Thursday October 29^th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
Face to face, alternative worship preregistration closes at noon today. If you’re coming, please register. Thanks. (See a repeat of my longer letter at the very end of this email along with a letter from Peter Yau, which I shared last week.)
 
* * *
 
First Pres commits to being in prayer for our community, state, nation, and world on this Election Day.  We are asking people to choose 30 minute timeslot(s) when they will be in prayer on Tuesday, November 3rd.  Timeslots are available while the polls are open in our community, from 6 AM until 7 PM.    Please sign up here: https://firstpres.church/prayersforelection
 
* * *
 
Here’s an important message from Rev. Bill McLean our Presbyter for Congregational Care for the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois. It’s a good word for us in a difficult time. You’ll appreciate it.
 
* * *
 
Good morning,
 
“UGH!!!” was the one-word response someone sent me after I sent out information about the new mitigation measures in parts of Illinois. That one word sums up what I was feeling better than anything I could have written or said.
 
The twists and turns of 2020 do not seem to be slowing down. Each time a “new normal” seems to be forming, things shift again. The rapid response of spring transitioned to the long haul of summer followed by the continuation and resurgence of fall.
 
Since mid-March congregations and the presbytery have moved to virtual worship and gatherings; used pool noodles to create physical space in the sanctuary; hosted a car caravan Palm Sunday processional; written a weekly sermon letter to the congregation when they had to temporarily suspend in-person worship (again). It is inspiring to see that the Holy Spirit is filling us with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. We are experimenting and adapting as a presbytery and congregations to a new and unique situation.
 
Now that it is almost November, how do we shift from reacting and responding to living in a new reality that the pandemic is still going strong? What does the shift to focus on living look like when it is common to have school children learning virtually from home one, two or even five days a week; sporting events have cardboard cutouts instead of people in the stands; and grocery stores still have cleaning supply shortages?
 
The truth is that there is no textbook to read or playbook to follow, yet as Christians we are reminded in scripture our hope is not based on our having all the answers but our “help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
 
This truth is helping me to shift my perspective in a positive way, it is an opportunity to get a view from the balcony and see the bigger picture. I am practicing more grace and more gratitude, both for myself and others. I have returned to running (it might be a combination of walking / running / trying not to pass out, but I am running) which for me is time for prayer and reflection. I am participating in a continuing education program that has been on my “to do” list for over a decade. And am experimenting with new ways of connecting while we are apart (such as through letters like this one and social media posts) even though writing like this does not come naturally to me. 
 
While the many ways that we are adapting will not change the headlines or suddenly defeat a pandemic, we are not without hope. The experiments and adaptations that we are making allow us to embrace the moment and care for each other where we are in October 2020.
 
It fills me with hope to see that while “UGH!!!” might be our first response, it is not our final answer. We are finding new and creative ways to be together for gatherings, worship, or meetings even if we are separated by 6 feet or 6 miles or more.
 
Thank you for all the caring and compassionate ways you are worshipping God and serving your neighbors during a time so different from what we were expecting!
 
You are an inspiration, and you remain in my prayers.
 
Grace and peace,
 
Bill
 
Rev. William “Bill” McLean, II
Presbyter for Congregational Care
Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois
 
 
* * *
 
This next line sounds like the set-up for a joke, but it’s not: An out-of-state woman visits her dad in a nursing home several times a week and writes this: 
 
[My dad] has Parkinson’s disease and also Lewy Body Dementia. This attests to the power of music. (Eleanor is 3 going on 4)
 
Today Eleanor and I went to see my father. He’s having some Parkinson’s related mobility issues and was confused and irritable. He didn’t recognize me and kept demanding to find his daughter no matter how much I said I was there. I finally ignored him and just started to play that little harp. He immediately and completely came out of his irrational fit, remembered me and started to sweetly interact with Eleanor. It was incredible!
 
God is good.
 
News
 
Styrofoam Drop-off Event! Drop of your Styrofoam so we can recycle it. Details are as follows:
· Saturday, October 31 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am
· Have all styrofoam, marked with #6 and a chasing arrow, placed in car trunk (and back seat if you have lots). No “peanuts,” please.
· Please wear a mask
· From church parking lot, turn east onto Doxology Lane
· Volunteers, wearing masks and gloves, will pick up the styrofoam from your car and deliver it to DART to be recycled
If you can, try to avoid styrofoam containers but the next best thing is to save the containers for our next Styrofoam Drop-off Event.
 
Thanks from your Environmental Stewardship Committee
 
* * *
 
The Illinois Conference of Churches encourages all people to vote in the upcoming election.
 
The love of neighbor is at the core of the Gospel. Participating in our democracy by voting is part of what many Christians believe being a good neighbor means. May the divisiveness of this election not deter Illinoisans from going to the polls, and may God encourage our love for and mutual forbearance of neighbors no matter how, or if, they vote.
 
* * *
 
KITCHEN, KITCHEN:  What is your vision for our new kitchen? After Covid, should we have weekly Sunday brunches? Monthly dinners? Community meals? Sunday Night Jazz? What ministry awaits us? Ideas? Please be in touch with Gary Peterson (or me) with thoughts. Thanks. 
 
