Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-18
Friday December 18th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
What a surprise we have in store for this Sunday! (Christmas Pageant!)
* * *
I know we can’t worship in person on Christmas Eve, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t worked hard (and are still working hard) to produce a beautiful service of worship. I hope you join us for that service. It will be available at FirstPres.Live at 4 p.m. You can watch it any time after that hour.
* * *
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. Be amazed. Tell somebody.
See you on Sunday,
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
* * *
Advent Daily Reading Friday Luke 12:13-21
Jesus warns us to be on guard and keep watch for all kinds
of greediness. Jesus tells us to keep a lookout for our own
propensity to believe that our life’s worth is measured in
material goods. When have you believed life consists of
an abundance of possessions? Be conscious today of your
relationship to money and possessions. How does that
relationship reflect, or not, your relationship to Jesus Christ?
Jesus, you enter the world as an infant, born in a stable to a
family with little in the way of material possessions. You tell
your followers to take nothing for their journey. You warn us
to be on guard for greed. As we prepare for your birth, we pray
to be given the faith to put you first so that all our priorities
are rightly ordered. Amen.
Saturday Isaiah 9:1-2
Deep darkness resonates this year. The word in Hebrew can
be translated as “shadow” or “death-shadow.” The people
in this passage know the reality of fear and suffering — a
nearness to death and vulnerability that feels familiar
right now. As you navigate the waning days of a difficult
season, where do you see God’s light breaking into the deep
darkness?
God of the light no darkness can overcome, we confess to
being weary, tired of worries that keep us up at night and
ready for your promised rest. When we walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, grant us the peace that passes
understanding and the ability to see even a pinprick of your
light that shows us a way forward. Amen.
Sunday Acts 1:6-10
Why read a passage about Jesus’ ascension during the
season of Advent when we prepare for his birth and
return? What do Jesus’ final instructions to his closest
friends just prior to being lifted up to heaven have to
do with us on the cusp of Christmas? What resonates
in this passage at this time in this year is the disciples’
pressing question. They want to know if now is the
time that God will restore the kingdom of Israel. Their
question is understandable. Having endured seeing
their friend and Savior suffer and die, they want an
assurance that all that pain results in restoration. In
our human terms: they want to know it has all be
worth it, leaving their familiar vocations, following
Jesus, fearing for their lives, huddling behind locked
doors, processing the good but utterly upending reality
of resurrection. After all this, will the world be set
right on their terms?
Do we not have similar questions at the end of this
long year? Will the vaccine come soon and be safe?
Will we be able to be together in person again? Is
now the time we can sing in worship? Will those long
oppressed find justice? Will the economic fallout ebb
and turn course? Is it not the time for the restoration
of what we used to call normal, Lord?
Jesus tells the disciples that he does not know the
answer to what is to them their most pressing
question. Instead, he gives them a mission, an
unwavering purpose no matter what is happening in
the world. They are to be his witnesses right where
they are and to the ends of the earth. I wonder if they
were frustrated by his response. I wonder if we are,
too. Often we want Jesus to answer our most pressing
questions, but rather than answering our question
Jesus gives us a job to do. We are to tell the world what
we know of Jesus and what we know of God through
him. Even as we make ready for his birth, we are to
tell others why his incarnation matters to us and to
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the world.
As we continue to navigate a difficult time in the life
of the world, we bear witness to the love of God that
refuses to let us go. As we wrestle with challenges that
persist despite our fatigue and dismay, we tell of the
one found among the least of these. As we press God
with understandable and pressing questions, Jesus
recognizes our fears but entrusts us with the gospel
anyway. As we get closer to Bethlehem, we remember
that we are already and always witnesses to our Savior
right where we are and wherever we are sent.
Gracious God, we have so many questions, urgent questions.
We want to know when this time filled with so much
upheaval will come to an end. Even as you honor our
questions, you entrust us with your mission of bearing
witness to Jesus Christ at all times and in all places. Open
our mouths that we might proclaim your praise. Guide our
actions that we might embody the good news of our Savior.
Amen.
* * *
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
One more Sunday of Advent music. Enjoy:
O Come, O Come…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Emmanuel…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Read more...
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-17
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
A Christmas Reflection
by Nancy MacGregor
When someone suggested I write a memory of my most memorable Christmas, it seemed an easy piece to write. However, after a week of reminiscing, I realized it was a truly daunting task. Looking back over 3/4 of a century of Christmases, it was impossible to single out one special time: they’ve all been memorable for one reason or another. Should I write about the Christmases we were snowbound? The Christmas my cousin was in Viet Nam and we stopped when it was his turn to open gifts to pray? Perhaps when we moved to Florida in 1978 and for the first time didn’t celebrate Christmas with my mother’s family. It was impossible to choose one out of so many memories. And that’s when I had an epiphany: the reason my Christmases are all memorable is because they are all connected with family and family traditions.
I love Christmas. I love the traditions. I love the smells of the foods we only eat at Christmas. I love the sight of children in their jammies hanging stockings on Christmas Eve. I love the memories of Christmases past. Although we celebrated wonderful Christmas Days with my father’s family, Christmas Eve was always spent with my mother’s family. Christmas Eve was something out of a holiday storybook. There was mistletoe sent by my uncle in South Carolina, my mother and my uncle playing the organ – my mother on her stomach on the floor working the pedals and my uncle playing the keyboard arguing with about tempo and chords while we sang Christmas carols, ten little children looking out the window waiting for Santa and Rudolph, and the table groaning with all the Swedish foods we loved. But what stands out most my mind is my mother sitting in a chair holding a lighted candle as she read the Christmas story from the King James Bible – all of us children sitting at her feet, most of us knowing the story so well we were able to say the words with her.
