Thursday, September 3^nd, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
Evening prayer was beautiful last night. Join us next week for an insight into our Mission Program. We meet via Zoom every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link is always in the Wednesday morning emailer that you get from me. (This email.)
 
Among the prayers we lifted up last night was a prayer for endurance. Bless you all as you. This prayer from last night may encourage you:
 

A prayer from St. Francis of Assisi

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong. You are great.
You are the Most High. You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty. You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful Saviour. Amen.
 
News:
 
You are invited to a congregation-wide book study on race.

• WHAT? White Fragility: Why Is It So Hard for White People to Talk about Race? by Robin DiAngelo (Beacon Press, 2018).  
• WHEN? The study begins on the week of September 14 (either on Monday night at 7:00, or Thursday afternoon at 11 a.m. Exact times TBA). 
• HOW? Sign up by emailing or calling Patty Farthing in the church office. We will meet on-line via Zoom. 217.356.7238 /  Patty@firstpres.church
• WHO? Everyone in our congregation and community is invited. Pastor Matt Matthews will facilitate. Our Compassion, Peace, and Justice Committee will host.             
•  WHY? Having conversations about race may open us to whole new ways of being “neighbor” and give us ideas about how we can help heal the divisions that divide our nation along racial lines.

A twenty-minute video, Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo produced by the United Methodist Church, introduces the author and some basic concepts about white fragility. View it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7mzj0cVL0Q&feature=emb_title
 
I’m eager to be challenged by this book and by our conversations around it. I have a lot to learn about race, about myself, and about our complicated, beautiful human family. I’m eager to grow. Join us!
 
Those who have studied the book say this:

• It is not a fluff book.
• It is thought provoking.
• There will be uncomfortable parts. 
• It will challenge us to think about things we’d rather not think about. 
• It is a journey of learning and awareness. I became aware of little things in daily life I never noticed before. 
• It gives an understanding of our white culture I never had before. 
• It is an opportunity to consider cultural blind spots that might inhibit how fully we live out Christ’s call on our lives as His disciples.

Together we can identify and practice ways to build our capacity to listen and to speak about race, faith and justice in a manner that builds up the Body of Christ. 

Humor (Hard times need godly laughter): 
 
Why was the weightlifter upset? She worked with dumbbells.
 
What is the Pope’s favorite scent? Pope-pourri.
 
Good Word:
PSALM 88

¹ O Lord, God of my salvation,
    when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
² let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry.

 
Let us pray:
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee.
 
AMEN
 
A Child’s Prayer by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church