Ongoing Response to COVID-19
Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-18
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
This from Jeannie Snoeyink:
“In our reading for Our Classic book study tomorrow, there’s a very apt lesson for all of us that I’d like to share with you appropriate to issues of today in society. You have probably read this already from Nouwen’s Bread for the Journey. The title of the lesson is: Toward a Nonjudgemental Life.
“(From Nouwen:) One of the hardest spiritual tasks is to live without prejudices. Sometimes we aren’t even aware how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We may think that we relate to people who are different from us in color, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyle as equals, but in concrete circumstances our spontaneous thoughts, uncensored words, and knee-jerk reactions often reveal that our prejudices are still there.
“Strangers, people different from us, stir up fear, discomfort, suspicion, and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being “other.” Only when we fully claim that God loves us in an unconditional way and look at “ those other persons” as equally loved can we begin to discover that the great variety in humanity is an expression of the immense richness of God’s heart. Then the need to pre-judge people can gradually disappear.”
If you are interested in joining Jeannie Snoeyink and other saints in the Classic Book Club, please be in touch with Jeannie: jeannie.snoeyink@
Thanks, Jeannie.
* * *
NEWS:
Jazz Night on last night’s congregational ZOOM…wasn’t that fun? The Matthew Storie Quartet rocked it. Matthew really is great. Eventually, we’ll hear him in our sanctuary again. Also, we’ll see him at the Iron Post and on campus. There’s a “future” out there without masks and physical distancing. It’s coming. Remember, we are working hard drawing the flock together for prayer, study, and edifying conversation and programming EVERY Wednesday at 7:00. Call it “The Wednesday Night Potluck.”
Friday, Men’s Prayer Team 8:30 am
* * *
Here’s a song I wrote about potlucks for a show I wrote and produced called A Place at the Table with Rev. Jim Freeman.
“Potluck”
I. Church night is Wednesday Potluck feeding frenzy,
won’t you belly on up to the buffet line?
String beans, baked pumpkin Oh, Lord, ain’t it something?
Cooked in real butter it’s so fine.
Mrs. Brown baked her brownies.
Mrs. Jones bought a dozen eclairs.
The lady with the cats brought a casserole or two.
It’s made with shrimp and cat hair.
II. The program’s a slide show, the Wilsons thought we’d like to know,
everything about their trip while they were gone.
The way they are smiling looks just like they’re lying,
Mr. Innis snores while they drone on.
But Mrs. Brown baked her brownies.
Mrs. Jones bought a dozen eclairs.
And though it feels that this night will never end,
Dessert awaits us and we don’t care.
III. Someone said food fight and corn found its way into flight.
It hit Rev. Freeman on the head.
First there was silence and a few prayers for guidance,
Then the young perpetrator was dragged home to bed.
(Ain’t it aweful is what he said.) Because . . .
Mrs. Brown baked her brownies.
Troop Master Terrell made his crock pot s’mores.
Well behaved, polite children are rewarded.
And delinquents don’t get theirs.
IV. Yeah, church night is Wednesday potluck feeding frenzy,
won’t you belly on up to the buffet line?
String beans, baked pumpkin Oh Lord, ain’t it something?
Cooked in real butter it’s so fine.
It’s not as good as the movies,
and a concert downtown’s got us beat.
But talking with you over coffee and good food
makes my circle complete.
VI. So, limas and tuna, baked bread and a few of those
portobellas sauteed in wine.
You bring your beanies and I’ll bring my weenies
and we’ll have a very good time.
fade—Tofu surprise is sublime—wrapped up in crepes.
I think that Jell-O is lime—with seedless grapes.
Even deliquents are fine—we give ‘em lots of breaks.
God won’t you bless the buffet line!
* * *
Remember, Spiritual Formation via their Compassion, Peace, & Justice subcommittee hope to make a recommendation for a congregation-wide read for this summer on racism. Also, I’ll begin sharing movies and documentaries with you that might make this intense summer one of learning (and stories). Send me your movie and documentary ideas.
* * *
HELP! Your Session is in need of two elders to replace sitting elders who had to resign. We need two saints willing to step in to lead our (1) Nurture Committee and (2) Mission Committee.
Please volunteer. Please pray. Please nominate somebody.
