Ongoing Response to COVID-19

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-09

Posted on Sep 9, 2020 in COVID-19 |

Wednesday, September 9^th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews

To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends,

1. When is the last time you read King’s letter from the Birmingham, AL, jail? Note the link below and give it a slow, thoughtful read. When he describes well-meaning white people who want to go slow, he’s talking about me. That’s how I would have reacted to Dr. King back then. I hope it is not how I would react now. Consider joining our White Fragility study group beginning next week. Phone the church office to reserve your slot.

2. Tonight our Wednesday Zoom at 7:00 p.m. will explore a Mission Theme. Join us for conversation and celebration.

3. The school year has begun. I lost some emails, including some of yours. You wrote brief stories about memorable teachers. Here’s one from Diane Mortensen:

Miss Hall, was my sixth-grade teacher. She was not friendly and laughter didn’t happen in the classroom. She seemed very old, even older than my parents, probably almost fifty!

She required us to memorize poetry, to listen to classical music and identify the sounds of individual musical instruments. We had to identify birds and flowers and study details of geography and Greek history. I can still recite the names of the 72 counties in Wisconsin.

I didn’t know then that she would be the teacher I would most appreciate in my adult life. I didn’t know she was teaching me to widen my horizons, to appreciate fine arts and to persevere in difficult situations.

I wish I could tell her that now.

News:
Midweek Gathering TONIGHT 7 pm
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. “LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL”

Martin Luther King’s 1963 letter from prison addresses the urgency for civil rights, and the betrayal of white liberal Christian friends who named support for integration, but did not speak up or act in the struggle for justice.

Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):

A couple more brilliant jokes from Bill Gamble:

A group of dyslexic Agnostics were sitting around discussing the existence of dog.

And

In 1984, South Africa was awash with jokes about a man named van de Merve.

So van de Merve arrived at a large fancy house to do some repair work.
The owner said to him: “The Jarra-wood floors have just been polished,
and may be slippery.”

To which van de Merve replied: “Not to worry. I’ve got me spikes on.”

And (last one)

Van der Merwe was watching the British Lions test match at Loftus in Pretoria. The stadium was packed – of course – and there was only one available seat, next to – you guessed it; Van der Merwe.

“Is that seat taken?” asked the neighbour.

“Yes, it is for my wife”, replies Van der Merwe.

“Why isn’t she here?” he asked.

“She died”, said Van der Merwe.

“So, you didn’t give the ticket to one of your friends?” asked the neighbour.

“They’ve all gone to the funeral”, said Van der Merwe.

Good Word:
1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Let us pray:
A prayer for the morning: O God—help us, help us, help us.
A prayer for the evening: O God—thank you, thank you, thank you.

(Anne Lamotte)

Much, much love to you all.

Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-08

Posted on Sep 8, 2020 in COVID-19 |

The Heart of Mission
September 8, 2020

I receive emails from Presbyterians all over the world. One I received this past week was from the Presbyterian Women in Africa. Yes, the Presbyterian Women are very active in Africa. Tumekutana is Swahili for “Come together.” That is what the Presbyterian Women in Africa have done for the past 13 years in Tumekutana. Women have been at the heart of mission for Presbyterians all over the world for many, many years. Our own Presbyterian Women begin their monthly bible studies this month so we are pleased to join with our sisters from Africa in prayer. This is a beautiful prayer and quite long. I have included the translation in French so please share it with our French speaking friends. Following the prayer in English and French are some mission announcements if you are interested.

Peace,

Rachel Matthews, Temporary Mission Coordinator

Dear Sisters, Friends and Partners of Tumekutana,
Greetings in the name of our Almighty God, Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Halleluiah, the LORD is good all the times.
The God of the mountain, Is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times, Is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day, is still God in the night.
As Christian women, we turn to God in times of fear and uncertainty as we do in times of joy and celebration. Please join us as we pray for God’s heart of love, mercy, and truth to dwell in us and show us how to face the challenges posed by the Corona virus that has attacked our homes, our lives, our economies worldwide. We want to declare that ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea;’ (Psalm 46:1-2).

Let us join hands in prayer for the success of the world medical experts in their endeavour to find the cure or vaccine for this worldwide pandemic, COVID-19. Our communities, especially the elderly are in lockdown fatigue, most churches and congregations in some areas are still deprived of assembling for public worship by the demand for caution from Corona virus.

