Thursday April 16^th 2020
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois 

Dear Friends,
 
A lyric for you. The tune is “Be Thou My Vision.” Forgive me if I’ve shared this already. 
 
All Present, All Future, All Past
tune: Slane, Irish folk tune
 
A gift in progress to our
Music Director Joe Grant
First Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois
  
Gracious Creator, the world’s in your hands
mountains and forests, all waters, all land
stars in their courses, all galaxies vast
all life, all present, all future, all past 
 
Tempest, pandemic—a world in dismay
humble and anxious, we turn toward your face
prayers in the nighttime, prayers in the day
seeking your mercy, your peace, and your grace 
 
We rest in the myst’ry—the world’s in your care 
great whale and microbe, our children so fair
trusting your promise to love to the last
all life, all present, all future, all past 
 
News:
 
Your Session meets tonight (Thursday). Please pray for us.
 
Covid Grant from PDA: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program of the PCUSA awarded First Pres a $5,000 grant (via the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois) to be split between our mission partners at The Refugee Center an CU at Home. 
 
CU-BetterTogether . . . Is a new community group (United Way, Community Foundation, YMCA, and local churches) coming together to fight hunger and give hope to area public school families in need. Ask Rachel Matthews for more info.Want to help? If you are between 18- and 60-years-old, you can, here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044EAEA822ABFA7-cubetter
 
Good Word:
 
John 20:19-31      
19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
 
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
 
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
 
24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
 
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
 
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
 
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
 
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
 
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
 
30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. 
 
Let us pray:
 
God of ages,
in your sight nations rise and fall,
and pass through times of peril.
Now when our land is troubled,
be near to judge and save.
May leaders be led by your wisdom;
may they search your will and see it clearly.
If we have turned from your way,
help us to reverse our ways and repent.
Give us your light and your truth to guide us; through Jesus Christ,
who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.  
 
Much love to you all. 
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church