Our family took Megan up to Chicago this week for her month-long Golden Apple training thingie, leaving her on the campus of St. Xavier University.  We’ll pick her up again at the end of July, right in the middle of VBS week (which, even with everyone’s careful planning, has retroactively turned out to fall on one of the worst weeks of the Summer for many of our volunteers)...

Before I forget, let me wish everyone out there reading this a very Happy Father’s Day!  And yes, even if you’re not a Dad, I can still hope that and wish that you have a happy Father’s Day (because otherwise, I’m wishing that you don’t have a good day -- how malicious would that be?).  But beyond that, as we said on Sunday morning, we can use the day as an opportunity to show our appreciation for any of the men who have invested their lives into ours and acted as mentors (“father-figures”) over the years...

Man, we live in a mixed-up world...  Early on Sunday morning, America experienced its worst mass shooting as a disturbed man opened fire in a nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and wounding dozens of others...

What a wonderful day in the Lord we had this weekend!  We hosted our annual Community Cook-Out this Sunday, and it was great not only because the weather was perfect (which it was), and the food was outstanding (special kudos for those pork chops, guys), and the fellowship was awesome (as usual), but particularly because we were able to welcome a couple of new, non-FCC families as well...

As part of our Memorial Day commemoration, we always try to recognize people’s service to our country and let them know how much we appreciate them.  So, before I forget, let me thank everyone reading this who has been willing to put their lives on the line to provide a safe nation in which the rest of us can live, grow, and raise our families -- whether that be in the military, the police force, the fire department, or what have you...

In a week like this when everyone’s going home after their year of college, and high schoolers are finishing up their final exams, and students are graduating at their various levels of education, does that count as winding down from school or winding up for the Summer?  I dunno...

his week was Comic-Con, Pentecost Sunday, and definitive proof that your pastor is an idiot.  Okay, maybe not an idiot, but certainly someone who still struggles with the same sorts of “foolishness-when-you-look-at-it-with-20/20-hindsight” that the rest of us in humanity struggle with...

Before I forget, let me make sure to wish all of you out there a Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy May Day!  Or, if you want to get all official, happy Law Day (since President Eisenhower declared May 1 to be “Law Day” back in 1958, celebrating the rule of law in America)... but somehow, that just doesn’t seem like as much fun to celebrate...

On behalf of everyone going through so many personal crises here at First Covenant in the past week or so, we’d like to thank everyone for their conscientious prayers and support.  It can be so hard for people who are dealing with major life issues, massive health problems, chronic depression, the deaths of loved ones, etc., to get through, and it makes all the difference in the world to have a solid base of church family as a support, when the rest of your world suddenly seems to be crumbling out from under you...

This has been a very hard week for several people connected to FCC, and we would really covet your prayers...

I hope that this Sunday Morning Update finds you doing well and enjoying the new Spring weather.  April is shaping up to be a busy month around here, with a Ladies’ Craft Night this coming Friday, a clump of birthday parties (and moving days) on the next weekend, and our traditional Passover Seder coming up on the 30th...

Hello, and welcome to Spring 2.0!  It’s gonna be cold and wet here at the beginning of April, followed by being really, really cold, followed by being fairly warm... and all in the same week.  Man, I remember when I was a boy and there were actually, honest-to-goodness seasons that you could count on and look forward to.  Now, I’ve gotta keep my sweaters and short-sleeved shirts in the same drawer...

Before I get too far into this and forget to mention it, let me wish you a Happy Resurrection Sunday!  Actually, I had a great conversation with someone about why I tend to use that term rather than talking about “Easter” -- and it’s not because of the pagan associations with the word... except that it sorta still is...

Man, a bunch of our FCCers are going through the wringer right now, with emotional and physical needs!  I’ve got a nasty cold, and I still feel decidedly fortunate compared to so many others in our church family right now.  There are too many specific needs to try to go into here and now...