Wednesday, September 23^rd, 2020

A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
 Dear Friends,
 
I hope to see you tonight on our Wednesday Zoom. Pat Phillips will be our discussion leader, so expect to grow! (She’s a great discussion leader.)
 
What’s your favorite season? Write me so that I can include your words here. My favorite season is the beginning of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. 
 
Share a favorite fall recipe. I’ll share my version of my father’s mother’s Brunswich Stew soon. It’s a little too warm for stew, but soon.
 
Bless you all…
 
News:
 
TAKE ON RACE: Tori Morgan is part of our White Fragility book study and she shares this video that discusses color blindness:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfo1XJDJKSU 
 
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WENESDAY VESPERS:  Pat Phillips shares this about our Wednesday Vespers tonight (7:00 p.m. All are welcome.) A film featuring Rachel Held Evans will be shared at the Vespers Service Sept. 23.  It’s called “Love Is Biblical”; Rachel talks about the new family we’re to be part of creating and whether we’re acting as gatekeepers or welcoming, as Jesus did, outcasts or simply those of whom we may disapprove.  As her friend Nadia Bolz-Weber said, “What if the person you’ve been trying to avoid is your best shot at grace today?”

Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

 
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‘‘SUNDAY IN THE PARK”  The Nurture Committee invites you to gather in Hessel Park on September 27^th.  God didn’t intend for us to live in isolation. God specifically designed us to have relationships with each other.   Therefore, bring your lawn chairs and let’s gather for an hour at 11 am near the Pavilion at the north end of the park.  The committee will be available to guide you to our location and provide a safe location following social distancing, sanitation and guidelines such as wearing masks.
Psalms 133:1 NIV- How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
We had 29 people at the Hessel Park gathering on Sept. 13^th. We would sure like to see more on the 27^th. We plan to do these gatherings every other Sunday as the weather permits. 
 
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PRIVATE PRAYER… Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer on Thursday, September 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. 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 fifty 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!
 
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GOOD NEWS! The Session approved DREAAM to use our wifi and Education Building classrooms during the school day Monday-Friday during this pandemic season of remote, online learning. DREAAMers who have trouble getting wifi at home, or who otherwise can’t easily study remotely from at home, will meet at First Pres to do so. Mindy Watt-Ellis is our point person. (ESL currently does not use the space as they are meeting online for now.) This DREAAM program is working in collaboration with Unit 4 of the Champaign Public School District (who will provide food); DREAAM will work within their safety guidelines, the Champaign/Urbana Public Health District, and those of the CDC. Mindy Watts-Ellis is the point person from First Pres; Tracy Dace is the point person from DREAAM. DREAAMers will be divided into three pods, and will total no more than 25-youth and children. 
 
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PUBLIC SAFETY:  The City of Champaign is pleased to invite you to participate in a community listening session to share your vision for public safety in our community. All residents, business owners and community stakeholders are encouraged to take part. The goal is to help create better communication and understanding between Champaign Police, City Administrators and community members by allowing you to directly voice your thoughts and expectations around policing. Each session will include Chief of Police Anthony Cobb and Police command staff, City Manager Dorothy David, and elected City officials. The listening sessions will be moderated by Dr. Travis Dixon, an American media studies scholar and Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois.

Determining the future of policing in our community should be a collaborative process involving community partnerships, and the first step in that process is to hear from you. Each listening session will be used to gather information from the public so it can be shared with the City Council as they make future public safety policy decisions to best address the needs, interests, and values of our community. Virtual Listening Session Dates:
· Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m.
· Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m. 
· Saturday, Oct. 3, 1-3 p.m.
· Friday, Oct. 9, 1-3 p.m.
· Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the listening sessions will be held electronically using the Zoom meeting platform. More information on how to join and participate, including how to attend via Zoom can be found on the City’s website at  champaignil.gov/CommunityConversations. Please feel free to share this invitation with others. The City looks forward to hearing your input during one of these important listening sessions.

Humor (Hard times need godly laughter): 
 
I love your corny jokes. Here are a few from David Hunter:
 
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If all the cars in this country were red, what would we have? A red carnation.
 
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What is a soldier’s life like? It’s intense.
 
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Forbidden fruits create lots of jams.
 
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What happens when the smog lifts in California? UCLA
 
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Why can’t you buy the tower of Pisa? There’s a lien on it.
 
Good Word:

I John 4:20                 
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

 
LET US PRAY:
 
How can I serve you today, O God?
 
If you don’t tell me, I’m just 
going to be me. I’m just going
to act like myself. I’ll let my
true colors shine on through—
just like the song says.
 
You may see your face in mine
even if I don’t. And you may 
delight in my ministry even if
I don’t know I’m doing any.
 
I hope so.
 
AMEN.
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church