Ongoing Response to COVID-19
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-10-28
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
WEDNESDAY NIGHT! Sandy Carr is our leader for tonight’s SUNDAY SCHOOL on WEDNESDAY—a study hosted by our Spiritual Formation Team. Our discussion is on a talk by Rachel Held Evans entitled “With an Open Hand.” She says, “I am grateful for doubt in my life because it has taught me that I can be wrong, even in matters of faith. It has made me more humble, more dependent on Christ. So, I am grateful for doubt—it keeps my faith alive.”
Do you have doubts? Or have you become more sure and certain in your faith? Come ready to question and share.
Join Zoom Meeting
* * *
First Pres commits to being in prayer for our community, state, nation, and world on this Election Day. We are asking people to choose 30 minute timeslot(s) when they will be in prayer on Tuesday, November 3rd. Timeslots are available while the polls are open in our community, from 6 AM until 7 PM.
Please sign up here: https://firstpres.
* * *
We are having a weekly alternative face-to-face worship service beginning this coming Sunday, November 1st, at 10:15 a.m. For those of you who feel safe to attend, please pre-register by calling the church office at 217.356.7238. Registration will run from Monday morning to Thursday noon. (We are preregistering not only as a means of contact-tracing, but also to keep attendance at or under fifty (50) people, including worship leaders and ushers. I hope you understand. Remember, your Session is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe during this season of pandemic. There is a communicable disease for which we have no cure or vaccine. The best way to safeguard against getting Covid is to limit one’s exposure to it; while we have prepared as safe an environment as possible, and all participants will be required to check in, wear masks at all times, and physically separate, we cannot guarantee that somebody won’t get sick. Those who come to worship come at their own risk.
Whew! This doesn’t sound like a very welcoming or, even, friendly invitation, does it? You know what I mean. So, make wise decisions for you and your family, stay away if you are high risk or don’t feel well, and know that I look forward to “seeing” some of you online at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday (FirstPres.Live), and others of you face to face at 10:15 a.m.
God is good.
* * *
Our book study on White Fragility concluded last week. One of the things we agreed we could “do” to build a less racist world is to share great books with our children. Don Pippin pulled these titles together for us to consider. Books make great gifts to our kids and grandkids. The authors that are starred have several books published and almost anything by them would be good. What children’s books do you recommend? Let me know, and I’ll publish the titles here. (New titles are at the bottom of the list.)
PRIMARY:
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander*
Holes in the Sky by Patricia Polacco*
The Old Truck by Jarrett Phumphrey
Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats*
The Girl with a Mind for Math: the Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca*
PRE-ADOLESCENT
The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown
Rebound by Kwame Alexander*
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds*
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson*
JUVENILE
Words with Wings (20 works of art paired with poems by African Americans)
GRAPHIC NOVELS
The Port Chicago 50: disaster, mutiny and the fight for civil rights by Steve Sheinken
Black Panther/Shuri
March, (3 volumes) by John Lewis
BOOKS THAT MATT WOULD ADD:
The Twenty-Third Psalm by Tim Ladwig
The Lord’s Prayer by Tim Ladwig
For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Water
White Flour by David LaMotte
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
Always Room For One More by Nonnie Hogrogian
Making Friends by Fred Rogers
Who Counts? by Levine/Sasso
Down the Road by Alice Schertle
Let It Shine by Asley Bryan
BOOKS THAT CAROL PENKA, OUR CHURCH LIBRARIAN, WOULD ADD:
Class Act by Jerry Craft
New Kid by Jerry Craft
* * *
News
Styrofoam Drop-off Event! Drop of your Styrofoam so we can recycle it. Details are as follows:
· Saturday, October 31 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am
· Have all styrofoam, marked with #6 and a chasing arrow, placed in car trunk (and back seat if you have lots). No “peanuts,” please.
· Please wear a mask
· From church parking lot, turn east onto Doxology Lane
· Volunteers, wearing masks and gloves, will pick up the styrofoam from your car and deliver it to DART to be recycled
If you can, try to avoid styrofoam containers but the next best thing is to save the containers for our next Styrofoam Drop-off Event.
Thanks from your Environmental Stewardship Committee
* * *
KITCHEN, KITCHEN: What is your vision for our new kitchen? After Covid, should we have weekly Sunday brunches? Monthly dinners? Community meals? Sunday Night Jazz? What ministry awaits us? Ideas? Please be in touch with Gary Peterson (or me) with thoughts. Thanks.
Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):
* * *
From Skip Pickering: Logic from an uncluttered Mind
A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, “Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.”
“Yes,” the class said.
“Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary positions the blood doesn’t run into my feet?”
A little fellow shouted, “Cause your feet ain’t empty.”
Good Word:
1 John 3:1-3
1See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is whatwe are.
