rachel wrote. Coming to God empty-handed is sticking with me. No ‘thing’ satisfies my longing for what only God can fill. It’s a lot to ponder at Christmas. At anytime.
 
* * *
 
Dave Bauer has a treat for tonight’s Wednesday vespers. See the longer announcement (and Zoom link) below.
 
* * *
 
Bill’s story:
 
Xmas 1962
by Bill Gamble 
 
            Christmas 1962 found Bill and Judy Gamble in Melbourne, Australia, far from kith and kin.  We did have small Christmas tree, somewhat better than a Charley Brown tree, which was partially decorated with sea shells from a nearby beach.  
 
            After trying at least a couple of dead churches, we found a live church, South Camberwell Methodist.  We were warmly welcomed, although some folks were puzzled about why we would drive seven miles to get to a church where many members lived within easy walking distance.  A few families soon included us in various activities, most especially the Rashleigh family (hope I spelled it right).  Three generations of the family were active in the church, with the youngest a small mob of pre-teens.  The elder Mr. R. directed the church choir, but also was the conductor of the Royal Melbourne Chorale Society, if I have name right.
 
            Christmas dinner at the Rashleighs was a traditional English Christmas dinner, even though Christmas in Australia is well into the summer.  The menu included a pudding with some six-pence coins cooked in it, and if you got a coin in your serving, it was a good luck omen.  We were seated next to the kids, and they were bemused by our very non-Australian handling of our knives and forks.  And we had conversations on sometimes very strange but amusing topics.
 
            And why were the Gambles in Australia?  Bill had a Fulbright Fellowship and was attached to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization ( C. S. I. R. O.), Div. of Building Research, where he was breaking concrete things, including building pieces.
 
* * *
 
Daily Advent Reading Wednesday Genesis 1:3-4
One of the refrains of Genesis 1 is: “And God saw that is was
good.” The light, the water, the land, the vegetations, all of
creation — God saw it all and declared it good. Imagine if we
surveyed all that we encountered and noticed — and saw that
it was good. Today as you see the world you inhabit, make a
point to notice its goodness and name it so.
Creator God, you make the world and call it good. As we
wake and work, rest and play, open our eyes to the holy
goodness all around and even within us. Do not let us take
for granted the goodness of the meals we eat, the goodness of
the people we encounter, the goodness of the air we breathe
and the landscapes we move through every day. May we,
like you, see and declare: It is good. Amen.
 
  
News
 
Join us this Wednesday when Dave Bauer will lead a study for Advent:
 

  •       Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit
  •       Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year? 
  •       Looking for inspiration?  

Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.            
 
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent.  We’ll notice:
            -unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
            -an abundance of “begatting”
            -a voice calling in the wilderness  
            -Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
 2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
 3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
 
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?” 

Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.
 
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
  
* * * 
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
What’s the most musical part of a turkey? Drumsticks. 
 
Good Word: (Mary sings a celebration song.)
Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul magnifies the Lord, 
47       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
48  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. 
          Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 
          and holy is his name. 
50  His mercy is for those who fear him 
          from generation to generation. 
51  He has shown strength with his arm; 
          he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 
52  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 
          and lifted up the lowly; 
53  he has filled the hungry with good things, 
          and sent the rich away empty. 
54  He has helped his servant Israel, 
          in remembrance of his mercy, 
55  according to the promise he made to our ancestors, 
          to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

LET US PRAY: 
 
These days are hard, O God. If we cannot make them happy, then help us make them beautiful. AMEN.
 
* * *
 
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 – 2020-12-15

Advent Daily Devotion Tuesday Acts 20:28-32
Pay careful attention to yourself and to the flock with
which you have been entrusted. Paul, as he prepares to
leave these new disciples, admonishes them to attend to
God’s instructions and be alert, lest false teachers lead them
astray. Given how much information and disinformation
comes our way on a daily basis, how do we pay attention to
God’s commandments and discern what is counter to the
will of God?
Jesus, you teach us the will of God and promise to send your
Spirit to remind us of all you said and instructed. At times,
we get overwhelmed with the relentless rush of headlines,
billboards and voices clamoring for our attention. Silence in us
any voice but yours, so that we might pay close attention to you
and therefore close attention to our own thoughts and actions
and close attention to the needs of the world you came to save.
Amen.

