Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2020-11-30
Monday November 30th, 2020
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
To Members and Friends of
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
Dear Friends,
NRS Joshua 1:9
I hereby command you:
Be strong
and courageous;
do not be frightened
or dismayed,
for the LORD your God
is with you wherever you go.”
* * *
News
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
* * *
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter):
Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask and ask for money.
* * *
Good Word:
From The Confession of 1967, 9.44
God has created the peoples of the earth to be one universal family. In [God’s] reconciling love, [God] overcomes the barriers between [us] and breaks down every form of discrimination based on racial or ethnic difference, real or imaginary. The church is called to bring all [people] to receive and uphold one another as persons in all relationships of life: in employment, housing, education, leisure, marriage, family, church, and the exercise of political rights. Therefore, the church labors for the abolition of all racial discrimination and ministers to those injured by it. Congregations, individuals, or groups of Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize [others], however subtly, resist the Spirit of God and bring contempt on the faith which they profess.
LET US PRAY:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
Much, much love to you all.
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
* * *
Daily Advent Devotion
MONDAY | HEBREWS 11L1-3
Hebrews tells us that faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. As you
begin the Advent season and reflect on the year, what
are your fervent hopes for yourself, your community,
church and the world? Write those hopes down,
envision them and pray about them. Can you be
convicted and assured of their coming to fruition, even
if you do not yet see them?
Gracious God, align our hopes with yours so that our dreams
and visions participate in your good and certain future for
all creation. Do not let our fear overtake our hope. Do not
let us capitulate to lesser desires or false teachings. Grant
us the faith to hope for nothing less than the redemption of
the world that Jesus comes to bring. Give us the courage to
participate in the new, good, life-giving thing, your near
kingdom, present and coming. Amen.
* * *
ESL Café Time
What? We miss seeing you and catching up like we did in person! This will be a monthly café time on Zoom for us to see our friends and tutors from other classes. We will be split into small groups so that we can discuss and catch up. This is a great opportunity to practice speaking in English. Bring your favorite hot drink and a snack to café time.
When? Second Thursday of every month at 10 am. The first one is December 10th at 10am. The next café times are:
- January 14th at 10am
- February 11th at 10am
- March 11th at 10am
- April 8th at 10am
- May 13th at 10am
Zoom Information:
Please email jeanette@firstpres.church for the Zoom meeting information.
