Sunday, December 25, 2011

"Unpack Christmas" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, December 25, 2011




Anton Raphael Anton Mengs, 1770
For me, tinsel is the most important Christmas decoration, but my dad and I disagree about the best variety. My kind of tinsel is connected to a garland that encircles the tree (like a halo) or dangles with measured sash along the fireplace mantel (giving the room a clean, bright and festive look).

My dad, on the other hand, likes the loose kind of tinsel (the kind that no matter how carefully distributed hangs at different lengths like little poofs at the end of every branch), gets carried around the house by foot, and is often statically connected to clothing and pets. I guess someone could say that both kinds of tinsel are good although it is obvious which is better.


When we decorated our house every year (when I was growing up), my dad and I would have a discussion (a debate) about which kind of tinsel was the best and should be part of our tradition. It seemed, to me, that my dad was coming to realize the merits of the best kind of tinsel (in other words “realizing the truth”), but then when we decorated, he would hang the icicle variety. This pattern was repeated year after year. This is how I discovered how a representative monarchy works.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's December 21, 2011

We are well on our way to celebrating Christmas here at St. Patrick's! Click here to read about our Christmas services at 4:45pm (Pageant) and 9:30pm (Candlelight) on Christmas Eve, and then at 8am and 10am on Christmas Day.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

"Rejoice in Change" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, December 18, 2011

Listen to the Audio File


My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Amen

Shrine of the Annunciation - Nazareth
Every year during this season of Advent, we hear about slowing down and preparing the way for the Lord. The biblical passages assigned for this season focus on patience, hope, and love. These three are the most admirable traits, but the ones that are also the hardest to hang on to. You see, we are challenged to live into them because we are tricked by society into thinking that we should have other goals in front of us.

Goals like busy, successful, prosperous, and independent (and by independent I mean self-sufficient). It’s all the things that Dickens convinces us to hate in the character Scrooge, but that we overlook when we see the same things in the mirror or in our mentor, the one we hope to become.

There are many challenges to our faith in modern life. When we feel independent, we are deluded into believing that we can do it alone. There are many who say that we don’t need our neighbors and we certainly don’t need God. We are too busy to take time away to worship or to pray or even to find solitude. With success, we expect to be able to buy goodness in a box. Many are convinced that faith is inconvenient. And it is. I mean faith actually expects us to continue to seek and make transitions and of course transition means change. Good faith development forces us to get out of the comfort zone to find a place where something deeper might take root.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

This Week At St. Patrick's December 15, 2011

Click here to read this week's email about all the Advent happenings here at St. Patrick's. We will pack up the Christmas Dinners in a Bag for St. Philip's, Anacostia and deliver them after church this Sunday.

Don't forget the annual Outreach Bake Sale is also this Sunday--bring your goodies, and then be sure to shop for fabulous baked goods in the Great Hall after the service.


Thursday, December 8, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's December 7, 2011

Advent is in full swing here at St. Patrick's, and we look forward to the upcoming Christmas season! Find out more by clicking on our weekly email.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

"Beware, Keep Alert" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, November 27, 2010

Link to the Audio File 


“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” Amen.

The Prophet Isaiah by Tiepolo, 1729
Today, we begin the season of Advent, the first season of the Church year. The Church marks the seasons in a way that helps us reflect on God’s involvement in our lives. This first season is an odd time:

1. It is a season of preparation for the birth of Christ. You can say that takes lots of time because we dig deep into storage to find the right decorations for the home. There is a certain type of music and lots of shopping. Advent is one of the top economic seasons of the year. I missed the opportunity to shop on Black Friday, but I bet some of you were there. Hopefully, you didn’t bring your pepper spray.