LET US PRAY:
The following prayer by Michel Quoist explores the color green as a healing color, so this prayer might fit better in the season of spring when our Tree Cities shuck the brown and flower in myriad shades of resplendent greet. But, as Quoist talks about “green,” consider the beautiful, healing colors of fall. I’m praying this prayer this week. Join me in doing so.
* * *
Green Blackboards
by Michel Quoist
The school is up-to-date.
Proudly the Principal enumerates all the improvements.
The finest discovery, Lord, is the green blackboards.
The scientists have studied the matter at length, they have made
experiments;
We now know that green is the ideal color, that it doesn’t tire
the eyes, that it is quieting and relaxing.
It has occurred to me, Lord, that you didn’t wait so long to paint
the trees and the meadows green.
Your research laboratories were efficient, and in order not to tire
us, you perfected a number of shades of green for your
modern meadows.
And so, the “finds” of humankind consist in discovering what you have
thought from time immemorial.
Thank you, Lord, for being the good parent who gives your
children the joy of discovering by themselves the treasures
of your intelligence and love.
But keep us from believing that by ourselves we have invented
anything at all.
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-10-27
| Snippets from Pastor Matt: We are having a weekly alternative face-to-face worship service beginning on this coming Sunday, November 1st, at 10:15 a.m. For those of you who feel safe to attend, please pre-register by calling the church office at 217.356.7238. Registration will run from Monday morning to Thursday noon. (We are preregistering not only as a means of contact-tracing, but also to keep attendance at or under fifty (50) people, including worship leaders and ushers. I hope you understand. Remember, your Session is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe during this season of pandemic. There is a communicable disease for which we have no cure or vaccine. The best way to safeguard against getting Covid is to limit one’s exposure to it; while we have prepared as safe an environment as possible, and all participants will be required to check in, wear masks at all times, and physically separate, we cannot guarantee that somebody won’t get sick. Those who come to worship come at their own risk. Whew! This doesn’t sound like a very welcoming or, even, friendly invitation, does it? You know what I mean. So, make wise decisions for you and your family, stay away if you are high risk or don’t feel well, and know that I look forward to “seeing” some of you online at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday (FirstPres.Live), and others of you face to face at 10:15 a.m. God is good. Matt Matthews |
||||||||
|
||||||||
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-10-26
Monday, October 26th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.
—Adam Lindsay Gordon,
poet (19 Oct 1833-1870)
* * *
Our book study on White Fragility concluded last week. One of the things we agreed we could “do” to build a less racist world is to share great books with our children. Don Pippin pulled these titles together for us to consider. Books make great gifts to our kids and grandkids. The authors that are starred have several books published and almost anything by them would be good. What children’s books do you recommend? Let me know, and I’ll publish the titles here.
PRIMARY:
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander*
Holes in the Sky by Patricia Polacco*
The Old Truck by Jarrett Phumphrey
Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats*
The Girl with a Mind for Math: the Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca*
PRE-ADOLESCENT
The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown
Rebound by Kwame Alexander*
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds*
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson*
JUVENILE
Words with Wings (20 works of art paired with poems by African Americans)
GRAPHIC NOVELS
The Port Chicago 50: disaster, mutiny and the fight for civil rights by Steve Sheinken
Black Panther/Shuri
March, (3 volumes) by John Lewis
* * *
Late afternoon walks,
mandolin wind and acoustic guitar,
high harmony, alchemy of notes, and
leaves, leaves falling, falling
skittering across the road
notes of their own, sweet song,
crunching underfoot in four-four.
A chill creeping in with a day
painted grey, evening creeping in too soon,
long walks through this fall. Fall
ing leaves and moon sliver floating.
So, sing.
News
KITCHEN, KITCHEN: What is your vision for our new kitchen? After Covid, should we have weekly Sunday brunches? Monthly dinners? Community meals? Sunday Night Jazz? What ministry awaits us? Ideas? Please be in touch with Gary Peterson (or me) with thoughts. Thanks.
Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):
I *think* Betty Hollister sent this. It’s funny!
A priest, a rabbit, and a minister walk into a bar. The
bartender asks the rabbit, “What will you have?” The
rabbit shakes his head and answers, “I have no idea.
The only reason that I am here is because of
autocorrect.
Good Word:
NRS Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
LET US PRAY:
(I’ve been finding prayers in song lyrics. Do any songs come to your mind? Share with me.)