Please join us as we pray for all who are longing for public worship and stressed to be sitting in one place for safety of their wellbeing; the elderly, over the age of 60 (these are the active church attenders especially in deep rural areas) who due to age are more likely to have compromised immunity and those with underlying health conditions. Will we ever be in the position to worship freely and publicly with them as we were used to before COVID 19 pandemic? Dear Lord, we put all our trust to you in prayer, as the Psalm of David (Psalm 122.1 NLT) says ‘ I was glad when they said to me, Let us go in to the house of the Lord’.

The truth is that the pandemic’s spread is triggering the world’s worst financial slowdown experienced in decades. If it rages on unabated, many businesses and services will shut down. As Tumekutana women, we should not cease praying for our livelihood, even for our own conference gatherings that are financially assisted by those good Samaritans who always give generously to ensure that Presbyterians and Reformed African Women leaders gather as per constitution. We pray God to bless and enrich all the donors towards all the work we do as Tumekutana, especially the Executive members led by our President Rev Dr Bridget Ben-Naimah and our lovely and loving partners from USA, Canada and Scotland. We pray for special wisdom upon all plans they put in place during conference recess and May the good LORD give them strength and keep them safe. In one of our previous Prayer letters, it was said that, “At Tumekutana, our help has always been from God and we acknowledge that ours has always been a journey of faith and of God’s provision for every need”, that remains our prayer dear God.

Our prayer cannot end without touching very disturbing issues and challenges confronting women on daily basis and is always on headlines of TVs and social media. Femicide, rape, domestic violence and missing women and general safety still plague the world, all regions and seem to be worse in African countries. We pray for the safety of all women – young and old and for the strength to raise our voices for justice to all perpetrators and end to all these social ills by God’s grace. Let us not forget that we as women have been created in the image of God and pray for our full dignity and respect to be honour, in Jesus name.

Pray always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Thank you and be blessed.

Dr Matlhodi Christina Teu
Tumekutana Southern Region Coordinator

LETTRE DE PRIERE DU MOIS D’AOÛT 2020

Chères sœurs, amies et partenaires du TUMEKUTANA,

Recevez les salutations au nom de Dieu tout puissant et de notre Seigneur Jésus Christ.

Alléluia, Dieu est bon en tout temps. Le Dieu de la montagne est encore le Dieu de la vallée. Quand les choses vont mal, il les rend meilleures, et le Dieu dans les bons moments est toujours le Dieu des mauvais moments. Le Dieu du jour reste Dieu durant la nuit.

Comme femmes chrétiennes, nous nous tournons vers Dieu dans nos moments de peur et d’incertitude, comme en temps de joie et de célébration. Joignons nos prières pour que le cœur d’amour de Dieu, son pardon, sa vérité nous conduisent et nous montre comment faire face aux défis lancés par le Coronavirus, qui a attaqué nos maisons, nos vies, nos économies, dans le monde entier. Nous voulons déclarer que : « Dieu est pour nous un refuge et un appui, un secours qui ne manque jamais dans la détresse », PS 46 : 1-2.

Union de prières pendant que nous prions pour tous ceux qui ne peuvent adorer en public, et qui sont stressés d’être confiné à un seul endroit pour leur bienêtre. Nous pensons ici au 3^ème âge, ceux qui ont plus de 60 ans (Ces derniers sont des fidèles actifs au culte particulièrement dans les zones rurales enclavées) et qui, en raison de leur âge sont les plus susceptibles de compromettre leur immunité. Idem pour ceux qui ont un état de santé déjà précaire.

Pourrions-nous encore adorer librement et publiquement avec eux, comme nous le faisions avant la pandémie de covid 19 ?
Seigneur nous mettons entièrement notre confiance en toi, comme il est dit dans le psaume de David (Psaume 122) : « Je suis dans la joie quand on me dit allons à la maison de l’Eternel ».

