Sunday, August 14, 2022
Worship – In-Person and Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“Red Vineyard,” by Vincent van Gogh, in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia.
We love the promises we find in the scriptures, especially the promises of Jesus we read in the Gospels. Promises such, “In my Father’s house, there are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.” And another: “Behold, I am with you always.” The promises offer deep reassurance and comfort. So when you come to church on Sunday, you likely will be challenged by the Gospel reading we will hear. As the van Gogh painting shows, there is a rhythm to nature, seasons that we can track by paying attention to changes in the landscape. Harvest is one of the glorious delights of Autumn. In the Gospel reading, we will hear Jesus challenge the disciples for not being able to read the signs of the times. Join us on Sunday as we hear and contemplate this hard but vital passage from the Gospel of Luke.
Pastor David
In-Person Worship: Masking is strongly encouraged, especially if you are singing, (masks remain available in the Narthex if you do not have one), but is no longer required. We continue to strongly recommend that you keep up with boosters. Please plan to maintain social distancing and to hand sanitize often. During fellowship time when you are in close proximity to others, masking is highly recommended. If you are feeling unwell for any reason, please remain home and enjoy the services of worship online. Please understand that the pandemic is not yet over and conditions may require a return to masking at some point in the future.
In the Church Offices: Masking remains required when in the church offices.
Join Us for Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship
1. Facebook:
www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/
Scroll down to the post from that morning
2. Zoom click on: zoom.us/j/8144246357
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
3. Landline or phone that is not a smart phone:
1 (312) 626-6799.
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
Welcome Sunday: Join us after worship on Sunday, August 28 for fellowship in the Courtyard under the shade of a tent. Our ministries and committees will have information about what they do and how you might become involved.
Twice Is Nice Needs Kid’s Clothes! We are really low on kids’ clothes at the thrift shop, for any season of the year. Wine glasses, bath towels, and full/double-sized sheets are also in short supply. If you are downsizing or just de-cluttering and have gently-used, good condition clothing and household items, please keep us in mind. You can drop off donations any time the shop is open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thank you for supporting our local missions with your donations and purchases!
Christmas in July and August: Bless the Crisis Nursery with Books! There is a Christmas tree in the narthex with tags so you can choose a book to purchase to donate to the Crisis Nursery library. Once you purchase books you can put them in the basket below the tree. The title, authors and the Amazon price is on each card. Barnes and Noble carries some of them and can also order them. If you would prefer to give a cash donation, you can give it to Kathy Troy or any Deacon.
Gratitude for Sunflower Bus Donations: Our church has collected a total of $15,830 for the Sunflower Bus, safely transporting refugees from Ukraine to Sweden. Many in our community and friends and family from all over the country have donated to this effort. Thank you to all! We are staying in touch with the organizers in Sweden and will continue to share updates. Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Solrosbuss/
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Worship – In-Person and Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“The Artist’s Mother Opening the Door,” by Eduard Vuillard, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
When we are faithful to God and God’s ways in the world, what does that look like? Artists and writers have offered many expressions that attempt to answer that question. What I love about Vuillard’s painting is the palate, yes, but also its abstractness. It’s almost as if he is presenting a distant memory which is no longer all that clear. I also love that he is suggesting that his mother opened the door for him. All of us find our way to the best aspects of life through others. Join us on Sunday as we hear from the Letter to the Hebrews about the centrality of our ancestors in faith for our own faith, and then as we contemplate together a scene from the Gospel of Luke which offers an example of what faithfulness looks like.
Pastor David
In-Person Worship: Masking is strongly encouraged, especially if you are singing, (masks remain available in the Narthex if you do not have one), but is no longer required. We continue to strongly recommend that you keep up with boosters. Please plan to maintain social distancing and to hand sanitize often. During fellowship time when you are in close proximity to others, masking is highly recommended. If you are feeling unwell for any reason, please remain home and enjoy the services of worship online. Please understand that the pandemic is not yet over and conditions may require a return to masking at some point in the future.
