One of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 9:
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned back,
they stumbled and perished before you.
For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
their cities you have rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
But the Lord sits enthroned for ever,
he has established his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
Declare his deeds among the peoples.
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Be gracious to me, O Lord.
See what I suffer from those who hate me;
you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
so that I may recount all your praises,
and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
rejoice in your deliverance.
The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.
Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.
Put them in fear, O Lord;
let the nations know that they are only human.
One of the major Old Testament themes is found in Psalm 9: “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” God makes it clear that He is concerned for the poor, the stranger, the widow and the orphan. God is their protector and God expects us to take up His cause. The Psalmist reminds us this morning that God “does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”
Not only during Advent when we are particularly watchful for the Lord not only in the future but in the present, you and I have the opportunity to be God’s champions for those in need. You and I can minister to the people who call Lord of the Streets home, or to those who seek food and medical care at St. Vincent’s House, or to those who need a place to rest at Ronald McDonald House when a little one is under serious medical care. During this Advent and after, be mindful of those in need. And if you are able, please place a can of beans or a bag of rice in the boxes provided. Be the ears of Christ to hear the cry of the afflicted.
THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WILL VISIT ST. AUGUSTINE’S TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST ON SUNDAY, 16 JANUARY 2011.
“Who could believe what we have heard, to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Is. 53:1-2). I think that was everyone’s reaction when we heard the news, but yes, the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will visit the Island and celebrate the Eucharist with us. What a blessing this is to not only our faith community at St. Augustine, but to everyone on the Island.
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”.
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 Cindi Clack and Carol Freeman.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned back,
they stumbled and perished before you.
For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
their cities you have rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
But the Lord sits enthroned for ever,
he has established his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
Declare his deeds among the peoples.
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Be gracious to me, O Lord.
See what I suffer from those who hate me;
you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
so that I may recount all your praises,
and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
rejoice in your deliverance.
The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.
Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.
Put them in fear, O Lord;
let the nations know that they are only human.
One of the major Old Testament themes is found in Psalm 9: “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” God makes it clear that He is concerned for the poor, the stranger, the widow and the orphan. God is their protector and God expects us to take up His cause. The Psalmist reminds us this morning that God “does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”
Not only during Advent when we are particularly watchful for the Lord not only in the future but in the present, you and I have the opportunity to be God’s champions for those in need. You and I can minister to the people who call Lord of the Streets home, or to those who seek food and medical care at St. Vincent’s House, or to those who need a place to rest at Ronald McDonald House when a little one is under serious medical care. During this Advent and after, be mindful of those in need. And if you are able, please place a can of beans or a bag of rice in the boxes provided. Be the ears of Christ to hear the cry of the afflicted.
THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WILL VISIT ST. AUGUSTINE’S TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST ON SUNDAY, 16 JANUARY 2011.
“Who could believe what we have heard, to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Is. 53:1-2). I think that was everyone’s reaction when we heard the news, but yes, the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will visit the Island and celebrate the Eucharist with us. What a blessing this is to not only our faith community at St. Augustine, but to everyone on the Island.
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”.
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 Cindi Clack and Carol Freeman.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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