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This time of year, I find something special hitting bookshelves across town – holiday-themed children’s books. Filled with re-imagined familiar stories and bright illustrations, the time between Halloween and Christmas is a book-lover’s dream. Stacks…
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By Kristin Burns Growing up on a farm in Northwest Illinois, I always found myself embracing the simplistic beauty and abundance around me. Every season on the farm was beautiful in its own special way – the rolling fields of green in the summer to t…
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By Jennifer Bailey We learn, when we are small, that other people at the holiday table don’t see what we do. We learn that a flower bouquet blocks Auntie from seeing the salt. At some point we realize that our brain takes signals and renders what it…
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By Christine Lassers I am a proud mother of three wonderful children who at this time have a long list of things they want for Christmas. Our tree was up weeks before Thanksgiving – partly to give our youngest son, Teddy, a chance to “warm up” to it …
By Lee Marbach Life is fast and has the tendency to accelerate as we move through the years. Endless task lists, responsibilities and connections to maintain. Reflection is something that we struggle making time for, so I challenge you today to look…
By Scott Teasdale Walking. I see so many walking to get somewhere else. It is not for the journey, the faces are many yet indistinguishable, it is rather an act of moving to a place somewhere else. If all walking were, in fact, talking of Michelangel…
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By Kerri Rehn On a sunny day in June when I was 17 years old, I was home alone, singing and playing the piano (very loudly, no doubt). I had mastered several of the songs in my Disney songbook, and that day’s mission was to conquer Someone’s Waiting…
Seven years ago, when the Stewarts first moved to the Quad Cities, they sat down together as a family of four for Thanksgiving. It was a nice holiday. But Eric, Rikka, Aron, and Jordan decided they wouldn’t do that again. Every year that they don’t t…
Table Graces and Meals for Moms are creating community and well-wishes by taking meals to St. Paul members who are facing a variety of circumstances that warrant care and compassion. Food is nourishment for the body and soul, organizers of both effor…
Editors note: This stewardship season, we’re sharing the thoughts of St. Paul members and how this community of faith shapes their lives. Meet Stephen and Kelly Hamborg, and their kids, Abby and Maddie. We recently joined St. Paul after moving to the…
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Last night, St. Paul middle schoolers observed the season of Advent. All of it. In less than two hours. But, please, don’t try this at home. 678 is a gathering of – you guessed it – sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students that happens on the fourth…
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By Dylan Engelbrecht It is September 22. My birthday was yesterday and it was a great day. Today I will work on my Christmas list. I must get it sorted and prioritized based on what I received yesterday. I will then distribute it soon to the many fam…