Despite all the wonderful memories, I think this year will be the most memorable, not because of what won’t be, but because I am able to look back and rejoice at what was and look forward to what will be. Ordinarily at this time, I’m rushing to grade papers and record grades [and I am this year as well], decorating the house, racing to finish Christmas shopping, addressing Christmas cards, planning Christmas celebrations with family and friends, attending Christmas Eve services; then scrambling to “undecorate” the house in order to be ready to spend the rest of the break in Florida. And sometimes I wonder where Christmas has gone!
You see, like many people, I often become so involved with the “busyness” of the season, that I don’t take to take enough time to focus on the meaning of Advent. This year I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the significance of these weeks leading up to Christmas. Reading Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, and the beautiful beginning of John remind me that Jesus did not come wrapped in holiday paper; rather he came wrapped in God’s promise of salvation. And I feel joy.
So this year on Christmas Eve, I will zoom with my family instead of sitting together with them at a festive table. I will sit in a chair holding a lighted candle and read the Christmas story to my children and grandchildren as my mother did. And I will rejoice and be glad, “For unto us is born this day in city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
God Jul [Merry Christmas].
* * *
Daily Advent Devotion Thursday Habakkuk 1:1-5
The writer of Habakkuk calls God to account, wanting to
know why God does not set things right, bring justice and
vindicate the righteous. God answers in verse 5: Look and
see; wonder and be astounded. God is at work in ways that
human beings would not believe even if told directly. Can
you relate to Habakkuk’s frustration? Where is God telling
you to look and see, wonder and be astounded at what God
is doing right now?
Loving God, you hear our cries of frustration, our pleas for
your intervention and tell us to look and see, wonder and be
astounded at the work you are doing in the world. When we
are unable to see your providence and power, remind us yet
again to wonder, to have holy curiosity, to remember that the
kingdom is near, and Jesus is surely coming. Amen.
News
Mark your calendar for December 22nd at 7 pm
The Nurture Committee invite you to a Christmas Dessert gathering via Zoom
Wear your favorite or “ugly” Christmas Sweater.
* * *
The FPCC Community Mission Deacons Champaign County Food Insecurity Drive/ aka The 2020 Angel Tree: Food insecurity is the dry technical term for American households going hungry at least some of the time. It is at crisis levels all over America and very much so in Champaign County. According to Census Bureau data, currently, over 1 in 10 American adults did not have enough to eat last week. And, worse, for families with children, approximately 1 in 4 such families did not have enough food for their children last week! In Champaign County, rates are similar, and Food Stamps, Eastern Illinois Food Bank, and others are unable to meet the increasing need. For people of color the statistics are considerably worse. Help is desperately needed now.
The FPCC Mission perspective emphasizes supporting programs that actually help people lift themselves out of poverty. But, critically, FPCC also firmly believes that crises demand immediate responding. Therefore, CMD invites you to join in responding to this crisis.
Our fund provides an opportunity for FPCC to reach out to struggling Champaign County brothers and sisters who, through no fault of their own, are caught up in this crisis. The Eastern Illinois Food Bank has more information at this web site:
https://www.cu-citizenaccess.
So, if you are able to contribute to this fund, that would be wonderful. The amount collected will be contributed to Eastern Illinois Food Bank and hence put to good use via an organization expert in food distribution! As an encouragement, CMD has contributed $4000 and a member family has contributed an additional $1000. Because the need is so overwhelming and many of us have resources that can make a difference, we are optimistic that our church can contribute a substantial amount that will help relieve the hunger issue in Champaign County. You may give securely online at https://firstpres.church/giving
Thank you for your consideration and your generosity.
* * *
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
From Tom Gilmore: What did the snail sitting on top of the turtle say? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Another of what Bill Gamble calls a “bad joke,” his words, not mine. I think it works: There was this guy who had two girlfriends, and he could not decide which one he wanted to marry. A friend finally said to him, “Make up your mind. You can’t have your Kate and Edith too.”
Good Word: (Mary sings a celebration song.)
Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
LET US PRAY:
There are those whose road is more difficult than ours, O God. Some have not been able to pay bills in a long time. Some face eviction in January or February; their landlords need to make a living, too. A grandfather raising three beloved grandchildren can’t afford presents, and his drug-addled daughter is costing him a fortune.
Those of us with lesser worries are glad that our concerns matter to you, also. If you need help, O God, ask us. Send us a star, a host of angels, a messiah. And like wise magi, might we make our way to our neighbors in need bearing gifts.
AMEN.
* * *
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-16
Wednesday December 16th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
I had a great conversation with some old Richmond, VA, friends. Jeff was the best man at our wedding, and he and Joan have been some of those abiding friends with whom we share a lot of history. I hiked a tiny part of the Appalachian trail with Jeff and remember inserting all of the canned stew into his pack. He was stronger than me, but also smarter and made me divide the packs more evenly.
Have you been connecting with old friends and family? Do you have some stories to share? Bill Gamble has one, below. Tomorrow, I have a special one by Nancy MacGregor.
