A Jail Break!

The story of the Early Church continues with the reading from the Acts of the Apostles today, and we read about the brutality of King Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, who has James, the Son of Zebedee and the brother of John (you may recall Jesus called them the “Sons of Thunder”), killed, and Peter is arrested, but God has a surprise for him:

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place. (Acts 12:1-17).

God has a way of surprising His people. When we least expect it, God brings something good our way. Here is the young Christian community. James is beheaded by King Herod Agrippa. Peter is arrested. Things are looking pretty grim, and you can just see the Christians’ heads hanging low. Then, what happens? Peter is tapped on the side by God’s messenger waking him, and the angel says: “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. God orchestrates a jail break! Peter couldn’t believe it. Was he dreaming? No, he wasn’t; he was out of prison. Then he goes to his fellow Christians, and they can’t believe it. Peter is out of jail! Just when things looked to be at their worst, God has a way of coming in and making things right. Jesus did it--first the crucifixion, then the Resurrection. Now God surprises Peter and the other believers. God does it for us too. Be on the lookout, just when things seem to be at their grimmest, God will surprise you with His love and generosity, maybe even breaking us out of the chains that hold us bound.

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.

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.

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.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, 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

According to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea.

Today’s Daily Office reading continues with the Acts of the Apostles. We are in the eleventh chapter of Acts. After Stephen’s death and the ensuing persecution, some of the Apostles went to preach the Good News to the Gentiles (“the Hellenists”). Given the reference to Claudius, this most likely took place in 46 A.D. Luke writes:

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians”.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11: 19-30).

God’s Word knows no bounds. It is open to Jews and Gentiles alike; people who at one time would not readily associate with each other. In the face of hardship, the “Christians” (“the followers of Christ”), “determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” They helped each other; they shared what they had with those who were in need. The Kingdom of God was happening in their midst. These Jews and Gentiles have one thing in common, they are followers of Christ. Even though their cultures said that they should not associate, they are joined together by Christ. God’s Word knows no bounds.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE ST. AUGUSTINE’S FEAST DAY A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS! A special thanks to the Gaskins, the Guidrys, the Taylors, Pat Tate and everyone else who worked so hard to make Saturday evening a true celebration of our history and our future. What a wonderful weekend this was! We had about 165 people for dinner on Saturday evening to dedicate the new facilities to the glory of God and in honor of Fr. William Bright-Davies and Fr. Fred Sutton. Sunday’s Eucharist culminated the festivities as we shared the Heavenly Banquet in the Body and Blood of Christ with the Revs. Helen Appelberg, Kern Huff and Pam Matthews.

A CHALLENGE: Bob Newding has offered a challenge! He has graciously said that he would purchase 50 stackable chairs for Sutton Hall if we could raise the funds to purchase 50 stackable chairs. If you are willing to take Bob’s challenge, please let me know.

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.

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.

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.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, 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

Christ Lives, So Do We

The big day is here! On Saturday, 28 August 2010, nearly two years after the devastation of Hurricane Ike, on the feast day of St. Augustine, we will dedicate the rebuilt Parish Hall and the Education Wing.

At St. Augustine, we take very seriously the words from the Letter to the Hebrews: "Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Heb. 13: 1-2.

Come and celebrate with us. Celebrate the feast day of our patron Saint, the beautiful new buildings, and the fact that Jesus of Nazareth died for you and for me, and He was raised from the dead. We are a Resurrection people!

Let us pray: Lord God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: Help us, following the example of your servant Augustine of Hippo, so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

The Persecutor Becomes the Persecuted

Yesterday's reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounted Saul's conversion experience. Saul persecuted the Christians with vigor; he was there when the crowd murdered Stephen the deacon. Now Saul encounters the Risen Christ, and his life is changed forever, as so is Christianity. Today we read about Saul's experience after his conversion:

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus* was the Messiah.

After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:19-31).

Now the converted Saul cannot help but to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the authorities are out to get him now. The persecutor becomes the persecuted, and those that Saul once persecuted help him escape the clutches of the authorities. The last line of today's passage is very powerful: "Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." The Church, the Body of Christ, is in peace and it is growing by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is something for us to contemplate. In the midst of adversity, the Church can grow if we are faithful to the message of Christ and are open to the working of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, when we face trouble, when we face difficult times, be with us as we preach Your Word, and may we be open to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.

REMINDERS:

St. Augustine's Feast Day, this weekend with dinner on Saturday, the 28th of August at 6 p.m and continuing on Sunday with Eucharist at 9 a.m.

Your servant in Christ,

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

The Early Church: A Time of Excitement

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles finds Philip preaching the Good News and baptizing:

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 4: 26-40).

