Wednesday, May 12^th 2021
A Weekday Emailer from
Matt Matthews
 
To Members and Friends of 
First Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Illinois
 
Dear Friends,
 
My friend Kevin Murphey writes his congregation every day with reflections from scripture. He is one such reflection from last week.
 
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For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. 2^nd Thessalonians 2:3-8
 
Determined! That’s the word that comes to me when I see the look in [a seagull’s eyes over the beach]. She is determined to find her next morsel of food. They amaze me whenever I see them. It has to take a lot of determination for any animal to survive in the wild. Yet they do. 
 
When I think about the early church and those first very brave and determined apostles, I am truly amazed. Some of them where there with Jesus right from the start. They dropped whatever they were doing, literally dropped their nets, and followed Jesus as he taught and healed and spread the good news of God’s love throughout the countryside and in the villages of Galilee. They put their entire trust in this carpenter’s son from Nazareth without knowing where it would take them, who they would encounter and when or how it would end. Amazing!
 
When their travels took them to Jerusalem and they witnessed Jesus final encounter with the forces arrayed against him, they knew they were in trouble. Some deserted the mission, others hid out of fear. But God was determined to not let humiliation, pain and death have be the final answer. God was determined to get through to us. God raised Jesus from the dead and even when the disciples saw the empty tomb, they were still not yet convinced. It would take something more. It would take God sending the Holy Spirit among them to bring them peace and confidence and the determination needed to get the Word out. 
 
Then comes the apostle Paul. As Saul he was determined to snuff out this Jesus movement. It took a blinding encounter with the risen Christ to bring him around to the truth of the good news. Then, he took off like a rocket into the world with the gospel of Christ. Obviously, once he got to know the people he had ministered among, they became as dear to him as the gospel itself was.  So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.  That’s the way the Word gets out into the world. Caring so deeply for your friends and neighbors that you are determined to share the wonder of this great good news with them – this treasure you have found and cherish. 
 
O Christ you are a bright flame before me, 
you are a guiding star above me,
you are the light and love I see in other’s eyes.
Keep me, O Christ, in a love that is tender.
Keep me, O Christ, in a love that is true.
Keep me, O Christ, in a love that is strong,
today, tomorrow and always. Amen.
 
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Much love to you all.
 
PEACE,
 
Matt Matthews
Cell: 864.386.9138
Matt@FirstPres.Church

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News:

Please join our church’s zoom Mid-Week Gathering TONIGHT at 7 pm for Bob and Kristi Rice’s presentation of their work in South Sudan.
Email zoom@firstpres.church for the link.

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First Pres members are invited to join us for our monthly Zoom Café Time on May 13^th at 10am. This would be a great time for you to get to know some of our students and tutors. If you’ve ever wondered what the ESL program is like, this is a great place to find out. 
Email esl@firstpres.church for the link.
 
If you have any questions, please email the ESL Director, Jeanette Pyne, at jeanette@firstpres.church.