 

 
   
                                                       


 
The Heart of Mission
December 15, 2020
 
Friends,  If you have followed our mission partners throughout the year on Facebook or their websites, you will see that 2020 has been a rough year. Your Mission Team, Community Mission Deacons and World Mission Committee have identified three very worthwhile mission offerings this month that will make a significant impact on lives throughout our community and world for years to come. I have included all three in this issue of The Heart of Mission: 1) The Advent Offering (which will support the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and our sister church in Luyano), 2) the Christmas Joy Offering coming up on Christmas Eve, and 3) the Angel Tree/Food Insecurity Drive. Also included is a very special thank you video from CU at Home, one of our mission partner in Champaign that was a recipient of a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Grant. Can you see how all our gifts together makes a big difference? Make sure to click the links to read related articles and videos.
 
Peace,
 
Rev. Dr. Rachel Matthews, Mission Coordinator
 
 
 

 
The FPCC Community Mission Deacons Champaign County Food Insecurity Drive
aka The 2020 Angel Tree
 
Food insecurity is the dry technical term for American households going hungry at least some of
the time. It is at crisis levels all over America and very much so in Champaign County.
According to Census Bureau data, currently, over 1 in 10 American adults did not have enough
to eat last week. And, worse, for families with children, approximately 1 in 4 such families did
not have enough food for their children last week! In Champaign County, rates are similar, and
Food Stamps, Eastern Illinois Food Bank, and others are unable to meet the increasing need.
For people of color the statistics are considerably worse.
 
With widespread vaccinations months away from distribution. Help is desperately needed now.
The FPCC Mission perspective emphasizes supporting programs that actually help people lift themselves out of poverty. But, critically, FPCC also firmly believes that crises demand
immediate responding. Therefore, CMD invites you to join in responding to this crisis.
Our fund provides an immediate opportunity for FPCC to reach out to struggling Champaign County brothers and sisters who, through no fault of their own, are caught up in this crisis. The Eastern Illinois Food Bank has more information at this web site: Click here for link
 
So, if you are able to contribute to this fund, that would be wonderful. The amount collected will be contributed to Eastern Illinois Food Bank and hence put to good use via an organization expert in food distribution! As an encouragement, CMD has contributed $4000 and a member family has contributed an additional $1000. Because the need is so overwhelming and many of us have resources that can make a difference, we are optimistic that our church can contribute a substantial amount that will help relieve the hunger issue in Champaign County.
 
Thank you for your consideration and your generosity.
 
Thank you,
 
The First Presbyterian Community Mission Deacons (CMD)
 

 
THE 2020 ADVENT OFFERING will be taken for the whole month of December.
 
Christmas is the season of Advent. What love, joy and redemption we have in the birth of our Savior! And so, it is with thankfulness that each year at this time we have our annual Advent Offering. This year-2020- the year that is like none other we have experienced, your World Missions Committee is asking that our Advent giving go to 2 organizations that will help many people. The first organization is our own Presbyterian Disaster Assistance that is comprised of 2 components: National Relief and International Relief.
 
Several months ago, as fires were raging across the west and Pacific coast areas, your World Missions Committee was able to send $1500 to PDA and earmark if for U.S. fire relief aid.
If you Google “ Presbyterian Disaster Assistance”, you will see how aid is distributed to United States and to international countries that are in crisis situations. Each entity has vital needs that are being addressed by PDA. We are very thankful that our denomination is able to help alleviate pain and suffering in so many places and in so many lives through your generous donations. 2/3 of your Advent giving this year will go to PDA.
 
The 2nd component of our giving will go to our own sister church, Luyano in Cuba. This is a year of isolation between our 2 churches due, among other things, to COVID19. None of us is allowed to travel between our countries this year. We are not able to carry supplies to them nor can we send money directly to them. The Luyano church is in dire need of help. We are able to aid them through PCUSA and our own church’s Cuba Committee is requesting this help. It is in gratitude to our relationship with our sister church that 1/3 of our Advent offering will be earmarked for our Luyano brothers and sisters.
 
We know this has been a tough year for each of us. However, we also acknowledge that God has continued to be our source of strength in these times. May we also be a source of strength to those who need to rely on us.
 
