On this Monday of the first week of Advent, we hear from the First Letter to the Thessalonians:
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. (1 Thes. 1: 1-10).
During Advent we look back, forward and at the present. In today’s reading, Paul and his co-workers in ministry, remind the Thessalonians of what God has done for them in the past as they “wait for his Son from heaven” while at the same time the Thessalonians are “an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” Just as the Thessalonians, during this season, you and I are mindful of what God has done for us as we await Jesus’ coming in glory while we live out the Gospel’s call to us. During this blessed Advent, let the word of the Lord sound forth from St. Augustine’s not only in Galveston, but in every place where our faith in God has become known. Let everyone report that in our community of faith that strangers have a kind welcome, and how we serve a living and true God, and wait for his Son to come again, whom God raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
During this Advent Season and as the Spirit moves you, please consider offering your assistance to these three organizations: (1) Lord of the Streets needs warm men’s clothing; (2) St. Vincent’s House needs food for its pantry, and (3) Ronald McDonald House needs food for those who stay at the center while their children are undergoing treatment. You can bring the goods for these organizations to St. Augustine’s and we will distribute them.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Please remember to sign-up for Sunday Fellowship.
Adult Christian Formation during the weeks of Advent at 11:00 a.m.: “Looking Back, Looking Forward and at the Present: Christmas, the Final Judgment and Prophets”.
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.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Carol Freeman and Pat Tate.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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