Humor (Hard times need godly laughter): 
 
This is from Nancy MacGregor. It as one of Mac’s favorites:
 
This was a favorite of Mac’s when he was amateur preaching; golfers like my dad would enjoy it.
 
One day, Moses, Jesus, and an old man were playing golf. They got to a water hole and Moses teed off first. He took his shot and it landed squarely in the water. Moses, being Moses, parted the water, took another shot and it landed next to the cup. Jesus was next and His shot ended close to Moses’ shot. Jesus, being Jesus, walked out onto the water, took another shot, and landed even closer to the cup.
 
Then the old man stepped up and took his shot. He landed at almost the same spot in the middle of the water. But a frog came by and snagged the ball. He started to hop away when an eagle came swooping down on it, carrying it over the green. As the eagle flew over with the frog in its mouth, the frog dropped the ball. The ball rolled gently into the cup for a perfect hole in one.
 
Jesus said, “Nice shot, Dad.”
 
Good Word:
 
Revelation 7:9-17               
9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 
            “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 
11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, 
            “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom 
             and thanksgiving and honor 
             and power and might 
             be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
15  For this reason they are before the throne of God, 
          and worship him day and night within his temple, 
          and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 
16  They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; 
          the sun will not strike them, 
          nor any scorching heat; 
17  for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, 
          and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, 
     and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
 
LET US PRAY:
 
The Brick/Michel Quoist
 
The bricklayer laid a brick on the bed of cement.
Then, with a precise stroke of his trowel, spread another layer
And, without a by-your-leave, laid on another brick.
The foundations grew visibly,
The building rose, tall and strong, to shelter men.
 
I thought, Lord, of that poor brick buried in the darkness at
            the base of the big building.
No one sees it, but it accomplished its task, and the other bricks
            need it.
Lord, what difference whether I am on the rooftop or in the
            foundations of your building, as long as I stand faithfully
            at the right place?
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
 
 
We are having a weekly alternative face-to-face worship service beginning on this coming Sunday, November 1^st, at 10:15 a.m. For those of you who feel safe to attend, please pre-register by calling the church office at 217.356.7238. Registration will run from Monday morning to Thursday noon. (We are preregistering not only as a means of contact-tracing, but also to keep attendance at or under fifty (50) people, including worship leaders and ushers. I hope you understand. Remember, your Session is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe during this season of pandemic. There is a communicable disease for which we have no cure or vaccine. The best way to safeguard against getting Covid is to limit one’s exposure to it; while we have prepared as safe an environment as possible, and all participants will be required to check in, wear masks at all times, and physically separate, we cannot guarantee that somebody won’t get sick. Those who come to worship come at their own risk.
 
Whew! This doesn’t sound like a very welcoming or, even, friendly invitation, does it? You know what I mean. So, make wise decisions for you and your family, stay away if you are high risk or don’t feel well, and know that I look forward to “seeing” some of you online at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday (FirstPres.Live), and others of you face to face at 10:15 a.m. 
 
God is good.
 
Things you need to know when you want to join 
the FPCC face-to-face worship service
Dr. Peter Yau
 
The Session for the FPCC have approved a face-to-face worship service starting November 1, 2020. The service is limited to a maximum capacity of 50 people (including clergy, staff and worship leaders). You must call the church office to register your attendance from Monday – Thursday prior to the Sunday you will be attending. You are requested to wear a clean face mask and follow standard sanitary guidelines. An usher will check your registration, take your temperature to ensure you do not have a fever. You will be seated only in designated area. Family members that live together can sit together, otherwise you must be seated at least 6 ft. away from the next attender. The service will be brief, without congregational singing, recitation of liturgy.  
 
The church will be cleaned and sanitized before your arrival. The minister and musician will be behind  Plexiglass shields. The elevator and bathroom are available for single occupancy (or family).  Hand sanitizer and disposable masks are available. We want to keep you safe and healthy.  
 
One peculiarity of the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) virus is about half of the transmission comes from asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic persons, i.e. these are people infected with SARS CoV-2 virus but not showing any symptom or are spreading the virus before symptoms later.  There is no easy way to predict or identify this population. If you choose to attend the face-to-face worship service, you should know there is a possibility of contracting COVID-19 despite all the best safety measures mentioned so far. You are attending the service at your own risk.
 
In addition, elderly and people with underlying medical illness(es) need to be especially careful about contracting the SARS CoV-2 virus.  These are people with cardiovascular diseases, asthma, COPD, immunocompromised, obesity, diabetes and renal diseases. Furthermore, to avoid complications of the flu with the COVID-19, it is prudent that you get a flu vaccination now.
 
Our Session and church staff want you to be safe and healthy. We are doing our best to keep things safe. However, there are many unknown factors with this novel virus, and there is possibility for an outbreak to happen despite of our best measures. Please understand this and prayer for the safety of all before you come to attend the face-to-face worship services.