I still keep thinking about last week’s dialogue sermon that Rachel wrote. Coming to God empty-handed is sticking with me. No ‘thing’ satisfies my longing for what only God can fill. It’s a lot to ponder at Christmas. At anytime.
* * *
Dave Bauer has a treat for tonight’s Wednesday vespers. See the longer announcement (and Zoom link) below.
* * *
Bill’s story:
Xmas 1962
by Bill Gamble
Christmas 1962 found Bill and Judy Gamble in Melbourne, Australia, far from kith and kin. We did have small Christmas tree, somewhat better than a Charley Brown tree, which was partially decorated with sea shells from a nearby beach.
After trying at least a couple of dead churches, we found a live church, South Camberwell Methodist. We were warmly welcomed, although some folks were puzzled about why we would drive seven miles to get to a church where many members lived within easy walking distance. A few families soon included us in various activities, most especially the Rashleigh family (hope I spelled it right). Three generations of the family were active in the church, with the youngest a small mob of pre-teens. The elder Mr. R. directed the church choir, but also was the conductor of the Royal Melbourne Chorale Society, if I have name right.
Christmas dinner at the Rashleighs was a traditional English Christmas dinner, even though Christmas in Australia is well into the summer. The menu included a pudding with some six-pence coins cooked in it, and if you got a coin in your serving, it was a good luck omen. We were seated next to the kids, and they were bemused by our very non-Australian handling of our knives and forks. And we had conversations on sometimes very strange but amusing topics.
And why were the Gambles in Australia? Bill had a Fulbright Fellowship and was attached to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization ( C. S. I. R. O.), Div. of Building Research, where he was breaking concrete things, including building pieces.
* * *
Daily Advent Reading Wednesday Genesis 1:3-4
One of the refrains of Genesis 1 is: “And God saw that is was
good.” The light, the water, the land, the vegetations, all of
creation — God saw it all and declared it good. Imagine if we
surveyed all that we encountered and noticed — and saw that
it was good. Today as you see the world you inhabit, make a
point to notice its goodness and name it so.
Creator God, you make the world and call it good. As we
wake and work, rest and play, open our eyes to the holy
goodness all around and even within us. Do not let us take
for granted the goodness of the meals we eat, the goodness of
the people we encounter, the goodness of the air we breathe
and the landscapes we move through every day. May we,
like you, see and declare: It is good. Amen.
News
Join us this Wednesday when Dave Bauer will lead a study for Advent:
- Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit?
- Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year?
- Looking for inspiration?
Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent. We’ll notice:
-unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
-an abundance of “begatting”
-a voice calling in the wilderness
-Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?”
Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
What’s the most musical part of a turkey? Drumsticks.
Good Word: (Mary sings a celebration song.)
Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
LET US PRAY:
These days are hard, O God. If we cannot make them happy, then help us make them beautiful. AMEN.
* * *
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-15
Advent Daily Devotion Tuesday Acts 20:28-32
Pay careful attention to yourself and to the flock with
which you have been entrusted. Paul, as he prepares to
leave these new disciples, admonishes them to attend to
God’s instructions and be alert, lest false teachers lead them
astray. Given how much information and disinformation
comes our way on a daily basis, how do we pay attention to
God’s commandments and discern what is counter to the
will of God?
Jesus, you teach us the will of God and promise to send your
Spirit to remind us of all you said and instructed. At times,
we get overwhelmed with the relentless rush of headlines,
billboards and voices clamoring for our attention. Silence in us
any voice but yours, so that we might pay close attention to you
and therefore close attention to our own thoughts and actions
and close attention to the needs of the world you came to save.
Amen.
|
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-14
Monday December 14th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
We are all enjoying your Christmas stories. Please share them with me. I’ll post them here.
* * *
This is from Mary Jane Kelley:
We always went to midnight mass but left the house at 10:00pm to get front seats and listen to the hour of music before mass. When we returned home about 1:30am everyone was pretty weary. Mother mixed up egg nog for everyone with a spike of Dad’s whiskey. It was so special—also assuring my parents that we would not be up at the crack of dawn to see what gifts had arrived!
* * *
Beth Hutchens shares these memories:
December 21, 1960
Maternal grandmother died at home in Boonville, NC. She had been an invalid at home for a decade. We lived in Orlando, and it took 2 days to drive there. We were going to NC the next day to pick up my brother at University of FL and drive up there; Mother was the only one of her 3 siblings who did not live in the small town. Really bad trip to NC on highways 441, 301, and 601; no interstates. Memory…white flower arrangement ‘frozen‘ by the front doorway of grandparents home.
December 18, 1971
I was living in Winston-Salem, NC. Had a plane ticket to fly to FL for Christmas with flights on the 21st and 28th. Had a call that evening from Mother that Daddy had a heart attack and was in the hospital, and it could go either way. Changed flight and flew into Orlando, arriving at 3 a.m. on the 20th. Brother was there at first from Orlando without his young family. Mother and I spent the rest of the time together by ourselves. I was there with her till the 28th. We could see Daddy, one person at a time, for ten minutes every hour. My hair was longer; fortunately, I could hide my recently pierced ears from him! He was in a big room with about 9 cardiac patients in cubicles. They said if he survived the first 48 hrs, it was good. He missed his newspapers. I made him a wall calendar for December and moved a little Christmas tree over the December days…sort of like I had done in my third grade classroom. I flew back to NC as originally scheduled on the 28th. Was getting ready for bed in my apt that evening when Mother called that he had taken a turn for the worse and would not live through the night; I frantically made preparations for return flight to FL. Both times, a neighbor’s son, Tom Hahn, picked me up at the airport in the middle of the night; great neighbors who moved across the street from us when I was in 2nd grade and Tom was in first grade…never any partnership tendencies between us but great friends.
