Monday 30 March 2020
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
Jeff Kellam was to be our Theologian-in-Residence during the Roger Ebert Film Festival in April. The Coronavirus had other plans. Jeff and his wife, Joan, are old friends of me and Rachel. Jeff contributes these words:
 
“I’ve always disliked the term “shut-in.” I preferred the warmer term “at-home friends.” Now, here we are, all “at home” and frankly feeling “shut-in.” But churches are learning to stream worship services and resources to us so we continue to feel part of the community of faith. Last Sunday, I joined three very different Presbyterian worship services on my computer and found value in all three.
 
“The simplest offering came from a rural pastor who set up a YouTube channel, and recorded some church news and pastoral concerns, along with the four Lectionary readings and her brief meditation, using just her cell phone camera. Her setting was her home, and her approach was warm and personal.
 
“The most sophisticated of the three came from a large suburban church with obvious technical resources on hand. Streamed “live,” the multiple cameras captured an hour-long service from the sanctuary, with leadership from what I took to be the whole church staff and several musicians. The service followed the same format as a typical Sunday. But except for that leadership, the large sanctuary was empty. 
 
“The third service came from a 150-member church, again with no one but church staff involved in leading the at-home congregation in simple liturgy, music, proclamation of the Word, and prayers. The setting was the sanctuary but empty pews were never shown. The service was clearly designed to communicate more intimately with the viewers, knowing that those who joined the live stream were watching alone or with just a family member or two. The pastor’s message was warmly conversational.
 
“When it comes to our learning new ways to reach out, it is clear again that one approach won’t fit every church, but that we strive for faithful creativity and integrity is of upmost importance.”
 
 
News:
 
Good news: a family have given their tax refund to our church in the form of grocery gift cards. How cool is that?! This grace is a surprise—and it’s amazing.
 
Prayer Service on Thursday night: At 7:00 on this Thursday night you will all get an invitation for a Zoom service of prayer. Bring your prayer concerns. We’ll be streaming live.
 
 
The Good Word:  
 
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (CEB)                               
There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.
 
 
Prayer:
 
We are your people, Lord, by your grace. 
You dare to make us Christ to our neighbors 
of every nation and race.
Glad of tradition, help us to see in all life’s changing
where you are leading,
where our best efforts should be.
                                                     (Brian Wren, from Faith Looking Forward)
 
PEACE, 
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church