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On Monday evening, I found myself stuck on I-90 in downtown Chicago. I had been visiting friends at my former university and, much to my chagrin, hadn’t paid attention to the time well enough to avoid the inevitable rush hour traffic. If you’ve never…
Autumn is the season when every St. Paul member is asked to make a financial commitment for the life and work of St. Paul in the coming year. The vitality of the church depends on the involvement and generous giving of every household. The pledges of…
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This weekend, our family went to see a local production by some amazingly talented youth and kids of the musical Matilda. The musical, based on the Roald Dahl book, tells the story of a girl who stands up to a bully schoolmistress, Mrs. Trunchbull. M…
Volunteers celebrate and lift up fair trade vendors in the Book Corner. Out of the Blue granola is tasty, natural, and handmade but it’s the women who bake this granola who are truly exceptional. Mixed into every bag, beyond dark chocolate and honey,…
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Here comes the rain, doo-doo-doo-doo! Ok, it doesn’t quite have the ring of the Beatles song, “Here Comes the Sun!” And sure, sunny days allow for playful outdoor activities without the mess of wet clothes and shoes. Yet, this morning, when I opened…
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Patty Herzberg is just the person you want in a leadership position during a time of change. Her highly organized but compassionate spirit makes Patty an effective leader as she helps to guide the transition to a new senior pastor in 2024, offering s…
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I’m always learning something new, but this week I learned something big. At least it seems big to me. The human eyeball, especially in children (though also in the rest of us), can get physically reshaped by excessive screen time. That screen time w…
St. Paul member Ann Quist looks back at past St. Paul directories, while looking forward to the upcoming online version, which launches late October. In a drawer in Ann Quist’s family room sit 10 books documenting the passage of time at St. Paul. Spa…
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Nearly every year since I’ve been on staff at St. Paul, the annual Golden Agers event, a worship celebration for members of the congregation 75 years and older, has seen rain clouds. This year, the rain held off until nearly every guest had left. But…
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On my shelf I have a fascinating book with the title, Descriptionary. I’ve come to appreciate it more and more as I’ve grown older, since it’s designed to help people find things for which they can’t quite come up with the word. If I can’t rem…
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I walked into a boutique store the other day – the kind that sells things I’m pretty sure I don’t need, but that make for pleasant gifts. Fancily wrapped soaps. Scented candles. Dried flower arrangements. You know the kind of place. Men don’t hang ou…
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Each time I drive home from church, my path takes me past Brady Street Stadium. Nearly every day, there’s one school practicing and another playing a game. On evenings when I get home late, I’m treated to the Friday night lights as everyone enjoys th…