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
- Advent devotional centers voices of refugees and immigrantsDecember 3, 2021 This fall, the news has been filled with images of refugees from Afghanistan and other countries coming to the United States, and immigration has been a major issue in several recent elections.
- Have I got a story for you!December 3, 2021 Two storytellers who clearly love the illuminating and often powerful work they do shared some of what they’ve learned over their years in journalism during the Community Conversations Facebook Live event broadcast Thursday.
- Winning hearts by filling stomachsDecember 3, 2021 In a newly-released podcast from the New Worshiping Communities movement in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New Way host the Rev. Sara Hayden explores how creative expressions of the church are taking place around the United States and the world.
- McCormick Theological Seminary receives $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.December 3, 2021 McCormick Theological Seminary has been awarded a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support of McCormick’s Trauma Healing Initiative (“THI”).
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Worship – In-Person and Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“Lord, That I Might See,” a sculpture in Mityas Church, Budapest, Hungary.
Last Sunday, we were glad to contemplate the beginning of God’s response to Job from the whirlwind. We heard God’s assurance to Job that God was present with him on the ash heap, and we heard God encourage Job by way of the marvelous survey of the wonders of creation that God approves of Job’s stubborn resistance to undeserved suffering. On Sunday, we will hear from the conclusion of God’s speech from the whirlwind. This is the part where God helps Job see more clearly. God does this by judging the weak theology, poor answers, and cold comfort offered to Job by his friends. God does not approve of their speeches. Join us on Sunday as we contemplate the Book of Job together, and as we are assured that God is not silent before injustice.”
Pastor David
Adult Seminar: This Sunday, October 24, Tracy Parsons, Champaign Community Relations Manager and facilitator of the Community Coalition will be joining us to talk about the ongoing violence in C-U, programs and initiatives the city is using and what we can do to make a difference.
All seminars will be livestreamed from the sanctuary. Plan to join us via Zoom at 11:00 for the seminar (same Zoom invite that is used for the service).
In-Person Worship: We look forward to welcoming everyone back! Masking will be required. Social distancing will be required. Showing proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID test within three days of attending, is required. You can show the ushers your vaccination card, or a picture of it on your phone, or use the U of I app, or the IDPH app. In order to ease checking in on Sunday mornings, you can email Cindy Ottemann a photo of your vaccination card. She will compile a list of verified vaccinations for the ushers. We can also place a sticker on your name tag to verify that you are vaccinated. For those under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for a vaccine, we ask that a negative COVID test be taken within 3 days prior to attending. The U of I is offering its rapid saliva test free to members of the community at the Campus Recreation Center East at the corner of Dorner Dr. and Gregory St. Parkland College is also offering free rapid tests to residents of our community.
Join Us for Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship followed by our Seminar!
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
Special Guest Preacher and Adult Seminar Presenter: Next Sunday, October 31, we will be very pleased to welcome the Rev. Craig Howard, who is the Ministry Relations Officer serving the Midwest (based in St. Louis) for the Presbyterian Foundation. He works with pastors, mid-councils and church leaders to cultivate generosity and promote stewardship within their congregations. Rev. Howard will work to help us understand legacy giving and present to us the resources offered by our Presbyterian Foundation.
Outing to Enjoy Autumn’s Colors: Mark your calendar now and join our Earth Care Team for a fall outing on Sunday afternoon, October 31. We’ll hike trails on the east side of Allerton Park – the natural area – enjoying fall color along the bluffs and Sangamon River bottom, and skirting the edge of the park’s restored prairie. Bring your binoculars to glimpse woodpeckers – perhaps even the pileated – and other winter residents of the park. Plan to meet at the east parking lot at 2:30 and hike for about an hour over a well-established, but sometimes rocky trail. For directions to the meeting site, additional details, and to sign up for the hike, please contact the church office. Rain date is Sunday, November 7.
Save the date and join CU Trauma & Resilience Initiative CU Healing Communities initiative for a Fall Family Fun Day on November 6 from 2 pm to 5 pm at Centennial Park (2200 W Kirby Ave)
Hope to see you there!!
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Worship – In-Person and Streaming at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
All-Church Outing: Pumpkin Patch and Ice Cream – 2:00 p.m. at Negengard
Returning to In-Person Worship
We look forward to welcoming everyone back! Masking will be required. Social distancing will be required. Showing proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID test within three days of attending, is required. You can show the ushers your vaccination card, or a picture of it on your phone, or use the U of I app, or the IDPH app. In order to ease checking in on Sunday mornings, you can email the church office a photo of your vaccination card. She will compile a list of verified vaccinations for the ushers. We can also place a sticker on your name tag to verify that you are vaccinated. For those under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for a vaccine, we ask that a negative COVID test be taken within 3 days prior to attending. The U of I is offering its rapid saliva test free to members of the community at the Campus Recreation Center East at the corner of Dorner Dr. and Gregory St. Parkland College is also offering free rapid tests to residents of our community.
Frontispiece for the Book of Job,” Saint John’s Bible, calligraphy by Donald Jackson.
On Sunday, October 17th, we will hear a third reading from the Book of Job. Two Sundays ago, we heard how Job lost everything, an event captured by this illumination from the Saint John’s Bible. At the bottom of the illumination, we see our man, Job, barely recognizable as a man, standing alone before the forces of chaos. In the chapters that follow, we hear how Job’s friends fail him, and how he defends himself against their accusations and misunderstandings, all the while he bewails the apparent absence of God. Since that first chapter, we have not heard the voice of God. How does God respond to Job? Join us on Sunday as we hear a portion of the longest speech of God offered in all of the Bible.
Pastor David
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
Church Announcements
Upcoming Seminars:
This Sunday, October 17 – Break, no seminar
On October 24, Tracy Parsons, Champaign Community Relations Manager and facilitator of the Community Coalition will be joining us to talk about the ongoing violence in C-U, programs and initiatives the city is using and what we can do to make a difference.
On October 31, the Rev. Craig Howard will be our presenter (see the announcement below for details).
All seminars will be live streamed from the sanctuary. Plan to join us via Zoom at 11:00 for the seminar (same Zoom invite that is used for the service).
Special Guest Preacher and Adult Seminar Presenter: On Sunday, October 31, we will be very pleased to welcome the Rev. Craig Howard, who is the Ministry Relations Officer serving the Midwest (based in St. Louis) for the Presbyterian Foundation. He works with pastors, mid-councils and church leaders to cultivate generosity and promote stewardship within their congregations. Rev. Howard will work to help us understand legacy giving and present to us the resources offered by our Presbyterian Foundation.
Outing to Enjoy Autumn’s Colors: Mark your calendar now and join our Earth Care Team for a fall outing on Sunday afternoon, October 31. We’ll hike trails on the east side of Allerton Park – the natural area – enjoying fall color along the bluffs and Sangamon River bottom, and skirting the edge of the park’s restored prairie. Bring your binoculars to glimpse woodpeckers – perhaps even the pileated – and other winter residents of the park. Plan to meet at the east parking lot at 2:30 and hike for about an hour over a well-established, but sometimes rocky trail. For directions to the meeting site, additional details, and to sign up for the hike, please contact the church office. Rain date is Sunday, November 7.