Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-01

Monday June 1st 2020
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois 
 
Holy God, 
 
I pray for all the people on the streets of our cities in our nation, and the people at home and work. Forgive us all, help us all, heal us all. 
 
As our nation laments and is aghast at what we have seen on television news, I pray for wholeness even as that lamentation and outrage have literally caught fire. Ease those mobs who rant and rave. Give us the gifts of the Spirit we all need to breathe.
 
For firefighters who run into fires while others run away;
 
For police whom we call when things go badly wrong;
 
For our National Guard who shovel sand into bags where the waters rise, and who stand in the streets attempting to keep crowds safe at times like this;
 
For the protesters who keep vigil;
 
For the rioters and looters whose actions I do not understand, but whose call for justice I do;
 
For the mothers and fathers who don’t know where their children are;
 
For all those who wait, and watch, and pray during these impatient hours; 
 
For neighbors and friends we love who are almost uncontrollably anxious;
 
For my flock of saints at First Presbyterian Church—wise people who have walked through many seasons of valleys and mountaintops. Help us to lean on one another in these days of physical distancing. Help us to learn from each other. Bless them to be a blessing.
May we cast our worry upon You, O God.
 
May we claim the responsibilities entrusted to our care.
 
Guide our walk as we follow the path you would have us trod. 
 
In a season of much rage, may you grant us the patience to listen.
 
And when we are given our moment to speak, might our few words bear your holy grace to all.
 
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
 
More Prayers:
 
Hippo Mbungu’s mom died in Congo last week. Hippo and his wife, Gladyle, have been in Easy English Fellowship. Alex is in our Sunday School and had been looking forward very much to VBS. We provide transportation for him. Alex has a younger brother, Ritchie. 
 
Rev. Michael Evanchack’s mom, Jackie Evanchak, died last week. Michael serves as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Taylorville and as the moderator of the presbytery’s Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
 
A childhood friend of Steve Gritten is in hospice. The family would appreciate prayer.
 
Nancy MacGregor writes this: Grieving for Minneapolis today – my grandfather’s last church was in the area where the young man was killed. The husband of Mac’s cousin served a Covenant church in that area for more than 20 years and was probably the only white man in a very violent time who could walk safely through the area because of the work he did.
 
Prayers for Chris, Helen, and Henry Hutchens whose Chicagoland neighborhood is shut down. 
 
Thank you to those who joined us in prayer last night for a quickly called service of prayer. Remember prayer is speaking. Prayer is our “sorry” prayers, our ‘praise’ prayers, our prayers for “ourselves” and for “others,” and prayers for “needs.” (SPOON). Prayer is also listening.
 
* * *
Join us via ZOOM…

Tuesday, Men’s Breakfast Study, 8 am 

* Email info@firstpres.church for the link.

Presbyterian Women will gather Thursday. Plan now. 
For 150 years, the women of this church have faithfully served within the church and the community and world.  During the present need for “social distancing”, we’re missing meeting together for study and fellowship, but the ministries continue.  So a first step in moving forward is the annual installation of women in the variety of positions in Presbyterian Women.  Yes, we’ll Zoom forward, on June 4 at 1:00 p.m.  Every woman in the church is invited to log in to her email account and click on the link provided for PW officer installation, thereby joining in support and embracing all that is to come.

* Email info@firstpres.church for the link.

— 
 
Good Word:
 
Romans 12:9-21
 
Let love be genuine; 
hate what is evil, 
hold fast to what is good; 
love one another with mutual affection; 
outdo one another in showing honor. 
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, 
                  serve the Lord. 
Rejoice in hope, 
be patient in suffering, 
persevere in prayer. 
Contribute to the needs of the saints; 
extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; 
bless and do not curse them. 
Rejoice with those who rejoice, 
weep with those who weep. 
Live in harmony with one another; 
do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; 
do not claim to be wiser than you are. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought 
                  for what is noble in the sight of all. 
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, 
                  live peaceably with all. 
Never avenge yourselves, but leave room 
                  for the wrath of God; 
If your enemies are hungry, feed them;
if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome 
                  evil with good.
 
 
Let us pray: 
 
Our Father, who art in heaven, 
hallowed be thy name, 
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread; 
and forgive us our debts, 
as we forgive our debtors; 
and lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, forever.   
Amen.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church


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