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For those who know little about snowboarding, the jargon of Winter Olympic commentators must really baffle. Terms and phrases sprinkled through the broadcasts from Beijing can sound like a foreign language. You may think chatter is talk, but in the…
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As we bid Todd a fond farewell, we also say hello to his successor, Miles Thompson. Miles has been a friendly face around St. Paul for many years, joining the church after his marriage to lifelong member, Margaret (Vogel). Since then he has regularly…
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Once a month or so, I get the joy of helping with our preschool chapel time. Our littlest ones walk into the St. Paul chapel with their class, climb into a seat, and settle in. We sing a couple of songs, share a brief message, and give high fives as…
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Out of the 52 weekends in a year, there are very few where Todd Byerly is not found at the back of the Sanctuary and behind the technical booth, making sure everything runs smoothly. For nearly eight years, Todd has served as the Operations Director…
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Are any of you familiar with the children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? The story goes that young Alexander, from the moment his feet hit the floor in the morning, has a string of bad luck: he ge…
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I notice dates. I am fascinated that Bettendorf will have a citywide “Zip Code Party” on 5-27-22, the date in this century that numerically reproduces its zip code. Will we even be using zip codes in another 100 years?! “Moon Day” – July 20; JFK’s as…
New Year’s resolutions seem to be a thing of the past, instead being swapped for more contemplative and long-lasting traditions and expressions of gratitude, exploration, and deeper human connection, especially following a few challenging years for m…
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A few weeks ago, we had our small Steinway upright piano tuned. It currently sits in our living room and has recently gained the fascination of our 9-month-old. Sometimes one of us will sit and play chords or simple songs while Micah listens contente…
Since 2007, St. Paul people haven’t needed to keep their heads down and eyes in the red hymnals. Instead, eyes were up and engaged, with the needed words illuminated on the sanctuary screens. And beginning in mid-December, those screens were lit up e…
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It’s January 6th, the festival of Epiphany. Around the world, Christians remember the day the wise men were led by a star to find Jesus. For many, this is the day when gifts are exchanged and big family gatherings happen. It’s a kind of capstone of t…
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We have an old tall case clock in our living room. It’s really old, as in two centuries old, and it’s really tall, as in eight feet tall. This weight-driven pendulum clock has two outstanding characteristics. First, its loud chime. Actually, chime i…
It has been such a delight and honor to read about the various ways members of this congregation have experienced joy, and I do mean various! From kids to cars, opportunities to communities, pets to places – even from smiles to tears – joy is everywh…