| |
The Heart of Mission
November 3, 2020
I began this morning praying for our country, praying that the election today goes as the prophet Micah recommends with “justice, mercy and spiritual humility;” my paraphrase. Thank you for praying with me throughout the day and the coming weeks of transition. Social scientists have declared the “habits of our hearts” are important to the success of our democracy. (Bellah, et al., Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life, 1985 citing Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1969) May our character which is engrafted to the character of Christ through our baptism betray our allegiance today. May we be filled with the fruits of the Spirit, however individually expressed they may be:
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26, NRSV)
Peace,
Rachel Matthews, Temporary Mission Coordinator
Our Mission Agency Announcements
Mission Team: Nov. 10, 4:30pm zoom
World Mission Committee: Nov. 17, 4:30pm zoom
Community Mission Deacons: Dec.1, 4:30pm zoom, (combined Nov/Dec meeting)
STYROFOAM COLLECTION: What a success! Saints arrived to help with the Styrofoam collecting on Halloween morning. Thank you to the Environmental Stewardship Committee.
Salt & Light – Did you know that you can save while you shop at Salt and Light? Every dollar saved counts! Senior citizens can enjoy a 10% savings on groceries each Thursday while also supporting their mission through their purchases. And, every Tuesdays everyone 55 and over can save 25% on their entire thrift purchase. Here is what donors are saying about Salt and Light:
- “Friendly, considerate service, especially with Covid-19 requirements.”
- “I’m disabled so needed a pick up at my home. The helpers were so friendly and polite. I love Salt and Light!”
- “Your guys were very kind and very helpful. Thank you for your help. God bless you and all your staff.”
CU at Home: Prayer and Praise!
- Would you join us in prayer for a close friend who has recently gotten into some more legal trouble? We pray that God would work a miracle in this young man’s life and continue to shape him for His glory.
- Please pray for a friend who is deep in a web of lies and making it difficult to know the best way to offer him support. We ask for the truth to set this man free!
- Would you also pray for a friend who recently overdosed and sadly, is not doing well? This is heartbreaking and we pray for a miracle as this man fights for his life!
- BONUS PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for our One Winter Night 2021 season which launched on October 19th, 2020! If you are interested in getting involved this year, please email me at rob@cauthome.us 🙂
- Thank you God for amazing partnerships in our community as week after week men and women are getting housed and won’t have to face the Illinois winter on the streets!
- Praise the Lord for one of our friends who has found purpose and value as he volunteers at our front desk! It’s such a blessing to see him every day!
- Praise to Jesus for some friends from Wilmington who held a garage sale, with the proceeds going to C-U at Home, and were able to raise over $1,300! To God be the glory!
Faith in Action – Before the pandemic hit in March, over 700 people gathered at the Statehouse in Springfield to advocate for clean energy jobs. Now, it’s almost November and our policymakers in Illinois have yet to take action on climate change. We have one more opportunity when policymakers meet during Veto Session starting November 17th. Register for the first ever Virtual Advocacy Day on November 12 to tell our legislators we need them to take action on climate change by creating equitable clean energy jobs. Register today to hold your State Representative and State Senator accountable.
Faith in Place also has a wealth of free webinars check them out here.
Presbyterian Border Ministry – For those of you who liked Frontera de Cristo’s “Coffee, Conversation and Compassion” – Registration for the 2020 Presbyterian Border Region Outreach (PBRO) event, “Gospel Hospitality & the Kingdom of God,” is now open! This online event will be hosted by the ministry site Pasos de Fe y Esperanza in Ciudad Juárez, and presented through Zoom. The conference begins on Friday, November 6 and will conclude with morning worship on Sunday, November 8.
Registration is $20 per person or $40 for a household of 2 or more. Each individual or household will receive a Zoom link in order to participate.
The registration fee includes: pre-conference workshops, 5 sessions, 3 worship services, Saturday lunchtime workshops, a special concert on Saturday evening, and interpretation services during regular conference sessions. Please note: registered participants will choose from workshops in mid-October. Additionally, though we are not able to welcome you in person to the U.S./Mexico border, we still hope to give you a flavor of life there! Our ministry partners have contributed items for our Taste of the Border boxes. Items included support local individuals in Mexico. Taste of the Border boxes are $25 each and there are only 200 available! If you hope to purchase one, don’t delay in registering. Register at https://presbyterianborder.org/events where you will click the “register now” button at the bottom of the page.
Friends of PEB in Pakistan gathered with Veda Gill this past week to drink tea, discuss scholarship needs and successes for our girls (and some boys) in Sangla Hill school. Prayers for PEB’s work with its Sargodah school as they raise money for a boarding house like Sangla Hill’s boarding house to serve girls who come from the rural areas of Pakistan for a good education.
Let us keep all our mission partners in our prayers, those who are waiting to go back to their place of ministry and those who are able to work where they are. Listen for God’s call to you in their ministry.
Our PC(USA) Mission CoWorkers:
Mark Adams and Miriam Maidonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Jo Ella Holman (Caribbean and Cuba) – And, for the mission coworker you are preparing to take her place.
Bob and Kristi Rice (South Sudan)
Our regional and global mission partners:
Kemmerer Village (and Camp Carew)
Lifeline Pilots
Marion Medical Mission
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Opportunity International
Friends of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan Presbyterian Cuba Partnership
Special Offerings of the PC(USA)
Theological Education Fund
Young Adult Volunteers
Here in Champaign – Urbana:
CU at Home
CANAAN S.A.F.E. HOUSE
CANTEEN RUN
COURAGE CONNECTION
DREAAM
eMPTY TOMB, INC
FAITH IN ACTION
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY
THE REFUGEE CENTER
RESTORATION URBAN MINISTRY
SALT & LIGHT
Here at First Presbyterian Church
FPCC Amateur Preachers
FPCC Environmental Committee working with Faith in Place
FPCC Presbyterian Women
FPCC ESL
FPCC Children, Youth and Families
FPCC Mission Possible/Go and Serve
302 W. Church Street
Champaign, IL 61820
217-356-7238
info@firstpres.church
|
|
