Friday 17 July 2020
 
Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois

Dear Friends, 
 
            Your church attempts to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus in the world. Our annual “Rain Drop Project” shines a light on an innovative program that is bringing Christ’s peace to the Mexico-US border. See below at the very bottom of this email for more info.
 
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            Ian Evensen has produced a worship documentary for us. Check it out! (Thanks, Ian.) Here it  is:
https://www.firstpres.church/fpcc-worship-documentary/
 
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            The tree that has be best bark? Mary Gritten guessed right AGAIN: a dogwood. (Please, PLEASE send me your jokes!)
 
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            Where have you seen God, lately? That’s what I’ll be asking you on Sunday morning in my sermon.  Be thinking about that.
 
            See you on Sunday. Invite a friend.
 
            Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you.
                        Be amazed.
                                    Tell somebody.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138

More
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PHOTO Challenge! From your Nurture Team — Congrats to Naomi Rempe for being the first to correctly recognize last Friday’s photo of Linda Peterson!  Several others correctly guessed Linda, as well.  

Here’s this week’s photo.  

Visit http://fb.com/groups/firstpreschampaign to make your guesses, or email them to photos@firstpres.church.  
 
Please join in the fun!  We would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@firstpres.church.
 
Saturday
French Evening Prayer Service 6 pm

Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
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An Irish Blessing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TascsWZPj8U
 
Vivaldi? Yes, Vivaldi!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXgNlueMu6k
 
(I’ll include some STAX headliners next week. My son asked me what  the difference was between Motown and Stax. Your answer? Both made some  great music.)
 
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EXTRA,  EXTRA!
 
World Mission’s 2020 Raindrop Project supports the ministries of Frontera de Cristo.
Frontera de Cristo is a Presbyterian border ministry located in the sister cities of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico and Douglas, Arizona.
As one of five binational ministry sites of Presbyterian Border Region Outreach, they work with churches, presbyteries, and secular organizations on both sides of the border to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Frontera de Cristo’s different ministries include the New Hope Community Center, Mission Education, Migrant Resource Center, Family Ministry, Church Development and a Health Ministry and CAME (Exodus Migrant Ministry).
The cost of living at the border is about the same as it is in the United States. One difference in financial impact is that people working in Mexico do not get government subsidies when they lose their job. Covid-19 has increased the loss of jobs and the border conflict has restricted commerce for our neighbors on the border. People in Aqua Prieta are frugal buying used clothing and locally sewing protective masks.
How to Give
No single raindrop amounts to much. And yet all the raindrops taken together can make a big difference.
Choose an amount to give. Together our giving will help reduce the impact of COVID-19 and the increased financial need at Frontera de Cristo because of it.
You can give either through check or online giving. Click here to give online.
Please write the check to First Presbyterian Church, indicate “Raindrop” on your check or online giving information line.
First Presbyterian Church will be sending one check to Frontera de Cristo at the end of our collection. The Raindrop Offering will be collected in the month of July.