Thursday, March 25^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,
 
A word from Ann Lamott: 
 
“Grace is a powerful thing. Grace is Spiritual WD-40 or water wings,” she says. “The mystery of grace is that God loves Henry Kissinger and Vladimir Putin and me exactly as much as He or She loves your new grandchild. Grace doesn’t come in the forms you expect.” Lamott sees it most in laughter. “Laughter really is carbonated holiness,” she says. “It helps us breathe again and again, and gives us back to ourselves.”
 
* * *
 
News:
 
Remember to preregister for Sunday worship by calling the church office from Monday 8:30 to noon on Friday. A preregistration will guarantee your spot; if you come without a reservation, we may not have room to seat you. 
 
 * * *
 
Humor (Hard times really need godly laughter): 
 
An annual competition is held by The New York Times to see who can create the best original lexophile. This year’s submissions (more coming):
 
He had a photographic memory but it was never fully developed.
 
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.
 
Acupuncture is a jab well done.  That’s the point of it.
 
I didn’t like my beard at first.  Then, it grew on me.
 
* * *
 
Good Word 
 
Mark 11:1-11 (Palm Sunday is coming…)               
 
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in highest heaven!
 
 LET US PRAY (THE BRETON FISHERMAN’S PRAYER)
 
Be good to me, dear Lord.
The sea is so wide, and
my boat is so small.
 
AMEN.
 
* * *
 
Much, much love to you all.
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church
 
Lenten Daily Devotion from The Presbyterian Outlook
Thursday, MARCH 25, 2021
LUKE 10:25-37
Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question that a lawyer asks of him: “Who is my neighbor?” After sharing this parable, Jesus flips the question, asking instead, “Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” From Jesus’ perspective, the important question is not “who is my neighbor?” but rather “how can I be a neighbor?”
Practice: Prayerfully read this passage, pondering the lawyer’s question,
as well as the question Jesus flips back to him. Ask yourself: How can I be
a neighbor in my community and world?
Journal: In your journal, record your answer to this question.