"6 Euro please."

On Saturday, Mary and I went to visit Christ Church Anglican Cathedral

in Dublin. As Mary walked through the doors and ventured in a few

steps, she met an attendant who asked for 6 Euro to be admitted. No 6

Euro, no Cathedral. On Sunday, there is no price for admittance as

long as you are attending a service. Although I would have preferred

to attend Sunday Eucharist at a regular neighborhood parish, I went to

the Cathedral, partly because I knew where it was.

Today's Gospel reading rang loudly in my ears this morning:

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and

buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the

money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them,

‘It is written,

“My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a

den of robbers.’

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that

he did, and heard* the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to

the Son of David’, they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear

what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read,

“Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared

praise for yourself”?’ (Mt. 21:12-16).

On Sunday, I read the back of the service bulletin. It explained why

they charge 6 Euro to visit. These are hard economic times. The

budget to run the Cathedral is 1,200,000 Euro (about $1,500,000).

They have to cut back on their social service programs for the poor

and needy. The only way that they have to try to keep those programs

going is to charge tourists who visit the Cathedral. Even so, they

still have a deficit of 200,000 Euro this year.

Were they like the money changers in today's Gospel reading. I don't

think so. The tourists that come to visit by and large are not there

to pray but to see the glory of years past. The Cathedral is still

trying to do the work of building the Kingdom of God with fewer funds

and with fewer people.

Let us pray: Gracious God, even when times are hard, and especially

when times are hard, you call us to be Christ's hands and feet ,

helping those who are hurting among us. Help those who work with the

poor at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Give them the grace of

Your Holy Spirit to continue when discouraged. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Good Can Come Out of Suffering

The Epistle reading today is from the fifth chapter of Paul to the Romans; he writes:

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rm.5:1.11).

Life can be difficult. Paul knew it. But Paul also knew that suffering can have value. Just look at Jesus' passion and death. Both Paul and Jesus also knew that out of suffering good can come. With Jesus' death on the cross came the resurrection and salvation. With Paul's suffering, he learned to put his hope in God and to trust in God completely. When life becomes difficult, when life hurts, when our lives seem to be filled with pain, keep in mind Paul's words: "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

Let us pray: Loving Father, we know that Your Son's death on the cross gave us life; when we are in pain, when we are suffering, pour Your Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we may trust in You completely and to live in the knowledge that You are present in our suffering and that we have the hope of the resurrection. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially for those who are suffering, and for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

God's Justice May Not Seem Fair To Us

In today’s appointed Gospel reading, we learn about God’s justice:

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Mt. 20: 1-16).

God’s justice and mercy are boundless. The person who lives according to God’s law at all times and the notorious sinner are both treated equally by God. God offers salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, to both the person who is always good and the notorious sinner. Sometimes, in our eyes, that doesn’t seem fair. But our brand of justice and God’s are not the same. God offers unbounded love to everyone, even those we least expect.

Let us pray: Loving Father, You give us love and forgiveness of sins through Your Son, Jesus Christ; give us Your Holy Spirit so that we may see as Your Son sees, and so that we may be instruments of Your Kingdom to everyone we meet. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Priorities

Today we hear from the Gospel according to Matthew where Jesus tells us:

“Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Mt. 19: 23-30).

Life is a matter of priorities. Jesus knows that things can distract us from our relationship not only with God but others. If we are attached to things, there is little room for God and others. If I put my possessions above all else, then my possessions possess me. But it is not just about possessions, we can be trapped by other things as well. Am I holding on to my anger for what someone did to me so that there is no room to see the love that others have for me? Am I holding on to a grudge against someone so that there is room for little else in my life?

Today Jesus is asking us what is important to each of us. What is important to you?

Let us pray: Gracious God, Your Son, Jesus Christ is asking us to be truthful about what is important to us. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to Your love and the love of others, and help us to let go of those things that do not bring us closer to You. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Connected in Christ

This was quite a weekend; it was a time of coming together. It was a weekend which showed how interconnected our lives are and who connects us.

On Saturday, the Diocese of Texas joined together at Christ Church Cathedral for the ordination of 12 new deacons who will go to serve in various parts of the Diocese. Clergy came together from churches scattered about the State to process with those about to be ordained.

Sunday was Father’s Day, and the anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate. For the Eucharist, I wore the stole gifted to me by the people of St. Augustine on the occasion of my diaconate ordination, a symbol to my connection with St. Augustine in Galveston, the Diocese of Texas, the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

The Rev. Ron Pogue, who came to us from Trinity in Lawrence, Kansas, was our main celebrant and baptized twins, children of a friend of Ron and Gay’s son, who was the son of someone Ron went to high school with in Houston. Two new Christians came into the family of God who dwell on earth and in heaven.

