"Sheep or Cats" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, April 20, 2012

Click to hear the audio

John 10.11-18

About this time every year, we hear portions from the Gospel of John’s tenth chapter; a chapter filled with imagery of Jesus as a shepherd. There is something heartwarming about this image particularly when paired with the 23rd Psalm, which begins “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” That is one reason that they are always paired.

I said that we read portions because we hear the entire chapter over three years.  Last year, we heard the preceding verses, the first part of the chapter, where Jesus describes how a shepherd becomes a shepherd. He said, “the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep” and the sheep will learn the shepherd’s voice and will follow. (John 10.3-4) This year, we hear the next verses where Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd, and next year we will hear how Jesus calling himself the shepherd (and not one of the sheep) will lead the religious leaders to stone him for blasphemy. Yikes!

This Week at St. Patrick's - April 25, 2012

Click here to read the weekly newsletter from St. Patrick's Church

This Week at St. Patrick's April 18, 2012

It is a busy week at St. Patrick's! Click here to see what is going on--especially the Rummage Sale this Saturday from 8am to 2pm.

"God's Spirit at work in their lives?" - The Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman, April 15, 2012

O my people.  I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live

Ezekiel 37: 1-4

Episcopal Schools Celebration

April 15, 2012

God's Spirit at work in their lives?

Our sons attended an Episcopal school in Austin, Texas.  We fell into a pattern of talking over dinner about what was discussed in chapel or in class that day.  It was started by our oldest son who mentioned a topic and a particular speaker who had captured his heart and led him to reflect.  It became something we continued because it gave us a window into our children’s lives, what they were experiencing at school, what they were carrying in their hearts, and how through conversation, questions, and events, they were trying to make sense of their world and figure out their place in it.

"Step into Transformation" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, April 8, 2012

John 20.1-18

Listen to the Audio File

Easter Sunday Sermon delivered on April 8, 2012

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

For many of us, there was a moment when we didn’t think we would ever ride a bike. I remember wanting to get rid of those training wheels until the moment of truth (when I sat on the, supported by one of my parents, grasping the grips so tightly that my knuckles were white), then I told my parents that I wanted to wait until tomorrow. As children, we are more in touch with our fears and are definitely more willing to express those fears to others. As we mature, we manage to exude a confident appearance even if we are as nervous as we once were about getting rid of the training wheels. There is nothing unusual about being scared at transformation. Whether it is learning to ride a bike, moving to a new place, going to college (or graduate school), becoming a parent, or retiring from a long career. Transformation requires us to enter the fray of anxiety by leaving the comfortable flow of the known.

This Week at St. Patrick's - April 4, 2012

This is Holy Week. Click here to read what is happening at St. Patrick's.