In 2023, the St. Paul quilting ministry lovingly completed 89 full-sized quilts, 22 tweeners (or in-between sizes), and 69 baby quilts to be shared with those in need. These handcrafted creations were donated to Christian Family Care Center in Moline…
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If I were to rank my weekly chores in the order of how much joy it brings, grocery shopping would generally be near the bottom. But this has changed since I started going to the Aldi store a few blocks from church. I like the fact that they have good…
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When the prophet Jeremiah tried to get the people of Israel to reckon with their shallowness, they refused. When he told them of their arrogance, they put cotton in their ears. When he warned them of a terrible fate from an invading nation if they di…
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Lifelong member Sarah Lammers credits the St. Paul youth program for many positives in her life – a close mentor, deep friendships, a sense of independence, a broadened worldview, among others. And it’s just those kinds of things that Sarah wants to…
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In early November of last year, there was a major rescue operation underway in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands. No, there were no people in grave danger. But there was a sheep. All by herself. Stranded along a shoreline with no way out. As…
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Holidays are rarely just about a day. They’re not even really about a season. Holidays are about who we are and what we value. They bring those things into focus for a time so that we get our bearings again for all times. We know this about Christma…
St. Paul people connect and find deep friendships and shared experiences in smaller group setting. Faith, Health, and Wholeness Coffee Chats (formerly Coffee Chats) started in 2020 during the pandemic to foster community and emotional and spiritual h…
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What is the point of having a weather app on my phone? I asked myself this last week as I watched round, wet snowflakes come tumbling down at an angle from my office window. No one had warned me snow was coming. Least of all my weather app. I might a…
After each one of my five children was born, I prayed that God would at least let me live until they were adults. I’m 88 years old, my oldest child is retired, and I’m blessed to have great-grandchildren. Did God answer that prayer or what?! We’re gr…
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Nearly 20 years ago, my dad’s older brother, my Uncle Dillon, told me a story when we were together for Christmas that’s never left my mind. It was the 1960s and Uncle Dillon, a Catholic, had just started seeing a Lutheran girl from school. They eac…
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I know I’m not alone in saying this: It can be really difficult to choose a Christmas present for someone else, unless that person is a child, of course, in which case anything spelled T-O-Y has pretty good odds of being perfect. Some of us lose slee…
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St. Paul member, Deb James, reflects on her career as a mental health counselor and how she uses the gifts God gave her to help others. A theme that runs through Deb James’ life is stepping in to fill a need. Deb and her husband Joe, both retired men…