Today we hear from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many. (2 Cor.: 1-11).
Sometimes things are hard, even for saints, sometimes, especially for saints. Today Paul tells us about such a time, a time when he was “unbearably crushed” so that he even “despaired of life itself.” No doubt that each of us has felt that way at one time or another. I have no doubt that each of us has felt that we “had received a sentence of death”. Paul reminds us that during those times, we realize that we cannot rely on ourselves, but on God alone, “who raises the dead.” Paul reminds us to “set our hope that he will rescue us again”. And God does. Time after time, God comes to rescue us in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Let us pray: Loving Father, we come before you in thanksgiving for all that you have done for us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Time after time, you raise us when we are in the depths of despair. Send Your Holy Spirit to be our constant companion during good times and in bad. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
REVIVAL! In the Episcopal Church? Sound a bit far-fetched? Not when you hear what The Very Rev. Rob Wright is suggesting. Rob is the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta and an inspiring speaker on revivals, renewal and our Christian call to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. And, he is going to be with us on February 25 and 26. Hosted by the Galveston Convocation of Episcopal Churches, Rob will be at St. Thomas in Nassau Bay on Friday evening from 7:00-9:00 and at St. Christopher’s, in League City, on Saturday morning, February 26, from 9:00-12:30 to discuss with us how we can more effectively respond to that call. And you are invited.
In these days in which mainstream denominations and their people are struggling, St. Paul’s in Atlanta is thriving. What are they doing that we might find helpful? Come be part of this discussion and see. Rob was with us at our Annual Clergy Conference in October and quickly became the talk of the Conference. His style is inviting, plainspoken and equally applicable to all Christians. As a sign of the effect he has on groups of people his first workshop at Clergy Conference attracted 20-25 people - about average for the workshops. The next morning at the second session, folks having heard all the buzz the night before, there was an overflow crowd of 75+ people, spilling out into the hallway. He’s good, real good.
If you are available on either Friday evening or Saturday morning, better yet both, come see for yourself. You won’t be sorry; it will be time well spent.
HISTORY PROJECT. As discussed this Sunday, this month we celebrate Black History month. It is a time to remember the shoulders of those we stand upon who have been courageous in their fight for equality and freedom. St. Augustine's is an integral part of that history not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the State of Texas. As a tribute to those who have come before us, and as a blessed reminder to those who will come after us, we are duty bound to capture the stories of the people who have made up St. Augustine. I would ask that you collect the stories of your families, photos and news articles so that we may record the treasures that are in our midst. Thank you to Idell Guidry who brought photos from fashions shows in year's past.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
MARDI GRAS FUN AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S on FAT TUESDAY, 8 MARCH: Welcome a new tradition at St. Augustine's for Fat Tuesday, a true Mardi Gras celebration to be inaugurated by a famous Mardi Gras King and his Queen at St. Augustine’s!
Clothing is still welcome for the people of Lord of the Streets.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Karen Lehr.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many. (2 Cor.: 1-11).
Sometimes things are hard, even for saints, sometimes, especially for saints. Today Paul tells us about such a time, a time when he was “unbearably crushed” so that he even “despaired of life itself.” No doubt that each of us has felt that way at one time or another. I have no doubt that each of us has felt that we “had received a sentence of death”. Paul reminds us that during those times, we realize that we cannot rely on ourselves, but on God alone, “who raises the dead.” Paul reminds us to “set our hope that he will rescue us again”. And God does. Time after time, God comes to rescue us in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Let us pray: Loving Father, we come before you in thanksgiving for all that you have done for us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Time after time, you raise us when we are in the depths of despair. Send Your Holy Spirit to be our constant companion during good times and in bad. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
REVIVAL! In the Episcopal Church? Sound a bit far-fetched? Not when you hear what The Very Rev. Rob Wright is suggesting. Rob is the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta and an inspiring speaker on revivals, renewal and our Christian call to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. And, he is going to be with us on February 25 and 26. Hosted by the Galveston Convocation of Episcopal Churches, Rob will be at St. Thomas in Nassau Bay on Friday evening from 7:00-9:00 and at St. Christopher’s, in League City, on Saturday morning, February 26, from 9:00-12:30 to discuss with us how we can more effectively respond to that call. And you are invited.
In these days in which mainstream denominations and their people are struggling, St. Paul’s in Atlanta is thriving. What are they doing that we might find helpful? Come be part of this discussion and see. Rob was with us at our Annual Clergy Conference in October and quickly became the talk of the Conference. His style is inviting, plainspoken and equally applicable to all Christians. As a sign of the effect he has on groups of people his first workshop at Clergy Conference attracted 20-25 people - about average for the workshops. The next morning at the second session, folks having heard all the buzz the night before, there was an overflow crowd of 75+ people, spilling out into the hallway. He’s good, real good.
If you are available on either Friday evening or Saturday morning, better yet both, come see for yourself. You won’t be sorry; it will be time well spent.
HISTORY PROJECT. As discussed this Sunday, this month we celebrate Black History month. It is a time to remember the shoulders of those we stand upon who have been courageous in their fight for equality and freedom. St. Augustine's is an integral part of that history not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the State of Texas. As a tribute to those who have come before us, and as a blessed reminder to those who will come after us, we are duty bound to capture the stories of the people who have made up St. Augustine. I would ask that you collect the stories of your families, photos and news articles so that we may record the treasures that are in our midst. Thank you to Idell Guidry who brought photos from fashions shows in year's past.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
MARDI GRAS FUN AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S on FAT TUESDAY, 8 MARCH: Welcome a new tradition at St. Augustine's for Fat Tuesday, a true Mardi Gras celebration to be inaugurated by a famous Mardi Gras King and his Queen at St. Augustine’s!
Clothing is still welcome for the people of Lord of the Streets.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Karen Lehr.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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