Friday, April 9^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Friends,
 
This week’s sermon is drawn from this text. Jesus appears to his disciples after the resurrection like this:  “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord (John 20:19-20).
 
Notice the distance between what Jesus said and what he did. I’ll be exploring that on Sunday.
 
We all carry wounds. All of us bear scars. Jesus did, too.
 
He’ll be with us in worship on Sunday. I hope to “see” you there. 
 
Remember: FirstPres.Live for on-line, and 302 West Church Street, big green doors, for in-person.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
 
 
What is a strong congregation? Strong congregations are places where people (1) are growing spiritually, (2) engage in meaningful worship (where notions of “joy” and “awe” are not alien themes), (3) are active in the work of the congregation, (4) have a sense of belonging (“Relationship, Relationship Relationship”), (5) care for children and youth, (6) focus on the community (“Mission, Mission, Mission”), (7) share their faith, (8) welcome new people, (9) are challenged to use their gifts in ministry (“empowering leadership”), and (10) look to the future. (Cynthia Woolever & Deborah Bruce, Beyond the Ordinary: Ten Strengths of U.S. Congregations.)
 
Last movement, Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Px44IuVKM
 
 
Jesus is the Great Physician
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0GhjlmlEwQ
 
Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
And the slow parade of fears without crying
Now I want to understand
I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good without hiding
You must help me if you can
Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise to leave them open for so long?
‘Cause I have wandered through this world
And as each moment has unfurled
I’ve been waiting to awaken from these dreams
People go just where they will
I never noticed them until I got this feeling
That it’s later than it seems
Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what you see
I hear their cries
Just say if it’s too late for me
Doctor, my eyes
They cannot see the sky
Is this the prize
For having learned how not to cry?
 
* * *

From your Nurture Team — the photo challenge is back from a little break.
Here’s this week’s photo.   

Visit http://fb.com/groups/firstpreschampaign to make your guesses, or email them to photos@firstpres.church.  
 
We are running low on photos, so please join in the fun!  We would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@firstpres.church.