Wednesday, March  3^rd, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
   
Friends,
 
Here’s the Lenten Devotional from Presbyterian Outlook. May it be a blessing to/for you and those you love. 
 
Wednesday, MARCH 3, 2021
GENESIS 1:1-5, 26-31
Genesis 1 invites us to a cosmic perspective on creation and our place within it. As we have already noted with respect to Psalm 8, the word “dominion” does not mean domination, but rather refers to our role as caretakers of God’s creation, who tend to it as God does. Most important, God beholds the creation and declares it “very good.”
Practice: If possible, prayerfully read this Scripture outdoors (or at
least in proximity to a window) so that you too can behold creation.
Read it three times, contemplating the images that speak to you the
most, aware of God’s sustaining presence in all creation and in your life.
Journal: Note in your journal any movements away from God and
toward God that you discern.
 
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Join us TONIGHT at 7 pm for our mid-week Gathering….
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

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Contact the church office (217.356.7238) to register for in-person worship each week for the following Sunday.  In-person worship is at 10:15 am each Sunday. Please wear a mask.

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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 11am-2:30pm. 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
 
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Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
Who knew that Marilyn Shimkus was a comedienne? Thanks, y’all, for sending me bags of corny jokes. It feels good to laugh.
 
People are making end of the world jokes like there’s no tomorrow.

Whatever you do, always give 100% unless you’re donating blood.

What do you call a sleepwalking nun? Roamin’ Catholic.

What did Snow White say when she came out of the photo booth? Someday my prints will come.

A girl said she recognized me from her vegetarian club but I’d never
met herbivore.

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Good Word 
 
Mark 1:21-22 (NRSV)            
21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 
 
(What is Jesus saying to you TODAY with authority?)
 
LET US PRAY 
 
Holy God, Your kin-dom has broken into our beautiful and 
troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of
Your Son. Help us to hear Your word and believe it,
that we might be instruments of Your healing grace
in the world. Forgive us when we act as if Your
power isn’t sufficient enough to sustain us in Your
ministry of healing. Forgive us and grant us 
power to be Jesus’ disciples. AMEN.
 
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Much, much love to you all.
  
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church