Monday, January 25^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,
 
Here’s a poem for you. As we approach the Season of Lent, we’ll be rightly thinking about temptation, sin, discipleship, hope, spiritual disciplines, transformation, and the transcendent, muddy stuff of faith. Share your thoughts with me about the coming of Easter, the coming of spring. 
 
This is by the Romanian poet Nina Cassian; I found it first in Christian Wimer’s collection of poems called Joy.
 
Temptation
Call yourself alive? Look, I promise you
that for the first time you’ll feel your pores opening
like fish mouths, and you’ll actually be able to hear
your blood surging though all those lanes,
and you’ll feel light gliding across the cornea
like the train of a dress. For the first time
you’ll be aware of gravity
like a thorn in your heel,
and your shoulder blades will ache for want of wings.
Call yourself alive? I promise you
you’ll be deafened by dust falling on the furniture,
you’ll feel your eyebrows turning into two gashes,
and every memory you have – will begin
a Genesis.
 
©Ardis, 1983; Oxford Univ. Press, 1993
translated from the Romanian by Brenda Walker & Andrea Deletant
 
News
 
Remember: When we get wind of Covid vaccine schedules, we are forwarding them to you as soon as we receive them. The schedules fill up by the next day, so be diligent. 

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The Nurture Committee invites you to join them over Zoom on Tuesday, January 26, at 7 pm for the next Virtual Dessert.  Bring your favorite dessert or beverage.

Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
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Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
Thank you Bill Marble (three strikes, you’re out?):
 
1/Niece: I have a lot of friends named Nathan.
Me: When they are together, do you call them The United Nathans?
 
2/We all know about Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But have you heard of Cole’s Law? It’s thinly sliced cabbage.
 
3/You know, people say they pick their nose, but I feel like I was just born with mine.
 
Good Word: 
 
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
       to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
       For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
       Praise the LORD.
(from Psalm 27:1, 4-9)
LET US PRAY: 
 
From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; 
from violence, battle, and murder; 
and from dying suddenly and unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.

—Book of Common Prayer
  
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Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church