Upcoming Events

Jan. 11, 2015

Odeon Concert, 4 pm

Jan. 13, 2015

Commissions & Vestry meetings, 6:30 pm

Feb. 7, 2015

Feed the Homeless, 10:30 am

Birthdays

January

4    Suong Pham

4    Catherine Burgess

7    Jim Clark

 8    MeiLi Haan

 9    Debbie Mills

 9    Tinh Huynh

10   Jocelyne Miller

12    Loc Mai

15    Kevin Tingley

15    Hue Vo

19    Helen Nicholson

22    Jay Parrotta

25   Anne Hiller

25    Anita Nicholson

28    Tyler Mills

30    Robin Tingley

February

1    Pauline Thomas

5    Delaney Curtis

5     Nathaniel Johnson

15    Debbie Los

17    Douglas Payne

23    Frank Parrotta

26    Cheryl Thomas

27    Hong Pham

27    Liz Nguyen

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

Cathy Anderson, Dee Bailey, Mary Anne Bogie, Rachel Burgess, Jane Chapman, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Michael Dickinson,  Loretta Dougherty, Luis Garay, Pat Gardner, Carolyn Gawarecki, Helene Gerber, Louise Gibney, Jean Graham, Katherine Hafele, Margaret Ellis Harris, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Lindsay Johns, Jamie Kaplon, Iona Kiger, Quinn Kimball, Alice King, Jeff King, Michael Knowles, Ashleigh Kohlitz, Peter Kosutic, Susan Lawrence, Thai Lee,Bruce Lineker, Sharon Lineker, Felicia Mitchell, Evelyn Morgan, Danielle Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Mary Esther Obremskey, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Valerie Parkhouse,William Ross, Bill Ruiz, Fern Shuck, Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Inez Stanton, Candi Stewart, Patrick Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, George Thomas, Elizabeth Trigg, Tammy Vanphung, Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Westfall Family, Meredith Wiech, Bernard Williams, Rev. Letha Wilson-Barnard, Rudy Zimpel, Dena.

               ____ 

Note: If you have a loved one or friend who needs prayer please call the church and leave a message at 703-532-5656, or write to Winnie Lebo at

thelebos@verizon.net  or call her at 703-536-2075.  Also, should a name need be removed from the list, please let Winnie know promptly, and give the reason.  

Saint Patrick's Ministers 

The Ministers of Saint Patrick's Church are the People of this Parish

supported by

The Rev. Marian Humphrey, Interim Rector

We serve our Lord as part of the Diocese of Virginia

led by

our chief pastors

The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop

The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff

Bishop Suffragan 

and  

The Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick,

Assistant Bishop 

The Vision of St. Patrick's

Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care, called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim  Christ's love to the world.

St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry 

SAINT PATRICK'S ORGANIZED

FOR MISSIONS AND MINISTRY

Other members of the Vestry:   Elisabeth Nguyen, Milton Thomas, Victoria Kennedy, Ann Nelson. 

GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

Given by The Rev. Marian Humphrey  

January 4, 2015

"A Little Bit of Light"

Many of us are afraid of the dark. Since we were little children, the dark has been a place fraught with danger. Things that "go bump in the night" or lie still beneath our beds ready to reach out and grab us are not just the stuff of campfire stories but the source of actual anxiety. The loss of the ability to see things clearly often leads to a feeling of a loss of control which eventually heightens the sense of fear one feels in the dark. Darkness has become associated with death. God, however, is at work in the darkness. Think of the sequence of Holy Week. Good Friday is followed by the Vigil of Easter which transitions into Easter. The Hebrew language has a word for God's darkness- "the kavod Yahweh" or God's dark glory. It is the glory that is hidden from mortals but no less powerful and always present.

Human beings prefer the light. Many of us feel a sense of relief with the light that comes with daybreak arrives. With the light of day, we can see the obstacles before us and the things we once thought of as frightening are not what we imagined them to be in the dark. Psalm 30 celebrates the fact "that God's anger lasts but a moment but  "joy comes in the morning."