In Hope, Peace, Joy and Love,
 
The First Presbyterian Church World Mission Committee
 
PDA and CU at Home: Thank you to First Pres from Rob Dalhaus at CU at Home

Back in the Spring, the Champaign-Urbana community was the recipient of a PC(USA) PDA grant, which a portion of our Advent Offering is going toward. Remember the PC(USA) PDA grant back in the Spring that we received for CU at Home and The Refugee Center due to Covid 19? Those dollars made a difference. The link above thanking you for your support from the director of CU at Home shows the impact of those dollars. The Refugee Center has been able to continue to help refugee families throughout these past months as well and has thanked us for that support.

 
The Christmas Joy Offering for Christmas Eve
 
Every year on Christmas Eve, First Presbyterian Church Champaign takes
up the Joy Gift Offering, a special offering of the PC(U.S.A.). The Christmas Joy Offering reflects that God is with us, through the generous gifts that support church leaders among us, retired, present and future, who have pointed us to God. Even as we support our current and former church leaders through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, God is calling new leaders for our Church and world, through the ministry of Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color — offering students the means for a brighter future and enhanced opportunities to use their talents and skills to serve God, the Church and the world for years to come. Because God is with us, we see the potential of students of color who will become our leaders and we seek to come alongside them, to encourage them, to be with them. 50% of your gifts make it possible for students to learn and grow in faith at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. Because God is with us, we see church workers who have critical financial needs and we come alongside them, to assist them — we are with them. 50% of your gifts provide assistance for current and retired church workers and their families with critical financial needs. Thank you for your gift to the Christmas Joy Offering — for when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

Friends of PEB – In case you missed it last week, Friends of PEB sends thanks with a special online Advent Calendar. All you do is click the link and begin. https://calendar.myadvent.net/?id=b594e0aaf5cb14378b197c821b14b287
 
Let us keep all 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 Maldonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Jo Ella Holman (Caribbean and Cuba) – And, for the mission coworker you are preparing to take her place.
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
 
 
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 – 2020-12-14

Monday December 14th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
We are all enjoying your Christmas stories. Please share them with me. I’ll post them here.
 
* * *
 
This is from Mary Jane Kelley:
 
We always went to midnight mass but left the house at 10:00pm to get front seats and listen to the hour of music before mass.  When we returned home about 1:30am everyone was pretty weary. Mother mixed up egg nog for everyone with a spike of Dad’s whiskey.  It was so special—also assuring my parents that we would not be up at the crack of dawn to see what gifts had arrived!
 
* * *
 
Beth Hutchens shares these memories:
 
December 21, 1960
Maternal grandmother died at home in Boonville, NC.  She had been an invalid at home for a decade.  We lived in Orlando, and it took 2 days to drive there.  We were going to NC the next day to pick up my brother at University of FL and drive up there; Mother was the only one of her 3 siblings who did not live in the small town.  Really bad trip to NC on highways 441, 301, and 601; no interstates.  Memory…white flower arrangement ‘frozen‘ by the front doorway of grandparents home.

December 18, 1971
I was living in Winston-Salem, NC.  Had a plane ticket to fly to FL for Christmas with flights on the 21st and 28th.  Had a call that evening from Mother that Daddy had a heart attack and was in the hospital, and it could go either way.  Changed flight and flew into Orlando, arriving at 3 a.m. on the 20th.  Brother was there at first from Orlando without his young family.  Mother and I spent the rest of the time together by ourselves. I was there with her till the 28th.  We could see Daddy, one person at a time, for ten minutes every hour. My hair was longer; fortunately, I could hide my recently pierced ears from him!  He was in a big room with about 9 cardiac patients in cubicles.  They said if he survived the first 48 hrs, it was good.  He missed his newspapers.  I made him a wall calendar for December and moved a little Christmas tree over the December days…sort of like I had done in my third grade classroom.  I flew back to NC as originally scheduled on the 28th.  Was getting ready for bed in my apt that evening when Mother called that he had taken a turn for the worse and would not live through the night; I frantically made preparations for return flight to FL.  Both times, a neighbor’s son, Tom Hahn, picked me up at the airport in the middle of the night; great neighbors who moved across the street from us when I was in 2nd grade and Tom was in first grade…never any partnership tendencies between us but great friends.
Upon second return, I couldn’t believe the difference in Daddy.  Always clean-shaven, he had the beginnings of a beard.  They said he wouldn’t live through the night but he lived several more days.  Never knew him to be sick before this…now his body was lurching on a respirator.

