Thursday, February 25^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,
 
Face to face worship was really different last Sunday. We could see each other, for one thing. We are trickling back into the sanctuary as people feel more comfortable. The “church” isn’t the building; it’s the collection of people gathered together; so, however you do it, do it. In person. On line. We are the family of God. And if you want to join the slow return to the sanctuary, remember to register for in-person worship by calling the church office. For now, we’re keeping numbers limited to 50 souls. When you feel safe, come on back.
 
* * *
 
Last night’s Wednesday conversation about getting stuck in a “single story” was mind-blowing. My whole world got a little bigger. Join us next week: Wednesday 7 p.m. Zoom.
 
* * *
 
If you’d like to join the book study exploring Coates Between the World and Me, please do so. The link is here:
 
Today/Thursday, February 25) at 11 am CST.  
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
* * *

CYF will be hosting a Spirituality Center in the church chapel for the season of Lent beginning this Sunday. Open House hours will be Sundays 11 am-2:30 pm. Come for some quiet reflection time by walking the labyrinth, contemplating scripture, and creating at your own pace. One household will be admitted at a time. Check in and temperature recordings will be necessary as well as face masks while in the building and chapel. Sanitizing wipes will be at each station for further protection between visitors. We hope you will find it a blessing for this season of inward contemplation and examination. Sunday School continues. Follow this link for a virtual version of the Lenten Spirituality Center Lenten Spirituality Center

* * *
 
News

Circles meet TODAY, February 25

Circle of Joy 9 am…
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
Circle of Faith 1 pm…
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.
 
Circle of Peace 7 pm…
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

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Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
I’m getting lots of jokes from you. They’re lining up. I’ll have a joke edition soon. Here’s a great one, and I *think* it’s from Claudia.
 
How to Get Into Heaven
 
A man dies and meets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. Peter says to the man, “Here’s how it works. You need to have one hundred points to get into heaven. You tell me about all the good things you’ve done. They are all worth a certain number of points. If your total is one hundred or more, you can come in.”
 
“Well,” says the man. “I was happily married to the same woman for 52 years. I never looked at another woman. I was attentive and loved her dearly.”
 
“That’s great,” says St. Peter. “That’ll be two points.”
 
“Hmmm,” says the man. “This is going to be harder than I thought. Well, I attended church regularly, volunteered my time and tithed faithfully.”
 
“Wonderful,” says St. Peter, “That’s worth another point.”
 
“One point!” says the man. “Okay, okay. I was involved with a prison ministry for twenty-five years. I went into the prison, at least monthly, and shared Jesus with them.”
 
“Wow!” says St. Peter. “That’s another two points!”
 
“Only two points!” says the man. “At this rate, it’ll be only by the grace of God that’ll I’ll ever get into this place.”
 
“Bingo!” says St. Peter. “That’s one hundred points! Come on in.”
 
 * * *
 
Good Word 
 
Acts 2:1-12                
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
⁵ Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶ And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷ Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” ¹² All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 

Let us pray

 
God you have the WHOLE world in your hands. Thanks for including me. Help me to do a better job of including everybody else.  
 
AMEN.
 
* * *
 
Much, much love to you all.
  
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
 
Lenten Daily Devotion from “The Presbyterian Outlook”
Thursday, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
ROMANS 8:26-35
In this passage from Romans, Paul assures us that even when we do not know how to pray, the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. Have you ever prayed with audible emotions — groans, deep humming or sighs? We do not necessarily need words when we come before God in prayer.
Practice: Read Romans 8:26-35 slowly and open yourself to become aware of God’s Spirit as it prays for you in the depths of sighs and groans — stay with this awareness for several minutes.
Journal: Note in your journal what surfaced in your awareness during this
prayer time.