Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-05-20

Wednesday May 20th 2020
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
A great 44-word sermon:  
 
“During the Covid 19 pandemic make sure you test positive for faith. Keep distance from doubt, and isolate from fear. Trust God through it all and the Peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    
 
Great, huh? 
 
This was written by Simao Nhoca; he was an asylum seeker from Angola who sent his wife and baby son here ahead and our church looked after them even getting her to the hospital at labor with their second child, a daughter. After Simao arrived here, the family was awarded permanent residency. Recently they moved to Houston where he found work in his field as a petroleum engineer. He attended our men’s bible study for a time. The family remains thankful for the care they received here and stays in touch regularly. Simao is an evangelist. He preaches in the mall. He leads a bible study, teaches his young children the bible and to pray every day. 
 
Bob Kirby reports that Simao “calls and gives me a sermon periodically to which I just respond, ‘Amen brother. Amen.’”
 
Let the people of God TOGETHER say, Amen!!
 
News:
 
Wednesday Vespers TONIGHT! The Gathering Band will join us for a concert. I just love these musicians and I really dig their tunes. Bring dessert and join us. Tune it at 7:00 tonight, Wednesday at FirstPres.Live
 
CU-Better Together Coming together to fight hunger and give hope to school families in need. Here is the sign up for the Interfaith Alliance. Please share widely. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044EAEA822ABFA7-cubetter
 
Expand your horizons! Want to learn more about Pakistan, and Hindu, Muslim, and Christian Relations? Join Sallie Hutton and many other saints (including my Rachel) on Wednesdays at 1:30 to 3:00 o’clock for what we officially call the Education Is Path to Peace: Pakistan ( the Pakistan Study Group).
 
This from Sallie: 
 
“We are currently reading and discussing the book Despicable Missionary.   It is about a strong, determined Christian girl form the rural Lahore area in the 1960-1970s.  The book discusses her life and what it was like during that time period and in the in a dominantly Muslim culture.  It is a true story. 
 
Our group focuses on learning about Pakistan and their culture and supporting the work of the Presbyterian Sangla Hill School. Study leadership is shared among the members of the group and biblical studies follow the theme for the day. 
 
All who want to learn more about our PC(USA) school in Pakistan, who want to support those schools and learn more about Pakistan, Islamic religion, their culture and current events are welcome to join us throughout the year.  We are able to have Veda Gil, Executive Director of Presbyterian Education Board- Pakistan join us.  We have members from the local Muslim community as well as Pakistan Christians who now live in Springfield, IL as part of our group.  WE would love to have you join us.”
 
Email info@firstpres.church for the link.
 
Good Word:
 
Proverbs 1:7
 
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
 
Let us pray:
 
O Lord Jesus Christ,
the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
Do not let us stray from you, the Way,
nor to distrust you, the Truth,
nor to rest in anything other than you, the Life. 
Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) 
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
 
 
 


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