"Resistance looks like lamenting when our culture calls for unrealistic and toxic positivity at every second. It’s knowing that our rest is not an afterthought, luxury, privilege or anything we must seek permission for. I believe naps are a holy place, and radical community care is a spiritual practice and form of resistance for everyone, but especially to those living in the margins navigating racism, poverty and state-sanctioned violence."
pres-outlook.org
Activist, artist, and public theologian Tricia Hersey looks at the radical biblical instruction to rest and how claiming it can be a form of resistance.Nelson once again called on national leaders to be aggressive at ending gun violence, saying that it is becoming unsafe not only in schools, but churches, grocery stores and homes.
Stated Clerk mourns for those killed in latest school shooting in Texas
pres-outlook.org
J. Herbert Nelson says the church needs to do what is necessary to minister to those who suffer.
Electricity costs will be increasing for Ameren customers beginning in June. This blog post explains why.
"[D]ue to an unwillingness to accept the transition to renewable energy and other outdated thinking, Ameren has missed opportunities to bring clean and affordable renewable energy to the grid—which would, in turn, lower the bills of their customers. Ameren also declined to participate in CEJA’s carbon mitigation credits, which are now delivering around one billion dollars of savings for ComEd customers in Northern Illinois, Chicago, and the surrounding suburbs. "
www.faithinplace.org/post/what-s-going-on-with-illinois-energy-grid
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Worship – In-Person and Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“Lydia with Paul,” a mosaic in the Greek Orthodox Church of Lydia, in Thyatira, Macedonia, Greece.
First disciple in Europe. Perhaps helped inspire what Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians: ‘Neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, no male or female.’ Because she was the head of her household, she presided at the communion table when the church met in her home, thus making her one of the first female ministers in the early church. The mosaic suggests that Lydia was indeed all of that. Join us for worship on Sunday when we will hear and contemplate how the Gospel continues to break down barriers so that all are welcomed and all are empowered for service.
Pastor David
In-Person Worship: Masking is still required, (we will have some available in the Narthex if you do not have one). We recommend vaccination or a negative COVID test within the last three days. For children 5 and under, a temperature check upon arrival and masking (ages 2 years and older) will be required. Please plan to keep social distancing and to hand sanitize often. There will be no coffee after worship. If you are feeling unwell for any reason, please remain home and enjoy the services of worship online.
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
Faith and Film: Our next and final feature of the spring will be Fiddler on the Roof. This 1971 classic musical, which won 3 Academy Awards, is set in pre-revolutionary Russia, and tells the story of a Jewish peasant with traditional values who contends with marrying off three of his daughters with modern romantic ideals while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village. We will screen the film in person in the church Youth Center this Sunday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. Singing along will be permitted and discussion will follow.
Midday Prayer Summer Break: Weekly Midday Prayer is on summer break. It will resume in September.
Spring Wellness Activity: Thanks to everyone for sharing your miles this week! For the 4 weeks through 5/14, we have logged 1671 miles, or about 151% of one journey of the Sunflower Bus from Poland to Sweden. Please continue to pray for refugees in Ukraine, and throughout the world. Use the poster in the hall outside of the nurses' office to record your miles, or send them in to Cindy Ottemann at 217-493-0905 or cjottabb@yahoo.com. Last day of the activity will be Saturday, May 28.
WHO: Everyone! This is a collective project, not a contest to see who walks the farthest. Every little bit will help us reach our goal!
WHAT: Walk, bike, skate, swim, Zumba, yoga, do a work-out video – any exercise will count! Any and all exercise will count as 2 miles for every 30 minutes, unless you have another way to calculate your distance.
HOW: Record your weekly miles, and report them weekly to Cindy Ottemann (at either 217-493-0905 or cjottabb@yahoo.com) or to the church office - office@firstpresurbana.org; we will also keep a tally sheet outside of the nurses’ office at church.
Sunflower Bus Updates: The Sunflower buses continue to run! Establishing bus service inside Ukraine has proven to work well, with many volunteers contributing to its success. The money is going even further. Our church has collected another $2695 in donations, which will be enough to cover costs for two buses all the way from Ukraine to Sweden. Thank you for your ongoing support! The church website continues to accept donations.