Upon second return, I couldn’t believe the difference in Daddy. Always clean-shaven, he had the beginnings of a beard. They said he wouldn’t live through the night but he lived several more days. Never knew him to be sick before this…now his body was lurching on a respirator.
He died 3 hours into January 1st. Funeral in Orlando, another funeral and burial in Boonville, NC. Another long road trip with a grieving mother but the highways were better this time. At usual overnight motel stop in SC, owner asked where Daddy was…he was on his final flight back home to NC on flight schedule I had arranged with NC funeral director, changing planes in Atlanta as was usual back then; they used to say that if you were going to hell, you had to change planes in Atlanta!
December 22,1974
Was still living in NC and flew home to Orlando for Christmas alone with Mother. Went across the street that evening to see the Hahns, and Mother said that I should not stay long because they had a lot of company following a recent extended family wedding in West Palm Beach. Their nephew from Urbana, IL was there along with his folks from Arlington Heights, IL. I ended up playing bridge with Tom Hahn, ‘J. Pate’ Hutchens, and his mother. The next evening, Tom, ‘J. Pate’, and I went out to Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium in downtown Orlando. Tom was busy carousing; I drank a lot of beer to cool off because it was so hot down there. I had been in the back seat with the two guys up front on the way to the bar but wound up in the front bucket seat with J. Pate on the way home! And the rest is history. J. Pate came to Winston-Salem to see me in early January after his long drive back in his VW ‘Bug’. We were married in Winston-Salem on June 19, 1976.
PS
J. Pate…family name. I call him Pate. ‘John’ since he was in Army, Army Band in Germany.
* * *
Advent Daily Devotional Monday John 6:1-3
A large crowd is following Jesus because they saw
the signs he was doing, the miracles of healing he
performed. Do we see signs of Jesus at work in our
world? In our lives? What signs get your attention
and cause you to follow Jesus even now? Today, pay
attention to where you see Jesus’ healing power and
make note of it.
Loving God, we often fail to see signs of your healing,
neglecting to anticipate your miracles, thinking instead
that such divine transformation happened only long ago.
As we go about our day today, we pray for an openness to
your Spirit that reveals that you still intervene and bring
wholeness in surprising and grace-filled ways. Amen.
News
Join us this Wednesday when Dave Bauer will lead a study for Advent:
- Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit?
- Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year?
- Looking for inspiration?
Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent. We’ll notice:
-unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
-an abundance of “begatting”
-a voice calling in the wilderness
-Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?”
Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.
* * *
Seeking a personal aide The person seeking help found it, thanks for Mindy Watts-Ellis passing along a trusted name. Several of you contributed ideas. Thank you for being church!
* * *
An important link from Ruth Craddock, chair of the Session’s Covid-19 Response Team:
https://www.ama-assn.org/
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
Bill Gamble shares what he says is a bad joke, which one may have to be of a certain age to understand. I get it, but it’s before my time. Thank you, Bill:
Here his body lays molding
His dying was hard
They shot him for folding
An IBM card!
Good Word: (Mary sings a celebration song.)
Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Let us pray:
Good morning, God. We are rounding the corner to what some popular singers say is “the most wonderous time of the year.” What makes any time wondrous is the way your Spirit surprises and comforts us. Thank you for that gift. We’re looking for Jesus at the manger. With your help, there will be room in our hearts for him to be born anew. Help us to sing a celebration song. And we don’t want to sing like Mary. We want you to help us sing like ourselves. AMEN.
* * *
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-11
Friday December 11th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
On Sunday Rachel and I will preach a dialogue sermon that she wrote about coming empty handed to God. Since I didn’t write it, I can say it’s lovely. We’ll explore the paradox of Christmas. Join us?
* * *
I know we can’t worship in person on Christmas Eve, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t worked hard (and are still working hard) to produce a beautiful service of worship. I hope you join us for that service. It will be available at FirstPres.Live at 4 p.m. You can watch it any time after that hour.
Advent is a time of active waiting and hopeful lament. I hope you are finding warmth and light as the bleak midwinter deepens and the longer nights have us craning all the more for holy light.
Join us on Sunday as we look for light, light candles, and worship the one whom John called the Light of the World.
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. Be amazed. Tell somebody.
See you on Sunday,
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
* * *
From your Nurture Team — Judi Geistlinger was the first to recognize last week’s photo of Eric & Cathy Stickels (below).
We’re taking a break on photo guessing until early January. See you then!
* * *
Advent Daily Devotions
Friday Luke 2:36-38
What do we do when we are waiting for something promised
by God, but not yet visible or evident? Perhaps we are waiting
for healing in a broken relationship or waiting to be able
to forgive or be forgiven? Today we are told of Anna who
waits for the redemption of Jerusalem and while she waits,
she worships, fasts and prays. Is there a spiritual practice you
might try that could keep you connected to God as you wait?
