Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-09-10
Thursday, September 10th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
This just in: The Nuture committee reports that they are hosting “Sunday in the Park.” Gather with church friends (bring guests) in Hessel Park on THIS Sunday, September 13th. (Grandparents Day). Bring your OWN lawn chairs and wear masks. You may bring food or drink for you, but we will NOT be sharing food.
God didn’t intend for us to live in isolation. God designed us to have relationships with each other. Therefore, bring your lawn chairs and let’s gather for an hour at 11 AM near the Pavilion at the north end of the park. The committee will be available to guide you to our location and provide a safe location following social distancing, sanitation and guidelines such as wearing masks.
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ
Psalms 133:1 – How good and pleas- ant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
* * *
Here at the beginning of the school year, we’ve been hearing from each other about our favorite teachers. Gary Wisemen wrote this about two of his beloved teachers.
You asked for teachers that influenced our lives. In seventh grade my social studies teacher was a male, not too common in rural southern Illinois in the fifties. I will never forget the time he pulled me aside and said, “Gary you should become a History teacher.” From that day on I never considered anything else.
Another teacher was also an elementary teacher who was anything but “macho” until he told the class his war story. When the war began, the Air Force made him a gunnery instructor. This was fine until men who had completed their 25 missions and who had never been to gunnery school were rotated back to the States to gunnery school. Mr. Wagner was to teach them how to shoot down a German plane which they had done and he had never seen. So, he was sent to England to fly five missions as a waist gunner in a B- 17and then return to the States as an instructor. On his last mission he parachuted from his burning plane, was captured and spent the war in a prison camp. Needless to say I never saw him as the same man and I hope I learned something about prejudging people.
Thanks for Sunday church. However, we sure miss the old Sundays.
By the way, how does it feel to be upstaged by a white fuzzy puppet?
Thanks again
Gary Wiseman
(Ed. Note: I’m used to being upstaged by everyone. That’s what happens when you associate with talented people like you. And Jip—our newest white-haired, fuzzy friend–is a star!)
* * *
A replay from my wife, who contributed this in the Tuesday, August 4th, emailer:
I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately for my health.
On my walks I pass by people. I try to wear my mask and that gets in the way of my usual smile and nod. I heard on CBS that just making eye contact and saying “Hi” to a stranger can actually increase your Oxytocin (feel good hormones).
We are social creatures. God, Being in relationship, Three in One, created us to touch, shake hands, hug, move in close, laugh together. We are made in God’s image.
Lately, we have been limited in our ability to do those things. So, walking is good, not just for my body parts (and letting go of the many pounds I have to shed!) but for the social body in which I live, move and have my being. Walking is good. Jesus walked. He walked in other people’s shoes with his mind, his heart and his deeds. Jesus showed us who to walk with (our neighbor) and how to walk. He showed us walking could be loving.
That is the heart of mission!
News:
Gathering in Hessel Park (see above). Wear your masks!
Friday Men’s Prayer 8:30 am
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
This news from Dick Arnould:
Lou Liay, Dick Arnould and various neighbors of Shorty Eichelberger are planning a PARADE of CARS to honor Lila Jeanne on Friday, September 11, 2020 at 4:30 pm. This is being advertised as LILA JEANNE (Shorty) Eichelberger Day in Champaign. Mayor Deb Feinen is presenting a Framed PROCLAMATION that will be given to Shorty in the “Drive-By”.
Those who join the drive by parade will remain in your car and if you have cards or mementoes for Shorty, there will be a few neighbors ready to retrieve them from your car as you slowly pass by. Cars should meet on VALLEYBROOK DRIVE. Please enter from Duncan Rd west on to Valleybrook. (There will be a sign with balloons stating to TURN WEST from Duncan to Valleybrook.) Cars will line up on both sides of Valleybrook At 4:45 the parade of cars we proceed on Valleybrook turning left on Meadow Valley Rd. for 1 block, then turning right back West on to Meadowbrook Drive. We hope to have sheriff deputies to help direct traffic going west one way on Meadowbrook Drive to the western edge of Valleybrook Drive. Yes, you are encouraged to have signs, balloons or decorate however you like. The purpose is to show appreciate for Shorty and all she has done in our community throughout her years since beginning her teaching career here in 1954.
It is NOT HER BIRTHDAY, it is an APPRECIATION DAY.
And, YES, Shorty is aware of the parade and is looking forward to it. She plans to decorate her house. (She loves displaying both Illini and PATRIOTIC symbols). It is 9-11 Day so if you would like to wave a FLAG, that is appropriate. FLAGS, ILLINI STUFF, anything significant!
Two Things you can help the committee with are:
#1 Please send an e-mail to GALE BIUCKEL at the Alumni Assoc.
gbickel@uillinois.edu or text her at 217-412-4612 so we have an idea of how many cars there will be. OF COURSE, we HOPE a lot.
#2 PLEASE, pass along this information to the vast number of friends of Shorty who might want to participate in this special day honoring her, her service and love demonstrated in her 92 years.
Hope to see you in the parade. Barb Barker
Humor (Hard times need godly laughter):
This from Brandi Lowe: An 80-year-old lady was marrying for the 4th time. The newspaper asked if she would mind talking about her first 3 husbands & what they did for a living. She smiled & said, “My first husband was a Banker, then I married a Circus Ringmaster. Next was a Preacher & now in my 80’s, a Funeral Director. When asked why the 4 Men had such diverse careers, she explained “I married one for the money, 2 for the show, 3 to get ready & 4 to go!
Good Word:
Romans 12:4-5 NIV
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Let us pray:
Pardon our sins, O Lord,
and make us truly grateful
for these and all our many
blessings.
In Christ’s name, AMEN.
(William P. Matthews, Sr.
prayed this prayer over
every dinner he ever ate.
Thank you, Dad.)
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
