Thursday 26 March 2020
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois 

Dear Friends,
 
Here’s an encouraging note: 
 
Good morning, First Pres Family,
 
I am writing to thank you for the lifeline that is our Sunday morning worship! 
 
Although the logistics can be challenging, you should know that what you are doing is making a difference. At prayers last night, more than 15 hours later, your efforts were lifted up by my children. Unprompted. Ellie mentioned Jip by name.
 
Thank you, dear friends, for all that you are doing to minister to your flock, so that we, in turn, are inspired to do the same.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Sarah Laufenberg
 
 
News:
 
VOLUNTEERS for the phone tree are still need. We have 12. We need thirty. Come on, help out. Email me your willingness. Thanks.
 
PEONIES are rising in our garden. Rabbits are eating the tender leaves of sprouting hostas. Spring is springing. What’s growing in your world? How is your soul? What’s growing there?
 
 
The Good Word: 
 
Psalm 121             
(Assurance of God’s Protection)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.
 
 
Let Us Pray:
 
Our prayer today is the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
 
Before our Father’s throne 
we pour our ardent prayers; 
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, 
our comforts and our cares. 
 
We share our mutual woes, 
our mutual burdens bear, 
and often for each other flows 
the sympathizing tear. 
 
From sorrow, toil, and pain, 
and sin, we shall be free; 
and perfect love and friendship reign 
through all eternity. 
 
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138