We wear certain things during the season in preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Some wear certain shades of green and red, possibly with a snowflake or two. There are even special hats that a few especially spirited people wear. There is also food and drink that represent the season: cookies in the shape of Rudolph and covered with sprinkles and creamy eggnog with a shot or two of liquor.  With all of these outward trappings, it would seem that the Advent season is a time to warm our hearts with joy and love and, of course, gifts.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

"Be all that God created you to be." - Henry McQueen, November 13, 2011


Matt 25:14-30
I love the words of todayʼs collect, and they bear repeating: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.... And for me, it was rewriting the Gospel lesson in my own words in a Midrash that allowed that prayer to be fulfilled. So let us all hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them as I share with you todayʼs Gospel story in my own words.
There was a land owner with three laborers. Not accustomed to explaining himself he was ready to leave town for parts unknown and return as he chose. Prior to leaving he entrusted his land to his laborers and gave each of the three a small packet of seeds.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Irv Lindenblad, 1929-2011


Irv Lindenblad and Jo Waters in 2010
The Rev. Irv Lindenblad, parishioner at St. Patrick's and Palisades Community Church, died at Sibley Hospital on the evening of November 11, 2011. Irv was a regular at the 10am service until just a few weeks ago. He was a career scientist at the Naval Observatory and a long-time pastor at the Palisades Community Church, where he was named Pastor Emeritus in February of 2011. He began a relationship with St. Patrick's when he married long-time parishioner Jo Waters after his first wife died. Jo died in 2010. Please keep the Lindenblad and Waters family in your prayers especially Irv's sons Irv, Jr. and Nils and close friend Sheryl Niernberger.

A memorial service for Irv will be held at Palisades Community Church (5200 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016) on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 11:00am. A viewing will precede the service at 10:30.  

"May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, rest in Peace."
Irv Lindenblad and Kurt Gerhard 2010

This Week at St. Patrick's, November 9, 2011

Click here to read this week's newsletter

Sunday, October 23, 2011

"Forward from Nebo" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, October 23, 2011




The story of Moses began when he was put in a basket on the River Nile. He was picked up by the Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in her house. As an adult, Moses rebelled against the injustice of Pharaoh and led his people from Egypt back to their homeland in Palestine.  Moses’ story is an epic; it ends in the thirty-fourth chapter of Deuteronomy with Moses peering at the land of promise from the peak of Mount Nebo just before he dies. In this final book of the Torah, Moses recalls his long journey, the ups and downs of his legendary life as he sets in place new leadership and mission for the next generation. 

In preparing for next week’s centennial celebration, I have had the opportunity to hear stories about St. Patrick’s. Some of them are on our website or the timeline (and over the next year I look forward to hearing more of them). These testimonies force me to reflect on what St. Patrick’s is doing to fulfill God’s mission in the world, today. Let’s just say, we have much to live up to. On Friday, we received a letter from St. Patrick’s 4th Rector, the Rev. Tom Bowers, who served St. Patrick’s from 1961-1971.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Sunday, October 9, 2011

"No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, October 9, 2011




“No shirt, no shoes, no service.” I saw this sign at many of my favorite establishments when I was younger and shorter (they always seemed to be at about three foot eye level). I don’t remember them, more recently, but they may just be out of sight and mind. As a kid, I didn’t get it. I always had shoes on, so that didn’t seem to matter, and I also wore a shirt. The only time I didn’t have shirt or shoes was when I was swimming. But why would someone be turned away if they didn’t.

Thanks to the Civil Rights movement, most public establishments have very few restrictions on who can frequent their businesses (Costco membership cards excepted). What a blessing. Businesses generally want people with adequate funds to feel welcome. As for dress, people venture out in public with barely enough on to meet the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” mantra.  (My dad thinks this is unfortunate as he often commentates on people wearing hats to a sit down restaurant, a phenomenon resulting from a shift in our cultural norms.) No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service? How does this work in Berkeley, California? If you don’t see the requirement as a public decency, isn’t it exclusionary of those who don’t like shoes? If a person were willing to pay the money, why would a business owner throw them out for being shirtless?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's October 5th, 2011

