First Presbyterian Church of Urbana

1 day ago

Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 5th Sunday in Lent

Worship – Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning

Music Seminar: Psalmody – CANCELLED (no streaming)

Zumba then Yoga – in our homes via Zoom, Sunday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. – Join URL: zoom.us/j/136038138

Thursdays: Mid-day Prayer at 12:15 p.m.

For Sunday Worship and Thursday Mid-day Prayer, join us at: www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/

To watch the church worship services on Facebook, you don't even need to log in or have a Facebook account. Simply follow this link to go to the church's page www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/ Scroll down a ways until you see the worship service video (you’ll see a picture of the organ). Click on it to play the video. You can still watch past services.

Picture: “At the Deathbed,” by Edvard Munch, in the Bergen Kunstmuseum, Bergen, Norway.

Death, and the threat of death, seem all around us. This will change the way that we hear these texts from Ezekiel and the Gospel of John on Sunday, scriptures we have heard many times before, but not surrounded by death as we are now. While this work by Munch may seem simple, it is anything but simple. By way of the colors of his palate, and the positions and expressions of the mourners, Munch powerfully captures the emotions of this scene. Two truths will confront us as we hear these scriptures. First, Easter is very close now, but we have to go through a graveyard to get there. Second, we will find that there is hope, even in the graveyard. Join us on Sunday online to hear these scriptures, to offer our prayers together, and to hear more beautiful music. Stay home and stay well.

Pastor David

This Sunday

Let’s Zumba Then Yoga in our homes, via Zoom: Please join us this Sunday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. for the Zumba/Yoga event to contribute miles to our Lenten Walk. This will be a new experience, participating in unison but from different venues, an opportunity to take care of ourselves and send our hopes and prayers to others. Madeleine Hall Wolske will get us joyfully moving with Zumba and then Rachel Bass-Guennewig will guide us in yoga. We will leave connected and happy – having released all those endorphins. Modifications will be presented for those with chairs and those chairless.

Below is the link to the ZOOM Zumba/Yoga class. After you click on the link you will be directed to set up a free zoom account so that you can have access to it. When asked to access your audio and video choose YES. You can participate through your phone or computer. You want to launch ZOOM on your computer to join the meeting. You will see everyone else who is participating, kind of like the Brady Bunch opening song – remember that? It is really fun to see each other. I hope you will join us! Join URL: zoom.us/j/136038138

Easter Lilies, Daffodils and Tulips: Although Easter Worship will be streamed, we will move forward with a flower order. We are invited to dedicate Easter lilies, daffodils and tulips to the glory of God in honor or memory of family members and friends. Lilies are $14.00 each, tulips (mixed colors, red, pink, etc.) and daffodils are $11.50 each. Please complete and mail the order form (attached) and return it to the church office. This Sunday is the deadline. Payment must accompany reservation. Make checks to First Presbyterian Church of Urbana with “Easter plants” on the memo line. We will request delivery during the week before Easter to allow plants to be picked up and enjoyed in our homes.

Church Announcements

All Spring Seminars CANCELLED: March “Early U.S. Church Psalmody” seminar and April Earth Care seminar series (“Impacts of the Trump Administration’s Rollback of Environmental Protections”) are both CANCELLED with hopes to reschedule in the fall.

Adult Bible Study: Sundays at 8:15 a.m. is cancelled until further notice.
Christian Mysticism Discussion Group: Discussion Group on every other Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the Library is cancelled until further notice.
Sunday School Cancelled: Sunday School is cancelled until further notice.

Mid-day Prayer: Weekly Mid-day Prayer at 12:15 p.m. on Thursdays will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/

Pledges, Tithes and Offerings: In light of the shelter-in-place order, we are no longer encouraging anyone to stop by the church office. Please plan to mail in your contributions, or use the Donate Button on the church website. Our method of conducting worship and meetings has changed, but the ministry of FPCU continues. Please continue your generous support.

Lenten Walk: Forgive my error from the last update – our walking for the first 1.5 weeks (ending on 3/7) of 998.01 miles put us near the inland city of Mazatlan Villa de Flores, in the state of Oaxaca (NOT MAZATLAN – which would be quite a bit further, another 1500 miles). According to Wikipedia, the state of Oaxaca is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. According to USA Today, this is one of the safest states in Mexico.

For the week ending 3/14, we headed over to the coast through Mexico City to Guadelajara, in the state of Jalisco, about 561 miles. It is the second most populous city in Mexico, with many cultural sights and businesses. Guadalajara is considered relatively safe, but the state of Jalisco is under a US State Dept Level 3 travel advisory due to gang violence.

By 3/21, we will NOW be in Mazatlan in the coastal state of Sinaloa, as described in two weeks ago. We have journeyed 1578 miles, or 520 hours of walking. Thanks for your patience, and keep up the great work of walking and exercising during this unusual Lenten Season! —The Wellness Committee

WHO: All ages may participate. This is a joint 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 – any aerobic exercise will count! All exercise will count as two miles for every 30 minutes, unless you have another way to calculate your distance.

HOW: Today, please send in your miles from this past week (email the church office or leave us a voicemail message). It’s not too late to join us; just send us your miles.

Open Door Date Changed: The Open Door mail date has been changed to April 8; the deadline for submissions is this Thursday, April 2.