La vérité est que l’expansion de cette pandémie entraîne la pire décadence financière mondiale jamais vue depuis des décennies.
Si la pandémie de covid continue de sévir, plusieurs entreprises et services vont faire faillite. En tant que femme de TUMEKUTANA, nous ne devons pas interrompre les prières pour nos communautés, y compris pour nos rassemblements, lesquels bénéficient de soutien financier de ses bons samaritains qui, de façon consistante donnent généreusement afin de s’assurer que les femmes leaders africaines presbytériennes et réformées se réunissent conformément à leur constitution. Nous prions Dieu afin qu’il continue de bénir et de pourvoir aux besoins de tous nos donateurs par le travail que nous faisons en tant que TUMEKUTANA.

Dans cette optique, cela va sans dire que nous pensons spécifiquement aux membres du comité exécutif, sous la houlette de notre Présidente Rev. Dr. Bridget BEH NAIMA, et nos partenaires aimables et aimants des Etats-Unis, du Canada et de l’Ecosse.

Nous prions pour qu’une sagesse spéciale soit leur partage, à l’aube de la planification qu’ils mettront en place durant cette pause en vue de la conférence, et que le Seigneur, dans sa majesté, leur donne la force et les protège.

Dans une de nos anciennes lettres de prière, il était dit que : « A TUMEKUTANA, notre soutien est toujours venu de Dieu, et nous reconnaissons que le nôtre a toujours été une odyssée de foi et de provisions divine pour chacun de nos besoins. Que cela reste notre prière, ô Dieu ».

Nous ne saurions conclure cette prière sans mentionner les enjeux et défis troublants auxquels les femmes font face sur une base journalière, et lesquelles font régulièrement les gros titres sur les chaînes de télévision, ainsi que les réseaux sociaux. Il s’agit des féminicides, des viols, de la violence domestique, des disparitions de femmes et de manière générale des problèmes de sécurité qui accablent le monde, toutes les régions et semblent être encore pire dans les pays africains.

Nous prions que la justice soit servie à tous les commanditaires de ces actes, et que ces fléaux prennent fin par la grâce de Dieu. N’oublions pas que en tant que femmes, nous avons été créées à l’image de Dieu et nous prions afin que notre absolue dignité, et le respect auquel nous avons droit soient honorés, par tous au nom de Jésus.

Nous citons 1 Thessalonicien Chapitre 5 : 16-18, il est écrit « soyez toujours joyeux, priez sans cesse, rendez grâce en toute chose, car c’est à votre égard la volonté de Dieu en Jésus Christ ».

Merci et soyez bénies.

Dr. Matlhodi Christina TEU
Coordinatrice TUMEKUTANA pour la région de l’Afrique australe.

Our Mission Agencies Announcements:

Mission Team – Meeting at September 8, 4:30pm zoom.
World Mission Committee – September 15, 4:30pm, zoom.
Community Mission Deacons – September 22, 4:30pm, zoom.

Courage Connection: If you or someone you love need help, please call Courage Connection’s Domestic HOTLINE (217)384-4390 OR (877)384-4390

Cuba Partner Network Virtual Gathering 2020 – The PC(USA) Cuba Partners Network Virtual Gathering: Celebrating our Connections in the Time of COVID, will be held via Zoom webinar, September 25 -26, 2020. Registration is $20 for all three days. If you are interested in attending, please contact Rachel@firstpres.church for the registration link.

Frontera de Cristo – Coffee & Conversation Continues/Café y Conversacion Continua
Sept 10 de Septiembre: Conversation with a Recent Deportee who Grew up in Douglas and is Starting a New Life in Puerto Penasco (pending)
Sept. 17 de Septiembre: Clase de Cocina: Come Los Tamales Casi Dividio la Iglesia Cooking Class: How Tamales Almost Divided the Church
Sept 24 de Septiembre: Loteira de Frontera de Cristo: Play Virtual Mexican Bingo with us: Have Fun and Learn About the Life and Ministry of Frontera de Cristo
Email “conversation” to office@fronteradecristo.org to get the Zoom link
CU at Home: Save the NEW Date!!! Upcoming Event Highlighting Men’s and Women’s Emergency Shelter, Sept. 30, 12pm.