He died 3 hours into January 1st.  Funeral in Orlando, another funeral and burial in Boonville, NC.  Another long road trip with a grieving mother but the highways were better this time.  At usual overnight motel stop in SC, owner asked where Daddy was…he was on his final flight back home to NC on flight schedule I had arranged with NC funeral director, changing planes in Atlanta as was usual back then; they used to say that if you were going to hell, you had to change planes in Atlanta!

December 22,1974
Was still living in NC and flew home to Orlando for Christmas alone with Mother.  Went across the street that evening to see the Hahns, and Mother said that I should not stay long because they had a lot of company following a recent extended family wedding in West Palm Beach.  Their nephew from Urbana, IL was there along with his folks from Arlington Heights, IL.  I ended up playing bridge with Tom Hahn, ‘J. Pate’ Hutchens, and his mother.  The next evening, Tom, ‘J. Pate’, and I went out to Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium in downtown Orlando.  Tom was busy carousing; I drank a lot of beer to cool off because it was so hot down there.  I had been in the back seat with the two guys up front on the way to the bar but wound up in the front bucket seat with J. Pate on the way home!  And the rest is history.  J. Pate came to Winston-Salem to see me in early January after his long drive back in his VW ‘Bug’.  We were married in Winston-Salem on June 19, 1976.

PS
J. Pate…family name. I call him Pate. ‘John’ since he was in Army, Army Band in Germany.
 
* * *
 
Advent Daily Devotional Monday John 6:1-3
A large crowd is following Jesus because they saw
the signs he was doing, the miracles of healing he
performed. Do we see signs of Jesus at work in our
world? In our lives? What signs get your attention
and cause you to follow Jesus even now? Today, pay
attention to where you see Jesus’ healing power and
make note of it.
Loving God, we often fail to see signs of your healing,
neglecting to anticipate your miracles, thinking instead
that such divine transformation happened only long ago.
As we go about our day today, we pray for an openness to
your Spirit that reveals that you still intervene and bring
wholeness in surprising and grace-filled ways. Amen.

 
News
 
Join us this Wednesday when Dave Bauer will lead a study for Advent:
 

  •       Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit
  •       Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year? 
  •       Looking for inspiration?  
 
Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.            
 
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent.  We’ll notice:
            -unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
            -an abundance of “begatting”
            -a voice calling in the wilderness  
            -Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
 2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
 3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
 
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?” 

Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.
 

Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
* * *
 
Seeking a personal aide The person seeking help found it, thanks for Mindy Watts-Ellis passing along a trusted name. Several of you contributed ideas. Thank you for being church!
 
* * *
 
An important link from Ruth Craddock, chair of the Session’s Covid-19 Response Team:
https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/5-reasons-why-religious-services-pose-high-risk-covid-19-spread
 
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
Bill Gamble shares what he says is a bad joke, which one may have to be of a certain age to understand. I get it, but it’s before my time. Thank you, Bill:
 
Here his body lays molding
His dying was hard
They shot him for folding
An IBM card!
 
 
Good Word: (Mary sings a celebration song.)
Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul magnifies the Lord, 
47       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
48  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. 
          Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 
          and holy is his name. 
50  His mercy is for those who fear him 
          from generation to generation. 
51  He has shown strength with his arm; 
          he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 
52  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 
          and lifted up the lowly; 
53  he has filled the hungry with good things, 
          and sent the rich away empty. 
54  He has helped his servant Israel, 
          in remembrance of his mercy, 
55  according to the promise he made to our ancestors, 
          to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Let us pray: 

 
Good morning, God. We are rounding the corner to what some popular singers say is “the most wonderous time of the year.” What makes any time wondrous is the way your Spirit surprises and comforts us. Thank you for that gift. We’re looking for Jesus at the manger. With your help, there will be room in our hearts for him to be born anew. Help us to sing a celebration song. And we don’t want to sing like Mary. We want you to help us sing like ourselves. AMEN. 
 
