Today the Church remembers the martyrs of Uganda. They are the featured “Saints of the Month” in our June newsletter. On this day in 1886, 32 young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity. In the following months many other Christians throughout the country died by spear or fire for their faith.
One of the readings chosen for the day is from the Letter to the Hebrews, which was written to give strength and encouragement to those who were being persecuted:
But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved. (Heb. 10: 32-39).
This passage from Hebrews could have been written directly to those who suffered for their faith in Uganda in 1886. God’s Word is like that; it is timeless. God’s Word speaks to people in all times and in all places. God’s Word is able to do that because God’s Word is eternal and because it speaks to the very depths of our souls, of who we were created to be, sons and daughters of God.
UPDATES:
Community Garden: To make the meetings more accessible, we will meet on Sundays after Adult Christian Formation which will now run from 11:00 to 11:30 and the Community Garden Meeting will start at 11:30.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton and Tammie Taylor.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation in the nave from 11:00 to 11:30 on Sundays: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?
12 June: Gospel by the Sea.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
One of the readings chosen for the day is from the Letter to the Hebrews, which was written to give strength and encouragement to those who were being persecuted:
But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved. (Heb. 10: 32-39).
This passage from Hebrews could have been written directly to those who suffered for their faith in Uganda in 1886. God’s Word is like that; it is timeless. God’s Word speaks to people in all times and in all places. God’s Word is able to do that because God’s Word is eternal and because it speaks to the very depths of our souls, of who we were created to be, sons and daughters of God.
UPDATES:
Community Garden: To make the meetings more accessible, we will meet on Sundays after Adult Christian Formation which will now run from 11:00 to 11:30 and the Community Garden Meeting will start at 11:30.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton and Tammie Taylor.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation in the nave from 11:00 to 11:30 on Sundays: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?
12 June: Gospel by the Sea.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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