New Lullaby
by David LaMotte
Oh hi sing lullaby
Hi oh where will we go
Oh hi the stars in the sky
Will sing lullaby tonight
You are my baby and I love you so
But another day is coming so this one must go
Peter Pan is flying but he’s flying low
Just to sing lullaby tonight
So hush little baby now don’t say a word
‘Cause I’m gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if it won’t sing in captivity
Well we’ll open the cage and we’ll set that bird free
Oh hi sing lullaby
Hi oh where will we go
Oh hi the stars in the sky
Will sing lullaby tonight
So rock-a-by baby on the treetop
Well the wind my be blowin’ and cradles will rock
But the bow, it is strong, and the cradle won’t fall
So sing lullaby tonight
And now I lay me down to sleep
And I pray the Lord my soul to keep
And if the Lord should come see me before I awake
Well, we’ll run up to heaven and eat chocolate cake, singin’
Oh hi sing lullaby
Hi oh where will we go
Oh hi the stars in the sky
Will sing lullaby tonight
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-10-23
Friday 23 October 2020
Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
The Westminster Shorter and Longer catechisms ask what’s our purpose in life. I find the answer so wonderful: to glorify and enjoy God forever. I need God. I try to serve God. I am often acutely aware of God’s presence with me. I argue with God. I thank God. I pray to God. I talk about God with others, and every now and then I actually pretend to be God. All of that comes naturally.
Enjoying God, however, takes some work. But not only does the catechism suggest I should enjoy and glorify God, it says that it should be at the very top of my list. Numero uno. The big kahuna.
My friend Gordon wrote us a Christmas card every year. On the Christmas before he was killed at Adams field in Little Rock, he wrote that Rachel and I should “enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.” He underlined each word twice. He really meant what he said. Enjoy each other. Enjoy the kids. Enjoy our work. Enjoy life. Enjoy God. The Apostle Paul puts it like this: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.”
Enjoying God in a world that is so tense and unstable and violent seems crazy. Maybe that’s all the more reason to do it. If we don’t, the pressure might crack us like an egg.
* * *
See you on Sunday. Eric is preaching.
The Session has called a meeting of the Congregation on Sunday October 25 at 10:15 a.m. via ZOOM for the purpose of hearing and acting upon a report from the Congregational Nominating Committee. If the way be clear, we will elect a slate of church members to the office of Elder and Deacon. Please plan on attending that important ZOOM meeting. The link is: FirstPres.church/meeting
* * *
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. (It’s there.)
Be amazed.
Tell somebody.
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
* * *
Sunday in the park is THIS Sunday. See you at Hessel at 11:00. And, yes, it might be chilly.
* * *
PHOTO Challenge!
From your Nurture Team — Only two guesses were received last week, but the first one, from Pam Grubb, was right! Last Friday’s photo was of Beth Hutchens!
Here’s this week’s photo.
Visit http://fb.com/groups/
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@
* * *
Johnny Nash (ask me about his guitarist)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Jimi!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-10-22
Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Who Am I?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor executed by Hitler in the spring of 1945. He wrote this poem from prison.)
Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell’s confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equally, smiling, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation,
tossing in expectation of great events,
powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine.
News
DON’T FORGET: The Session has called a meeting of the Congregation on Sunday October 25 at 10:15 a.m. via ZOOM for the purpose of hearing and acting upon a report from the Congregational Nominating Committee. If the way be clear, we will elect a slate of church members to the office of Elder and Deacon. Please plan on attending that important ZOOM meeting. The link is: FirstPres.church/meeting
Join us again this Sunday, October 25, at 11 am for another Sunday in the Park at Hessel Park. Bring your lawn chairs and we will gather for an hour near the Pavilion at the north end of the park. We will follow social distancing, sanitation and guidelines. WEAR A MASK!
* * *
THIS IS IMPORTANT: What is your vision for our new kitchen? After Covid, should we have weekly Sunday brunches? Monthly dinners? Community meals? Sunday Night Jazz? What ministry awaits us? Ideas? Please be in touch with Gary Peterson (or me) with thoughts. Thanks.
Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):
Thank you, Lori Schaap…
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? PILGRIMS!!
Good Word:
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me . . .
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
LET US PRAY:
(Thanks, Jeff Kellam, for this chestnut.)
A Mother’s Prayer
by Melissa Manchester
I know you’re listening
As I lay me down to sleep
It’s not for me, I ask
But my children’s souls to keep
It seems the world is going crazy
And though I need to do my share
Could you please, take them under wing
Watch over them especially
Keeping them safe from everything
This is a mother’s prayer
I know you’re listening
In the silence of this night
The news is blistering
But I hold on to your light
And though there’s darkness all around us
By my faith, I know you’re there
Give me the strength to lead the way
Send me the words I need to say
Use me to guide them day by day
This is a mother’s prayer
I know, I can’t do this by myself
I thank you for your help
I know you’re listening
So I know, I’m not alone
I feel you here with me
As we all face the unknown
Could you return us to your garden
Where no one’s hurt and no one’s scared
Free us from pride and bitterness
Keep us so close we won’t forget
Teach us to love as you love
This is a mother’s prayer
Teach us to love as you love
This is a mother’s prayer
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church