Click here to read our email of upcoming events, especially our Centennial Weekend October 29th & 30th.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

"Marketing Reality" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, September 25, 2011



May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen.
This week, a television commercial, that if I remember correctly was first seen at a Superbowl, is being rebroadcast. It begins with a child costumed as Darth Vader walking around his house attempting to get gadgets to work, and toys to move, using the force. In the background, John Williams’ theme music for Darth Vader plays as gadget after gadget does nothing. 
It continues with the child’s father pulling up in his car, a Volkswagon Passat, parking it, and walking inside. At the same time, the Darth Vader clad kid goes outside, stands in front of the car, and does the force move. From inside the house, the dad presses the power button and the car turns on, remotely. The child is stunned, thinking that he has made this happen. 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

"Peace and Forgiveness" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, September 11, 2011

Listen to the Audio File

“The greatest memorial to those who died ten years ago will be a world more inclined toward peace.” Katherine Jefferts Schiori, 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
This day marks the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that will be emblazoned on the hearts, souls, and memories of everyone who witnessed or heard of the events taking place in the air, in New York City and in Arlington, VA. I was thousands of miles away from the epicenters of the tragic events of that most hallowed day, but I can still remember responding, as an ordained person of faith, to events that should change the way we live. 
On that day, I was the chaplain of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. The news of a plane crashing into one of the World Trade Center buildings was first heard just minutes before the opening bell of that school day. The details and the significance were not yet known. I turned on the television in an empty classroom to attempt to pick up a signal (no cable and no antenna). The picture was snowy, and Dan Rather’s voice shaky as he described events as they happened. It became clear that the country, we thought so safe and secure, was under attack. CNN’s internet server couldn’t keep up with the onslaught of queries, so our knowledge of events unfolding were sketchy, at best. The picture on the screen was no clearer, but the picture of what was happening to us and to the world we knew was becoming clearer every moment. Many people were losing their lives as gigantic and iconic buildings fell to the ground as we watched. Only later, would we learn of the events at the Pentagon, just a few miles from St. Patrick’s, and I’m sure much more traumatically evident to those of you living in this area, at that time. As more information became known, we heard the stories of heroes on the plane that ended its flight in the fields of Shanksville, PA. 
What I remember was wondering what to do as chaplain of a school charged with the spiritual lives of hundreds of children. My colleagues and I decided to share what little we knew with our Middle School students. It was not an announcement made over a loud speaker or even by shuffling between classrooms. We gathered, as we did everyday, in the chapel. The buzz was palpable as we described what we knew and then prayed. Prayer for the many lives lost, for the safety of others, and that fearful events would end. The uncertain future in that moment was palpable. Teachers and students alike had never experienced such historic tragedy. What was next was clouded by what had already taken place.  

Thursday, September 8, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's - September 8, 2011

Here is our very informative weekly email about everything going on this week at St. Patrick's. On Sunday we have a special cookout following the 10am service--join us!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

"What is Church?" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, September 4, 2011

Listen to the Audio File


Matthew 18.15-20


Dear God, thank you for creating us in your image and not the other way around. Amen.

Church is not about excommunication.
It is about honest relationship!
I called my mom to ask her to help me with this sermon. I knew that she would recall what happened in my childhood, because she was there. What I wanted to remember specifically was a time when she and my dad required me to apologize to someone I had wronged. I knew this had happened, many times. I could still feel the pang in my stomach and the feeling of utter aloneness when I approached the person I had wronged. It is, no doubt, a feeling you have experienced and it is certainly not limited to childhood. And yet, I can’t remember whom I approached or what the wrong was. So, I called my mom. I knew she would remember because she assigned me the task that caused the feeling in the first place.