Reading about the Early Church is exciting to me. God’s angels, His messengers, send the Apostles here and then they are sent there. They are running from Jerusalem to Samaria back to Jerusalem and then to Gaza, all at the drop of a hat. They simply go to where they are called, and everywhere they go, they preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. People, like the Ethiopian eunuch, who kept the treasury for the queen of the Ethiopians, immediately converts and desires baptism. How exciting is that! Imagine the power of the Apostles’ presence, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people today would respond in the same way as the Ethiopian eunuch? Imagine a community so filled with the Holy Spirit that people flock to join.

Let us pray: Loving Father, send Your Holy Spirit to fill our hearts so that we may draw others to Jesus Christ. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Rev. Helen Appelberg will be with you this Sunday. Mary and I will be in West Texas checking in on my Mom and Dad.

St. Augustine Weekend:

Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m. dinner celebrating the new facilities and in honor of St. Augustine’s Feast Day. (We ordered a new “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign. Hopefully, it will arrive before the 28th.)

Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Rite II celebrating our patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Rally Day, Sunday 12 September 2010: Rally Day is a Sunday set aside, usually at the end of summer, where members of the Church are invited to join ministries within the Church, for example, Altar Guild, Fellowship, Education, Lectors, etc. Please join us for Rally Day.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, Liam Moloney, all of those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad and most especially those from St. Augustine, for those who are traveling, for the ill, and for 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

You Cannot Sell and Buy God's Grace

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about Peter and John going to Samaria, and the laying on of hands:

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”

Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. (Acts 8: 14-25).

Simon the Magician, whom we heard about yesterday, saw what power flowed from the laying on of hands, but he did not understand what the gift of the Holy Spirit it really meant. Simon offers Peter and John money for the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants to buy it, but God’s grace cannot be purchased. God’s love and mercy cannot be bought. It is a gift freely given. Simon failed to understand that.

There is a word which derives from Simon the Magician and this passage in Acts, “simony”. “Simony” is the making of profit out of sacred things, and the buying or selling of the sacraments. This was an issue which helped spark the Reformation (in the 1500s) when, with the blessing of Julius II and then Leo X, the Bishops of Rome (the Popes), the Roman Catholic Church sold “indulgences” which were a full or partial remission of temporal punishment (time in purgatory) due for sins which had already been forgiven in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). People would line up to buy an indulgence, a get out of purgatory free card. The purchaser would receive a document, no doubt suitable for framing, and he would be free from any punishment because of sin.

The money from the sale of indulgences was used for a building project, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome. The Reformers, Martin Luther of Germany in particular, saw the error in this and were very vocal against this practice. The Reformers, like the Apostles in Acts, knew that God’s grace is a gift freely given. The Reformers preached that those who were vested by the Church to confer blessing, namely priests and bishops, and who sell God’s free gifts were acting contrary to God’s infinite generosity.

Let us pray: Almighty God and Father, your gave us the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ who preached the forgiveness of sins and told the world of Your great love. You also gave us the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion and guide. Let us be ever thankful of the gifts You have freely bestowed on us and may we share Your gifts with others, not looking for return. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

St. Augustine Weekend:

Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m. dinner celebrating the new facilities and in honor of St. Augustine’s Feast Day. (We ordered a new “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign. Hopefully, it will arrive before the 28th.)

Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Rite II celebrating our patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Rally Day, Sunday 12 September 2010: Rally Day is a Sunday set aside, usually at the end of summer, where members of the Church are invited to join ministries within the Church, for example, Altar Guild, Fellowship, Education, Lectors, etc. Please join us for Rally Day.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, Liam Moloney, all of those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad and most especially those from St. Augustine, for those who are traveling, for the ill, and for 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

Proclaiming the Risen Christ to the World

Today’s daily reading continues in Chapter 8 of the Act of the Apostles, and we hear about Saul, who was there when they killed Stephen and his approval of the crowd’s actions:

And Saul approved of their killing him.

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. (Acts 8:1-13).

As so the persecution against the Christians began led by Saul of Tarsus. He went into people’s homes, rounded up the Christians and threw them into prison. But the Apostles did not hide; they went on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and doing His works. The Apostles went to Samaria, a region inhabited by mixed remnants of the northern tribes who worshiped God. Those who encountered the Apostles also had an encounter with Christ. Jesus touched their lives using the Apostles as His hands and feet and serving as witnesses to Christ's life, death and resurrection. The people they met were transformed by the love of Jesus.