* * *

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 – 2020-12-11

Friday December 11th,  2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
On Sunday Rachel and I will preach a dialogue sermon that she wrote about coming empty handed to God. Since I didn’t write it, I can say it’s lovely. We’ll explore the paradox of Christmas. Join us?
 
* * *
 
I know we can’t worship in person on Christmas Eve, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t worked hard (and are still working hard) to produce a beautiful service of worship. I hope you join us for that service. It will be available at FirstPres.Live at 4 p.m. You can watch it any time after that hour.
 
Advent is a time of active waiting and hopeful lament. I hope you are finding warmth and light as the bleak midwinter deepens and the longer nights have us craning all the more for holy light. 
 
Join us on Sunday as we look for light, light candles, and worship the one whom John called the Light of the World. 
 
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. Be amazed. Tell somebody.
 
See you on Sunday, 
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
 
* * *
 
From your Nurture Team — Judi Geistlinger was the first to recognize last week’s photo of Eric & Cathy Stickels (below).   

We’re taking a break on photo guessing until early January.  See you then!
 
* * *

Advent Daily Devotions

Friday Luke 2:36-38
What do we do when we are waiting for something promised
by God, but not yet visible or evident? Perhaps we are waiting
for healing in a broken relationship or waiting to be able
to forgive or be forgiven? Today we are told of Anna who
waits for the redemption of Jerusalem and while she waits,
she worships, fasts and prays. Is there a spiritual practice you
might try that could keep you connected to God as you wait?

Lord, we want to see your promises come to fruition: promises
of peace, justice and redemption. We do not want to grow
weary or cynical, hopeless or defeated. We long for our
priorities to reflect your character and our faith, even when we
cannot yet see that for which we yearn. Ground us in prayer,
fi nd us in worship, be present with us as we fast and focus on
you as we wait. Amen.

Saturday Mark 15:42-47
It may seem odd to read an account of Jesus’ death even as
we prepare for his birth. And yet, there are times in our lives
when our greatest fears are realized and it feels as if God is
absent. Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom
of God, and despite Jesus’ death he took courage and asked
Pilate for Jesus’ body. Where do you need to take courage
and speak or act as you wait and look for God’s kingdom?

God of grace and glory, sometimes we look for you and
cannot fi nd you. You tell us that if we knock, the door will be
opened to us, and if we seek we will fi nd. Yet, some days we
pound on the door and it remains locked. Grant us courage,
especially in those times and circumstances when our waiting
for you feels as if it is in vain. Help us to do the next right
thing in your name, despite our doubts and pain. Amen.

Sunday Luke 1:18-24
Often, we see that for which we are looking and fail
to notice much of what is around us. A familiar route
that we travel regularly becomes mere background
and we arrive at our destination with no recollection
of what we passed along the way. Details in the spaces
we occupy fade from consciousness until someone
unfamiliar with them points them out. One of my
children has a gift for noticing patterns and anomalies.
The building where my office is located is historic with
a big staircase that I use instead of the rather aged
elevator. After years of this ascending and descending
these stairs, one day this child went to work with me
and pointed out the discrepancy in the stairs’ materials
between one of the floors: the treads went from black
to white. In all the many footfalls upon them, I’d never
before seen the marked difference. Once she pointed
this out, the contrast was absolutely obvious, and yet
I had missed it time and time again. It strikes me in
this passage about Zechariah’s angelic visitation that
in his inability to speak and tell those waiting for him
outside the temple what happened, they name that
he has seen a vision. How did they know? Were they
watching for such divine happenings? On the lookout
for the holy?
We need others to help us see and interpret things,
people and places we might otherwise miss. We need
the community of faith to discern the work of the
Spirit when we cannot articulate what is happening
within and around us. The members of the Body of
Christ possess different gifts, varying perspectives
and points of view. When Zechariah could not speak,
the people of God took notice and recognized that
something extraordinary had taken place that day
in the temple and named the truth that he had seen
a vision. This Advent, are we paying attention and
watching for the movement of the Spirit, for evidence
of God’s inbreaking and the angels’ speaking? Often,
we see that for which we are watching and miss much
of what we do not expect to see. This is the season for
noticing and naming the coming and present kingdom
of God. This is the season for listening to those around
us with eyes to see the holy that we may well walk
past daily until they point it out and it becomes utterly
obvious.

