Click December 2024 to find the December newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  As usual December brings lots of special gatherings and meaningful worship services.  In this issue you will find information on…

• the 2024 Advent Offering to go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
• 2nd Sunday Brunch Sunday, December 8, immediately following worship.
• A Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 15, at 9 am with our choir featuring Christmas hymns and choral anthems.
• Christmas Caroling party Friday, December 20, at 6 pm.
• Blue Christmas Service Sunday, December 22, at 4 pm.
• Christmas Joy Offering to be received on Christmas Eve.
• Christmas Eve Services at 4 and 8 pm.
• New Member Class January 12.

Join us this December for our special events and services as we lead up to the birth of the Christ Child.

Click November 2024 to find the November newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  As we get into the holidays, mark your calendars…

• Pastor Beth moves her coffeeshop office hours to Mondays from 10-12 noon returning to Cafe Kopi in downtown Champaign;
• Second Sunday Brunch immediately following worship Sunday, November 10.
• The 2024 Angel Tree will go up November 10 to support the children of Kemmerer Village.  Ornaments will highlight a child and include his/her special wish.  Gifts need to be delivered to Kemmerer the first week of December.
• All are invited to join us in Centennial Hall for Thanksgiving Dinner Wednesday, November 20, from 11 am to 1 pm as we join with the English Language Learner classes.  Food will be provided by members of the classes and your Nurture Committee.
• Sunday, December 15, 9 am our music departments invites you to a beautiful reflective service of lessons and carols.  Christmas hymns and choral anthems will invite the congregation to celebrate the joy, hope and meaning of the season.

Click October 2024 to find the October newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  

• This weekend is our 11th Annual Cuba Forum with guests Rev. Jose Manuel Capella-Pratts and Elder Vilmarie Cintron-Olivieri, Regional Liaisons for the Caribbean Region.
• Second Sunday Brunch Sunday, October 13.
• Trunk or Treat and a Soup Supper Sunday, October 27, 4-5:30 pm.
• Youth Bible Club with DREAAM begins Wednesday, October 30.

Work on the roof is completed!  Installation of the new elevator has begun and will take several months.  Solar panel installation will begin October 21.

A lot is happening at the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  Read all updates in this issue.

Click September 2024 for the September Newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, IL.  In this issue we feature…

• Second Sunday brunch September 8 immediately following worship;
• Welcome to our new Director of Music Dr. Matthew Shepard;
• Adult Discussion (aka Adult Education) returns Sunday, September 15, after worship;
• Game Night Tuesday, September 17, 4:30 pm;
• An update from Building & Grounds on the many major projects that will begin in the next few weeks;
• Presbyterian Women start their year on September 26;
• Volunteer opportunities at Salt & Light.

• Presbyterian Women’s Fall Gathering, Thursday, October 3, at 11:30 am featuring the Rev. Cindy Shepherd from Faith in Place;
• Our 11th Annual Cuba Forum starting with a presentation and light lunch on Saturday, October 5, at 11 am and a message by Rev. Jose Manuel on Sunday, October 6.  The Adult Discussion that morning will feature Elder Vilmarie.  Both serve with Presbyterian World Mission as Regional Liaisons for the Caribbean Region.

Click August 2024 for the August Newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, IL.  In this issue we feature…

• Elementary Sunday School Pool Party August 11 from 4-6 pm at the home of the Ledfords.  RSVP to joseph@firstpres.church.
• Missionaries Jeff and Christie Boyd from the Congo will be our guests August 11-12.  We will host an Open House/Dialogue with the Boyds on Monday, August 12, at 1 pm in the Parlor.
• All Church Picnic will be held Sunday, August 18, at 4 pm at Hessel Park.  Bring your favorite picnic food or dessert.  RSVP to church office or email info@firstpres.church so we know number of sandwiches to order.
• Join Pastor Beth for coffee on Thursdays, August 21 and 28, from 10 am to noon at Espresso Royal in Village Green Plaza in Champaign.
• Mark your calendars for Family Game Night on Tuesday, September 17, from 4:30-6 pm in Centennial Hall.  This is a part of Welcoming America Week.

Click July 2024 to find the July Newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  This month we welcome Interim Pastor Beth Wagner after having said goodbye to Matt and Rachel Matthews. 

In this issue read about…

• the work of a transitional pastor;
• 2nd Sunday brunch July 14;
• our summer Adult Education series on Wednesday evenings;
• this year’s Raindrop Offering supports Mission Aviation Fellowship.  Learn more of what they provide through various countries.

Click June 2024 for the June Newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, IL.  This issues contains information on…

• Pastor/Head of Staff Matt Matthews has accepted a call along with his wife Rachel Matthews to become co-pastors in Valdese, North Carolina.  The June issue contains more information on his resignation along with the next steps for First Pres in Champaign.
• Second Sunday Brunch on June 9 will recognize our graduates.
• A Farewell Celebration will be held Sunday, June 23, honoring Matt and Rachel Matthews.
• Sunday morning Adult Education has ended for the Summer.  Throughout the summer, Adult Education will be offered Wednesday evenings from 7-8 pm in the Parlor or via zoom.  The first session begins June 19 on “What It Means to be ‘A Matthew 25 Congregation'”.
• Lunches provided in May for the local Habitat Build were a BIG success.  (We are also doing June and July with all volunteer opportunities filled!)
• Ngoma African Arts Festival June 23.

April showers bring May flowers and the May issue of  news from First Presbyterian Church in Champaign.  Click May 2024 for the May issue.  This issue includes information on…

• Spring Music Sunday, May 5, 9 am.  Our Chancel and Bell Choirs will be featured.  During worship, we will pray for our sister church in Luyano, Havana Cuba.
• Take mom out to brunch on Mother’s Day.  We will serve a light brunch immediately following worship on Sunday, May 12.  Special gift for mom that day!
• Pentecost Offering on May 19 will support DREAAM.
• Presbyterian Women will host their Spring Gathering on Thursday, May 30, at 12 noon.  ALL are invited.
• All graduates will be recognized on Sunday, June 9.  Get information to Pat Tarr on a graduate in your family.
• Volunteers needed to help provide lunch for the Habitat Build participants in June.  Check out page 6 of this issue to see how you can sign up.

Read about these special events and more in the May issue.

Click March 2024 to find the March Newsletter from the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign. 

• Second Sunday brunch this Sunday, March 10!
• Easter is early this year.  We invite you to join us whether in-person or online for our Holy Week/Easter Sunday services.
• You can volunteer to help with this year’s Illinois Marathon either through the church or with DREAAM.  Details included in this issue.
• The One Great Hour of Sharing offering is the single largest way that Presbyterians join together to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need and around the world.  The offering will be received on Palm Sunday and Easter morning.
• The winning recipes from this year’s Chili and Dessert Cook-off are included in this issue.

​​​​​​​Enjoy this issue and the warmer weather as Spring gets near!