“When we were working (Ellen as a recruiter for Genesis Health System and Charlie as an educator, coach, principal, and then superintendent of Wheatland Community School District), our professions kept us busy. Now, being retired since 2011, we get t…
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It’s Advent, the time of waiting and preparing for Christmas, for Christ’s birth. Traditionally, each week of Advent carries a particular perspective, leaning into one characteristic of faith which is essential to the Christian life. This first week…
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A few weeks ago, I was driving home when I noticed something somewhat unique: a man riding a unicycle down the sidewalk. I have no idea where he was going or how far he planned to travel. As I sat at a red light, I marveled a bit at how he was able t…
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St. Paul’s new Resident Pastor begins her 18-month residency in January. The background basics. I was born and raised in Chicago. I’ve always been a city person. In the family home, it was my mom and dad, my younger sibling, Charlie, and two cats. I…
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Some days I feel like I have officially gotten old. I mean, 41 is not old by many standards, but some days I feel it. Luckily, not in my physical self as I am fortunate to be in good health, and putting my feet on the ground every morning is neither…
Finding peace “I love the idea that joy can be found in simple moments. Joy is ever-present. Joy is connection. I feel it when my kids look at the sky and question why the moon looks broken. It’s in the classroom when students sing “I am Yoga” in uni…
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I knew a pastor who had a small, framed painting of a mail carrier on her office wall. It wasn’t a particularly unique piece of art, it looked like a postcard set into a frame. It clearly meant something to her, so I asked her about it. In res…
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Near the end of October, St. Paul member Pam Garrett assumed the role of the Pastoral Residency Program Administrator. This role oversees all administrative aspects of the pastoral residency program at St. Paul, fosters a rich learning experience for…
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Never did I imagine that putting siding on a house would count toward the ‘other duties as assigned’ portion of my job description. This past week, on the annual mission trip with the Appalachian Service Project, I discovered myself doing exactly tha…
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I adore my children. They are quite capable of doing many things, but keeping their rooms clean is not among their talents. I think it’s due to their creativity and full lives, but when the time comes to clean, they become easily overwhelmed. They ju…
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In August, Ellie began her journey as the director of youth ministries. A lifelong St. Paul member, Ellie brings with her a wealth of knowledge about St. Paul and a bundle of new ideas to help youth grow in their faith and confidence. Tell us about y…
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I hit every single red light that evening. All of them. Between my home and church, heading south on Welcome Way, rather than the typical Jersey Ridge route, there are seven traffic lights. Some of them change frequently, some don’t. My kids and I hi…