Psst. Can I share something in confidence with you? Off the record? Just between you and me… Privately… Not for publication? All right, here it is. I think confidentiality is overrated. Sometimes dangerous even. Have you ever wondered why we are…
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In January of 1975, the brilliant jazz pianist Keith Jarrett sold out a show at the Koln Opera House in Cologne, Germany. Over 1,400 people had bought tickets to the first ever jazz concert in this stunning venue. Before he showed up, Jarrett had req…
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As part of Confirmation at St. Paul, ninth-graders are invited to reflect on their faith and share where they see God at work in their lives and in the world. During three Sundays in the fall, they share these reflections with the congregation as par…
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Rain, Rain, Rain… it feels like it has been falling constantly. Everything is damp, the grass seems to grow an inch a day, and there are worms everywhere. As rain permeates the ground, soaks the pavement, replenishes the air’s humidity, and turns eve…
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Evenings in my house are routine and, at the same time, anything but routine. Each evening, Malie and I connect to do our “calendaring.” We pull up tomorrow’s agenda to ensure we know who needs to be where and when, who is taking whom to what, and w…
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Much like many of you, my Apple playlist hasn’t moved too far away from playing Dolly Parton songs since her death a few weeks ago. Dolly was an entertainer rooted in faith, humility, and unbounded grace. She walked through the world with a ‘God-cent…
Fall Start-up means we return to the fullness of our Sunday morning learning for all ages and worship life. Learning takes place from 10:15-11 a.m. KIDS The classroom journey begins at age 3. Weekly check-in will take place in Lower Commons for ages…
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I can still picture standing at the front of the class, taking a deep breath, and slightly mumbling these words: “Four score and seven years ago…” Each week, with the arrival of a new history theme or English topic, my fifth-grade teacher required…
Confirmation gets underway for St. Paul youth, with Wednesday gatherings beginning Sept. 9. The journey includes fall retreats and culminates in ninth-graders sharing their Faith Stories with the congregation on three upcoming Sundays. Confirmation F…
This has to be one of my favorite seasons of the year. And no, I’m not talking about the slightly cooler temperatures, nor am I referring to the arrival of college football season. I’m talking about back-to-school time. It’s this time of the year tha…
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Justin Marquis (pronounced “marquee”) joined the staff in August, bringing a philosophy professor’s curiosity, a semi-cross-country bike tour’s worth of patience, and a conviction that church can hold both its history and its future at once. Justin s…
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When my daughter started preschool, she had the most enormous backpack. Not only was she a tiny two-year-old, but I bought her the most oversized bag. I read that she needed a “full-sized” backpack, so her art wouldn’t get squished. Not wanting to ge…