The Acts of the Apostles continues in today’s Daily Office readings with the 15th chapter; Luke writes:
Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15: 1-11).
Controversy is nothing new in the Church. Today we hear about those in the Church who thought that the Gentiles who became followers of Christ had to adhere to the Jewish law of circumcision. There were others, including Paul, who thought it was not necessary. What did the Church do? The Church gathered together and debated the issue. I can imagine that their debate was filled with passion, each side expressing their views and beliefs. Neither side had malicious intent; rather, each side wanted to follow God’s will. Their open discussion and passionate debate was part of the discernment process together with prayer, contemplation and listening to the Holy Spirit.
That can be difficult to do especially when the topics we are discussing are close to our hearts and souls. The Apostles could not let their passions control the outcome of the debate; they had to put aside their personal agendas and use their God given gift of reason to methodically discern the direction of the community of faith. That process has served the Church well not only as we read about in the Acts of the Apostles, but in Church Councils throughout time, including Nicaea in 325, Constantinople in 381, Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 431 where major issues of faith were decided.
Let us pray: Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with us when we take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.
Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.
Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.
25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m. Houston Hero’s Award and the introduction of the Hope Mile; 11 am, the introduction of the Hope Mile and Inaugural Walk with city leaders heart healthy refreshments served after the walk.
25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.
26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.
2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15: 1-11).
Controversy is nothing new in the Church. Today we hear about those in the Church who thought that the Gentiles who became followers of Christ had to adhere to the Jewish law of circumcision. There were others, including Paul, who thought it was not necessary. What did the Church do? The Church gathered together and debated the issue. I can imagine that their debate was filled with passion, each side expressing their views and beliefs. Neither side had malicious intent; rather, each side wanted to follow God’s will. Their open discussion and passionate debate was part of the discernment process together with prayer, contemplation and listening to the Holy Spirit.
That can be difficult to do especially when the topics we are discussing are close to our hearts and souls. The Apostles could not let their passions control the outcome of the debate; they had to put aside their personal agendas and use their God given gift of reason to methodically discern the direction of the community of faith. That process has served the Church well not only as we read about in the Acts of the Apostles, but in Church Councils throughout time, including Nicaea in 325, Constantinople in 381, Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 431 where major issues of faith were decided.
Let us pray: Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with us when we take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.
Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.
Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.
25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m. Houston Hero’s Award and the introduction of the Hope Mile; 11 am, the introduction of the Hope Mile and Inaugural Walk with city leaders heart healthy refreshments served after the walk.
25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.
26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.
2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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