Then Mary and I joined the kids for lunch in Houston for Father’s Day, and they gave me a book entitled “St. Augustine’s Prayer Book”, a devotional book published for members of the Episcopal Church by the Anglican monastic community the Order of the Holy Cross. The gift is special because it reflects my family’s participation in ministry and the connection with our Church family at St. Augustine.

All aspects of life came together on this weekend, and it all had a common theme which is expressed in today’s Epistle reading from Romans: “the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” We are all joined together through faith in Jesus Christ, and it was wondrous to behold the reality of that this weekend: ordinations, baptisms and Father’s Day.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we are thankful for all of the gifts that You have bestowed upon us, and most especially for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ; may we be made one body through Your Holy Spirit, we ask this of You who are God, holy and one, now and forever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and most especially for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Juneteenth

One of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 91:

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.

Tomorrow is known as Juneteenth Day in Texas. On 19 June 1865, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become official 1 January1863.

I wonder if those living in Galveston, during those troubled times, had the words of Psalm 91 on their lips. I wonder what the celebration was like, if only in their hearts, after they received the news. I imagine there were prayers offered in thanksgiving to God who stood by them in the most difficult of times, and who showed them salvation and freed them from their oppressors.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Sue and Sean Coleman who are preparing for a serious medical operation at the end of the month for Sue.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY, please remember those who have been fathers to you.

2 BAPTISMS THIS SUNDAY: We will have 2 baptisms this Sunday. The Rev. Dr. Ron Pogue will be our celebrant and preacher and he will baptize twins. The parents are friends of his son.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: In honor of Father’s Day, and because many people will want to celebrate Father’s Day, we will not be holding the class this Sunday, or the 2 following Sundays after that as Mary and I will be away. Adult Christian Education will resume on Sunday, 11 July 2010 with Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Do Not Let Hurt Fester

The Gospel reading appointed for today is from Matthew; Jesus tells his disciples:

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. (Mt. 18: 15-20).

Too many times, even in Church, we can let things that other people have done to us sit there and fester like a sore. Today, Jesus tells us not to let things fester. If you have a problem with someone, let them know. Do not let things build up until there is an explosion. However, we must remember to do this in a Christ like way, with kindness and forgiveness. This can be difficult, but we are called to do it.

Let us pray: Loving Father, help us to act like Your Son Jesus when someone has hurt us. We ask you to guide us with Your Holy Spirit to say and to do the right things.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Sue and Sean Coleman.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY, please remember those who have been fathers to you.

2 BAPTISMS THIS SUNDAY: We will have 2 baptisms this Sunday. The Rev. Dr. Ron Pogue will be our celebrant and preacher and he will baptize twins. The parents are friends of his son.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Passing Judgment: Danger Ahead

Paul continues to speak to us today in his Epistle to the Romans:

You have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Rm. 2: 1-11).

Sometimes we are quick in our assessments of people, their actions and their motives without knowing all of the facts. Today, Paul reminds us to slow down, and to not be so quick to judge others, because, chances are, we are not blameless in our lives. We do not know the state of people’s consciences or of their souls. There was the old example in moral theology: you are in a store, and you see an elderly lady taking a can of cat food and putting it in her purse. Objectively, she has stolen the cat food. She is shoplifting. Is she morally culpable of sin? What is the state of her soul? Before you make a final determination, here are the rest of the facts: the elderly lady has no place to live. Her husband died and left her penniless. She is ill and starving. Now what is the evaluation?

Let us pray: Gracious God, sometimes we are quick to judge others, to place blame upon them. Open our eyes, and help us to see others through the eyes of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Where there is pain, let us bring healing. Where there is sadness, let us bring joy. Where there is loneliness, let us be present. Guide us, we pray with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and also pray for Joan Robinson who is suffering from cancer and Sue and Sean Coleman.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY. Remember your fathers (biological, spiritual and those who have been father to you) in prayer this weekend.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Are We Ashamed of the Gospel?

Paul continues today in his letter to the Romans:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” (Rm. 1: 16-17).

How many of us can say that? Sometimes we act as if we are ashamed of being followers of Christ. We don’t mean to, but with the pressures of contemporary culture and its values (or lack of values) we can fall into it. Paul understood human nature, and knew that the Romans, along with us, are susceptible to that. Today, Paul reminds us that God has given us the gift of salvation, and that gift is open to all people, the Jews and Greeks. God has put us in a right relationship with him. All that God asks of us is to accept it. In accepting the gift, you and I are called to live lives reflective of what God has done for us.