On the phone, I explained what I was trying to remember. My mom remembered that it happened but she, like me, couldn’t remember a specific example. She did remember when another child in my pool of friends was required to apologize to her. But that just wasn’t going to work as an example for this sermon. It did prove something. It is not so important what I did, but how I responded to it.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

"I will be with you." - The Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman, August 28, 2011

Listen to the Audio File


Exodus 3.1-15


MLK Memorial in DC
It is good to be with you in this place.  I am grateful for the welcome Sey and I have received since arriving at St. Patrick's.  I am excited about the opportunities I find here to serve God and you.  And I look forward to getting to know you better as we move together through this new season of ministry. 

The story we read today in Exodus has captured the imagination of artists, authors, film makers, story tellers, and people of faith for generations. Most of you have heard it taught and preached since you were very young. 

Some of us grew up with the image of Charlton Heston approaching the burning bush in Cecil B. DeMille's epic,  The Ten Commandments and later Prince of Egypt has given us a the story of Moses and his wonderous  encounter with God.  It is a gripping, inspiring story of God's power and compassion, and of an unsuspecting man whom God chooses to call into important service.

This captivating story begins the life changing tale of the exodus, arguably the central event of the Hebrew Bible and the pivotal narrative of the people of God.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's August 24, 2011

Click here to read all about what is coming up at St. Patrick's! We're ready for earthquakes, rainstorms and hurricanes . . . hope you are too!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

"Life is a Blessing" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, August 14, 2011



Genesis 45.1-15
Peter von Cornelius, 1850
I can say with some confidence that we would never wish the luck of Job on anyone. Job lived a successful life and expressed faith in God (that wouldn’t be so bad), but then the parable tells us that he was tested greatly. He lost his herds, his property, his health, and his children. But no matter what happened to Job, he maintained his faith in God. Nonetheless, we don’t want to be like Job because of all the pain and suffering he endured to become the hero of his story.
Let’s be honest, the Job story speaks to the human condition. No matter how wonderful our life might appear on the outside, everyone, who truly lives, experiences periods of great hardship that test the very heart of  our human nature. When we find ourselves walking the familiar footsteps of Job, we are called to make radical choices to face the reality that life will be filled with occasions of pain, deceit, and treachery. When this happens to us, we could place blame on others and convince ourselves that there is no such thing as God’s blessing. 

Sunday, July 31, 2011

"Face of God" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 31, 2011



Gustav Dore, 1855
Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” I have Barry Brown to thank or blame for that quote. At February’s Vestry retreat, Barry promoted the use of Twitter as a way to stay connected. Barry is a credible source and someone who is up to the minute. So I took his advice and joined Twitter. (By the way, you can follow St. Patrick’s on Twitter. @stpatsparishdc) A couple of days ago, one of the Twitter feeds that I follow tweeted the quote from Abraham Lincoln about perseverance. After some research, I discovered that it was the last sentence in a November 5, 1855 letter from Lincoln to Isham Reavis, an aspiring lawyer. The point of his letter, and this quote, was for Reavis to keep his eye on his goal. Of course, Lincoln was known for doing the same thing. It was what made him such an excellent leader. He may not always succeed but he wouldn’t give up. He didn’t let his humble beginnings stand in the way of becoming educated, practicing law, seeking public office, and ultimately uniting a fractured country. 

Friday, July 22, 2011

The Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman called to serve the Parish as Day School Chaplain

May 10, 2011

Dear Members of the St. Patrick’s Community,

The Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman
We are delighted to announce that we have called the Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman to become St. Patrick’s Associate Rector and Day School Chaplain. Janet succeeds the Rev. Dr. Marjorie Ann Gerbracht-Stagnaro, who will depart at year’s end to become priest-in-charge at Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, New Hampshire.

For the past two years, Janet has been a curate at All Saints Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. Among her diverse duties as curate, Janet has been director of Christian formation for adults and children, coordinated family and children ministries, and provided pastoral care.

Janet earned her master in divinity degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. Upon graduation, she received the Ford Chair, an award to “a member of the graduating class who exhibited a strong commitment to the community life and mission of the seminary.” Janet also has master’s and doctoral degrees in special education from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education from the University of Texas.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

This Week at St. Patricks, July 20, 2011

Click to read about the happenings at St. Patrick's including Sunday School sign-ups and the ongoing preaching series.


