Today’s Epistle reading comes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans. You may recall that Paul wrote the Letter to the Romans in order to explain his theology to them since he had never met them, but was planning to go to Rome. One of the themes in the Letter to the Romans is the place of the Jewish people. They were God’s Chosen People; salvation came through the Jewish people. One of the major components of the Jewish faith was the Law, the Ten Commandments. Yet the Jewish people failed to be faithful to God’s call to them in the Law. They could not keep it; they repeatedly stumbled. That theme is picked up this morning:
So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (Rm. 11:11-12).
In short, Paul’s tells us that God brings good even out of our failures. They Jewish people could not be faithful to the law; they always fell short. Since they could not keep the Law, God sent his only Son to bring salvation and forgiveness not just to the Jewish people, but to Jews and Gentiles alike.
God continues to act consistently with His character with us today. Have you ever notice in your life how God can take something that is a defeat, a tragedy, a loss, and turns it into good? God does it all the time. Just when we think all is lost, just when we think we cannot go on anymore, God takes our failures and turns them into blessings. So be on the lookout in your own life for times when God takes something that is to all outward appearances a defeat or a failure and brings life out of it.
Let us pray: gracious Father, we thank you for taking our faults and failings and turning them into good things for us. We thank you most especially for sending us your Son who took our sinfulness and brought forgiveness and life. Send Your Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth, to bring joy where there is sadness, laughter where there is crying, health where there is illness and life where there is death. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation: We’re back on track for Adult Christian Formation with our series on heaven and hell, Angels with Harps or Demons with Pitchforks, Or Something Else, on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the nave.
Feeding Volunteers at William Temple: On Thursday, 15 July at 6:00 p.m. we will feed 15 volunteers at William Temple. We have a reputation now with the volunteers on providing some of the best meals.
UBE Youth at St. Augustine: 31 July to 1 August. The Youth will stay with us at St. Augustine to learn their history and the place of this Church in the Diocese of Texas, and to use our facilities as a base of operations as they do mission work at St. Vincent's House.
Kitchen Shower: First weekend in August.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Russ Viska who is having a double bypass on July 14
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery
Baby Hayden and for his mother, Clarrissa
Tammie Taylor’s continued recovery
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Brian Taylor
Major Bryan Leslie Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (Rm. 11:11-12).
In short, Paul’s tells us that God brings good even out of our failures. They Jewish people could not be faithful to the law; they always fell short. Since they could not keep the Law, God sent his only Son to bring salvation and forgiveness not just to the Jewish people, but to Jews and Gentiles alike.
God continues to act consistently with His character with us today. Have you ever notice in your life how God can take something that is a defeat, a tragedy, a loss, and turns it into good? God does it all the time. Just when we think all is lost, just when we think we cannot go on anymore, God takes our failures and turns them into blessings. So be on the lookout in your own life for times when God takes something that is to all outward appearances a defeat or a failure and brings life out of it.
Let us pray: gracious Father, we thank you for taking our faults and failings and turning them into good things for us. We thank you most especially for sending us your Son who took our sinfulness and brought forgiveness and life. Send Your Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth, to bring joy where there is sadness, laughter where there is crying, health where there is illness and life where there is death. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation: We’re back on track for Adult Christian Formation with our series on heaven and hell, Angels with Harps or Demons with Pitchforks, Or Something Else, on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the nave.
Feeding Volunteers at William Temple: On Thursday, 15 July at 6:00 p.m. we will feed 15 volunteers at William Temple. We have a reputation now with the volunteers on providing some of the best meals.
UBE Youth at St. Augustine: 31 July to 1 August. The Youth will stay with us at St. Augustine to learn their history and the place of this Church in the Diocese of Texas, and to use our facilities as a base of operations as they do mission work at St. Vincent's House.
Kitchen Shower: First weekend in August.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Russ Viska who is having a double bypass on July 14
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery
Baby Hayden and for his mother, Clarrissa
Tammie Taylor’s continued recovery
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Brian Taylor
Major Bryan Leslie Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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