The nominating committee is:
Eric Stickels, chair
Greg Cozad (12/31/20)
Judy Hendrickson (12/31/20)
Leland Andrews (12/31/21)
Linda Peterson (12/31/21)
Bill Stout (12/31/22)
John Seiler (12/31/22)
* * *
Good Word:
Acts 10:34-35 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Let us pray (one more time for this one):
Holy, Dear God,
the statue of Robert E. Lee is coming down
and it’s about time. I used to love walking
west on Monument Avenue in Richmond
looking up to him, and J.E.B. Stuart, and
Stonewall Jackson on their magnificent
horses.
You walked with me, O God, remember?
We said hello to the flower vendors on
the Boulevard. We wandered into the
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and
paused long and looked closely at
Georgia O’Keefe’s “Light Irises.”
On the way back to campus, we’d eat
at Bogart’s or the Strawberry Street
Café, feet tired from walking across
all those rounded cobblestones.
Give your people the courage, I pray,
to pull the statues down in every
town square and university quad
and city hall of all the confederate
generals and slave owners and
broken people.
We can remember them in the
museums that we love. We can
explore their legacy in their context.
There, they can still teach us. And
we can adjust our path so that we
don’t re-live their mistakes.
You, alone, are worthy to look up to.
Forgive us our myriad idolatries.
May we leave the pedestals for the
birds. As we follow their nimble,
glad flight, might we be reminded
to set our sights higher.
Much, much higher.
Hear our prayer,
O Most High
God.
A M E N .
(Matt Matthews, who, for eight years, loved traipsing around Richmond, VA)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-17
Wednesday June 17th 2020
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
How are you doing?
What are you curious about?
What is growing around you outdoors? Do you sleep with your windows open? Have you been paying attention to sunsets? What about sunrises? Have you watched any good TV lately? What are you doing to grow in your understanding of and fight against racism? (Don’t be silent.) How do you like your steak? Which do you prefer: Pasta or Pizza? What’s your favorite book in the Bible?
I woke up before dawn yesterday. At 4:30, the sky is lightening. To my surprise, the birds were in a frenzy of activity. I guess they were eating breakfast and reading the paper before work. I am not an early riser usually. I got to see a part of the world I usually miss.
My brush with early morning reminded me never to cease being curious. May I suggest that if you are not curious about something, get curious (!).
God has filled the world with wonder.
Jerry Phillips was a curious soul. This afternoon I got news that he died on Monday of a stroke.
If you knew Jerry, you knew there was nothing he could not build. He crafted wood, bent steel, played Hawaiian slide guitar, built Hawaiian guitars (and guitar stands), had a ginormous train set of several levels that filled three quarters of a room (and ceiling), had a player piano, invented stuff, made nativity sets, and was an avid camper.
Jerry’s life reminds me to be curious about life, to engage in life hands-on, to honor the Creator by making stuff. I will miss my curious friend.
Please think about somebody in your life right now who is alive and well. Call them up. Thank them. Celebrate them. Take them for granted no more. Don’t wait until their funeral to say how swell they were. Tell them now.
And if you’re up before dawn tomorrow catching the early worm, tell the birds hello and say a prayer when the sun burns above the horizon. Tell me about it.
I’ll be sleeping until 8:00.
* * *
From Sarah Laufenberg: “I wanted to share an update about a Courageous Conversation our church hosted nearly five years ago. In 2015, documentarian Daniel Karslake visited Champaign from Berlin with his executive producer, Michael Leppin, to host a discussion following the viewing of his film, For the Bible Tells Me So. The event was held in our church sanctuary and was very well attended by church and community members. I will enclose three photos from the event.
“During the discussion, Daniel shared that he was working on a follow up to his documentary; members of our local community came together the following year for a fundraiser for that film.
“I am so proud to share that his follow up film, For They Know Not What They Do, held its world premiere last Friday (online, of course). It was first seen last spring at the Tribeca Film festival, and has received very positive reviews, including one last week in the New York Times.
“Due to the amazing support from members of our congregation, I wanted to share how to see the film. Daniel and his team wanted to support independent movie theaters, so have used them for distribution. In two simple steps, you can be watching the movie at your home: 1) choose an independent movie theatre from its list of options. 2) Purchase the film for $10. The movie link will immediately be available to watch the film. Thanks for helping to spread the word!”
Daniel Karslake at First Pres….