Sunday, July 17, 2011

"Dream" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 17, 2011

Listen to the Audio File

Genesis 28.10-22 (Fourth in a series of sermons at St. Patrick's based on the Genesis readings from the lectionary)
Jacob's Dream - Raphael, 1518
I know that I dream (there are dreams in every healthy sleep cycle), but I can’t seem to remember what I dream for very long. Knowing that I was going to preach on a famous dream today, when I woke from a dream a few mornings ago, I said to myself that I would remember all the details. I even looked up at the ceiling and replayed the dream in my head. A few minutes later, I rolled out of bed and the memory was gone. I don’t know where it went, but I couldn’t remember any detail. Where did it take place? Who was in it? What was I doing? Why did it wake me up? It was gone. 

Sunday, July 3, 2011

"Is this how you get a wife?" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 3, 2011




Genesis 24.34-38,42-49,58-67

You might have heard that Andrea and I are preaching on the Genesis passages over the next several weeks. This came about because Andrea is always looking ahead and making good plans for us and helping to connect these plans to our spiritual growth. I have learned to jump right in when Andrea gets an idea because it is usually right on. That is one of the many blessings that Andrea brings to her service here at St. Patrick’s.

Now this was not an easy task. Andrea knew that going in. She had looked ahead and knew that when I was away last Sunday at Church Camp, she would be responsible for preaching about God’s call to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. That is a story that challenges our sensibilities. I’m sure that any generation reading or hearing that story would be uncomfortable.

When I began preparing my sermon after returning from camp, I read another passage that seems odd in modern times.  It is not as repulsive as God asking Abraham to sacrifice his child, but the selection of wife for Isaac seems odd in our culture.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's June 22, 2011

Click here to read about what's going on this week at St. Patrick's. We're here all summer! Join us!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

"Pentecost" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, June 12, 2011




Acts 2.1-21

We have arrived at the Feast of Pentecost. It is quite late this year, usually it occurs sometime in May. I don’t think the excuse of its late arrival is why this important holiday is often overlooked. If you missed last week’s announcement or the Wednesday email, you might not have remembered that Pentecost existed at all. It is one of those forgotten feast days of the Church year. Everyone knows Christmas and Easter. For some Christians those feasts mark their only visits to a church in any given year. That is not the case for you. You are here in mid-June, in the heat and humidity of Washington, and in spite of the tantalizing lure of beaches and water parks.

If Pentecost were to catch on as a culturally important holiday (like Christmas and Easter), then our major public places (and certainly our malls) would be decorated in red. Instead, it is a major challenge to find a Pentecost themed greeting card. Because it hasn’t caught the imagination of the marketers, doesn’t mean that it isn’t important. If each of us sees ourselves in a continuum of renewal, and at the same time we see our seasonal worship life nurturing our growth in faith, then Pentecost is an essential celebration along that path.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

"Groundbreaking on Foxhall" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, June, 5, 2011

[The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, Rector of St. Patrick's, at the Groundbreaking for the new field the first phase in the development of St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School's Foxhall Campus. The ceremony was held on Sunday, June 5 beginning at 4:00pm. The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, Bishop of Washington, officiated the ceremony. Peter Barrett, Head of School, and Keith Powell, past Day School Board Chair, also spoke.] 



Thank you Bishop Chane, Keith and Peter. Without your leadership, this groundbreaking would not be possible. On behalf of the Parish, I want to thank the past and present faculty and staff, the students and their extended families, the wardens and Vestry, the Diocese and Bishops of Washington, the Board of Trustees, and my predecessors as Rector of this Parish for the many seeds sown on behalf of St. Patrick’s that continue to provide a grand harvest. 

