Welcome
Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana! We believe that everyone who enters these doors is God’s guest. This is a safe place, to search for and find God, to ask questions along with others who know that the life of faith is not about having all the answers, and to open doors to paths that might be familiar and some that might be entirely new. Read more …
PCUSA News
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) issues Call to Action in observance of Native American DaySeptember 18, 2020 The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will celebrate Native American Day by hosting two of the first events in an ongoing series.
- Oregon presbytery working through the smoke to respond to wildfiresSeptember 18, 2020 Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is helping with response to the wildfires in the Presbytery of the Cascades in central and western Oregon.
- Author issues rallying cry to progressive ChristiansSeptember 18, 2020 A new book — “Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity“ — encourages progressive Christians to stand up and be bold about their faith.
- Sarah Schoper Salazar can’t be easily dismissedSeptember 18, 2020 An Illinois congregation works to promote racial justice through its Matthew 25 commitment and participation in the Peace & Global Witness offering.
Thrift Shop Porch Sale: TODAY, Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Featuring: Puzzles, Games, Toys, Fitness, Books, Stationery
Twice Is Nice Update: Thanks to all who dropped off donations during the two Saturdays in August. When the porch sales are over, there will be plenty of sorting and restocking to do.
Once again, a big thank-you goes out to those who made donations, gave suggestions, spread the word, and volunteered their time.
Porch Sales: Saturdays, September 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
September 26 Winter Apparel, Holiday
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Worship – Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning
“Moses the Black,” 4th century Desert Father, an icon written by Kelly Latimore
What are the limits of God’s grace, and how does it work? This beautiful icon of Abba Moses, and the story behind it, suggests that we too often focus on the wrong things. In one of the sayings of the Desert Fathers, Abba Moses is said to have been disappointed by how the other monks focused on the sin of another monk. In the story, he fills two sacks with sand, a small one and a large one. The small sack he carries around his neck in front and he carries the larger sack over his shoulder on his back. When he walks back in before the inquisition, the other monks are mystified by the meaning of his display. So he explains that the smaller sack of sand contains the sin of the monk being judged and they are spending their time judging them, while the far larger sack contain his own sins which he puts behind him and which he does not pay attention to. Abba Moses said that this was not right. They should focus on their own sins rather than judge the sin of another monk. The monks respond, “This is the way of wisdom.” Join us on Sunday as we hear the challenging Parable of the Laborers from the Gospel of Matthew and contemplate how the grace of God works.
Pastor David
Join Us for Sunday Worship!
1. YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Eiz3KggoReHXIW6ns5HWg
2. Facebook link to YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/
Scroll down to the post from that morning
3. Zoom click on: zoom.us/j/8144246357
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
4. Landline or phone that is not a smart phone:
1 (312) 626-6799.
Meeting ID: 814 424 6357 (if necessary)
Password 475210
Church Announcements
Mid-day Prayer: Weekly Mid-day Prayer Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. It will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/FirstPresChurchUrbana/
Virtual Adult Seminars: Sunday, September 20 – Join Pastor David Oliver-Holder via Zoom for the continuation of his spring seminar series “Faithful Citizenship.” He will end the series with one more seminar on Civility. The Zoom link is the same as for worship (as listed above). Following worship, we’ll have fellowship, then the seminar will begin at 11:00 a.m.
September 20 – What happened to civility in the public square? While civility has long been an aspect of Christianity and even in American politics, more recently it seems that our society and many of its leaders suffer from an appalling lack of it. When everyone is screaming at each other it becomes difficult to conceive of a different, better way of thinking about politics and public debate. In these two seminars, author James Calvin Davis considers ways to think about political discussion between people who disagree in light of the four virtues of civility and the principles of civility found in Christianity.
September 27 – no seminar
October 4, 11, 18 – Galatians – David Oliver-Holder
Book Discussion Group: Flannery O’Connor wrote as a devout Roman Catholic while living in the very Protestant (and very mostly Methodist and Baptist at that) and “Christ haunted” Southern state of Georgia. Her stories reveal the jarring and shocking contradictions of being such a person in such a place. In an essay, she described her approach to writing thus: “to the hard of hearing, you shout, and for the almost blind, you draw large and startling figures.” Some of us suspect that O’Connor can speak a sane word for our jarring and shocking time. If you would like to join with others to read some of her short stories and then meet about every other week to talk about the readings, then find a copy of “The Complete Stories,” published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Plan to join us on Sunday evening via Zoom, September 27, at 6:30 p.m. for the second session. We will meet about every other week. All are welcome.
Pledges, Tithes and Offerings: During this time, we are not 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.
Office Closed through September: Due to Covid-19, the church office will continue to be closed through September—Melissa and Tracy are working from home and will not have regular office hours. Voicemail messages are emailed to them and they will respond to emails each weekday. Steve and David will be working at the church and keeping an eye on things. Stay home, and stay in touch.
No Worship in Sanctuary Soon: The Worship Committee and Pastor David want to be clear that FPCU will not be resuming public worship in the sanctuary anytime soon, definitely not before fall. We encourage everyone, if you have not already, to join us on Facebook and/or on Zoom for morning worship. If you would like a partner or a helper for this, just let us know. Members are standing by and ready to help.
Please be sure to let the church office know if you would like sermons emailed or mailed to you each week.
Church Directory Update: The church office has received several corrections and updates since we published the directory in June. So we will publish an updated directory soon. If you have any changes in your contact information, please email the office or leave a voicemail.
Twice Is Nice Update: Thanks to all who dropped off donations during the two Saturdays in August. When the porch sales are over, there will be plenty of sorting and restocking to do.
It was not a sunny day for the third of our five porch sales on September 12; however, the rain held off until just before closing and many satisfied customers left with purchases they were happy to have found. Everything was again conducted safely and smoothly. The sale of decorative and wall art, electronics, lighting, pet supplies and a few other odds and ends, displayed on the shop’s porch, generated $440 including pre and day of sales. Volunteers and customers enjoyed the event.
Once again, a big thank-you goes out to those who made donations, gave suggestions, spread the word, and volunteered their time.
Porch Sales: Saturdays, September 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
September 26 Winter Apparel
#SeasonOfCreation Pills: September 19th I We call the Earth our common home because common is the good we must guard and protect. ▶️ Watch today's video, "Perseverance" and learn more about ecological conversion. bit.ly/SOCPills19092020EN