Lord of angels and visions, we often fail to see you at work
and present in holy spaces and everyday places. We forget
to be on the lookout for you and ignore your signs and
instructions. When we get distracted, send your Spirit to
arrest our attention. Remove the scales from our eyes that
prevent us from paying attention to you. Grant us the ability
to not only notice you, but act on your Word. Amen.

* * *

Pierce Pettis offers a haunting song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4UXHtzREzs
 
Here’s a concert that will lift you . . . skip ahead to the music, thereby dodging their pitch for student scholarships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT4uUKaEkpE
 
Grace Ashenfelter shares A Corona Opera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL52AuF4QzY
 
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 — 2020-12-10

Thursday December 10th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
Tell me about your Christmas memories. I’d like to share them here. These stories will bless us.
 
* * *
 
A Beautiful Christmas Memory
by Jane Alsberg
 
As a child, Christmas was a small family event. We were not many as my father was an only child and his parents died before I got to know them. My mother had only one sibling, a brother, and his family lived on the east coast so we hardly ever saw them. Therefore Christmas morning was just our family. Later we would travel an hour or so south to my maternal grandparent’s farm – it was truly an “over the river and through the woods” trip as my grandparents lived right on the Kankakee River. And I so remember the excitement upon arriving to the “Norman Rockwell” beauty of their small farm at Christmas. My grandparents raised geese and so we had not only turkey, but goose for dinner and grandma always made the best pies!
 
Unlike today’s extended anticipation of Christmas for children with “The Elf on the Shelf” to keep them ever mindful of the coming celebration while curbing their “naughtier” excitement, our Christmas didn’t begin until December 22 when we put up our tree. That was my birthday and we celebrated it Christmas style. My two brothers and I got to help decorate the tree and I remember so well the careful placing of the tinsel – one strand at a time. It had to be perfect! But what a gorgeous tree and we couldn’t wait for the presents to be placed under its boughs.
 
One December 24th when we were all quite small, I remember the three of us just couldn’t get to sleep. So in the final hours of that Christmas Eve, my mother gathered us together, sat on my bed, and with the most gentle heavenly voice she told us the Christmas story of The Seven Miracles of Gubbio and The Eighth.  This is a parable written by Le Père Bruckberger, a Dominician and was first published in 1947, with the title Le Loup de Gubbio. (The Wolf of Gubbio)
 
It begins: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  I Cor. XIII, 2.
 
As a small child I listened with wonder as the ferocious wolf was calmed by St Francis of Assisi and made with him a pact to never again harm another creature of God. In return he was granted seven miracles. After several miracles of biblical proportion, and out of the goodness of his heart, he used one of his miracles to transform a deformed and hideously ugly child into a very beautiful girl, only to be used by her to perform miracles for her vanity. With only one miracle left, he put himself in peril to save the town from a conquering army. He was severely injured, but managed to gain their victory without using that last miracle. But the town assumed he had used his last miracle and so they abandoned him. In fact they thought, once a wolf, always a wolf, and they became afraid of him. In a moment of jealous weakness, the wolf killed a dog that was loved by the vain girl to whom he had devoted his reformed life. Immediately he regretted it and assuming he lost his last miracle due to this infraction, invoked St. Francis in his heart for mercy and protection. He was too weak to flee and the townspeople were now out to kill him. And with his last miracle he was transported to the forest. He hated at the people of the town, but on Christmas Eve when he heard the church bells of Gubbio, he snuck into the church and hid under the manger to be a part of the holy celebration of the birth of Jesus. 
 
*At the moment of communion, he saw all the faithful rise and go to the holy table…The faithful, after communicating, returned to pass again before him…Each time a faithful, carrying the Body of Christ that he had just received, passed before the manger, the Wolf could not but adore the majesty of the Presence and all his pain melted deliciously in his heart and in his being. It appeared to him that his wolfly soul too participated in this communion. He benefited, he also, from this Devine Presence…and his old savage heart resisted no more and broke from an overflowing of sweet serenity
 
After the mass, the children found the wolf and saw that his mouth was filled with honey. 
 