Jesus called us to teach and share the Good News. He wanted his followers to ask questions and to challenge the status quo by doing extraordinary things. That is the expectation of the ministries of St. Patrick’s, to continue fulfilling God’s mission in the world.  This Parish, in its 100 years of service in the Diocese of Washington, has taken that responsibility seriously.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Sunday, May 22, 2011

"Rapture or Mission" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, May 22, 2011



John 14.1-14

Glad to see you here, today. We should take roll to account for those select few who might have been taken in last night’s rapture. I’m assuming their absence is for other reasons, but I wouldn’t want to assume. If the chosen among us have been teleported to the heavenly banquet, I guess we are here to witness the decline of this plane of existence. Now being an optimist, that decline will, no doubt, be interesting. I can’t claim to have studied the Biblical foundation and logic for the rapture claim. Contrary opinions were found in most editorial pages including the Washington Post. Without studying the theories I am unsure if the 6pm prediction meant that the rapture would happen in hourly waves as the earth made its 24-hour rotation? Or if it would be correlated with Greenwich Mean Time?


Sunday, May 8, 2011

"On the road to Emmaus" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, May 8, 2011



Luke 24.13-35

Christ on the Road to Emmaus
Anonymous 18th Century American
Most days, I take the same path to and from work; when I need food, I visit the same grocery store; and when I want to leave my building, I walk down the same hallway to the same elevator lobby. It is not unusual for me to attend worship services on Sunday and I also, quite commonly, eat breakfast at the same table. Most people can claim ordinariness in where they go, how they get there, and what they do once there. Having watched the tendencies of parishioners here at St. Patrick’s, I realize that many of you sit in the same general area of this worship space, possibly even the same chair, every week.  I have found this to be consistent in every Episcopal congregation that I have attended regularly and I am sure it is the case for others, as well. Everyone, to some extent, feels comfortable doing regular things and finds a calm resolve in avoiding the risk of everyday life by escaping to something known, where we can put ourselves into cruise control.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

"With Fear and Great Joy" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, April 24, 2011

Listen to the Audio File


Matthew 28.1-10



Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ
Annibale Carracci, 1585

With Fear and Great Joy!

“Alleluia, Christ is Risen!” is an expression of great joy. It permeates the music, the ceremony, and everything about this day. In contrast to the dark and dreary season of Lent, the silence and solemn Holy Week, Easter is a bright new beginning. Even though Easter is quite late in the calendar this year, it always seems to sneak up on me.

For many of us, Easter marks the beginning of spring. My earliest memories of Easter morning are of the crystal clear air, the bright sun, the smell of lilies and the gorgeous colors of flowers and green grass (I am not saying my memory is perfect, I am an optimist). For some reason, I believe that the sun exuded more heat on Easter and everything was very good.

Friday, April 22, 2011

"Good" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard - April 22, 2011

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“And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis Chapter 1)

Time with friends, a hike outside, hearing beautiful music, making a birdie on the 18th hole, a relaxing conversation with a spouse, watching your child perform in a play. Most if not all of us are blessed with many of these and like experiences that make for good days. Everyone’s list is slightly different, and that is ok. That is what makes our experiences, here, real.

This day, known worldwide and for 1000s of years, as ‘Good Friday’ is the most solemn of Holy Days in the Christian tradition. There are many reasons for the solemn, quiet, and reflective nature of this day. We just heard the narrative of the Passion from the Gospel of John. It began with Jesus’ arrest in the hillside gardens of Gethsemane, progressed through the hearings and trials in the courts of very powerful people (in human terms, that is), and then followed the path of Jesus to the rock quarry just outside the city gates, called Golgotha.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Names" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard - April 3, 2011

1 Samuel 16.1-13, Ephesians 5.8-14, John 9.1-41

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare

Names connect us to our lives. Our surname links us with our ancestors and, for many of us, our first and middle names were carefully chosen to bridge our lives with people pivotal in our heritage. My father was born on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, therefore, his parents gave him the middle name ‘Joseph.’ As the beginning of a tradition, my parents chose to name me Joseph, as well. Like my father, it is my middle name. I wasn’t born on St. Joseph’s Day, but I am forever tied with my father. In some families, a name can pass from parent to child for generations. As we build relationships and earn a reputation, our names take on value. Roosevelt, Rockefeller, and Kennedy and on a corporate scale Coca-Cola, Walmart, and GE.



