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I know many people who take comfort in a just world. “People get what they deserve,” these ones say. Most of us develop and refine our ethic of fairness as children. It’s in childhood that we experience that vicious argument in the back seat of the f…
KATIE CASEY, Jubilate children’s choir director, is the music teacher at Pleasant Valley’s Hopewell Elementary School in Bettendorf. She has a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in special educa…
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The news this week has been dominated by images of individuals and families who, in the most literal way we can imagine, can’t survive on their own. The photographs and videos coming to us from southeast Texas are heartbreaking: nursing home resident…
One day, Christine Vincent was walking on campus at Augustana College. She is a religion major, and hopes to work in Lutheran youth ministry in the coming years. In the college’s coffee shop, staff from Sky Ranch were there, talking with students abo…
Muriel Johannessen’s portrayal of Katharina von Bora Luther began a few years back, when she was serving a Lutheran church in North Carolina as a deacon. “We started talking about the fact we hear a lot about Martin Luther, but we don’t hear much abo…
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He remembers almost everything about the crash. On May 15, Peter Baril and a friend headed south on Harrison Street in Davenport on his motorcycle. Just a few blocks north of church, a car pulled out in front of them. “I remember making choices on wh…
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It’s been the topic of conversation for weeks now. People planned parties or traveled hours to find themselves in just the right spot. Specially designed sunglasses were sold out everywhere. The total solar eclipse that took place on Monday afternoon…
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Like many parents, I’m selective about the images my children see. They’re little enough that in their limited screen time, the things they watch or see comes filtered through us. But this weekend, our five-year-old daughter overheard us talking abou…
Back-to-school blessing The anticipation of a new school year is in the air: school supplies, back packs, and the eagerness of learning new things. On Sunday, Aug. 20, St. Paul will hold its annual back-to-school blessing. Students of all ages can br…
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The very first time Ethan Bettis walked into St. Paul Lutheran Church, it was for worship on a Sunday morning one year ago. The 17-year-old was there with Cheyenne Griswold, who encouraged him to come with her. Ethan, who is gay, was hesitant – he ha…
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Some of the most beautiful transactions in the world occur without money ever changing hands. We all know this since we’re regular participants in such transactions. I find it inspiring to remember the particulars of different encounters, if for no o…
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Ronda Meier was one of four St. Paul women who traveled to the Twin Cities for the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering. Here are a few of her thoughts from the experience. I was so honored to be one of the women who got to go to the Women of the EL…