Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-06
Friday 6 November 2020
Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
Sunday in the Park is this Sunday. Hessel Park, 11:00 a.m. Wear your mask. See you beneath the falling leaves…
* * *
A prayer:
Good and Gentle Grace/Frederick Ohler
O God, we want to sing You a new song
to be glad in You
to enjoy You—
to be moved
to feel
not to be bored to death
but to be excited to life.
Thank You for peace
and salvation
and today
just for today—
for all the gifts we overlook
that bear us grace – fully along;
for a night’s sleep
when body and soul can rest
and trust Your world to go on without us.
Thank You, God, for water that woke us up
for toothpaste that sweetened morning mouth
for the good lingering smell of soap
for getting the curlers out and the whiskers off
for the newspaper early there and the mail, late and urgent
for clothes on our back and warmth in our home
for cucumbers that are cool
and loves that are not
for our underwhelming merit
and Your overwhelming grace—
gift – ed
talent – ed
and en – abled.
We sing our appreciation—
for Eli Whitney
and Mahatma Gandhi
for Sarah and Abraham
and Eve and Adam
and all the overlooked saints and creators in our midst
for the uncountable fullness of Your providence
and for Your constancy.
We thank You
for this Freely given day
amen
* * *
Pay attention to God’s activity in the world around you. Be amazed. Tell somebody.
See you on Sunday, FirstPres.Live
PEACE,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
* * *
PHOTO Challenge!
From your Nurture Team — Some of you really amaze me at your ability to recognize photos of church folks in their younger years! Amy Born was the first to recognize last week’s photo of Bruce Farthing. Way to go!
Here’s this week’s photo.
Visit http://fb.com/groups/
Please join in the fun! We would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@
* * *
Grab a cup of coffee and your favorite sweet treat and join us for a “Virtual Dessert” Tuesday, November 10, 7 pm
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
* * *
What happens when a Muslim, Christian, and Jew take the stage? Good music from my friend David LaMotte’s band Abraham Jam:
A Muslim song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A Christian song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A Jewish song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