Lord, we want to see your promises come to fruition: promises
of peace, justice and redemption. We do not want to grow
weary or cynical, hopeless or defeated. We long for our
priorities to reflect your character and our faith, even when we
cannot yet see that for which we yearn. Ground us in prayer,
fi nd us in worship, be present with us as we fast and focus on
you as we wait. Amen.
Saturday Mark 15:42-47
It may seem odd to read an account of Jesus’ death even as
we prepare for his birth. And yet, there are times in our lives
when our greatest fears are realized and it feels as if God is
absent. Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom
of God, and despite Jesus’ death he took courage and asked
Pilate for Jesus’ body. Where do you need to take courage
and speak or act as you wait and look for God’s kingdom?
God of grace and glory, sometimes we look for you and
cannot fi nd you. You tell us that if we knock, the door will be
opened to us, and if we seek we will fi nd. Yet, some days we
pound on the door and it remains locked. Grant us courage,
especially in those times and circumstances when our waiting
for you feels as if it is in vain. Help us to do the next right
thing in your name, despite our doubts and pain. Amen.
Sunday Luke 1:18-24
Often, we see that for which we are looking and fail
to notice much of what is around us. A familiar route
that we travel regularly becomes mere background
and we arrive at our destination with no recollection
of what we passed along the way. Details in the spaces
we occupy fade from consciousness until someone
unfamiliar with them points them out. One of my
children has a gift for noticing patterns and anomalies.
The building where my office is located is historic with
a big staircase that I use instead of the rather aged
elevator. After years of this ascending and descending
these stairs, one day this child went to work with me
and pointed out the discrepancy in the stairs’ materials
between one of the floors: the treads went from black
to white. In all the many footfalls upon them, I’d never
before seen the marked difference. Once she pointed
this out, the contrast was absolutely obvious, and yet
I had missed it time and time again. It strikes me in
this passage about Zechariah’s angelic visitation that
in his inability to speak and tell those waiting for him
outside the temple what happened, they name that
he has seen a vision. How did they know? Were they
watching for such divine happenings? On the lookout
for the holy?
We need others to help us see and interpret things,
people and places we might otherwise miss. We need
the community of faith to discern the work of the
Spirit when we cannot articulate what is happening
within and around us. The members of the Body of
Christ possess different gifts, varying perspectives
and points of view. When Zechariah could not speak,
the people of God took notice and recognized that
something extraordinary had taken place that day
in the temple and named the truth that he had seen
a vision. This Advent, are we paying attention and
watching for the movement of the Spirit, for evidence
of God’s inbreaking and the angels’ speaking? Often,
we see that for which we are watching and miss much
of what we do not expect to see. This is the season for
noticing and naming the coming and present kingdom
of God. This is the season for listening to those around
us with eyes to see the holy that we may well walk
past daily until they point it out and it becomes utterly
obvious.
Lord of angels and visions, we often fail to see you at work
and present in holy spaces and everyday places. We forget
to be on the lookout for you and ignore your signs and
instructions. When we get distracted, send your Spirit to
arrest our attention. Remove the scales from our eyes that
prevent us from paying attention to you. Grant us the ability
to not only notice you, but act on your Word. Amen.
* * *
Pierce Pettis offers a haunting song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Here’s a concert that will lift you . . . skip ahead to the music, thereby dodging their pitch for student scholarships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Grace Ashenfelter shares A Corona Opera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends — 2020-12-10
Thursday December 10th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Tell me about your Christmas memories. I’d like to share them here. These stories will bless us.
* * *
A Beautiful Christmas Memory
by Jane Alsberg
As a child, Christmas was a small family event. We were not many as my father was an only child and his parents died before I got to know them. My mother had only one sibling, a brother, and his family lived on the east coast so we hardly ever saw them. Therefore Christmas morning was just our family. Later we would travel an hour or so south to my maternal grandparent’s farm – it was truly an “over the river and through the woods” trip as my grandparents lived right on the Kankakee River. And I so remember the excitement upon arriving to the “Norman Rockwell” beauty of their small farm at Christmas. My grandparents raised geese and so we had not only turkey, but goose for dinner and grandma always made the best pies!
Unlike today’s extended anticipation of Christmas for children with “The Elf on the Shelf” to keep them ever mindful of the coming celebration while curbing their “naughtier” excitement, our Christmas didn’t begin until December 22 when we put up our tree. That was my birthday and we celebrated it Christmas style. My two brothers and I got to help decorate the tree and I remember so well the careful placing of the tinsel – one strand at a time. It had to be perfect! But what a gorgeous tree and we couldn’t wait for the presents to be placed under its boughs.
One December 24th when we were all quite small, I remember the three of us just couldn’t get to sleep. So in the final hours of that Christmas Eve, my mother gathered us together, sat on my bed, and with the most gentle heavenly voice she told us the Christmas story of The Seven Miracles of Gubbio and The Eighth. This is a parable written by Le Père Bruckberger, a Dominician and was first published in 1947, with the title Le Loup de Gubbio. (The Wolf of Gubbio)
It begins: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. I Cor. XIII, 2.