Thursday, March 31, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, March 30, 2011

Click here to read our weekly email of events coming up at St. Patrick's!

Have you dropped off your donations for the Rummage Sale yet? You have until Monday, April 4th to drop donations--call or email Karen with questions (churchoffice@stpatrickschurchdc.org or 202 342-2800).

Rummage Sale is Saturday, April 9th from 8am to 2pm--we still need volunteers for the sale and the clean up!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sunday, March 20, 2011

"Sherlock" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, March 20, 2011



John 3.1-17

John La Forge, 1880
A 2008 poll taken of teenagers in England found that 23% of the respondents thought Winston Churchill was a fictional character. In the same poll, 58% thought Sherlock Holmes was a real person living at 221B Baker Street. (They’re wrong!)[1]

There are times that I wish Sherlock Holmes were real, but the reality is that he is a figment of our imagination created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800s. I enjoy reading murder mysteries in the Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie style or watching television shows like Perry Mason, Matlock or Murder, She Wrote. The week before last, I saw the recent Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey, Jr. It’s not so new anymore, but I was just getting around to it. There were some surprises for me. I would never have imagined the studious sleuth to be skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as he was in this recent adaptation. But there were things that were consistent with the Sherlock Holmes I imagined in my head like the unbelievable ability to gather information and notice everything around him. That is Holmes’ most important skill, to see what others miss. 

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Monday, March 14, 2011

"Sharpen Your Ax." - Henry McQueen, March 13, 2011

Listen to the Audio File
Psalm 32

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable to you O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Long ago, deep in the north woods there was a group of lumber jacks.  All of these lumber jacks worked hard, but some of the young men thought they not only worked harder but that they were better.  Over a meal these boastful thoughts became words and the words became a challenge; before they knew it, there would be a competition.  The next day, one of the young lumber jacks would see how much wood he could chop compared to the patriarch of the group.  Everyone gathered the next morning.  As the sun rose you could see the able muscles of the tall young man, he was quite an imposing person. You could tell that the more experienced older lumber jack at one time had that same stature, but now age had weathered him.  With the sun up the competition began - wood chips started to fly all around the young lumber jack while the senior lumber jack simply laid out his tools and prepared his work area.  Before long the young lumber jack had removed his shirt and his body was covered in sweat.  The older experienced lumber jack was quietly swinging his axe at a steady pace.  The competition was in full force.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

"Down the Mountain" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, March 6, 2011

Transfiguration - Raphael 1518-1520
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Matthew 17.1-9

The movie Hoosiers is about a small town’s high school basketball team overcoming great odds to win the Indiana State Championship in the 1950’s. The coach, played by Gene Hackman, proves to the team that the game is the same no matter where it is played. His faith in them inspires the team to trust in themselves. The Greatest Game Ever Played is a book and movie based on the 1913 U.S. Open Golf Championship won, in a playoff, by 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet. Ouimet was a caddie at the course where the championship was played and the $50 entry fee challenged the ethic of his working-class family.


Remember the Titans, The Miracle Worker, The Color Purple, Rudy, and even Rocky are stories of ordinary people overcoming great obstacles to achieve extraordinary things.


Thursday, March 3, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, March 2, 2011

Click here to learn more about all that's going on at St. Patrick's! Did you check out the snippet of video on the awesome Jubilate Deo musical at church last week?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

"Are We There Yet?" Sermon in Song by the Jubilate Deo Choir, February 27, 2011

A few minutes of the Jubilate Deo performance of "Are We There Yet?" from Sunday, February 27, 2011. Adobe Flash Player Required. 


