Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-25
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
Happy Thanksgiving (Tomorrow)
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
A Child’s View/A guest Essay from Rev. Kevin Murphy:
It’s amazing to me that every time I return to a piece of scripture I get something new out of it. It’s as if I lower my bucket into this deep and ever-renewing well and I draw up new insights and inspiration each time. This passage from Mark’s gospel is one of those amazing pieces that reveals itself to me anew each time I drop my bucket. I started with the common understanding of this passage that we are to be as innocent and trusting as little children in order to receive God’s kingdom. As true as that is, it has been stretched (abused) to mean we should not question anything about God. We should just accept what we hear and leave it at that – like good little children. Next I focused on the phrase “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child…” How do little children receive things? With great expectation and excitement and joy! That’s a great way to receive the kingdom of God!
Now, having a one-year-old living in my house, I’m coming to a new understanding of this passage. All the world is new to him. When I take little Felix for a stroll around our neighborhood, he notices everything. He takes in all the sights and sounds and smells. He wants to touch things. He wants to examine and explore everything – from the buzzing of bees to little creepy crawling bugs. Jesus too notices the little things – mustard seeds, lilies of the field, sparrows, a bruised reed. He also notices the little people – fishermen, little children, a boy with a lunch, widows, shepherds, foreigners. And he appreciates them all for what they are and for what they can teach us. Here he notices little children and uses them to open our eyes to the newness of God’s kingdom.
When we notice the little things, we too come to a deeper appreciation, wonder and understanding of God and our neighbor. Little smiles, a gentle touch, a small gesture, a kind word softly spoken are all little things that carry with them the weight of the kingdom of God. Notice them. Appreciate them for what they are, not necessarily what they might become. It’s common to say that children are the future of the church. But, children are the church as much as you and I are. They may not have the education or sensibilities yet to serve the church in leadership roles, but the things they can show us about the kingdom of God are limitless and necessary. Receive the gifts of God like a little child. Look closely at the spots on the back of a ladybug. Admire the beauty of a butterfly’s wings. Glory in Morning Glories. Soak up the richness of a smooth creek rock. Appreciate the small kindness of a bag of groceries or baked goods on the porch. Love back, the way a little child loves – openly, without hesitation or reservation. When we do so, we are one small step further along in our journey toward God.
Let us pray. You create each little bug and slug. Help us to learn from them the lessons of your kingdom. You create each little child and they bless us with the things they teach us of your love for us. Help us to notice and appreciate the small and seemingly insignificant as each are a part of your creation, your world. We thank you that you love us so much and want the best for and from us so deeply that you give us the little things. Amen
News
Music lovers! Join us for a real feast tonight….We received so many compliments on Leslie Thomas’ piano playing for our services that we invited her to record a recital of sacred music for us. This will be featured TONIGHT at a service of fellowship and music at 7 PM.
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
I stepped on my scale this morning. It said: “Please practice social distancing. Only one person at a time on scale.”
* * *
The spread of Covid-19 is based on two things:
1. How dense the population is.
2. How dense the population is.
Good Word:
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16
LET US PRAY:
Our Father in heaven,
HOLY is your name.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
