Tuesday May 5^th  2020
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 

To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
The Silly Humor Edition garnered lots more jokes from you. I have two observations. (1) You shouldn’t quite your day jobs to begin a career in comedy, and (2) I’ll pass along your jokes in future letters. (They really were wonderful!) THANKS for sharing them with me/us!
 
PSALM 23
A paraphrase based on the sermons of Bill Wimberly   
1.  I know God well and God knows me intimately;
     therefore my soul is equipped for all eventualities.
 
2.  Once a day God forces me to do nothing except
     sleep and often encourages me at other times to
     do nothing except enjoy the gift of life, as
     affirmations of God’s sovereignty.
 
3.  God picks me up when I am down, daily has me
     wrestle with moral issues, and stakes his
     reputation on the results.
 
4. When I face death or dying I am not alone for you
    and I, O God, face them together; your past
    discipline and care of me have convinced me of that.
 
5.  In defiance of all that is wrong with life you equip 
     me with a thankful heart for what is good:  a great

     purpose and a great destiny.  Plus there is more

     joy in being alive than I can ever manage.
 
6.  Wherever I am, good works should result from my
     presence there; God’s grace will surely pursue me
     daily; and I shall always have a home with God.
 
News:
 
Wednesday Night Concert with Jean Rene Balekita. Join us at 7:00 p.m. Tune in at FirstPres.live. See you this Wednesday for an hour celebration in song.
 
Here’s the link to the Heart of Mission: 
https://www.firstpres.church/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Heart-of-Missions-050520.pdf  

 

Good Word: 
John 14:1-6a

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
Let us pray:
 
Holy God, open us to the bounty of your grace. Even on rainy days, our cup runneth over. AMEN.
 
Much love to you all.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church