How are our lives transformed by encountering the Risen Christ? Are you and I instruments of Christ’s transforming love? Where have we fallen short of being true witnesses to the power of the Resurrection in our lives? Have we opened our hearts to God's Grace in our lives?

Let us pray: Loving Father, open our hearts to receive the love that Jesus offers to us, and transform our lives by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we are formed into instruments of Jesus’ love. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

St. Augustine Weekend:

Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m. dinner celebrating the new facilities and in honor of St. Augustine’s Feast Day. (We ordered a new “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign. Hopefully, it will arrive before the 28th.)

Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Rite II celebrating our patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Rally Day: Sunday 12 September 2010: Rally Day is a Sunday set aside, usually at the end of summer, where members of the Church are invited to join ministries within the Church, for example, Altar Guild, Fellowship, Education, Lectors, etc.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, all of those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad and most especially those from St. Augustine, for those who are traveling, for the ill, and for 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

Decisions

Today we hear the end of Stephen’s speech to the Council and what the Council does to Stephen:

“Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling-place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’

You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. (Acts: 7:60-8:1).

Stephen was truthful with the Council. He recounted salvation history, and God’s constant movements toward Israel, and Israel’s constant rejection of God. Each time God sent someone to bring the Israelites back home, they rebelled and went their own way only to find that their approach always ended in disaster. They made very bad choices. Stephen called them to task on the choices they made. Their response: they silenced him; they killed him. Stephen is an example of courage; he was able to speak truth to power. He followed Christ to the end, even though his discipleship cost him his life. He could have remained quiet, on the sidelines, but he did not.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, may we speak truth to power as Stephen did without regard to the consequences.

Your servant in Christ,

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

When We Encounter God We Are Transformed

Stephen’s speech continues in today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles. He tells the authorities about Moses:

“But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die. At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house; and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.

When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand. The next day he came to some of them as they were quarrelling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. (Acts 7: 1-29).

The story was a familiar one to the authorities; it is familiar to us. But Stephen is reminding the authorities about the people God calls. We already heard about Abraham and today we hear about Moses, who was sent away by his mother so that his life might be spared from the sword of Pharaoh. Moses grows up in the house of the man who is enslaving his people. Moses is also a murderer. He killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a slave. Moses is a fugitive from Egyptian law. This is the man God calls to lead His people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. God encounters us where we are, but God does not expect us to stay there. An encounter with God transforms us.

Let us pray: Forgiving Father, Your Son Jesus greeted the sinner and embraced the fallen, but He called us to turn away from our failings and to turn to You. May the Holy Spirit enliven us to walk with Jesus who embraces us where we are, but leads us forward. Amen.


CALENDAR REMINDERS:

This Sunday, 15 August 2010, the Baptism of Hayden Blevins, at 9:00 a.m.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for the grants from the Anglican Compass Rose Society and First Presbyterian Church in Galveston

Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For all those who are traveling
For the intentions of everyone in the congregation

Your servant in Christ,

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

Angelic Faces

Today’s account from the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday when we met the first deacons in the Church. We read the story of Stephen, the first martyr:

And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” And Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’ Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child. And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and maltreat them for four hundred years. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

“The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. (Acts 6:15 – 7:16).

Note that the passage opens with a description of Stephen’s face; it was like an angel’s. “Angel” is an appropriate word because it simply means “messenger” (ανγηλως). Stephen recounts the message of salvation history starting with the call of Abraham.

Scripture is a love story between God and His people. In it, God continually chases after humankind, and we rebel time and time again. Although we are not faithful, God is. In tomorrow’s reading, we will hear more of Stephen’s speech to the Council.

Let us pray: Glorious Father, we ask you to help us become better angels, messengers, of the Good News of Jesus Christ; infuse our hearts with the Holy Spirit so that we may proclaim to all people Your faithfulness and forgiveness for those time when we are not faithful to the call in baptism you have given us. Amen.

NEWS:

Our Cambridge scholar, Valerie (Sherman Boyer’s granddaughter), has sent word back home; she is doing very well with two As and one B. Make us proud!

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., a youth group from Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Houston will be at St. Augustine to clean the furniture and finish the move in.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

This Sunday, 15 August 2010, the Baptism of Hayden Blevins, at 9:00 a.m.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanks giving for the grants from the Anglican Compass Rose Society and First Presbyterian Church in Galveston
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For all those who are traveling
For the intentions of everyone in the congregation

Your servant in Christ,

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

The Life of a Deacon

Today in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we read about the first deacons in the Church:

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6: 1-15).

The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word διάκονος (diakonos) which means “servant”. The deacons took care of those who had no one to care for them, like the widows. The role of the deacon is a special one, a servant and a prophetic voice calling for social justice. As we know, deacons still have a vital place in our Church today.

