Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-04-13
The Heart of Mission
April 13, 2021
Silence is praise to you,
Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience,.
You hear prayer in it all…..
Oh, visit the earth,
Ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
Fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
Soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
Bring her blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
Scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing.
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
A drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
Oh, oh, let them sing!
– Psalm 65, selected verses (The Message)
The photo is from my recent walk at the Japan House gardens! It was truly inspiring. Spring is here! As Earth Day approaches, find a moment to thank God for this bountiful gift that we have in the Earth. Below you will find a schedule for Earth Week culminating on Earth Sunday. Also, take a look at the Annual Cuba Forum weekend schedule and the opportunities there. You cannot talk about Spring without remembering our wonderful trips to Cuba and the wonderful hospitality of our sister church in Luyano. We want to give you plenty of time to put it on your calendar. We will be joining the hills in virtual dancing among other things! And, as always, pray for our mission partners at work in the world.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Rachel Matthews, Mission Coordinator
Planting the Story Garden in 2019
Environmental Stewardship Committee – (reprinted from April’s newsletter)
April is the month we celebrate the gift of God’s great Earth.
Saturday, April 17, 8 AM join others for a cleanup of litter along State Street.
Thursday, April 22, is the 51st Earth Day. The evening zoom gathering on Wednesday, April 21, at 7 PM will focus on this.
Saturday, April 24, Styrofoam Collection from 9 to 11.
Sunday, April 25, the worship service will celebrate Earth Day with words and song.
(And after Earth Week, you are invited for a few more stewardship of the Earth opportunities.)
Monday, April 26, register for the Clean Energy Advocacy Day with Faith in Place.
Wednesday, April 28, register for the Green Transportation webinar. Registration can be done on the Faith in Place website, www.faithinplace.org
Sunday, May 2, at 8 AM Grand Prairie Friends online Plant Sale. You can access their plant catalog at https://www.
Salt and Light: Curbside online grocery at Salt & Light Urbana. Order Here: https://shop.
CU at Home: I will share just a piece of this week’s newsletter from Rick Williams, CU at Home’s Ministry Development Assistant:
The coming of Spring also means our C-U at Work program has kicked off its second season partnering with the City of Champaign Township and Prosperity Gardens to bring fresh produce to local markets! A new crew went through orientation this week and set right to work filling new raised planter boxes with fresh, rich soil (https://www.youtube.com/
You can learn more about volunteer opportunities, the C-U at Work program, and weekly Bible studies at our website. THANK YOU, as always, for your prayers and support
Let us keep all our mission partners in our prayers, those who are waiting to go back to their place of ministry and those who are able to work where they are. Listen for God’s call to you in their ministry.
Our PC(USA) Mission CoWorkers:
Mark Adams and Miriam Maidonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Bob and Kristi Rice (South Sudan)
Our regional and global mission partners:
Kemmerer Village (and Camp Carew)
Lifeline Pilots
Marion Medical Mission
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Opportunity International
Friends of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan Presbyterian Cuba Partnership
Special Offerings of the PC(USA)
Theological Education Fund
Young Adult Volunteers
Here in Champaign – Urbana:
CU at Home
CANAAN S.A.F.E. HOUSE
CANTEEN RUN
COURAGE CONNECTION
DREAAM
eMPTY TOMB, INC
FAITH IN ACTION
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY
THE REFUGEE CENTER
RESTORATION URBAN MINISTRY
SALT & LIGHT
Here at First Presbyterian Church
FPCC Amateur Preachers
FPCC Environmental Committee working with Faith in Place
FPCC Presbyterian Women
FPCC ESL
FPCC Children, Youth and Families
FPCC Mission Possible/Go and Serve
FPCC Mission Team, World Mission and Community Mission Deacons
302 W. Church Street
Champaign, IL 61820
217-356-7238
info@firstpres.church
