Today we hear from the Letter to the Ephesians. It was written sometime around the 80s AD and was, in all probability, written by a disciple of Paul. This letter, along with Romans, is considered to be the pinnacle of the Pauline letters (meaning those written by Paul himself and his disciples). One of the main themes in Ephesians is the letter’s high exaltation of the Church which takes it beyond the local gathering of Christians into a much wider and universal Church.
Today’s reading is the start of the letter:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:3-14).
Notice the themes in the opening: adoption, redemption, gathering up all things, forgiveness, grace and hope. In a mere 11 verses, the Letter to the Ephesians gives a beautiful summary of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God makes us his sons and daughters. Jesus brings redemption; he bridges the separations that our selfish actions have caused, the separation with God, the separation from each other, and even separation from who we really are. Jesus gathers all things in heaven and on earth and sets things right, and we become God’s people.
HELP LORD OF THE STREETS: Lord of the Streets is an Episcopal mission in the downtown Houston which cares for the homeless. Here is their website: http://www.lordofthestreets.org/. They are in need of warm men’s clothes. If you have any that may be used but clean and in good condition, please bring them and we can make a delivery to the Lord of the Streets.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Please remember to sign-up for Sunday Fellowship.
Advent begins on Sunday 28 November. The liturgical color will be purple and we will switch to Rite I as well as begin Year A in the Lectionary.
Join Lee Runion who will offer an art class on making Christmas decorations on Saturday, 4 December from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He is a wonderful teacher and it is a great opportunity to be creative even for those of us who may be challenged in that area.
The day is drawing near, Big Mista BBQ fundraiser for the Community Garden, Saturday, 11 December. Melva Pope has tickets, so please pick some up for friends and family. There is also a Facebook page for the event. Here is the link to the Diocese’s website where Neil Strawder is featured front and center: www.epicenter.org. We are now officially on the police calendar, so the people in blue will be out in force.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Carol Freeman who is undergoing an outpatient procedure today, and for all of those who are traveling this holiday season.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Today’s reading is the start of the letter:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:3-14).
Notice the themes in the opening: adoption, redemption, gathering up all things, forgiveness, grace and hope. In a mere 11 verses, the Letter to the Ephesians gives a beautiful summary of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God makes us his sons and daughters. Jesus brings redemption; he bridges the separations that our selfish actions have caused, the separation with God, the separation from each other, and even separation from who we really are. Jesus gathers all things in heaven and on earth and sets things right, and we become God’s people.
HELP LORD OF THE STREETS: Lord of the Streets is an Episcopal mission in the downtown Houston which cares for the homeless. Here is their website: http://www.lordofthestreets.org/. They are in need of warm men’s clothes. If you have any that may be used but clean and in good condition, please bring them and we can make a delivery to the Lord of the Streets.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Please remember to sign-up for Sunday Fellowship.
Advent begins on Sunday 28 November. The liturgical color will be purple and we will switch to Rite I as well as begin Year A in the Lectionary.
Join Lee Runion who will offer an art class on making Christmas decorations on Saturday, 4 December from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He is a wonderful teacher and it is a great opportunity to be creative even for those of us who may be challenged in that area.
The day is drawing near, Big Mista BBQ fundraiser for the Community Garden, Saturday, 11 December. Melva Pope has tickets, so please pick some up for friends and family. There is also a Facebook page for the event. Here is the link to the Diocese’s website where Neil Strawder is featured front and center: www.epicenter.org. We are now officially on the police calendar, so the people in blue will be out in force.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Carol Freeman who is undergoing an outpatient procedure today, and for all of those who are traveling this holiday season.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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