Today is the eve of the Epiphany. The feast of the Epiphany is when Christ was made manifest to all people. If you stop to think about it, it is, in a way, a celebration of welcoming. The appointed Epistle reading for the eve of the Epiphany is taken from Paul’s Letter to the Romans:
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rm. 15: 7-13).
Welcome one another just as Christ welcomed you. Christ came not only to the Chosen People, but the Gentiles. Jesus came for everyone, not just a select few. If Christ came for everyone, then you and I as followers of Christ must welcome everyone, even those whom others do not welcome. Christ becomes manifest to the world when we welcome others as he did.
Let us pray: Gracious Lord, open our hearts to everyone we meet. Open our eyes to see you in those we meet. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
6 January 2011 at 6 p.m.: We will feed about 30 volunteers who are working with The Episcopal Diocese of Texas Relief and Development. Please let me know what you will be bringing to this event. We have a reputation to keep up; thus far, St. Augustine’s is everyone’s favorite for food.
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 all children throughout the world who are suffering, Randy Furlong, 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
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rm. 15: 7-13).
Welcome one another just as Christ welcomed you. Christ came not only to the Chosen People, but the Gentiles. Jesus came for everyone, not just a select few. If Christ came for everyone, then you and I as followers of Christ must welcome everyone, even those whom others do not welcome. Christ becomes manifest to the world when we welcome others as he did.
Let us pray: Gracious Lord, open our hearts to everyone we meet. Open our eyes to see you in those we meet. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
6 January 2011 at 6 p.m.: We will feed about 30 volunteers who are working with The Episcopal Diocese of Texas Relief and Development. Please let me know what you will be bringing to this event. We have a reputation to keep up; thus far, St. Augustine’s is everyone’s favorite for food.
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 all children throughout the world who are suffering, Randy Furlong, 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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