* * *
NEWS:
It’s Jazz Night on tonight’s congregational ZOOM. Bring your favorite adult beverage (for me that’s a milk shake), and enjoy a few minutes of conversation, then great music by the Matthew Storie Quartet recorded in Westminster Hall. You know I like jazz a lot. The thing I mostly like is watching jazz live. I like watching the musicians pay attention to one another and allow each other to shine. This holy improvisation thrills me and is a great, theological metaphor for the journey of faith.
Compassion, Peace Justice meets Thursday at 11 am
Email info@firstpres.church for the link.
Youth Gathering Thursday at 4 pm
Email info@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
Your Session is in need of two elders to replace sitting elders who had to resign. We need two saints willing to step in to lead our (1) Nurture Committee and (2) Mission Committee.
Please volunteer. Please pray. Please nominate somebody.
The nominating committee is:
Eric Stickels, chair
Greg Cozad (12/31/20)
Judy Hendrickson (12/31/20)
Leland Andrews (12/31/21)
Linda Peterson (12/31/21)
Bill Stout (12/31/22)
John Seiler (12/31/22)
* * *
Good Word:
James 2:9
“But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
Let us pray:
Holy, Dear God,
the statue of Robert E. Lee is coming down
and it’s about time. I used to love walking
west on Monument Avenue in Richmond
looking up to him, and J.E.B. Stuart, and
Stonewall Jackson on their magnificent
horses.
You walked with me, O God, remember?
We said hello to the flower vendors on
the Boulevard. We wandered into the
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and
paused long and looked closely at
Georgia O’Keefe’s “Light Irises.”
On the way back to campus, we’d eat
at Bogart’s or the Strawberry Street
Café, feet tired from walking across
all those rounded cobblestones.
Give your people the courage, I pray,
to pull the statues down in every
town square and university quad
and city hall of all the confederate
generals and slave owners and
broken people.
We can remember them in the
museums that we love. We can
explore their legacy in their context.
There, they can still teach us. And
we can adjust our path so that we
don’t re-live their mistakes.
You, alone, are worthy to look up to.
Forgive us our myriad idolatries.
May we leave the pedestals for the
birds. As we follow their nimble,
glad flight, might we be reminded
to set our sights higher.
Much, much higher.
Hear our prayer,
O Most High
God.
A M E N .
(Matt Matthews, who loved traipsing around
Richmond, VA)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-16
Education is the Path to Peace on Wednesdays 1:30 pm
Our congregational ZOOM on Wednesdays is an oasis. Come and see. Every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Last week, Tracy Dace joined us as we explored the topic of race. (Thanks, Tracy.)
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-15
A daily e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Isn’t Richard Rossi great? He has added so much to our worship experience over the years.
As you know, he’s leaving us to be the Liturgical Music Director/Organist at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie, PA . Five universities, two of which are Catholic, a minor seminary, and five parochial elementary schools are located in the area. This call, he says, is “part of the journey I started a couple years ago when I had returned to the monastery. I believe this is the balance that will bring peace and happiness in my life at this time.”
He has two more Sunday’s with us. (I’ve heard his music for those two Sundays, and it’s a delight.) We get to enjoy his offerings for the remainder of June.
Wouldn’t it be neat for him to arrive in Erie and find a bunch of snail mail FROM US? Consider writing Richard. You can thank him, you can share an organist joke, you can share a memory (and there are many), you can wish him well, share a prayer, a poem, a quote, a song. Let’s write him! This address should work:
Saint Peter Roman Catholic Cathedral
230 West 10th Street
Erie, PA 16501
atten: Richard Rossi
Check out their announcement of Richard’s hire:
https://stpetercathedral.com/
NEWS:
Men’s Breakfast Study Tuesdays at 8 am
* * *
As I think about racial injustice, police violence against Blacks, and my complicity in a system that needs healing, I am encouraged (and challenged) by the words of Rev. William Barber (that Betty Hollister shared with me): “White folks cause more harm when they act from a sense of urgency. Slow down. Pace yourself so that you’re acting within your own capacity.”
I hold that word in tension with a voice from within me that chastises me for going too slow and being too satisfied with change that’s too gradual.
I am at tug-of-war with myself.
What are your thoughts?