Let us pray: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ; send Your Holy Spirit to sanctify us and to enable us to live into the gift of salvation in all that we do. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and also pray for Joan Robinson who is suffering from cancer.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY. Remember your fathers in prayer this weekend.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

A Place of Encouragement

The Daily Office Epistle reading for today is from Paul’s most influential letter, the one he wrote to the Romans. This epistle has influenced the conversion and change in many, including our own St. Augustine and Martin Luther. We start at the beginning of the letter today:

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish — hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Rom. 1: 1-15).

Paul had never visited the Romans. This was a letter of introduction to them and Paul wanted to explain his theology to them. One of the first things that Paul says, the Romans “are called to be saints.” So are we. Saints are people who strive for holiness, who desire to deepen their relationship with God. Each and everyone of us is called to be a saint. No doubt, sometimes it can be very difficult especially in the work a-day-world, when someone cuts us off in traffic, or when people are less than kind to us and are done right rude. But Paul gives offers insight for us about what church should be: “we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” That is what we should offer one another, and at St. Augustine’s, I believe we do.

Let us pray: Gracious God, giver of all good things, we thank you for the gift of our faith, and for those who encourage us as we journey to You. May I be a source of encouragement for others, this I ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who lives with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list.

We will have two children baptized next Sunday, Father’s Day.

Please remember all Father’s on Father’s Day with a prayer.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Barnabas

We remember St. Barnabas today. In the Acts of the Apostles we read: “Joseph, a Levite, born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (son of encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles.” (Acts 4:36).

Barnabas was closely associated with St. Paul; he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles, and served as a kind of mediator between the former persecutor and the still suspicious Christians.

When a Christian community developed at Antioch, Barnabas was sent as the official representative of the Church of Jerusalem to incorporate them into the fold. He and Paul preach in Antioch for a year, and they brought back relief contributions to the Church in Jerusalem.

Later, Paul and Barnabas, were to preach to the Gentiles, and they were successful.

Barnabas gave from what he had to others, and he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ with zeal even though circumstances were harsh.

Collect for the day:

Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. In your daily prayers, please remember everyone on our prayer list and also remember Sherman Boyer, Carol Hogan, Gladys Simon, and remember to give thanks for all of the good things God has done for you.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: Tomorrow, 12 June 2010.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Ephrem: Deacon, Scholar and Defender of the Faith

Today the Church remembers Ephrem from Edessa (now Ufra, Turkey) who died on this day in 373. He accompanied Bishop James of Nisibis to the Council of Nicea where Ephrem, through his scholarship, defended Jesus Christ’s divinity and humanity.

He countered the Gnostics (people who believed they had secret information regarding salvation) who spread their message by using popular songs, so Ephrem composed Christian songs and hymns of his own. His nickname was “the harp of the Holy Spirit.”

Ephrem lived a simple life in a cave outside Edessa where he devoted himself to prayer and writing. He frequently went into the city to preach. During a famine in 372-3, Ephrem worked distributing food to the hungry, and organizing a sort of ambulance service for the sick. He literally worked himself to death; he became exhausted and sick, and so died.

Collect for the day:

Pour out on us, O Lord, that same Spirit by which your deacon Ephrem rejoiced to proclaim in sacred song the mysteries of faith; and so gladden our hearts that we, like him, may be devoted to you alone; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. In your daily prayers, please remember everyone on our prayer list and also remember Sherman Boyer, Carol Hogan and Gladys Simon.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: 12 June 2010

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Columba of Iona

Today the Church remembers St. Columba who was born in Ireland on 7 December 521. He was baptized at Tulach-Dubhglaise, now Temple-Douglas, by a priest named Cruithnechan, who afterwards became his tutor or foster-father. When sufficiently advanced in letters he entered the monastic school of Moville under St. Finnian who had studied at St. Ninian's “Magnum Monasterium” (the “Big Monastary”) on the shores of Galloway where he was ordained a deacon and then priest.

When he was 49, he left Ireland, and Columba and 12 companions crossed the sea in a small boat landing at Iona, off the coast of Scotland, on the eve of Pentecost on 12 May 563. Iona soon became the center of operations for the conversion of the Scots and Picts, and became the most famous religious house in Scotland. There Columba baptized Brude, King of the Picts, and later a King of the Scots came to this Abbot of the “Holy Isle” for baptism.