This year at the diaconate ordination in the Diocese of Texas, the Rev. Sam Todd preached. Here is a little of what he said about deacons:

You also in your person and by your ministry will be a prophetic reminder to us priests and bishops of the core of our calling. The misguided advocates of so-called per saltum ordination think it insulting to the diaconate that some people should pass through it on their way to other orders. But in fact no one does pass through the diaconate. Because the orders are not sequential but layered, the diaconate remains the foundation of all ordained ministry. . . .

The most important cleric in my life was Deacon Merrill Hutchins who taught me in high school and introduced me to the 19th century novel John Inglesant. I was much struck by a particular passage within it. A Benedictine named Cressy says to the title character: “I put before you your life, with no false colouring, no tampering with the truth. Come with me to [Haiti, he might have said] …There you shall teach the smallest children in the schools, and visit the poorest people, and perform the duties of the household – and all for Christ. I promise you on the faith of a gentleman and a priest – I promise you, for I have no shade of doubt – that in this path you shall find the satisfaction of the heavenly walk; you shall walk with Jesus day by day, growing ever more and more like to Him; and your path, without the least fall or deviation, shall lead more and more into the light, until you come unto the perfect day; and on your death-bed – the death-bed of a saint – the vision of the smile of God will sustain you, and Jesus Himself shall meet you at the gates of eternal life” (J. Henry Shorthouse, John Inglesant, A Romance, Scholarly Press, Chapter XIX, p. 203).

That is the life of a deacon.

Let us pray: O God, most merciful Father, we praise you for sending your Son Jesus Christ, who took on himself the form of a servant, and humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on the cross. We praise you that you have highly exalted him, and made him Lord of all; and that, through him, we know that whoever would be great must be servant of all. We praise you for the many ministries in your Church, and for calling this your servant to the order of deacons. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for the grants received from the Anglican Compass Rose Society and First Presbyterian Church in Galveston
Joyce Merritt who is undergoing cancer treatment after surgery
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For the intentions of everyone at St. Augustine
For all those who are traveling

Your servant in Christ,

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

St. Laurence: A Sense of Humor in the Face of Death

Today the Church remembers St. Laurence, deacon and martyr, who died on this day in 258 A.D. He was chief of the seven deacons in Rome. The deacons were in charge of administering the Church’s budget, particularly with regard to the care of the poor.

In 257, the Roman Emperor Valerian began a persecution aimed at the clergy and the laity of the upper classes. He confiscated the Church’s property, and he forbad Christians gathering. The bishop of Rome, Sixtus II, and most of his clergy were executed on 7 August 258. They got to Laurence a few days later on the 10th.

The Roman authorities had Laurence roasted alive. He must have had a wonderful sense of humor. During his execution, Laurence told his executioner, "You can turn me over; I'm done on this side." Laurence's courage made a great impression on the people of Rome, and made many converts, while greatly reducing among pagans the belief that Christianity was a socially undesirable movement that should be stamped out.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom: Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Joyce Merritt who is undergoing cancer treatment after surgery
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For the intentions of everyone at St. Augustine
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

“Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.”

In today’s account from the Acts of the Apostles, we read the story of the authorities’ continuing attempts to squelch the Christians:

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5: 12-26).

Peter and the Apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, so much so that even being in Peter’s shadow restores the sick to health. In the face of these good works, the authorities throw Peter and his companions in prison. However, the authorities’ fear and jealousy cannot keep the Good News locked up.

Are you and I so filled with the Holy Spirit that the Good News of Jesus Christ flows freely in what we say and what we do? What is the prison in our lives that tries to keep the Good News locked up? Let us pray for an angel of the Lord, God’s messenger, to open the jail cells of our hearts and minds so that we may be like Peter and his companions telling everyone we meet about what Jesus has done for all of humanity.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

Do We Deny the Truth?

The story in the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. The Jewish authorities, the very same ones who “dealt” with Jesus, are now trying to figure out what to do with Peter and John. They are dumbfounded, but then the authorities come up with a plan; tell them to keep quiet:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4: 13-31).

The authorities don’t know what to do. The miracle occurred; the people witnessed it. The lame man was standing before them healed. But they didn’t want Peter and John to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why? Because the authorities would lose their power. The authorities were so power hungry, so concerned for their petty fiefdoms, that they rejected what they knew to be true. The authorities “saw the man who had been cured standing beside them”, and “they had nothing to say in opposition.” What is more, they acknowledged that “it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.” Yet, they try to; they order Peter and John to be silent.