* * *
Nancy Bell and I have been exchanging emails recently about race. She has been including links to provocative articles written from decidedly white perspectives. (see below). She writes this:
“Here’s another informative devo on how we can do life better. We’re wanting to learn how to be part of the solution. I worked most of yesterday trying to summarize the first devo I forwarded to you. Wanting to be authentic on how I presented my assessment, I concluded my interpretation might not fit the current narrative of “it’s all about bad cops”. I follow sports and have read many black athletes’ disturbing stories of their abhorrent treatment and history from bad cops. So, am acknowledging we have an overwhelming problem that needs to be fixed. Have read many articles/books by Ben Carson, Tony Evans, Tim Scott, Tony Dungy, etc and support how they are dedicated to addressing our problem. We have detective/police officers in our family—one of which has been involved in the Chicago police department for many years. We hear his stories and it’s frightening. Thus, our perspective is a bit skewed.
We have discussed judgment in light of Matthew 7:5 and recognize we’re seeing abuse and violence from two different perspectives. It is incumbent for both whites and blacks to listen and act—looking to our, Lord Who commands us to love one another.
Micah, in 6:8 says it best. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And, what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.”
Nancy Bell finds this link useful as white Christians think about their “white privilege”:
https://www.crosswalk.com/
* * *
Nancy Bell also shares this from Rick Warren:
“The LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.” 2 Chronicles 19:7 (NLT)
Our nation is desperate for healing on the topic of race. We’re in a mess, and the Church can’t be silent. The Body of Christ has to talk about it, even though it’s uncomfortable.
We can’t ignore racism because, quite simply, God hates it. If God hates racial prejudice, then we should, too.
Why does God hate racial prejudice?
1 . ) Racial prejudice questions God’s creation: God could have made us all the same. We could have all looked alike, but God didn’t do that. He loves variety!
2 . ) Racial prejudice is a sign of ignorance: When we demonstrate prejudice, we show the world we don’t know what we’re talking about. We’re revealing our foolishness. The Bible says, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:11 NIV). The Bible says if I hate someone just because that person is different, I’m in the dark — and blind. That’s a pretty serious accusation from God.
3.) Racial prejudice disobeys the Great Commandment. Paul says, “The entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:14-15 NIV). If you display a racist attitude, you’re disobeying the plain truth of this Scripture. We can’t make judgments about another person based on outward appearance and truly love him or her as a brother or sister.
Racial prejudice is a serious sin.
4 .) Prejudice makes God mad. The Bible says, “If you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker” (James 2:9 TEV).
5 . ) Racism is a problem of sin, not skin. One day we’ll give an account for that sin before God. The important thing to remember as we search our hearts for prejudice and bigotry is that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). We will only eliminate prejudice as each one of our hearts is transformed by the love of God. He is willing and able to change us.
Good Word:
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Let us pray:
Oh God,
thank you because
goodness is stronger than evil,
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours,
Victory is ours
through you, O God, who loves us.
Victory is ours,
Victory is ours
through you, O God, who loves us.
(adapt. Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
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Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-06-12
Friday 12 June 2020
Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Statement of Hope for the Future
(Driven to Reach Excellence in Academic Achievement for Males)
We at DREAAM are saddened by the brutal killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers. Our condolences go out to the Floyd family and especially his six-year-old daughter Gianna. Our thoughts are also with the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many other victims of racial violence and injustice by the police.
We are inspired by the youth of Champaign-Urbana as well as those throughout the country who have risen up to say enough is enough―Black Lives Matter. DREAAM remains hopeful that our collective efforts will tackle and eradicate the persistent problems of police brutality and structural racism such that future generations will benefit from a true democracy.
DREAAM works every day to address the dehumanization and marginalization that Black boys and young men face in schools and other systems. We empower young people with the opportunities, skills, and amazing experiences to transform their lives and society. We envision a nation where Black boys and young men will be embraced and will experience healing. We seek to create a world where Black people not only matter, but thrive and succeed.
* * *
Mike Havey noticed this from yesterday’s (June 11) News-Gazette: “The village board [Royal] voted not to allow chickens within village limits during its June meeting.” I guess they are welcome at any other time.
When church reopens for face to face worship, we’ll be limited in the number of people we can host, but there’s not limits to the chickens!
* * *
See you on Sunday, where you will meet my father.
Turn on your “device” and find us at: FirstPres.Live
* * *
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you.
Be amazed.
Tell somebody.
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
MUSIC FRIDAY
Put your hand on your heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Wade in the Water:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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