"Hero Power" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 29, 2012

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Readings of the Day

"David hands the letter to Uriah"
by Lastman, 1619

On Friday night, for what seemed like forever, the opening ceremonies of the 30^th Olympiad in the modern era took place in London, England. Supposedly over a billion people watched the pageantry of the event. The US commentators pointed out famous people who appeared, often briefly, in the grand scenes telling the history of the British Isles. It was mesmerizing and captivating. After the arrival of the queen and James Bond by parachute, from a helicopter, the athletes from countries all over the world paraded into the Olympic stadium. I lost track of how long it took for all of these competitors from far-ranging countries and territories, some with populations under 10,000 and others over a billion.

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

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

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"Leadership Lessons: David, Herod, and Jesus" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 15, 2012

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2 Samuel 6.1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1.3-14, Mark 6.14-29

When I first read the readings assigned for today, I thought I might talk about dancing (rather than beheading) because both the Old Testament and Gospel lesson have dance scenes and I took ballroom dancing this past winter. Might there be some synergy there? Then I considered what I would say next. Dancing is an appropriate method of expressing emotion. Done, the sermon is over. I’m just kidding, by the way. Don’t get too excited. Dancing may be fun and it is easy to be in favor of it, unlike that town that banned it in the movie Footloose, but there is something deeper in these passages that can help us understand our mission as Christians. It is something we can discern by considering Jesus in light of the political leadership of David and Herod. I need to give you some context.  

This Week at St. Patrick's July 11, 2012

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"One Pilgrim's Experience: Debbie Fickenscher's Pilgrimage to Washington National Cathedral"

On Friday, June 29, St. Patrick's parishioner, Debbie Fickenscher, joined a small group of pilgrims who explored a holy place very near to us, Washington National Cathedral. Bishop Mariann Budde participated in - but did not lead - the pilgrimage. The day included guided meditations as well as time for wandering, wondering, and prayer. Debbie reflects on her experience:

"Just returned from a 4 hour pilgrimage with the new bishop, at the Cathedral…although originally planned for a walk/meditation outside as well as in, the 103 degree heat kept us in.   It was really a powerful experience and even with the heavy mesh hanging protectively overhead, it is still possible to see the vibrant colors of the stained glass windows throughout the nave. 

I will share two things from the experience with you.

"Pictures" - The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, July 1, 2012

Mark 5.21-43

Do not fear, only believe!

When I was in 8th grade, I traveled, with my class, to Washington DC. This is the kind of trip that thousands and 8th graders make from around the country to the nation’s capital. There are some things I remember about it. On the return, there was a blizzard that blanketed Nebraska. It was so bad that the airport in Omaha was closed. That is saying something. I spent an extra day in St. Louis waiting to make the final leg into Omaha. TWA put up hundreds of kids and the chaperones in a airport hotel. It was quite an experience. I recently found the pictures from that trip when going through things at my parent’s house. The first picture is of me sitting in the airport about to depart sitting next to a long-ago forgotten friend. I can only guess that one of my parent’s took it. The hundreds of subsequent snapshots are of the monuments, the streets, and the views of Washington. There is not a human being pictured in any of the subsequent photos. The views of Washington are impressive, but they are sites that I could catch today in a matter of moments. I am missing the memories and the people who made those memories happen. Since my 8th grade trip, I have learned a lot about pictures. I used to avoid being in pictures, but now I willingly jump into them because I have discovered their power to recall memories long past that now mean so much.