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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…
Trying new things and ‘putting yourself out there’ is difficult. It requires taking risks, but those risks can pay off. Learning new skills, especially at an older age, helps people live longer and produces a sense of accomplishment. These St. Paul p…
When Larry’s wife Teresa was hired as the St. Paul visitation chaplain in March of 2022, he started volunteering for projects throughout the building. In fact, it was his craftsmanship that made last summer’s I-Spy boxes possible, and the grandfather…
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A few weeks ago, I was moving around the kitchen getting a few things ready for dinner, when our 3-year-old, Micah, climbed up on his stool that enables him to reach the kitchen counter. As he stepped up, he noticed a bag of Doritos sitting open on t…
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The fruits of our labor tend to flourish in the summertime. Students who have dedicated themselves to hours of study finally graduate to the next grade level or receive their diplomas. Teachers bid farewell to the students they’ve impacted and helped…
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As Peter and Susan’s time at St. Paul comes to a close this month, they sat down to reflect on their past 28 years and look forward to what’s penciled into the next chapter of their lives. The phone rang a little after 2 p.m. on a January Sunday afte…
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Recently, I’ve been catching up on a 2023 Netflix miniseries called, “Bodies.” I’m only halfway through it, so I don’t risk tipping any spoilers (and I’ll appreciate it if no one sends any my way). What makes it fascinating to me is the central role…
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One of the privileges of ministry is experiencing death on a regular basis. Yes, privilege. I’m talking about being actually present for other people’s deaths; though I also could imply death to a variety of myths about immortality, immunity, invinci…