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

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Genesis 32.22-31

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. 

This Week at St. Patrick's July 27, 2011

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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.

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.

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

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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. 

This Week at St. Patrick's July 13, 2011

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This Week at St. Patrick's July 6, 2011

Read about St. Patrick's week at Camp Wright, among other things in this week's email.

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

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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.