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The Heart of Mission
June 9, 2021
Tell me the old, old story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story simply,
As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary,
And helpless and defiled.
Refrain: Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Me_the_Old,_Old_Story)
Hymnary.org, a database of songs, lyrics and histories of hymns from many, many sources, tells us that the author of this hymn was Kate Hankey (b.1834-d.1911) She was an Anglican, from England, an abolitionist, a Bible school teacher, a hospital visitor, and a mission supporter. She sang her story!!
The Amateur Preachers are telling the Old, Old Story to our friends at Windsor Savoy as well as throughout the Presbytery. John Muirhead reminded us in his sermon last Sunday of how we, like the Woman at the Well, like Simon Peter, have a story to tell. World Mission Committee will be hearing a few of you soon tell your story to their committee. I hope in the coming days when you get a call asking if you would be interested in telling your story encountering the Christ and that you would consider sharing it in whatever small group that you are a part of. Stay tuned for a seminar on how to strengthen your telling of such good news.
CU at Home sends out a weekly enewsletter with good news from our streets and those working with friends without an address. In it Rick Williams, Ministry Development Assistant, writes,
More than ten years ago, God began a “good work” here at C-U at Home. It is exciting to watch all the transformations currently taking place that will help us move closer to the “completion” God has promised in Him!
One of the major transformations underway this week is happening in our Phoenix Daytime Center, which for the past 18 months has also served as our C-U Men’s Shelter. To restore the pre-pandemic feel of the Phoenix, the large open room will be divided with partitions to provide a separate space for shelter area. The old concrete floor is being refinished. New furniture and other updates are planned for the Phoenix, and 20 bunk beds have already been donated for the shelter so we can move away from mats on the floor!
A new resource center is also being set up so our friends, with the help of staff and volunteers, will be able to use computers for job searches, to create resumes, and to access other community resources and services. If you are interested in becoming part of a solid core of volunteers to help with this or any the many other essential services we provide, join our new Volunteer Text Group by texting HelpCU to 844-939-3727.
Check our Facebook page to see daily updates and photos of our progress and some “shout outs” to the people and business who are helping with our efforts to “come back stronger!” We appreciate your support!
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And in case you want to hear Tell Me the Old, Old Story, check out this YouTube video of a youth choir from St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Delaware Valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjoyRlQhdAg
I hope you are inspired!
Peace,
Rev. Rachel Matthews, Mission Coordinator
We want to keep 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
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