Wednesday, February 3^rd, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,
 
In-person worship will begin February 21. See the announcement below.
Book study on race. See the announcement below.
Certificate for $1 million. See announcement below.
 
* * *
 
This essay is from Bill McLean, presbyter for congregation care of our presbytery:
 
When will things go back to normal? This question is being asked a lot lately. If you type the phrase “returning to normal” in Google it takes 0.56 seconds to return about 390,000,000 results. The top three results are:
· “Coronavirus variant dampens prospects for return to normal …” The Harvard Gazette
· “Coronavirus In 2021 And Beyond: When Will Life Return to …” WBUR NPR Boston
· “COVID-19: we will not be returning to the old normal – The …” The Lancet
The current pandemic is not the first time that this question has been asked. After major events or tragedies, it is common to want things to return to how they used to be. Yet, things have changed and will never be exactly as they were pre-pandemic. Much like things changed after 9/11 and we adjusted to a new normal. Or earlier after both World Wars, things changed and adjustments were made.
 
The transition is not always smooth because there will be missteps and wrong turns along the way as well as efforts to slow or block the change. Yet, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with saying, “You could not step twice into the same river.” As the water flows, as time flows, as events happen, the world and each of us is changed. It is not possible to go back to the way things used to be.
 
Which provides us with a powerful opportunity to build on what we have learned during the pandemic and combine it with what was successful before the pandemic. While also empowering us to let go of things that prevent us from living fully in the world around us.
 
This is seen in the plans to have more meetings happen virtually to reduce driving time, impact on the environment, and personal wear & tear. We are also continuing to provide opportunities for fellowship and interaction outside of meetings, both virtually and eventually in person as well.
 
Congregations are living this out as they continue to worship virtually even as some have begun to experiment with options for safely returning to in person worship services. It is maintaining the links that have been made with the homebound, those who have moved away, and those not able to physically be in the sanctuary for worship while creating opportunities for those who can safely be in the same place.
 
What things from the pandemic response will you be continuing in the weeks and months ahead? What things from before the pandemic will you be letting go of so that you can be present in the world around you?
 
As we adjust to the changing world around us, let us remember that we are not alone. God is with us, guiding us, and supporting us. And may the peace of Christ be with you in this season of change.
 
Grace and peace,

Bill

Rev. William “Bill” McLean, II
Presbyter for Congregational Care
Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois
 
* * *
 
What do these folk have in common? Be in touch with me. The winner gets a free ice cream Sunday from the Custard Cup.
 

•       Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 
•       the musical genius Ludwig von Beethoven, 
•       the football quarterback Terry Bradshaw, 
•       Winston Churchill, 
•       the singer Judy Collins, 
•       Monica Seles the tennis pro,
•       Abraham Lincoln. 

* * *

News
 
After careful discussion and prayerful deliberation, the COVID-19 team and the Session have recommended that we resume limited in-person weekly worship on the First Sunday of Lent, February 21^st at 10:15 a.m.  
 
For those of you who feel safe to attend, please pre-register by calling the church office at 217.356.7238. Registration will run from Monday morning to Thursday noon the week before each service. (We are preregistering not only as a means of contact-tracing, but also to keep attendance at or under fifty [50] people, including worship leaders and ushers. That is the limit prescribed by state public health guidelines.) 
 
Remember, your Session is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe during this season of pandemic. While the end may be in sight with local and statewide numbers trending downward, not everyone is vaccinated yet and Covid-19 is still deadly. Some experts guess our nationwide death toll due to Covid may total over 600,000 by later this Spring.
 
The best way to safeguard against getting Covid is to limit one’s exposure to it and to get vaccinated; while we have prepared as safe a worship environment as possible, and all participants will be required to check in, wear masks at all times, and sit at a distance of six feet from other families, we cannot guarantee that somebody won’t get sick. Those who come to worship come at their own risk.
 
These in-person services will be, essentially, services of welcome, scripture, prayer, and preaching. These brief—40-minutes, or less—services will include no spoken liturgy, no congregational singing, and no choir. The preacher will speak from behind a plexiglass barrier. There will be no indoor fellowship, and no coffee or food service before or after the service.
 
This may not sound like a very welcoming or, even, friendly invitation, does it? You know what I mean. So, make wise decisions for you and your family, stay away if you are high risk or don’t feel well, and know that I look forward to “seeing” some of you online at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday (FirstPres.Live), and others of you face to face at 10:15 a.m. 
 
God is good.
 
Matt Matthews
 
 
* * *
 
BOOK STUDY!  You are invited to a congregation-wide four session book study on race.

• 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 at 11:00am to 12:00 noon. 
• HOW? Sign up by emailing or calling Patty Farthing in the church office. We will meet on-line via Zoom. 217.356.7238 /  Patty@firstpres.church . Borrow books from our public library in paper, digital or audio form. To order through the church request copy by February 10 and transmit check to Patty.
• 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”.

* * *

Join us tonight for our midweek gathering at 7 pm…
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

* * *

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held Sunday, February 14, at 10 am.  Watch for the zoom link in next week’s mailers.

* * * 
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
Two more from Bill Marble:
 
A friend of mine doesn’t pay his exorcist. He got repossessed. 
 
My friend wants to become an archaeologist, but I’m trying to put him off. I’m convinced his life will be in ruins. 
 
* * *
 
Good Word: 
 
Colossians 3:11b       [T]here is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

LET US PRAY (THIS IS A GREAT PRAYER): 
 
A poem from Linda Peterson. It’s a modern prayer, a contemporary psalm. Send me yours.
 
Looking Up/January 28, 2021
 
High on the tops of the trees cling shimmering crystals
The naked branches also bathed in sunlight
Radiating the warmth of healing balm
Lifting spirits to soar within the heavens
Peace and joy overcome us with the passing of dreary darkness
The heaviness is lifted as the playful smile returns
Looking up with thankfulness.
  
* * *
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church 
 
(There is no certificate for $1 million. Thanks for looking.)