Thursday, September 24^th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
I mentioned yesterday that Pat Phillips was to lead last night’s Wednesday Zoom. She did a great job. But I mentioned that because she’s a great discussion leader we should expect to “grow.” I ended that sentence with an exclamation point. It made that last word look like this: grow! Some read that “growl.” Well, no one growled and, I think, everyone grew. 
 
My mom taught me how to make my dad’s mom’s Brunswick stew. I’m not a cook, but I make this often. See my recipe after the prayer below. Here’s a poem that I’ve probably shared before. 
 
Brunswick Stew
(A Poem by Matt Matthews
about My Mom)
 
You taught me how to make Brunswick Stew 
from Grandmother Matthews’ family recipe.         
Chicken, limas, white corn, tomatoes, broth,
Worcestershire sauce. 
 
You’d pour a Kilimanjaro of salt into your soft palm 
then dash it in, rubbing your folded hands together, an oblation, 
stirring, taking a taste, then allowing it to simmer a long, long time, 
slowly. The whole house knew what was for dinner. 
 
It’s best the second day after the ingredients begin 
impersonating one another, a communion. Serve it with piles 
of sweet cornbread hot out of the oven, slathered, of course, 
with butter. Or saltines with butter. Or eat it plain.
 
It was perfect for winter’s cold days. I ate it happily as a boy 
though I vaguely remember once secretly feeding the limas to 
the dog and getting busted for it. Shaggy dutifully licked each lima 
but didn’t like them, either, and after dinner when 
 
Dad and me sat in the living room watching TV, 
you found fifty polished limas on the linoleum floor beneath 
my kitchen chair. I remember you getting mad at me for what 
I thought Shaggy should get yelled at for. That dog.
 
You said Brunswick Stew is a catch-all, a base for whatever meat is at hand. 
When your father, my Deda, hunted, squirrel or rabbit filled my Baba’s
stew pot. I’m not game for such additions, but sometimes I add
hunks of polish sausage, feeling like a traitor. 
 
Your version was comfortably predictable, and tame, the same, reliable 
stuff, batch after batch. Who am I to mix it up? So, I make it like you—
this do in remembrance of you—filling our two biggest pots, feeding
hungry people at church, some of whom eat around the poor limas—
 
Shaggy’s ghost nodding his head and wagging that short tail.
When I was a kid, it steamed my face and warmed my hands holding the bowl. 
I’ve always associated its smell and hearty flavors with home cooking, 
and now that you’re gone, with your special brand of practical love.
 
* * *

News:
 
‘‘SUNDAY IN THE PARK”…  The Nurture Committee invites you to gather in Hessel Park on September 27.  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 September 13. We would sure like to see more on the 27^th. We plan to do these gatherings every other Sunday as the weather permits. 
 
* * *
 
PRIVATE PRAYER… Our Sanctuary will be open for private prayer on TODAY 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!
 
* * *
 
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. 
 
* * *

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): 
 
Thank you, Linda Peterson:
 
Knock, knock. 
Who’s there? 
Funnel. 
Funnel Who? 
The Funnel start once you let me in!
 
* * *
 
What do music and chickens have in common?
Bach, Bach, Bach!
 
* * *
 
Where did Captain Hook get his hook? At the second hand store.
 
* * *
 
Good Word:
 
Galatians 5:14                        
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 
 
LET US PRAY:
 
O God, I’m not there yet.
While I want to follow,
I can never imagine following
so ardently and so completely
as your Son.
 
But please, nevertheless, accept 
my stumbling efforts, and by
your grace, guide my steps, 
in the name of the One
 
whose humility and grace
inspire me to serve with
all my heart.
 
Help me, Holy Lord.
 
And thank you, Holy Lord.
 
In Jesus’ name,
In Jesus’ perfect name,
I pray . . .
 
AMEN
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
 
Alice Parramore Matthews’ Bruswick Stew
 
Try this:
 
In a giant pot, pour some chicken broth.
Put in a bag of white corn. Yellow corn, too, if you want. 
Add a bag of lima beans. (If you hate limas, leave this out.)
Stew a chicken (or a bunch of your favorite parts of a chicken; I use a bag of frozen breasts.)
Chop the chicken. Add the chicken.
Pour in some salt, unless you doc says go easy on the salt.
Add pepper.
Throw in Worcestershire Sauce.
Red wine or white wine is good. Put some in the stew, too.
Throw in some sausage, if you want.
If you can’t stir it, add more chicken broth.
Add some canned tomatoes.
Add some chopped tomatoes.
Chop an onion, or ten, if you like onion.
Do you like other spices? Add them to taste.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for a long time. 
When you whole house smells wonderful, it’s ready.
Make cornbread.
Invite friends.