Other Mission Opportunities around town –

Twice is Nice Thrift Store is
Open for Porch Sales
607 W. Elm St.,
Urbana

Saturdays August 22, 29, Sept.12, 19, 26
From 10am-2pm

Featured Items:
Sept 12 Electronics, Decorative (wall and other)
Sept 19 Puzzles, Games, Toys, Books Stationery
Sept 26 Winter apparel, Holiday

We are not closed for good, just exercising extreme caution in these difficult times. We will not be opening the shop itself until we are safe. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

We have missed you and hope to see many old and new friends at one or all of our porch sales. Cash and checks only.

We will be requiring masks, limited numbers on the porch and providing hand sanitizer for use before and after shopping.

Let us keep all our mission partners in our prayers, those who are waiting to go back to their place of ministry and those who are able to work where they are. Listen for God’s call to you in their ministry.

Our PC(USA) Mission CoWorkers:
Mark Adams and Miriam Maidonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Jo Ella Holman (Carribean and Cuba)
Bob and Kristi Rice (South Sudan)

Our regional and global mission partners:
Kemmerer Village (and Camp Carew)
Lifeline Pilots
Marion Medical Mission
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Opportunity International
Friends of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan Presbyterian Cuba Partnership
Special Offerings of the PC(USA)
Theological Education Fund
Young Adult Volunteers

Here in Champaign – Urbana:
CU Better Together
CU at Home
CANAAN S.A.F.E. HOUSE
CANTEEN RUN
COURAGE CONNECTION
DREAAM
eMPTY TOMB, INC
FAITH IN ACTION
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY
THE REFUGEE CENTER
RESTORATION URBAN MINISTRY
SALT & LIGHT

Here at First Presbyterian Church
FPCC Amateur Preachers
FPCC Environmental Committee working with Faith in Place
FPCC Presbyterian Women
FPCC ESL
FPCC Children, Youth and Families
FPCC Mission Possible/Go and Serve

302 W. Church Street
  Champaign, IL 61820
  217-356-7238
  info@firstpres.church

Attachments:

The_Heart_of_Mission_090820.pdf

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-07

Posted on Sep 7, 2020 in COVID-19 |

Monday, September 7^th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews

To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends,

Happy Labor Day to you all. Let us thank God for work, and thank both those who do it and seek it. May all our labors be labors of love that contribute to the world’s good.

Almighty God,
you have so linked our lives
one with another
that all we do affects,
for good or ill,
all other lives:
So guide us in the work we do,
that we may do it
not for self alone,
but for the common good;
and, as we seek a proper
return for our own labor,
make us mindful of the
rightful aspirations of
other workers, and
arouse our concern
for those who are out of work;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
forever and ever.
Amen.

PEACE,

Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-04

Posted on Sep 4, 2020 in COVID-19 |

Friday 4 September 2020

Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends,

            Happy Birthday to our pastor friend Dale Tutje! He’s 93 today! O, Happy Day!

* * *

            When I think of the teachers who most nurtured me in my education at all levels, at first blush there are dozens that stand out (Harriet Chapel, Jim Wilson, David Bartlett, Sib Towner). When I think more deeply, more stand out (Mrs. King, Mrs. Parish, Donald Dawe). When I think grade by grade and semester by semester, language by language, subject by subject, more step forward (Manuel Bejar, Ray Jones, Stanley Mitchem). Some great teachers were never my teachers: Rev. Louie V. Andrews, John Warren, Rick Hardwick, Les Grady, Roger Gravatt, Billy Ricketts, Mark Stanley, Jon Willinger, Jim Burrows, Paul Rundberg, Jan Hottinga. The list goes on. Praise God, the list goes on.

            Every teacher made a positive difference—a few by negative example, but most because of some special gift they brought to me and my peers. How grateful I am. What would I have been without them?

            The school year has begun and our students and teachers are digging in for a new year. They’ve strapped on their wings and are ready to fly. This won’t be the easiest year during pandemic but that’s why we’re all prayer harder than ever, and we just might find other ways to lend our caring support. Tell me about the teachers who most influenced you.

            I’ve told you this story before: a king wanted to have a man or woman represent the kingdom at a big, world event. He called upon the people of his land to come present their case so he could pick the worthiest of representatives. Astronauts, athletes, scholars, great leaders, brave servants, generals, chefs, and others all came forward. These were the most acclaimed people of the land. Finally, a little old woman came forward. The king asked her, given all the stellar applicants who came before her, why he should chose her. Humbly she said, “I was their fourth grade teacher.”