As a small child I listened with wonder as the ferocious wolf was calmed by St Francis of Assisi and made with him a pact to never again harm another creature of God. In return he was granted seven miracles. After several miracles of biblical proportion, and out of the goodness of his heart, he used one of his miracles to transform a deformed and hideously ugly child into a very beautiful girl, only to be used by her to perform miracles for her vanity. With only one miracle left, he put himself in peril to save the town from a conquering army. He was severely injured, but managed to gain their victory without using that last miracle. But the town assumed he had used his last miracle and so they abandoned him. In fact they thought, once a wolf, always a wolf, and they became afraid of him. In a moment of jealous weakness, the wolf killed a dog that was loved by the vain girl to whom he had devoted his reformed life. Immediately he regretted it and assuming he lost his last miracle due to this infraction, invoked St. Francis in his heart for mercy and protection. He was too weak to flee and the townspeople were now out to kill him. And with his last miracle he was transported to the forest. He hated at the people of the town, but on Christmas Eve when he heard the church bells of Gubbio, he snuck into the church and hid under the manger to be a part of the holy celebration of the birth of Jesus.
*At the moment of communion, he saw all the faithful rise and go to the holy table…The faithful, after communicating, returned to pass again before him…Each time a faithful, carrying the Body of Christ that he had just received, passed before the manger, the Wolf could not but adore the majesty of the Presence and all his pain melted deliciously in his heart and in his being. It appeared to him that his wolfly soul too participated in this communion. He benefited, he also, from this Devine Presence…and his old savage heart resisted no more and broke from an overflowing of sweet serenity.
After the mass, the children found the wolf and saw that his mouth was filled with honey.
*They cried, again a miracle! But if it was a miracle it was but the effect of Charity, sovereign, all powerful, and very precious Charity.
I stayed awake for the entire telling of this story, but drifted off to sleep right after – perhaps another miracle of God’s doing. As an adult, I like to read the story each Christmas, and though I didn’t tear up as a child – it was just all wonder and excitement – I do tear up every time I re-read it.
Christmas is a miracle.
(* words taken from the English translation)
* * *
Daily Advent Devotion Wednesday Jude 17-22
Whenever there is a “but” in Scripture, pay special attention.
The “but” represents a pivot that points to how disciples of
Jesus Christ are to behave in the midst of challenging times.
Here we read that Christians are to keep ourselves in the
love of God as we wait for our Lord’s mercy. What might it
look like to keep ourselves in God’s love today? This week?
This month?
God of grace, while the headlines tell of turmoil and acrimony,
we who follow Jesus Christ are told by your living word to
keep ourselves in your love, to wait for our Lord’s mercy and to
be merciful to others. We know that your love is not theoretical
but embodied and tangible. The mercy of Jesus Christ saves
and transforms, perhaps especially during times of trial and
pain. Make us instruments of this love and mercy, even now,
especially now. Amen.
* * *
News
TODAY! Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer today,
* * *
TODAY! ESL Café Time
What? This is a monthly café time on Zoom for the students to see their friends and tutors from all of the classes. It’s a chance for them to practice English and interact with Americans who are not their tutor. We will split into small groups so that we can discuss and catch up. First Pres members are invited to join us for the ESL Program’s time of fellowship. Bring your favorite hot drink and a snack to café time.
When? Second Thursday of every month at 10 AM. The first one is TODAY at 10 AM.
Email esl@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Does the Advent Journey of 2020 in ISOLATION have you confused, apathetic, hungry for the spirit?
Are you stuck somewhere on the journey to Bethlehem or still uncertain if you want to “go” this year?
Looking for inspiration?
Join us for our Wednesday Zoom Vespers, December 16, as the Rev. Dave Bauer encourages us to dig a little deeper and navigate that journey to the birth.
Join the fellowship as Dave helps us:
1. Compare the different approaches each Gospel writer takes to Advent. We’ll notice:
-unexpected pregnancies of the old and the young, angels making announcements, a mute father
-an abundance of “begatting”
-a voice calling in the wilderness
-Word becoming Flesh
—all ending up in the same place??? No wonder you may be confused.
2. Take a quick journey back to see what effect our Protestant Reformation leaders (i.e. Calvin, Zwingli) had on how we celebrate Christmas.
3. Can Christmas traditions turn into idolatry? Examine our Brief Statement of Faith (printed in our new church hymnal).
We invite you to listen, learn, share, reflect, challenge, discuss, explore. You can even ask, “Are we there yet?”
Let’s just take this part of the “trip” together and see where we go and what we learn along the way.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Seeking a personal aide
I am a widow in my mid-nineties, living alone in the home I have been in for over 65 years. I am ambulatory with a walker and have no dementia, but I am increasingly concerned about falling. I am hard of hearing and have issues with high blood pressure.
I am seeking a non-smoking woman to aid me in normal daily activities including personal care (such as showering and toileting), meal preparation, running errands occasionally, and helping me with other matters which may arise.
The woman may be of any age and background but someone with similar prior experience and perhaps a background or interest in nursing would be preferred.
I am very particular about how my kitchen and house are kept and my aide must be willing to accept my directions in this regard.
Ideally, my aide would have a flexible approach toward hours but generally be able to spend two or three hours a day with me five or six days a week and also be able to spend an occasional night at my home if needed.
Please be in touch with Pastor Matt if you are curious about this posting. And thank you in advance for praying for this ministry opportunity.
* * *
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
What did the Hamburger family name their daughter? Patty.
* * *
Good Word:
Psalm 126:5-6a
5 May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
LET US PRAY:
Our prayer today is a whole “Lessons and Carols” service offered by Austin College singers and musicians. As you remember, their chaplain John Williams spoke at First Pres last year in worship, Sunday school, and Sunday afternoon with his “Activators.”
