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Art by Sheila Mesick, given to raise money for clean water in Tanzania. One task I remember my grandmother attending to each morning was lifting up the window shades. The sunshi…
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This fall marked the passing of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings. Rep. Cummings was born a poor black son of sharecroppers in 1951, who went on to become an attorney and politician. Starting at age 11, he dedicated himself to desegregation and civil rights….
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As a young boy, I dreaded going to bed. My imagination ran wild as I laid in bed conjuring up when and how the monster under my bed or in the closet would strike next. The darkness paralyzed me with fear. By morning, with the sun’s magnificent streng…
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A conversation with a Jewish scholar of early Christianity, entitled “You help me to know me – An interfaith insight,” will be Monday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., at St. Paul. The presentation is free and open to the public. Marcie Lenk trained at both Yeshiva…
“Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” Genesis 1:20-23 Margaret and I enjoy the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. Bird watching is one of the ways for us to experience nature and the b…
A documentary about the systemic causes of homelessness in America will be shown at St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m., in the Chapel. Released earlier this year, The Invisible Class explores what it means to be homeless in America, challenging…
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For quite a while, Trampus Budde thought the progressively increasing fatigue he felt was just the result of aging, or maybe being a bit out of shape. He figured he could just push through. By December 2017, he would arrive home from his job as princ…
This weekend, a bell will toll. The names of beloved from St. Paul who died this past year will be read out loud at worship. Candles will be lit. We will remember, with deep gratitude, these precious lives: Parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, f…
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Take a peek into the kindergarten Sunday school room at St. Paul, and you’ll likely see a kid named Leo Voyna. He’s a super-smart, super-funny kid who happens to use a tablet to verbally communicate (quite clearly, we might add). He is on the autism…
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The day after a young woman named Emerson Hughes was diagnosed with leukemia, my son, Nick Hartje, called from the hospital. It was clear Emerson, his girlfriend, wouldn’t be able to go to their homecoming at Davenport Central this year. Her doctors…
Each fall, the St. Paul congregation hosts the community-wide Guest Speaker Series. The church brings persons of national stature to the Quad Cities – sparking new ideas about what it means to live faithfully. This event reflects St. Paul’s mission t…
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The vivid colors and textures in the photographs of flowers from Erin Platt’s surroundings showcase the joy of creation. Erin, a St. Paul member, recently shared some words about her visual depictions of nature’s beauty. How did you start taking phot…