            This is what Bob Kirby wrote about a teacher who influenced him: My high school sophomore English teacher was Ruth Lichenstein. She told me, “Robert, you can succeed at any university you choose and then you can do anything you want to do.” For a timid teenager in a small school in a small town these were big words. I have never forgotten them or Ms. Lichenstein.

            Who are the teachers you’ll never forget? Let me hear from you.

* * *

            Sad news: I lost about 25 important emails this week. One of them might have been yours. If you wrote me and I’ve not written back, please be in touch. It’s maddening to recreate lost mail from memory.

* * *

            I’ve preached about 500 more times on “love” than I have on “sin.” It’s because of sin, however, that one needs to talk all the time about love. Tune in on Sunday as I talk about, you guessed it, love. I’ll also make some very important observations about pizza, meatloaf, Republicans, and Democrats.

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 — Congrats to Judi Geistlinger for being the first — of MANY — to guess last Friday’s photo was of Matt Matthews!

Here’s this week’s photo.

Visit http://fb.com/groups/firstpreschampaign to make your guesses, or email them to photos@firstpres.church.

We are getting low on photos, so 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.

* * *
Lots of music today. We all need more songs than usual. Sing out. Sing loud.

The Storm is passing over
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3jgPsGQSdQ

Bluegrass masters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPkDz4T2eVE&list=RDiPkDz4T2eVE&start_radio=1&t=98

Jesus can you help me now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_-sskQWfK4&list=RDiPkDz4T2eVE&index=13

The writers are Jack Rhodes and Joe “Red” Hayes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmhDJBjJR6k

A song for pandemic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AkGk5maD8Q

A Friday song of thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EORbL8N-R8&list=RD76x2pVGsaME&index=15

Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-03

Posted on Sep 3, 2020 in COVID-19 |

Thursday, September 3^nd, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews

To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends,

Evening prayer was beautiful last night. Join us next week for an insight into our Mission Program. We meet via Zoom every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link is always in the Wednesday morning emailer that you get from me. (This email.)

Among the prayers we lifted up last night was a prayer for endurance. Bless you all as you. This prayer from last night may encourage you:

A prayer from St. Francis of Assisi

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong. You are great.
You are the Most High. You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty. You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful Saviour. Amen.

News:

You are invited to a congregation-wide book study on race.

WHAT? White Fragility: Why Is It So Hard for White People to Talk about Race? by Robin DiAngelo (Beacon Press, 2018).
WHEN? The study begins on the week of September 14 (either on Monday night at 7:00, or Thursday afternoon at 11 a.m. Exact times TBA).
HOW? Sign up by emailing or calling Patty Farthing in the church office. We will meet on-line via Zoom. 217.356.7238 / Patty@firstpres.church
WHO? Everyone in our congregation and community is invited. Pastor Matt Matthews will facilitate. Our Compassion, Peace, and Justice Committee will host.
WHY? Having conversations about race may open us to whole new ways of being “neighbor” and give us ideas about how we can help heal the divisions that divide our nation along racial lines.

A twenty-minute video, Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo produced by the United Methodist Church, introduces the author and some basic concepts about white fragility. View it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7mzj0cVL0Q&feature=emb_title

I’m eager to be challenged by this book and by our conversations around it. I have a lot to learn about race, about myself, and about our complicated, beautiful human family. I’m eager to grow. Join us!

Those who have studied the book say this:

It is not a fluff book.
It is thought provoking.
There will be uncomfortable parts.
It will challenge us to think about things we’d rather not think about.
It is a journey of learning and awareness. I became aware of little things in daily life I never noticed before.
It gives an understanding of our white culture I never had before.
It is an opportunity to consider cultural blind spots that might inhibit how fully we live out Christ’s call on our lives as His disciples.

Together we can identify and practice ways to build our capacity to listen and to speak about race, faith and justice in a manner that builds up the Body of Christ.

Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):

Why was the weightlifter upset? She worked with dumbbells.

What is the Pope’s favorite scent? Pope-pourri.

Good Word:
PSALM 88

¹O Lord, God of my salvation,
when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
²let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.

Let us pray:
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee.

AMEN

A Child’s Prayer by Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Much, much love to you all.

Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church