On this Sunday on which we celebrate Christ- the Light of the world- coming to us in the person of a small baby and  we remember a song written and performed by Gloria Estefan following her terrible bus accident called, "Coming Out of the Dark", which celebrates the light overcoming the darkness:

Why be afraid if I'm not alone?
Life is never easy, the rest in unknown
Up to now for me it's been hands against stone
Each and every moment searching for what to believe

Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now
And it's shinning on me
Coming out of the dark, I know the love that saved me
Sharing with me

Starting again is part of the plan
I'll be so much stronger holding your hand
Step by step, I'll make it through, I know I can
May not make it easier but I have felt you near all the way

Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now
And it's shining on me, I see the light

Today is a day of celebration. Today is a continuation of the marvelous thing that God has done for humankind. Today, the Church celebrates the revelation that God has entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ. The Collect prays to God that He "has caused a new light to shine." This revelation of God is a light to our darkened minds.

Our first Scripture reading is from the prophet Isaiah who brings a celebratory poem of a vision for the people of Israel. His message inspires hope for a time for singing and dancing because Yahweh is faithful to God's people. The people are told, "Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you."

The first reading is from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah envisions a new Jerusalem. According to the way Isaiah sees things; Jerusalem will be restored to its previous splendor. The wreckage of the city and the corruption within the government as well as the Temple will no longer exist. The darkness of despair that enshrouded the people of Israel for over 70 years has given way to a bright light that all nations will see. Isaiah tells of "nations coming to the light" of a new Israel and kings to the brightness of the new dawn."  A once dejected, oppressed and conquered people will stand in the new light as God's chosen ones. The light does not come from the new Israel but is a gift from God. The people now live in the glory of God which is a light to the world. A light for all people.

In many Hispanic countries, the Feast of the Epiphany is a day of great celebration as the three kings or magi arrive at the place where Jesus and His family are staying. The kings bring gifts to the child Jesus in recognition of His Incarnation- the Word made flesh. Traditionally, the gift of Gold is for Christ who is the King of the Jews and frankincense for Christ who is our Great High Priest and myrrh which is a fragrance symbolizing His death.

Matthew does not tell us much about these foreigners. He does, however, give us a glimpse into their faith. These wise men or magi are astrologers who have studied the heavens. They have studied the ancient texts and are aware that a messiah had been promised to the People of God. They decide to investigate the concurrent event of the arrival of the Messiah and this new star for themselves. Their perseverance leads them to Bethlehem and to the Christ Child. They pay homage to this new born King.

What are the lessons of these texts for us today?  They are simple and yet so profound. What is the light that you and I follow in our daily lives? Is it peace and love and forgiveness or is it a selfish pursuit of power and an arrogant approach towards others? Are we bearers of the light in our dealings with one another? Does the light of Christ shine out to others through us?

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of Washington wrote, "We know that Christ's coming will always be and through ordinary things. She quotes the Reverend Dr. Peter Gomes who noted, "The miracle of God is that he can make much out of nothing and something of most everything."[1]

How can we be light for others? By a touch of the hand on a shoulder or a word of forgiveness or an offer of a cup of tea to someone grieving are just some ways Jesus, the true, Light of the world, can utilize you and me to brighten the world just a bit more. He told his disciples, "You are the light of the world." We need to believe this and act upon it.

When the darkness of sorrow, despair, and depression threatens to overtake us, we can turn to God's Word and seek solace in them. Try memorizing some short Scripture phrases from Jesus such as, "I am the Light of the world", "I am with you always", "Come to me and I will refresh you".

Let us go forth from this place, with the light of Christ in our hearts, and let us bring that light into our homes, our workplaces, this parish, this neighborhood and like the magi, let us adore Him who is Christ the Lord! Amen!