I’m trying to get this Sunday Morning Update out early this week so that everyone can be praying for this year’s Vacation Bible School, running from Monday the 16th through Friday the 20th…

Well, I hope that you got to celebrate your freedom as an American this week by watching stuff blow up.  If not, I’m sure that life will go on.  But we had a nice (albeit very warm) evening with a couple of FCC families, sitting on comfy chairs and watching the East Peoria fireworks display together…

You’re probably receiving this a day later than you normally would in your week, since Americans were celebrating this week -- so, let me just say Happy Independence Day!

As of this month, we’ve been at First Covenant for 15 years!  That may not seem like a long time in geological terms, but I’ve been serving here for a longer stretch than any other pastor in the church’s 136-year history…

Hello!  It’s nice to be back home, but I have to say that Wendy and I truly enjoyed our 25th Anniversary trip.  A rainy Canada says “Hello!” to all of you as well (and yes, we liked it that way -- it was a solid 30 degree cooler there than it was here in Central Illinois last week).  But before I forget, Happy Father’s Day!

So today was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster of a day!

What do Bill Wenzel, Mark Hidebrand, Jonathan Yoder, Phil Ladd, Bill Braden, Cliff Johnson, Mick Baugher, and so many others have in common?  Well, they all have the misfortune of having known me for years, but they’ve also all signed up, put on a uniform, and put themselves at physical risk to serve our country in the armed forces…

What an eventful Pentecost Sunday!

The Youth Group took over the worship service this Sunday morning, which means that it’s that time of year that I should again express a hearty Happy Mother’s Day!

We had a great morning this week here at First Covenant Church!  First, we had such a lively discussion in our Adult Sunday School class on Philippians that I only got halfway through my intended lesson (again), meaning that the lesson entitled, “Two Models,” only presented one model...

I spent the weekend attending our Central Conference Annual Meeting (aka “Celebration!”) at Glen Ellyn Covenant Church up in Chicago, and everyone up there says to say “Hi!” to all of you.  Well, actually, Pete Sjoblom’s first words to me when I walked in the door were, “Man, you look old!” but they were all much nicer about all of you...

Last Sunday, it snowed.  This Sunday, I was walking around in my shirtsleeves.  As I write this, I’m a little warm in my polo shirt.  It’s not so much that I think Winter hung on too long.  It’s more like I just kinda missed having a Spring between Winter and Summer...

I won’t talk about the snow...  I won’t talk about the snow...  I won’t talk about the snow...  I won’t talk about the snow...

Okay, I’d like to formally apologize to everyone for the snow.  I really like snow, and I’ve secretly been praying for more of it, so we keep having snow that comes in on a Sunday, stays for a day, and is gone by Monday evening.  That’s on me, and I’ll stop it now...