We have to ask ourselves, how could the leaders deny the truth before them especially when it was so plain, and they knew it? They knew it!

Perhaps, the better question for you and me is: do we deny the truth of Jesus’ saving and healing power in our lives even though we know it to be true, or do we proclaim it with boldness as did Peter and John?

Let us pray: Almighty God, Your mighty works are seen in creation around us. You have shown us the depth of Your love in Your Son Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross and rose to new life. Open our mouths to proclaim the truth of Your love and the wonders of the miracles in our lives, and make us ever more like Christ in our actions. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

You Cannot Kill the Truth

The story in the Acts of the Apostles continues today, and we see the aftermath of the healing of the lame man. You will recall some of the names in this passage, namely Annas and Caiaphas, who were present when Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. Luke writes:

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 1-12).

Annas and Caiaphas, the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus crucified, are now brought face to face with the reality and the power of the Resurrection. They had Jesus crucified thinking that it would all end, but try as they might, they cannot stop the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Standing before them now are Jesus’ disciples, those who ran away afraid when Jesus was arrested and crucified. They are now empowered to proclaim Jesus risen from the dead. No prison can stop Jesus’ disciples.

To be sure, there are forces in our world today which try to squelch the Truth of the Risen Christ. You and I are Jesus’ disciples now, and we are called to proclaim the power of His Resurrection not only with our lips, but in our lives, making the living Christ known to all. No earthly power or movement can kill the Risen Jesus. They tried it once before; it didn’t work. We are witnesses to that.

Let us pray: Living Father, You raised Jesus Christ from the dead after fear and hatred nailed Him to a cross; we pray that You breathe Your Holy Spirit into our souls so that we may proclaim the Risen Christ to the world and be living witnesses to the Resurrection. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

In Healing God's Saving Love Is Made Known

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. Peter and John just healed the lame man and now the crowds are gathering:

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3: 12-26).

Peter knows and acknowledges that the lame man was healed through the power of Jesus Christ, the very person that the leaders of Israel rejected. The lame man was healed to make known God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, who brings everyone into right relationship not only with God, but with our neighbors. God’s love restores health and wholeness. That is the message that Peter preaches to those who witnessed the healing of the lame man. Peter uses the healing as an invitation to those who witnessed it to put their faith in Jesus.

Let us pray: Healing Father, You restored us to life in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit sanctify us and open our hearts and minds to see the healing work done in our lives by Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

God Surprises Us With His Generosity

Today in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the works of healing performed by Peter and John:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. (Acts 3: 1-11).

Imagine the lame man’s surprise. There he was expecting a few coins, and his health was restored. He expected little, and gained a lot. You and I can be that way as well. Sometimes we expect little from God. Sometimes we don’t know how to ask or are even afraid to ask God. Everything is possible with God. When we least expect a miracle in our lives, God, in His loving generosity, gives us an abundance of graces. Just ask, and you’ll be surprised too.

Let us pray: Loving Father, sometime in our ignorance we do not know how to ask or in our blindness we are afraid to ask. You gave us the gift of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray that perfect prayer, “Your will be done.” Send Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to Your graciousness and fill us with Your life and holiness making us ever more like Christ and seeking Your will every day in our lives. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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

All Who Believed Were Together and Had All Things in Common

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a glimpse into the early community of Christians, and the impact that the Good News had on their lives. Today, we hear how they lived:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:38-47).

When I read this, I cannot help but see what the Holy Spirit is doing at St. Augustine’s. Take for example this weekend. On Saturday, the UBE Youth came to visit St. Augustine to learn the history of the community established 126 years ago. People from the congregation shared their stories. We prayed Morning Prayer together, and we ate breakfast as a community. Then the youth went to St. Vincent’s House to share their time and talents by painting a mural. On Sunday, we celebrated the Eucharist together, offered prayers in thanksgiving for the good work done by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Relief and Development and for Nikki, who made us a part of her life, and blessed her on her way. Then we all shared what we had with one another and the result was a feast! You and I are living in the Acts of the Apostles. Let us rejoice and be glad.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we thank you for sharing Your Son, Jesus Christ with us, who saved us from our sins and restored us to relationship with You. Send Your Holy Spirit to infuse our lives with love for You and one another as we devote ourselves to praising You and growing in faith and love. Amen.

THANK YOU to everyone who made yesterday such a wonderful and tasty event! Dick and Lisa McGonigle broke in the smoker, and the chicken and ribs were delicious, not to mention everything else people brought to share. Not only did people bring food to share, but the Kitchen Shower was a success and has provided the community with a well stocked kitchen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration, Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Russ Viska who had a double bypass
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery from cancer surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

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