In the Church Offices: Masking remains required when in the church offices.
Join Us for Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship
1. Facebook:
www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/
Scroll down to the post from that morning
2. Zoom click on: zoom.us/j/8144246357
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
3. Landline or phone that is not a smart phone:
1 (312) 626-6799.
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
Twice Is Nice Needs Kid’s Clothes! We are really low on kids’ clothes at the thrift shop, for any season of the year. Wine glasses, bath towels, and full/double-sized sheets are also in short supply. If you are downsizing or just de-cluttering and have gently-used, good condition clothing and household items, please keep us in mind. You can drop off donations any time the shop is open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thank you for supporting our local missions with your donations and purchases!
Christmas in July and August: Bless the Crisis Nursery with Books! There is a Christmas tree in the narthex with tags so you can choose a book to purchase to donate to the Crisis Nursery library. Once you purchase books you can put them in the basket below the tree. The title, authors and the Amazon price is on each card. Barnes and Noble carries some of them and can also order them. If you would prefer to give a cash donation, you can give it to Kathy Troy or any Deacon.
Gratitude for Sunflower Bus Donations: Our church has collected a total of $15,830 for the Sunflower Bus, safely transporting refugees from Ukraine to Sweden. Many in our community and friends and family from all over the country have donated to this effort. Thank you to all! We are staying in touch with the organizers in Sweden and will continue to share updates. Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Solrosbuss/
Sunday, July 31
Child Care for infants, toddlers and older children – 9:15 a.m. downstairs
Worship – 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary and Streaming Online
One of the lottery jackpots is now above $1 billion. What would any of us do if we won? The Gospel reading we will hear on Sunday from Luke poses a similar question. What if we were a farmer who had an extraordinarily productive harvest, a barn buster? Join us on Sunday to hear the parable, to hear what provoked Jesus to tell it, and contemplate its meaning together. The British art critic and writer, John Ruskin, once wrote, “There is no wealth but life.” That wisdom played about as well in Ruskin’s day as the parable Jesus told played in his.
Pastor David
In-Person Worship: Masking is strongly encouraged, especially if you are singing, (masks remain available in the Narthex if you do not have one), but is no longer required. We continue to strongly recommend that you keep up with boosters. Please plan to maintain social distancing and to hand sanitize often. During fellowship time when you are in close proximity to others, masking is highly recommended. If you are feeling unwell for any reason, please remain home and enjoy the services of worship online. Please understand that the pandemic is not yet over and conditions may require a return to masking at some point in the future.
Join Us Online for Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship (also in-person):
1. Facebook:
www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/
Scroll down to the post from that morning
2. Zoom click on: zoom.us/j/8144246357
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
3. Landline or phone that is not a smart phone:
1 (312) 626-6799.
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
Christmas in July and August: Bless the Crisis Nursery with Books! There is a Christmas tree in the narthex with tags so you can choose a book to purchase to donate to the Crisis Nursery library. Once you purchase books you can put them in the basket below the tree. The title, authors and the Amazon price is on each card. Barnes and Noble carries some of them and can also order them. If you would prefer to give a cash donation you can give it to Kathy Troy or any Deacon.
Twice Is Nice Needs Kid’s Clothes! We are really low on kid’s clothes at the thrift shop, for any season of the year. Wine glasses, bath towels, and full/double-sized sheets are also in short supply. If you are downsizing or just de-cluttering and have gently-used, good condition clothing and household items, please keep us in mind. You can drop off donations any time the shop is open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Thank you for supporting our local missions with your donations and purchases!
Gratitude for Sunflower Bus Donations: Our church has collected a total of $15,830 for the Sunflower Bus, safely transporting refugees from Ukraine to Sweden. Many in our community and friends and family from all over the country have donated to this effort. Thank you to all! We are staying in touch with the organizers in Sweden and will continue to share updates. Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Solrosbuss/