Columba never had an idle moment. He was always either preaching, in prayer, studying, or transcribing. On the eve of his death, Columba was engaged in the work of transcription. He wrote 300 books with his own hand, two of which, “The Book of Durrow” and the psalter called “The Cathach”, have been preserved to the present time.

In the spring of 597, Columba knew that his end was near. On Saturday, 8 June, he ascended the hill overlooking his monastery and blessed for the last time the home so dear to him. That afternoon he was present at Vespers, and later, when the bell summoned the community to the midnight service, he forestalled the others and entered the church without assistance. He then sank before the altar, and in that place breathed forth his soul to God, surrounded by his brother monks.

Collect for the day:

O God, who by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. In your daily prayers, please remember everyone on our prayer list and also remember Sherman Boyer, Carol Hogan, and all of the visitors who came to Eucharist on Sunday.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: 12 June 2010

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Healing and Foregiveness Go Hand-in-Hand

The appointed Gospel reading appointed for the Daily Office is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew. He writes:

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Mt. 15:29-31).

Healing was one of the characteristics of Jesus’ ministry. During Jesus’ day, illness was viewed as being connected with sinfulness. If you were ill, it was because you were sinful. Therefore, when Jesus performed miracles of healing, his healing was viewed as the forgiveness of sin, and only God can forgive sins. It was a sign that Jesus was God incarnate, God with us, walking among us and healing us of our sinfulness.

Miracles of healing still occur. Jesus still heals us not only of our physical ailments, but of our spiritual ones as well. Sometimes that healing enables us to accept suffering and even death.

Jesus offers us healing at each Eucharist when we confess our sins and are granted absolution. Jesus heals us at the Eucharist when we receive him: “The gifts of God for the People of God, take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts with faith and in thanksgiving.” Jesus heals us when we are anointed with the Ministration of the Sick. Jesus heals us when at the end of our lives he accepts us as sheep of his fold and sinners of his own redeeming.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. In your daily prayers, please remember everyone on our prayer list and also remember Sherman Boyer, Carol Hogan, Hanna Clanton who is considering ordained ministry, and all of the visitors who came to Eucharist on Sunday.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: 12 June 2010

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Preaching in the Midst of Pain

The Daily Office readings continue with Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. He writes about his physical infirmity:

You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them. It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. (Gal. 4: 13-20).

There has been much speculation regarding what Paul’s ailment was. Some say it was related to his eyesight (“had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me”), others advance different hypothesis. Suffice it to say, he was suffering, but even in his suffering, Paul persevered in preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, and even used it as a vehicle to preach.

In this letter, Paul reminds the Galatians that the Gentiles are saved as well as those Jews who accepted Christ as the Messiah, and that people only become right with God and achieve salvation and the forgiveness of their sins by faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose for them. He reminds them, and us, that we do not achieve our own salvation by doing good works. Rather, because Jesus has redeemed us, out of love we do what Christ would have us do, that being to love God, neighbor and self.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. In your daily prayers, please remember everyone on our prayer list and also remember Sherman Boyer, Carol Hogan, Hanna Clanton who is considering ordained ministry, and all of the visitors who came to Eucharist yesterday.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: 12 June 2010

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Open My Lips, and My Mouth Will Sing Your Praise

One of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 51. It is an earnest prayer by a penitent who knows that he has failed to live as God would have him live; he has not been in a right relationship with God. The Psalmist prays:

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

God desires our hearts. God loves us, but God will never force us to love Him. God respects our decisions because He has gifted us with free will. God will never take that away from us. God respects that gift even when we use it to move away from him. Time and time again, God pursues us gently. God goes to great lengths to demonstrate His never end and faithful love for us, and the most remarkable is the gift of Jesus Christ, who loved us even crucified on a cross. The love of God for us sinners is borne out in the resurrection; death itself could not keep God’s love away from us. for this, we should be ever thankful. You and I, along with the Psalmist, can pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. … O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: A big thank you to Bill Taylor who earlier in the week informed the Building Committee that he a friend of his would donate a 6 burner, grill top, double oven commercial range. He met with the contractor yesterday to make arrangements to have it installed. When you see Bill, please let him know how much we appreciate what he has been able to accomplish. We will also write a letter to the donor thanking him for this gift and I would like as many people as possible from the congregation to sign it.

As part of the construction contract, the contractor will also install an ice maker (65 pound capacity) and a dish washer, and of course, a refrigerator.

