Thursday, January 28^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,

We put our beloved Casey Dog down two weekends ago and reminders still explode into our daily routine flashing light and tears through which Casey saunters into our mind’s eye, one ear up, one ear down, with that ready smile. This is my anthropomorphism at work, I’m sure, but I imagine her saying to us, I miss you, too. 
 
Today it was the refrigerator notes on dog-care for the sitter that broke the gates through which memory flooded in. Those notes now come down. The auto-fill on her drugs from the pharmacy are cancelled so we won’t be getting those pesky robo-calls about Casey’s medicine being ready for pick up. No more Gabapentin. No more Quellin. And no more watching our sweet dog stagger around in dazed pain, nine pills a day.
 
But now we have to pick up the bacon scraps from the floor because she no longer Hoovers that stuff up. There is no dog bed to step over in the wee hours on my way to the toilet. No staccato click-clack-click of toenails on the hardwood telegraphing her location. No fierce barking when another dog walks by on the street and the front door is open. No barking when the UPS truck idles outside at the curb and the front door is closed. 
 
There is no canine shadow to follow you from room to room to room napping wherever you read, watch tv, or chat. She used to watch us being consumed by our computers. “What are you doing?” she seemed to ask. “You should play with me instead of talking into that strange machine that makes you irritable.” 
 
There is no scratching at the back door to go out, no looking up and asking with big brown eyes, “Isn’t it time for you to scratch my ear and give me a dog biscuit?” No twitching and whimpering in her dreams as she chases squirrels or does whatever dogs do in their dreams. No marking her ground around everyone’s mailbox and not caring one bit about what and where property lines actually fall. No sniffing strangers’ crotches and panting an earnest hello. No wrestling my sons with her snarl and flip of that tail, frolicking, pretend-biting, licking, nuzzling. No barking at our play-fights when she says to us, “Quit that fighting, guys, or somebody might get hurt.” 
 
No dog to lie upon our socked, winter feet. 
 
No dog that smells of manure and fish to argue with about having a bath. 
 
No dog pacing around our property lines as if we lived in a castle and she were our proud protector, never mind that crooks would be greeted with the same tail-wagging welcome the Pope would get. 
 
No chasing her tail in a dervish blur. No basking in a pool of sunshine lifting her face and closed eyes up and up to the warm light. No more wide, halitosis yawns. No ghastly flatulence to which she always said, “It’s not my fault, it’s what you feed me.”
 
For these and other of the tenderest memories, thanks be to God.
 
* * *
 
In-person worship will begin soon. The Covid-19 is working out plans with the Session. The rough start-date is February 21. Stay tuned. In the meantime, sign up for your vaccine! 
 
* * *
 
I’m excited about the book study that’s coming up. This will deepen our conversation about race. I’m looking forward to it because I want to learn more. I’m eager to be part of bridging the chasms that are splitting our country apart. Join me. Invite a friend. See below.

* * * 
 
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. 
 
* * *
 
You are invited to a congregation-wide four session book study on race in America.

• WHAT? Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World, 2015). A father talks to his fifteen year old son about the realities of inhabiting a black body.
• WHEN?  Thursdays, February 18 and 25 and March 4 and 11 from 11:00am  to 12:00 noon.
• HOW? Sign up by emailing or calling Patty Farthing (patty@firstpres.church or 217.356.7238) in the church office. We will meet on-line via Zoom. Borrow books from our public library in paper, digital or audio form. Books can be also directly ordered from Amazon at $16.63 each or downloaded on your Kindle at $12.99.  To order through the church office, request a copy by February 11.  Make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church for $17.50 (includes shipping costs). Send to First Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Church St., Champaign, IL 61820.  Mark checks for “book study.”
• WHO? Everyone in our congregation and community is invited. Pastor Matt Matthews will facilitate. Our Compassion, Peace, and Justice Committee/ Spiritual Formation Committee will host.             
• WHY? Jesus asks us to love “the other”. A first step is listening to understand “the other”.

Purchase books in paper, electronic or audio formats online or order from either of our public libraries. Registration is required through the church office for the zoom link.

* * * 
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
(Thanks Bill Marble)
 
Why don’t crabs give to charity? Because they’re shellfish.
 
Why did the man name his dogs Rolex and Timex? Because they were watch dogs.
 
What’s the best way to watch a fly-fishing tournament? Live stream.
 
My wife asked me to sync her phone, so I threw it into the ocean. I don’t know why she’s mad at me.
 
* * *
 
Good Word: 
 
If we say we have no sin, 
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
      If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just 
      will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
 (1 John 1:8-9)

LET US PRAY: 
 
Holy God, we come to you in this new year seeking your guidance and your joy. Many things vie for our attention, affection, and allegiance. If we aren’t careful, we end up worshipping idols instead of you. We follow ideas and ideologies that contradict your Gospel. We care only for “our own” instead of the whole world. Forgive us. Help us fix our sights on your son, Jesus, who knows the way and, by your Holy Spirit, guides our steps. AMEN.
  
* * *
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church