Holy God, help us to celebrate with glad heart, through whatever pain that plagues us. We praise you that your light shines brighter than our dark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
* * *
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
Read more...
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-09
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Tell me about your Christmas memories. I’d like to share them here.
* * *
One Day In the Life of Your Worship Team
by Judi Geistlinger
Sunday was such a big day for the worship committee.
We began the morning premiering the worship video put together by our editing crew. All of us worshiped at home. We enjoyed the Advent candle liturgy from Gary and Linda, music by our soloists and church musicians. The tech crew made everything seamless.
Following the broadcast, a small crew gathered to record a face-to-face baptism for the next Sunday. Afterwards, they set up for recording more worship, watered poinsettias and vacuumed up leaves, ironed black tablecloths we are using for ambiance, practiced camera angles, taught a new backup camera operator, and envisioned candlelight and staging around the tree decorated by Ritchie and crew under direction of a PW angel.
Later that evening, expert scene-dressers from local theatre installed directional lights for the Christmas Eve session. Scenes, sight-lines, and lighting for Christmas Eve were tweaked.
Friends, this is just one day in the life of what it takes to do worship for our church community. Our team works hard to bring meaningful worship that is accessible to all. Usually, no more than nine people are in the sanctuary when we shoot services, but another group of nine record batches of music at other times. Special greetings such as the heart-felt stewardship messages, Advent candle lighting, and special music take more creative effort. Then, behind the scenes saints edit all the parts together.
I’ve tried not to name these workers because I’m likely to leave someone out. Many hands make for light work. When these hands come together, I see the grace of God at work, and I see the community called “the church” growing in grace.
Our Christmas Eve worship service will premiere at 4pm on Thursday, December 24th, the time of our usual family worship service. It will be available on our firstpres.live, YouTube and Facebook any time after 4pm. We invite you to share this Christmas gift to those you love.
Some of you may wish to watching it as the sun sets. Some, after dinner. Some near midnight, so that by the time it’s over it will be Christmas “day.” We do hope you will tune it, that you will share the link on your social media and with both your near and far away family and friends.
O come all ye faithful, to Bethlehem.
I can’t wait to see you there.
P.S. Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer on Thursday 10 December (tomorrow) from 7am to noon. While there will be no organized service, you may come and sit in the space to pray and meditate. Physical distancing, masks, sign in with temperature check, and registration/contact tracing will be operative. Our worship team will greet and assist you. Only 10 people at a time will be allowed in. Bring your own Bible or hymnals if you wish, as the pew materials have all been removed as a safety precaution. See you on Thursday!
* * *
Advent Daily Devotion Wednesday Isaiah 8:16-17
Isaiah says to bind up the testimony and seal the teachings.
God’s people are believing conspiracies and fearing things
other than the Lord. God says to the prophet to only fear and
honor the Lord. Isaiah affirms that he will wait and hope for
the Lord who seems to be hiding for a season. When you feel
God is absent, how do you wait in hope for the Lord? Today,
what is a source of hope in difficult waiting?
God of all times and places, when we feel as if you are hiding
your face from us, our hope dims and our waiting seems
endless. We give in to false teachings and let our fears run
rampant. Send your Spirit to grant us hope even as we wait
through difficult and painful seasons. Shine your light in the
darkness, even if only for a moment, so that we remember
your promise that joy comes in the morning. Amen.
News
Wednesday Night Zoom: Join us tonight at 7:00.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Our ESL (English as a Second Language) classes invite us to a visit on Thursday at 10 a.m.
* * *
Seeking a personal aide I am a widow in my mid-nineties, living alone in the home I have been in for over 65 years. I am ambulatory with a walker and have no dementia, but I am increasingly concerned about falling. I am hard of hearing and have issues with high blood pressure.
I am seeking a non-smoking woman to aid me in normal daily activities including personal care (such as showering and toileting), meal preparation, running errands occasionally, and helping me with other matters which may arise.
The woman may be of any age and background but someone with similar prior experience and perhaps a background or interest in nursing would be preferred.
I am very particular about how my kitchen and house are kept and my aide must be willing to accept my directions in this regard.
Ideally, my aide would have a flexible approach toward hours but generally be able to spend two or three hours a day with me five or six days a week and also be able to spend an occasional night at my home if needed.
Please be in touch with Pastor Matt if you are curious about this posting. And thank you in advance for praying for this ministry opportunity.
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
What do you call a slab of wood with nothing to do? Board.
Good Word:
Psalm 126:1-3
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
LET US PRAY:
God, give us the strength to accept with serenity the things that cannot
be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the
wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
PS:
Emails claiming to be from Pastor Matt have been received again recently, but please note that these emails are NOT actually from him. Please do not respond to such emails, as they are an attempt by a scammer to get money from you (often in the form of gift cards). If you have already responded, please discontinue the conversation and DO NOT send any money or gift cards. These scammers appeal to our generosity, and can seem legitimate. However, they are not.
The bottom line is this: before purchasing gift cards or some other method of sending money, you should always attempt to contact by a different method the person supposedly sending the email (or phone call, as is sometimes the case). Or, you can check in with the church office to see if we have heard about any such need. It is unfortunate that we have to be leery of such requests for help, but we must do so in order to be able to help when genuinely needed.
You can learn about other email scams (often known as “phishing scams”) at https://techservices.illinois.