Lenten Devotional: “Becoming a Beloved Community: A Matthew 25 Journey

to the Cross.” This year’s Lenten devotional invites us on a thought-provoking journey to see firsthand how Jesus’ words to “feed the hungry” and “clothe the naked” still change lives today. In “Becoming a Beloved Community,” we discover how needs are met when selfless love breaks down racial barriers, gives voice to the voiceless and feeds hungry hearts, souls and bodies. This devotional features prayers and reflections by 19 ordained ministers, chaplains, lay pastors and ruling elders from the Presbytery of the Pacific. While the stories they share differ, they all have this in common: a passion for following Jesus. The excitement and commitment found on the pages of “Becoming a Beloved Community” are contagious. If you still need a Lenten Devotional, please email or leave a voicemail for the office staff and we’ll try to get one mailed to you as soon as we are able. Click here for a PDF of the devotional that you can download.

Food & More Program Donation Request for March: Soup – Condensed or ready-to-eat, especially chicken and beef soups. For April: Laundry detergent.

Thrift Shop Closed: Twice Is Nice Thrift Shop is closed through April 7 due to coronavirus precautions and the Governor’s order. At this time, we cannot accept donations, but we welcome them when we re-open. Check for updates on our Facebook page @twiceisnicethriftshop.

One Great Hour of Sharing: In Isaiah 58, the author is addressing a people who have returned to Jerusalem, where the Temple—God’s house—was in shambles. I imagine it was a heartbreaking scene. And in that rubble, the prophet challenges the people not to rebuild the building or to restore their religious rituals, but to care for the hungry, the weak and the vulnerable–the prophet called the people to become the house of God. We are called to become, as Isaiah promised long ago, “repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in”.

Together, we become the household of God.

During this time of crisis, with the COVID-19 pandemic threatening, we are reminded that the most vulnerable in our midst suffer first, most and longest. One Great Hour of Sharing has, for over 70 years, supported the most vulnerable among us. Because of our support, the Church is able to deepen its commitment to serve. In the days ahead, staff of Self-Development of People, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will be working with presbyteries to identify and support essential congregational ministries, especially in anti-poverty work. The Church’s response to the present crisis will begin with the most at-risk communities across the country and around the world, as well as those facing spikes of racism in response to this disease.

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we extend shelter to those who have no place to stay, offer compassion to those who have pain—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual—and we set a feast, with God, for those who lack access to enough food to eat.

During these uncertain times, we depend on our Church, faith, family and God’s grace to see us through. Please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing. We are the Church, together.

Let us pray: Draw all people together, gracious God, and make us your house. Let our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing create a home and a wholeness for people in need, especially those suffering from the impacts of the current crisis, so that the whole human family will know your love. Amen

We will receive and dedicate the OGHS offering on Easter Sunday, April 12.

Malawi Students Needing Sponsors: We recently received three new secondary students from Domasi that need sponsors. All are in their freshman (1st) year. They are:

Racheal Dickson, attending Providence Secondary School, Cost is $450.00 per year
Yankho Chitseko, attending Masongola Secondary School, Cost is $230.00 per year
Alex Chris Kachembere, attending Songani CDSS. Cost is $45.00 per year.

We also have several students whose sponsors are no longer able to sponsor them and need new sponsors. They are:

Pemphero Tepani – St. Louis Monfort Open School , Junior (3rd) year. Cost is $75.00 per year.
Christopher Khanje -– Junior (3rd) year at Domasi Demo Day SS. Cost is $45.00 per year
Maureen Meya – Senior (4th) year at Masongola SS - Cost is $225.00 per year.

If you would like to sponsor one of these students, please let Lauren Smith know and bring a check for the amount requested, write the student’s name in the memo line, and mail it to the church office. ... See MoreSee Less

First Presbyterian Church of Urbana

3 days ago

One Great Hour of Sharing: In Isaiah 58, the author is addressing a people who have returned to Jerusalem, where the Temple—God’s house—was in shambles. I imagine it was a heartbreaking scene. And in that rubble, the prophet challenges the people not to rebuild the building or to restore their religious rituals, but to care for the hungry, the weak and the vulnerable–the prophet called the people to become the house of God. We are called to become, as Isaiah promised long ago, “repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in”.

Together, we become the household of God.

During this time of crisis, with the COVID-19 pandemic threatening, we are reminded that the most vulnerable in our midst suffer first, most and longest. One Great Hour of Sharing has, for over 70 years, supported the most vulnerable among us. Because of our support, the Church is able to deepen its commitment to serve. In the days ahead, staff of Self-Development of People, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will be working with presbyteries to identify and support essential congregational ministries, especially in anti-poverty work. The Church’s response to the present crisis will begin with the most at-risk communities across the country and around the world, as well as those facing spikes of racism in response to this disease.

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we extend shelter to those who have no place to stay, offer compassion to those who have pain—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual—and we set a feast, with God, for those who lack access to enough food to eat.

During these uncertain times, we depend on our Church, faith, family and God’s grace to see us through. Please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing. We are the Church, together.

Let us pray: Draw all people together, gracious God, and make us your house. Let our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing create a home and a wholeness for people in need, especially those suffering from the impacts of the current crisis, so that the whole human family will know your love. Amen ... See MoreSee Less