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My father, Terry, was a true outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, work outdoors, and particularly to be on his cattle ranch in southern Missouri. It was obvious to all who knew him that he had faith in God. He was community-minded and always willing…
Hearing an unexpected voice can evoke a range of emotions – from extreme fright to joyous comfort. I have lived in the rural countryside for 47 years on a small family farm. We are the third generation on the 200 acres that have been lovingly cultiva…
Southern Utah, Death Valley, the Badlands and, closer to home, Wildcat Den, come to mind when I think of wilderness. For many, the term “wilderness” conjures up images of desolation and isolation. Because of their isolation, they also sometimes have…
Thirty years ago, our family went through a very tough few months. It began when Art’s dad was killed in a crash. Then, our Tupperware franchise was closed by the home office without warning. Art and I had no job or income. Art went into a deep depre…
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Early Tuesday morning, just as the chilly day began, several teenagers pulled into the parking lot at St. Paul. They were there to see a project they worked on do its job. At the request of Matt Spencer, building manager, this welding class from Dave…
The Boys in the Bunkhouse: Servitude and Salvation in the Heartland is the 2019 All St. Paul Reads book. All St. Paul Reads is encouragement for all to read and talk about a single book title in the same year. In 2019, this dinner and discussion even…
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Editor’s note: Martha Barnds created a stippling of the north side of St. Paul. A notecard-sized reproduction is available at the Info Center through December. St. Paul has been my church home since we moved here from Pennsylvania. As a child, I spen…
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Advent is my favorite liturgical season, not as an expansion of Christmas, but as a time during which the church honors those seasons of our lives when God seems far off and silent, and gives a symbol to our longing for a communion that is yet unreal…
Growing up on a farm in the country brought a variety of beauty into my life. In the winter months, the beauty changed when it was snow covered. When I went outside to do the horses on winter nights, I would sometimes have to search for them in the f…
One recent fall afternoon, I spent time at Madison Market, the food pantry St. Paul leads at the J.B. Young Opportunity Center. I answered questions, assisted with shopping decisions when needed, bagged groceries, and helped keep the flow going. The…
This fall, I began teaching a course called “Lives that Matter” at the East Moline Correctional Center. The course is part of a “Graduated Release Initiative” that offers incarcerated individuals support before and after their release from prison to…
Asa, right, with his brother, Gabe. I remember the first time I felt completely alone. I was about six years old, and had been on a bike ride with my family, which consists of…