PRAYER LIST: Please remember to pray for everyone on our prayer list, especially, Betty Head and her family, Tammie Taylor, Peggy Tuthill and Cotele Singleton.
Adult Christian Formation: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else? In the nave from 11:00 to 11:30 on Sundays.

COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING: Sundays at 11:30 in the nave.

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: 12 June 2010

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

The Martyrs of Uganda

Today the Church remembers the martyrs of Uganda. They are the featured “Saints of the Month” in our June newsletter. On this day in 1886, 32 young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity. In the following months many other Christians throughout the country died by spear or fire for their faith.

One of the readings chosen for the day is from the Letter to the Hebrews, which was written to give strength and encouragement to those who were being persecuted:

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved. (Heb. 10: 32-39).

This passage from Hebrews could have been written directly to those who suffered for their faith in Uganda in 1886. God’s Word is like that; it is timeless. God’s Word speaks to people in all times and in all places. God’s Word is able to do that because God’s Word is eternal and because it speaks to the very depths of our souls, of who we were created to be, sons and daughters of God.

UPDATES:

Community Garden: To make the meetings more accessible, we will meet on Sundays after Adult Christian Formation which will now run from 11:00 to 11:30 and the Community Garden Meeting will start at 11:30.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton and Tammie Taylor.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Adult Christian Formation in the nave from 11:00 to 11:30 on Sundays: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

12 June: Gospel by the Sea.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

By Faith Alone, or You Can't Save Yourself

Today’s Epistle reading comes from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. In the second chapter, Paul writes:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. (Gal. 2: 15-21).

This was one of Paul’s big themes: you cannot effect your own salvation by following the law because you will always fall short of the law; therefore, your salvation comes from Christ alone who died for you. Salvation is a gift given freely by God to us out of love for us. Our role is to accept that gift and to love God who has given it to us. Acting out of love, we will do what God desires of us.

St. Augustine put it this way: “Love God and do as you please.” At first this sounds radical, but upon closer inspection it makes sense. If we truly love God, we will want to please God and not offend God; therefore, we will live according to God’s will and not our own.

Let us pray: Giving Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins so that we may have life in you through your Holy Spirit. Give us the strength to do what you would have us do in our daily lives. Amen.

UPDATES:

Community Garden: We had a good meeting yesterday at the Church at 7:00 p.m. It lasted about 2 hours, but we were able to get things rolling along. One of the things decided was to make the meeting more accessible; therefore, we will meet on Sundays after Adult Christian Formation which will now run from 11:00 to 11:30 and the Community Garden Meeting will start at 11:30.

Construction: We are entering the final stages. We meet yesterday at 11:00 a.m. at the Church with the contractor and the architect. The appliances will soon go into the kitchen, the tile work and the painting will begin. The new doors to the Church have been installed as well and will be painted red.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton and Tammie Taylor.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Adult Christian Formation in the nave from 11:00 to 11:30 on Sundays: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks? Or Maybe Something Else?

12 June: Gospel by the Sea.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Martyrs of Lyons, 177 A.D.

Today the Church remembers the martyrs of Lyons. Lesser Feasts and Fasts tells us that in the second century, after a brief respite, Christians in many parts of the Roman Empire were once again subjected to persecution. At Lyons and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which had drawn many Christians from Asia and Greece. They were living a devout life under the guidance of Pothinus, elderly Bishop of Lyons, when persecution began in 177.

At first, the Christians were socially excluded from Roman homes, the public baths, and the market place. Then insults, stones and blows came. Next, Christian homes were vandalized. Then the questioning began followed by imprisonment.

Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to extract public accusations that Christians practiced cannibalism, incest and other perversions. These false accusations were used to rouse the public so that everyone would turn against the Christians.

The fury of the mob fell most heavily on Sanctus, a deacon, Attalus Maturus, a recent convert, and Blandina, a slave. Blandina stood her ground announcing, “I am a Christian and nothing vile is done among us.” Sanctus was tortured with hot irons. Bishop Pothinus was badly beaten and died. The Roman governor decided to set aside several days to make a public spectacle of the Christians. On the last day, Blandina, burned with irons, was wrapped in a net and tossed about by a wild bull.

The collect of the day:

Grant, O Lord, that we who keep the feast of the holy martyrs Blandina and her companions may be rooted and grounded in love of you, and may endure the sufferings of this life for the glory that shall be revealed in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton and Tammie Taylor.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

12 June: Gospel by the Sea.

11:00 a.m. every Sunday in the nave, Adult Christian Formation: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks? Or Maybe Something Else?

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550