Jim Blaha is a funny guy. In middle school, he ran for student council. His campaign slogan was Vote for James Blaha – He’s No Joke. Get it? Blaha, kind of like haha. He won the election, he says with a big wide smile. Jim absolutely loves music, car…
There are countless reasons given for justifying anti-Semitism around the world. I don’t like any of them. Why this minority population deserves to be consistently demonized defies all reason. There isn’t a century in the last 2000 years where people…
On this coming Palm Sunday, St. Paul people will wave palms in the air to mark the beginning of the eight days that tell the events of our salvation, to commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It’s a beautiful tradition, deep in symbolism. The wavin…
Marla Brundies first became interested in helping those who struggle with mental health, addictions, and intellectual disabilities as a teenager, when she babysat a child with a disability. Marla, 60, spent the first part of her adult life working fo…
In the warmth of the Dominican sun, Brad Holehan leads a class room of future leaders. These students are tops in their class. In a country wracked by poverty, at least half come from families who live with very low incomes. Brad is a graduate of Aug…
I am trying to fathom the experience of a 32-year-old black man highlighted in the Justice Department’s scathing report on Ferguson, Missouri’s corrupt police department. Our 32-year-old friend is cooling off in his car after a basketball game in a F…
In the warmth of the Dominican sun, Brad Holehan leads a class room of future leaders. These students are tops in their class. In a country wracked by poverty, at least half come from families who live with very low incomes. Brad is a graduate of Aug…
St. Paul members will consider calling two new resident pastors at a congregational meeting on Sunday, March 22, 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The candidates, who would come to serve St. Paul from August 2015-July 2017, are Amy Diller (right) and Lies…
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Ann Hochhausen deployed with the 28th Combat Support Hospital to Iraq. Her lived experiences as an OB-GYN nurse, called upon in war to be the chief nurse of a Combat Support Hospital. She will present Sunday during the learning hour, 10:45-11:30 a.m….
On Lenten Wednesday evenings, downstairs in Fellowship Hall, a crew of a half-dozen or so people scrape and wash plates during the congregational meal. On a few Saturday mornings each year, a crew combs the St. Paul neighborhood, picking up garbage,…
The sun shines through the brightly colored stained glass windows in the chapel at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque. A pipe organ rises to the ceiling, and rich brown brick creates a warm space. Every weekday at 9:30 a.m., the students, facul…
Pastor Chad McKenna asked the crowd gathered in Fellowship Hall this question: How many of you would say your lives are busy? By a show of hands, it was a room full of people who have their hands full with life – many with just one or two nights a we…