*They cried, again a miracle! But if it was a miracle it was but the effect of Charity, sovereign, all powerful, and very precious Charity.
 
I stayed awake for the entire telling of this story, but drifted off to sleep right after – perhaps another miracle of God’s doing. As an adult, I like to read the story each Christmas, and though I didn’t tear up as a child – it was just all wonder and excitement – I do tear up every time I re-read it. 
 
Christmas is a miracle.
 
(* words taken from the English translation)
 
* * *

Daily Advent Devotion Wednesday Jude 17-22 
Whenever there is a “but” in Scripture, pay special attention.
The “but” represents a pivot that points to how disciples of
Jesus Christ are to behave in the midst of challenging times.
Here we read that Christians are to keep ourselves in the
love of God as we wait for our Lord’s mercy. What might it
look like to keep ourselves in God’s love today? This week?
This month?
God of grace, while the headlines tell of turmoil and acrimony,
we who follow Jesus Christ are told by your living word to
keep ourselves in your love, to wait for our Lord’s mercy and to
be merciful to others. We know that your love is not theoretical
but embodied and tangible. The mercy of Jesus Christ saves
and transforms, perhaps especially during times of trial and
pain. Make us instruments of this love and mercy, even now,
especially now. Amen.

* * *
 
News
 
TODAY! Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer today, Thursday,  December 10, from 7am to noon. While there will be no organized service, you may come and sit in the space to pray and meditate. Physical distancing, masks, sign in with temperature check, and registration/contact tracing will be operative. Our worship team will greet and assist you. Only 10 people at a time will be allowed in. Bring your own Bible or hymnals if you wish, as the pew materials have all been removed as a safety precaution. See you on Thursday! 
 
* * *
 
TODAY! ESL Café Time       
What? This is a monthly café time on Zoom for the students to see their friends and tutors from all of the classes. It’s a chance for them to practice English and interact with Americans who are not their tutor. We will split into small groups so that we can discuss and catch up. First Pres members are invited to join us for the ESL Program’s time of fellowship. Bring your favorite hot drink and a snack to café time. 
When? Second Thursday of every month at 10 AM. The first one is TODAY at 10 AM. 

Email esl@firstpres.church for the link.
 
* * *

Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit
Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year? 
Looking for inspiration?   
Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.            
 
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent.  We’ll notice:
            -unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
            -an abundance of “begatting”
            -a voice calling in the wilderness  
            -Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
 2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
 3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
 
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?” 

Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.

Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

* * *
 
Seeking a personal aide     
I am a widow in my mid-nineties, living alone in the home I have been in for over 65 years.  I am ambulatory with a walker and have no dementia, but I am increasingly concerned about falling.  I am hard of hearing and have issues with high blood pressure.
 
I am seeking a non-smoking woman to aid me in normal daily activities including personal care (such as showering and toileting), meal preparation, running errands occasionally, and helping me with other matters which may arise.
 
The woman may be of any age and background but someone with similar prior experience and perhaps a background or interest in nursing would be preferred.
 
I am very particular about how my kitchen and house are kept and my aide must be willing to accept my directions in this regard. 
 
Ideally, my aide would have a flexible approach toward hours but generally be able to spend two or three hours a day with me five or six days a week and also be able to spend an occasional night at my home if needed. 
 
Please be in touch with Pastor Matt if you are curious about this posting. And thank you in advance for praying for this ministry opportunity. 
 
 * * *
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
What did the Hamburger family name their daughter? Patty.
 
* * *
 
Good Word:
 
Psalm 126:5-6a
5   May those who sow in tears 
          reap with shouts of joy. 
6   Those who go out weeping, 
          bearing the seed for sowing, 
     shall come home with shouts of joy, 
 
LET US PRAY: 
 
Our prayer today is a whole “Lessons and Carols” service offered by Austin College singers and musicians. As you remember, their chaplain John Williams spoke at First Pres last year in worship, Sunday school, and Sunday afternoon with his “Activators.” 
 
Holy God, help us to celebrate with glad heart, through whatever pain that plagues us. We praise you that your light shines brighter than our dark.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OixeHxN8YT8  Austin College Lessons and Carols
 
* * *
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church


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