We hope this information will help you to stay safe!
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-08
News…
Join the Nurture committee tonight at 7 PM for a virtual dessert gathering over Zoom. Bring your favorite dessert, Christmas cookie or yourself for an hour of conversation.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Advent Daily Reading Tuesday Psalm 33:20-22
Our soul waits for the Lord. God is our help and our shield.
We wait not for some unknown future or presence. We
wait for the Lord. When have you waited specifically for
someone or something? This sort of directed waiting shapes
our hopes, expectations and behavior as we wait. If we are
indeed waiting for our loving, saving Lord this Advent, what
attitudes and actions will characterize our waiting? Today,
notice the tenor and content of your waiting.
God you are our help and our shield. We wait knowing that
our waiting will not last forever and that you will surely come
with good news of great joy for all people. We wait with a
hope that motivates us to sing your praise and tend your sheep.
Our hearts are glad as we anticipate and experience now your
steadfast love that endures forever. Amen.
|
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-12-07
Monday December 7th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Please share your Christmas memories with me. Here’s one from John Muirhead:
* * *
A Christmas Memory/ By John Muirhead
For many of us the celebration of Christmas begins the night before, Christmas Eve.
One memory that stands out in my 73 years of celebrating Christmas is from the events of Christmas Eve, 1968.
Our family was gathered in the house where we had all grown up. My mother was there along with my older sister and her husband, my wife and me and my younger sister who was home from college. A big part of this memory is the fact that my dad was not with us. He had died in September and this was my mother’s and our first Christmas without him.
We had attended Christmas Eve services at First Presbyterian Church Danville and had just returned home. Our neighbor, who was the Protestant Chaplin at the Veterans Administration Hospital, stopped over after his services to share Christmas Greetings.
As teens and then in our twenties, it was a custom that we would tune in to WCIA Channel 3 for their annual showing of “A Christmas Carol.” This was the old black and white version starring Alastair Sim.
On this particular evening as we tuned in there was a special news story airing on CBS. It was a live broadcast from the Apollo 8 Astronauts who were orbiting the moon. This was the first Apollo space mission to the moon and this crew’s assignment was to orbit the moon, take pictures and help to find the best spot for a lunar landing scheduled for 1969.
As we tuned in we saw and heard live pictures of the Astronauts. When we began watching the Commander of the Apollo 8, Frank Borman, was about to begin reading a passage from Genesis on creation. He read verses 9 and 10 of Genesis Chapter 1 from the King James Version of the Bible.
“9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas: and God saw that it was good.”
Before closing the transmission he wished us all a Merry Christmas and asked for God’s Blessings on All.
What a lasting impression this made on all of us and such a fitting way to end our Christmas Eve!
Given the fact that this is a memory of long ago, I did go to the internet to confirm what I remembered. If you Google “Apollo 8 Christmas Message” you will learn more. An interesting fact is that all three Astronauts took turns reading from Genesis and they started with Genesis 1:1 and ended with Commander Borman reading the final verses. You will find that it is estimated that a Billion people world-wide saw or heard this transmission, approximately one-fourth of the world’s population at the time.
YouTube videos:
The message in black and white:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A CBS Sunday Morning Remembrance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
* * *
Advent Daily Devotion
Simeon represents those stalwart, faithful people who
show up and serve week after week. Can you think of
someone who fits this description? The dutifulness of
these folks keep the congregation going through good
times and challenging ones. They serve out of loyalty to
God, not for accolades or attention. Today remember
and give thanks for the Simeons whose waiting to see
God is marked by consistent presence and service.
Lord, we give you thanks and praise this day for your
faithful servants, those whose loyalty to you is visible in
their service to Christ’s church and your beloved world. Sure
of your Word, they keep theirs and show up daily, expecting
to meet you face to face. Help us to do likewise, not only with
a sense of duty, but with an anticipatory joy. Amen.
* * *
News
Prayer Time…
Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer on Thursday, December 10, from 7 AM to noon. While there will be no organized service, you may come and sit in the space to pray and meditate. Physical distancing, masks, sign in with temperature check, and registration/contact tracing will be operative. Our worship team will greet and assist you. Only 10 people at a time will be allowed in. Bring your own Bible or hymnals if you wish, as the pew materials have all been removed as a safety precaution. See you on Thursday!
* * *
Seeking a personal aide
I am a widow in my mid-nineties, living alone in the home I have been in for over 65 years. I am ambulatory with a walker and have no dementia, but I am increasingly concerned about falling. I am hard of hearing and have issues with high blood pressure.
I am seeking a non-smoking woman to aid me in normal daily activities including personal care (such as showering and toileting), meal preparation, running errands occasionally, and helping me with other matters which may arise.
The woman may be of any age and background but someone with similar prior experience and perhaps a background or interest in nursing would be preferred.
I am very particular about how my kitchen and house are kept and my aide must be willing to accept my directions in this regard.
Ideally, my aide would have a flexible approach toward hours but generally be able to spend two or three hours a day with me five or six days a week and also be able to spend an occasional night at my home if needed.
Please be in touch with Pastor Matt if you are curious about this posting. And thank you in advance for praying for this ministry opportunity.
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
What are doctors always calm? They have a lot of patients.
What trembles at the bottom of the sea? Nervous wrecks.
What do lawyers wear to court? Lawsuits, of course.
Good Word:
Mark 1:1-8
1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in he prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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.
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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