Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-07-24

Friday 24 July 2020
 
Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends, 
 
This passage from Amos 5:21 as translated by Eugene Peterson has really grabbed me this week. What have you read this week that has inspired you? Share it.
 

“I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”

And Prayers of Steel from Sandburg always stirs me:
 
Lay me on an anvil, O God.  
Beat me and hammer me into a crowbar.  
Let me pry loose old walls.  
Let me lift and loosen old foundations.  
  
Lay me on an anvil, O God.
Beat me and hammer me into a steel spike.  
Drive me into the girders that hold a skyscraper together.  
Take red-hot rivets and fasten me into the central girders.  
Let me be the great nail holding a skyscraper through blue nights into white stars.
 
* * *
 
On Sunday in worship, we who are tethered to the solid ground reach for the transcendent in song, prayer, and praise. Follow the links at FirstPres.Live and join us at 9:00 on Sunday.
 
See you on Sunday. Invite a friend.
 
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you.
            Be amazed.
                        Tell somebody.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
 
* * *
 
PHOTO Challenge!

From your Nurture Team — There were no correct guesses on last Friday’s photo of Rachel Matthews

Here’s this week’s photo. 


Visit http://fb.com/groups/firstpreschampaign to make your guesses, or email them to photos@firstpres.church.  
 
Please join in the fun!  We would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@firstpres.church.

* * *
 
Summer songs: 
 
Knock on Wood!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kceiks__PsE
 
Sing it, Sly!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUhDoCx8zc
 
If you travel, take this along…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgeVx8QoVaQ
 
Thank you, Arturo O’Farrill!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_5IGKqxKw0
 
 


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