Budget Lessons from a Seven-year-old

“Emma, you don’t have to put all of your birthday money into the offering, maybe just some of it.”

Making Room

Musing over lunch at Mojo’s coffee shop, Mark Hurty says, “If you want to have love in your heart and experience peace, you can’t make room for hate to have such a stronghold.”

It's Always Better When We're Together

Unshakeable Faith

Susie can’t move on her own power — but the power of prayer nourishes her unshakeable faith. When frustrations douse her spirit, she keeps turning to God.

Oxygen

In church, where the word of God takes hold of people and sends them out with love for others, Sharlene gets her oxygen.

Come and Ski!

Trust others. Stay anchored. Bear with one another. Watch for obstacles. Work shoulder to shoulder. Live with gratitude.

What's it all about? The KIDS

From threading the filmstrip projectors of the early 70s to creating the Power Points of today, teachers Steve and Cheryl Arp leave a trail of kindnesses in the Long Grove community.

Shuffling of Pants Legs

It’s a vocation that makes her feel alive. “Listen to my people as they walk. Pay attention to the shuffling of pants legs.”

Doing What Needs to be Done

“My whole goal in life is to use the gifts God has given to me to help people do what needs to be done,” says Don, an “easy-going” guy at home in flannel and denim.

A Young Heart for Serving

Martin Luther wrote that the true vocation of the Christian is to honor God through service to the neighbor. This St. Paul high-schooler is getting the idea.

Like Our Most Special Neighbor

“We treat everyone like our neighbor, like our most special neighbor,” says RN Sherri Beyer. Her vocation treating people with cancer keeps her poised between grief and hope — and grateful for God’s grace.

Children are Born Persons

From the smallest Head Start child to the proud gowned graduate, kids are Bill Osborne’s passion.

'We Left Them Shining with Hope'

Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, two friends encountered a region devastated by hurricane and poverty. They’re not afraid to step out and serve… “Even at our age.”

The Impact on Other Lives

“A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives.” — Jackie Robinson, Jim’s first sports hero

Witnessing faith and resilience

“If I had to pick two words to describe the people of Argentina, it would be faith and resilience,” says seminarian Josh Ebener. “The faith of the people here is powerful, constantly acknowledging God’s presence and giving God thanks.”

From Argentina: Our 'pan de cada dia'

Amidst the uncertainty of where the next meal is coming from and the frailness of malnourished bodies, they can eat food. Church is both spiritually and literally the pan de cada dia (daily bread).

Alert for What God Will Do Next

Enter John the Baptist with travel directions for an Advent perspective: “Change your life,” he shouts. “Make the road smooth and straight! Make a clean sweep of your lives.”

Jane's Top Ten List for Single Parenting

Jane’s ten commonsense goals for single parenting resonate with humor, pathos, and hard-fought wisdom.

What Signal?

“I see myself as the church — cultivating and nourishing body, mind, and spirit — so that I can give to others,” says Jim.

Heart and Treasure

“I just know in my heart that things will work, because of the strength of people pulling together,” says Georgeann.

First Things First

“Mom would cash the check on Friday,” recalls Eric Engstrom of his mother Velma. “The first thing, she’d put money for the church in an envelope, and then she’d put the envelope in the cabinet.”

Love carries Kari into the new sanctuary

“I am going to walk into the new church with the help of God,” Kari thought. And she did!

Voice from Tanzania: Water Stories

Grace flows in water stories from Tanzania: “Free drinks at the Byerlys’!”

Voice from Tanzania

“I freely gave her what God had first given me without reservation. No act of kindness is too small when done with love.”

Everyday Grace in Manhattan

A 25-year-old student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Paul Bailie grew up at St. Paul in Davenport. Paul is serving his internship year at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan, New York.

Hospitality in Big Bear Slippers

In his big bear slippers, Steve Hart practices the art of hospitality.

From Haiti to Bettendorf

A young Haitian woman learns English fluency and friendship with a Bettendorf family.

Putting Sparkle in Dental Care

Her daily work puts her up-close-and-personal with hundreds of bicuspids and incisors — and people to care about.

Hand in Hand with New Friends

Mabel’s easy smile and impish wit surface easily in the presence of this new friend. “I love hearing Mabel’s stories,” says Sharon.

Habari! Hello!

It was Bariki Charles, a five-year-old in green blazer and pants, standing in the arid landscape of Tanzania.

Small Beautiful Things

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies,” wrote Mother Teresa. At 94, Helen Reins delights in small beautiful things.

Living in the Mystery

In a 15-hour car ride from Iowa to Mississippi, a handful of St. Paul people experienced the mystery of God.

In the Gulf Coast

Sharon learned: “Seventeen months after the worst natural disaster to hit this nation, people emerged with their faith not only intact, but stronger…”

Only Connect!

A teacher of literature, a parent of three, a lover of questions, a disciple of connections, Katie Hanson turns to an English novelist for her mantra on learning. “Only connect!”