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I love surprising people. And I love it when people don’t realize I’m the one responsible for the surprise. I celebrate the time I have left acting as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the tooth fairy. I admit, there may not be many more years of tha…
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It is a delight to be delighted. When I lace up my shoes and head out of the house for a long walk, I always tune into one of a couple of podcasts. One day earlier this summer I went out for a walk and played the latest podcast episode focused on ha…
Olympic season once again draws us in to the heart-pounding drama of elite athletes competing for victory in events that are decided by millimeters and hundredths of a second. A thirty-year-old swimmer, seven years removed from setting the world reco…
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I’ve never been a big fan of running. Toss in a basketball or a tennis racquet or a good game of elbow tag, and I’m much more interested. But lacing up shoes and setting out to run a set number of miles isn’t particularly appealing to me. To be fair,…
Nearly 50 years ago, the St. Paul Outdoor Ministry Center opened in Maquoketa, Iowa. The space quickly turned from farmland into a working campsite. Cabins sprouted up, trails emerged, and a summer program was created. In 1982, St. Paul raised money…
If you haven’t seen “Inside Out” or “Inside Out 2,” I would highly recommend it. I recently asked my mom to go see the second one with me in theaters and it had quite a powerful take on anxiety and how our emotions work in our minds and bodies. Ril…
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Max and Liz Franks adopted their first dog, Charlie, when they arrived in the Quad Cities two years ago. At that time, Charlie was so small he couldn’t even jump over the makeshift puppy fence in the Franks’ backyard. But a lot can change in two year…
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Dear Beloved Community of St. Paul Lutheran Church, As I sit down to write this message, my heart is filled with a mixture of gratitude, nostalgia, and anticipation. It’s hard to believe that my time as your resident pastor is coming to an end. This…
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This month, Pastor Mark Niethammer will begin his time at St. Paul as the 9th senior pastor in St. Paul’s 142-year history. Get to know a little about Mark and his family before his arrival later this month. Tell us about your family/where you grew u…
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Last Saturday, we went to our local farmer’s markets. My son’s primary goal is to watch dogs. My daughter is always on the lookout for some unique thing to decorate her room. In addition to the veggies I knew I’d find this time of year – I hoped for…
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“I wait for you, O Lord; my soul waits; in your word is my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning.” I envy monks and nuns for what seems like their mastery of prayer. I’ve been to a few monasteries for retreat…
People deserve second chances, but for those who have been incarcerated or have a criminal record, getting those second chances can be difficult. St. Paul provides mission support to Safer Foundation, whose mission is to help justice-involved persons…