Friday, January 7, 2011

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with cancer, and today is his first day of chemo. What is more than that, his wife has an interview today for a job. These friends are also friends of St. Augustine: Randy and Caroline Furlong, the artist who gifted us with the icon of St. Augustine.

The Holy Spirit is at work today. When I picked up the Daily Office, one of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 103. I would ask that you pray this Psalm along with me for Randy and Caroline as they start this journey today:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO FED THE VOLUNTEERS AT WILLIAM TEMPLE LAST NIGHT!

CHOIR PRACTICE FOR THE PRESIDING BISHOP’S VISIT- WHAT A WONDERFUL SOUND. I was present at the Galveston Heritage Chorale last night at their practice at the Church, and they sound absolutely wonderful.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

9 January 2011: The Baptism of the Lord. We will also celebrate the Epiphany with King Cake that Sunday provided by Rose Daniels. The Annual Parish meeting will also be held with an election for 2 Bishop’s Committee persons and a delegate to send to the 162nd Diocesan Council. Rehearsal for the Presiding Bishop’s historic visit to St. Augustine will take place after the Annual Parish Meeting.

16 January 2011: the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and Bishop Doyle will visit St. Augustine. We will have two clean-up days prior to her arrival. We will also have a rehearsal on Sunday, 9 January 2011 after the Annual Meeting.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially, Randy, Caroline, Cindi, Carol, Lee, John, Bob for a speedy recovery from surgery, Jerry Runion and Pat Williams who is in ICU.

Your servant in Christ,

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

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