It’s becoming a joke around here that I don’t really preach any more, and that’s a stinkin’ lie -- it’s just worked out that we’ve had other really great people who’ve felt burdened to share from the pulpit several times already this year.  But in general, I love preaching, and I appreciate every chance that I get to share from the Word of God.  I mean, as a pastor, I really only do work the one day each week...

The warm weather is finally here -- and so is that pesky time change.  It’s amazing how many FCCers were stumbling around like zombies this Sunday morning, trying to adjust to having lost an hour’s sleep this week...

Here in Peoria, we experienced some warm weather, then ice storms that shut down schools -- while elsewhere in the United States, people are still digging themselves out of inches and feet of snow.  Hopefully, this Update finds you warm and safe in your home, wherever that is...

I hope that this Sunday Morning Update finds you healthy and joyful this week.  I say “joyful” because that’s a decision that you and I make, whereas “happy” is merely a reaction to your circumstances.  But life is far too important to allow your perception of it to be buffeted around by your circumstances -- instead, let your perception of your circumstances be dictated by your decision to find joy...

We had a nice, warm time in our worship service this week here at First Covenant this week, even though the weather is getting colder and colder outside.  First of all, we thanked everyone who had worked so hard on our annual Valentine’s Day dinner (for once, actually on Valentine’s Day) fundraiser for our Youth Group this past Saturday evening.  The Intersection Restaurant of Love was as beautiful as ever, and the food and service were spectacular, as always...

Every once in a while, we get to see the familiar faces of people who’ve been part of our church family, but have had to move on because of work, etc.  This week was a veritable flood of “old home week” interactions!  Rick and Liz Schmalzried came into town to celebrate Rick’s 50th birthday by going to Alexander’s Steakhouse... which also brought back Frank and Faith Zosky to celebrate as well... which had absolutely nothing to do with why Zach Malmgren just happened to pop in on the same day...

Hello, and welcome to the “Spring” portion of January’s weather (not that I’m complaining, mind you -- it got awfully cold there for a while).  Here at First Covenant Church, this was a weekend for remembrances.  First off, it’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, and that really should mean more to us than simply getting a day off from school or work...

I hope that this edition of the Sunday Morning Update finds you and your household doing well.  Yes, I know of several FCC families that are down with some sort of illness of one kind or another, but hopefully, you’re at least feeling better by now...

Man, this month sure feels a lot like January, 2014 did!  We had to cancel that first Sunday morning worship service last year because of crazy cold temperatures -- but this year, those crazy cold temperatures (-30° F with the wind chill) came on Wednesday instead of Sunday, so we were able to get together to worship this week just fine...

From all of us here in the First Covenant Church family, let me wish you a Happy New Year!

Before I get lost and forget to say the most important bit here, Merry Christmas!  As I’m writing this, it’s Christmas Eve (and if you’re reading this tonight, feel free to come join us as we praise God in a special service this evening at 7:30, here at First Covenant)...

Still no snow, but seeing how much snow has been dumped onto other states in the last couple of weeks, we aren’t really complaining too much here in Illinois.  But it would be nice to have a little bit for next Wednesday evening -- just not so much that we end up having travel advisories...

Though there isn’t currently any snow on the ground, it’s finally beginning to feel like the Christmas season around here.  We’ve got the tree up at home, decorations up in the church building, and we’re going caroling tonight as a church family (so I’m actually glad that it’s warmer this year than it has been in past years).  I even got the chance to explain to a new person why the angel on the church’s sanctuary tree is kinda scary-looking, instead of looking like some sort of traditional, fairy-type thing (our FCC angel is all covered with eyes and wings).  And then, after the service, everyone exchanged Christmas cookies, ’cuz this is the time of year to utterly ignore all of the good eating habits that I’ve worked so hard on for the rest of the calendar year.  Sigh...

Two weeks ago, I commented that it had been a hard week for several of our FCCers -- and this past week was even harder for a bunch more.  Now, some of that is simply seasonal (the holidays are festive for some people, and terribly stressful for others), but a lot of people just seem to be getting pounded on right about now.  Please keep your fellow Christian brothers and sisters in your prayers, if you would...