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Last Friday more than 500 people from throughout the Quad Cities gathered in Bettendorf around tables set with delicious meals and vases of sunflowers. But it wasn’t the food or the decorations that brought us there. The elected officials and police…
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I led a class on religious pluralism last Sunday in our congregation. In the days that followed, several people came up to ask, “What did you mean when you said, ‘God is not a Christian?’” Here is a more thoughtful reply than I may have provided thos…
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183 pillowcases. That comes out to 366 different brightly colored patterns and solids, sewed together by two sisters who started last spring on a quest to offer a piece of comfort to the kids and families at Madison Elementary School. It all started…
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St. Paul women founded two nonprofits this year, focused on girls and women. Lead(H)er matches young professional women with mentors in the community. The Legacy Project QC pairs girls who have lost their moms with women who experienced the same. Mel…
Second Saturday Men – a monthly time for men to connect, study, and serve – will hold a fall gathering on Saturday, Oct. 8, 9-10:30 a.m., at St. Paul. Come and hear a message from Pastor Peter Marty, enjoy light refreshments, and learn about opportun…
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Sometimes on Sunday mornings I take notes on my bulletin. I try to be subtle, but inevitably it is visible. Occasionally people ask what I’m writing. The answer is always some form of to-do list; a to-do list of people to call or visit. Sometimes it…
On the five Sundays in October, St. Paul will examine the Islamic faith in a series that will be held in the Chapel, 10:45-11:30 a.m., beginning Oct. 2. The series will feature Saad Baig, imam of the Islamic Center of the Quad Cities; Ryan Bailey, di…
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Years ago, when Roger Hains was in the Air Force, he attended a small church with a Bible study led by the wife of the church’s pastor. She asked if he would like to lead the study…and he decided to say yes. That first yes was the starting point of…
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It’s confirmation season at St. Paul! The confirmation ministry of any church has several goals, but put most simply, we want to these kids to know that they are loved, so they can love God and love their neighbors as part of the community of faith….
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Seven pairs of shoes sat just inside the front door of Noela Zamukunda’s new home. She and her six children, ages 2-16, had just completed a journey of 8,000 miles – from Kyaka, Uganda, to Rock Island, Illinois. It was 9:30 p.m. A few important piece…
The annual Southeastern Iowa Synod Fall Theological Conference will be held September 18-20 at St. Paul. The theme will be “Drawn to the Light of God: What we can Learn about Discipleship, Leadership and Witness from the Gospel of John.” Approximatel…
Faith stories, the culmination of the confirmation experience, are a 2-3 minute presentation. During this time, teenagers will speak about how they see God at work in the world and in their individual lives. Faith stories will be shared during the Su…