Sunday, September 17, 2023
Worship – In-person and Streaming in the Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m.
The image is “Merciful Mother,” a multi-media creation.
“The scriptures we will hear on Sunday present aspects of the journey of faith which may make it seem like looking through a kaleidoscope. Whether it’s the harrowing story of the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt, or the Apostle Paul’s arresting admonition to welcome everyone (Really?? Everyone??), or the teaching Jesus offers incredulous disciples about the absolute centrality of forgiveness, living into deliverance, or hospitality, or forgiveness, can feel like looking into a constricting view of ever-shifting fragments, leaving us to wonder if what we see is enough to go on. Yet we know one more thing about kaleidoscopes, the view is beautiful. That beauty is where we find the mercy. The light of God’s grace makes that mercy visible. So join us on Sunday as we hear these profound passages of scripture together, and then remember that God enables us to do faithful things that at first appear impossible.”
Pastor David
Join Us for Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Worship, in-person in the Sanctuary and streamed online.
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
The Church Office Hours: Melissa Records will take PTO this Wednesday and Friday, September 20 and 22. This week, Tracy Weddle will work Monday and Tuesday, 9am – 4pm, and Friday 11am – 4pm. She will also check emails and voicemails from home Wednesday and Thursday. The office will still be open Wednesday since Pastor David will be around.
Midday Prayer is on Summer Break
Sunday Seminar: “Hidden Christians, Travel Revelations, and a Year Abroad”: Join us after worship on Sunday, September 17, at 10:45 a.m. in the Chapel to hear Pastor David talk about Christian History in Japan, and to hear Rev. Jean Oliver-Holder talk about growing up in Japan and then finally returning after more than 30 years. Nathan Holder will round out the seminar with reflections on his year of study abroad in Kobe, Japan.
CU Pride Fest 2023: What an amazing lineup of programing, celebrating, and events our partners at Uniting Pride of Champaign County has curated for our community this year! The events begin on Saturday, September 23 and continue through Sunday, October 1. The Parade and Fair will be Saturday, September 30, and FPCU will proudly support both. If you want to march in the parade, please let Pastor David or Barb Mann or Karen Mortensen know. The parade is set to step off at 2:30pm. If walking in the parade does not work for you, please plan to join others in front of our church on Green Street to cheer as the parade passes. We will also welcome volunteers for our booth at the Fair. The Fair will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday. We need volunteers to help set up, both at the church and at the Fair. Please let Pastor David or our office know if you can help. This year, the Grand Marshalls for the Parade will be LGBTQ+ Elders. The organizers write, “As we face this new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, aggression, legislation, and violence, it’s critically important we look to those who have been in this fight for decades.”
“Blessing of the Animals” Service: Our Wellness Committee is delighted to have everyone mark their calendars for Sunday, October 8, at 4:00 p.m., in the church courtyard, for this year’s Blessing of the Animals. Usually celebrated on a day close to the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, the blessing offers a time to give thanks for the pets that enrich our lives, remember pets we have lost to death, and offer a blessing for them for the year ahead. Well-behaved and on-leash/contained pets are welcome. If your pet doesn’t fit this category, you are welcome to bring a picture. If your pet has died, you are invited to bring an item of remembrance. All pets must be accompanied by an owner. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pet and ensuring the safety of those offering the blessing. In case of rain, we will meet in Fellowship Hall. We hope you can join us! If you don’t have a pet, come anyway, and enjoy the fun and furry companionship.
Food & More Program Item of the Month: For September the item is Coffee (instant or regular). Please place donations in the Food & More box near the church office.
Donations Needed at Twice Is Nice: The students are back in town and business has been brisk at the shop. So our stock is low on certain items. Please consider donating gently-used, good condition items that you no longer need. Especially needed are wine glasses, coffee mugs, towels, wash cloths, size small men's jeans and non-flannel sheets. You can drop off donations any time the shop is open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. We’re switching the clothing from spring to winter on September 24, so if you need spring clothing, come on by soon.
FPCU stands proudly with the Up Center and will be present in solidarity once again at this year's Pride Fest.
We are so excited to have Rae Lewis-Thornton as our keynote speaker for Pride Fest 2023! She is an Emmy Award winning AIDS activist and renown social justice advocate, and has received national acclaim for her story of living with HIV/AIDS. For three decades Rae has traveled worldwide educating and challenging stigma around HIV/AIDS; and she is credited with changing the face of AIDS for Black women in America. Join us at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures on Monday, Sept 25th at 6:30pm for her talk. This event is FREE and no tickets are required!