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Sunday, February 13, 2011

"Hostility, Lust, Broken Promises, and a Few Other Things" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, February 13, 2011

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Deuteronomy 30.15-20, 1 Corinthians 3.1-9, Matthew 5.21-37

            This is my tenth month serving as your Rector here at St. Patrick’s. I am fed everyday by learning new things. This week was no exception. One of my responsibilities is to plan the Sunday worship and to schedule participants and leaders. Included in that task is assigning the weekly preacher. This week, I learned an important lesson about that responsibility. See, I thought the scheduling of preachers was about making the calendar work and respecting the time and effort of my colleagues. I thought those were the only factors until I began reflecting on the scriptures assigned for this Sunday.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

"Becoming Church - Salt, Light, and YOU" - The Rev. Dr. Marjorie Ann Gerbracht-Stagnaro, February 6, 2011

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Gracious God, breathe your Spirit into us
         and grant that we may hear 
                  and in hearing  be led in the way 
                           YOU want us to go.  Amen.
By Tuesday of this past week
         word had spread like wildfire
                  through the student population of St. Patrick’s
                            I had received a new call.


Monday, January 31, 2011

Gerbracht-Stagnaro Accepts Call to Serve at Grace Episcopal, Manchester, NH

January 31, 2011

Dear Members of the St. Patrick’s Community,

It is with a mixture of sadness, gratitude, and excitement about what lies ahead for her that we announce that the Rev. Dr. Marjorie Ann Gerbracht-Stagnaro, Associate Rector and Day School Chaplain, has accepted a call to serve as priest-in-charge of Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, New Hampshire, beginning July 10, 2011.

We are fortunate that Marjorie will continue to serve at St. Patrick’s through the middle of June, teaching her classes, ministering to this community, and bringing to a joyous close her thirteenth year as such a cherished part of St. Patrick’s. While we will deeply miss Marjorie, she is understandably excited about the opportunities and challenges awaiting her in her new call. Knowing full well the gifts that she has to share with Grace Episcopal Church, we join Marjorie in that enthusiasm.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

"Being an Icon for God" - Henry McQueen, January 30, 2011

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Matthew 5:1-12

View from Mt. of Beatitudes
There is a proposal within the Episcopal church to increase the recognition of the number of Saints.  The new book “Holy Women, Holy Men; Celebrating the Saints” includes 340 people.  I have recently begun to read about each person on their specified day of recognition.  This has become part of my personal daily spiritual practices and at least for a theological geek like me it makes for great reading.

Yesterday, Saturday the 29th was set aside to remember Andrei Rublev.  That is not a name that most people know.  However, Andrei Rublev is recognized as Russia’s greatest creator of icons.  He lived during the 1300 and 1400s.  He is not likely to show up as a “Jeopardy” answer, yet his impact spans centuries.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sunday, January 23, 2011

"Can you hear me now?" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, January 23, 2011

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Matthew 4.12-23, Isaiah 9.1-4

The people who walked in darkness
The village where Jesus met the fishermen.
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9.2)

Modern technology is amazing. You can receive a cell signal nearly everywhere. Some have even given up their regular wired phone lines, relying on cell phones alone. But I did say nearly. With nearly universal cell service in most American cities, my former home in Austin was inconsistent, at best.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

This Week at St. Patrick's January 19, 2011

We have some great events coming up at St. Pat's, so click here to read all about it.

Monday, January 10, 2011

"Baptism" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, January 9, 2011

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Matthew 3.13-17
Icon from Greek Orthodox Church
at Baptismal Site, Jordan
On this first Sunday after the Epiphany, every year, the Church remembers the baptism of Jesus. Baptism is one of the few things that binds Christians together and it is a pivotal event of the gospel story At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs his disciples to do just a few things. The first of those things is to go forth and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the years immediately following Jesus’ resurrection in the communities described in the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul’s letters,