Today the Church remembers a deacon and defender of the faith in the Early Church, Ephrem of Edessa. James Kiefer writes:
Ephrem (or Ephren or Ephraim or Ephrain) of Edessa was a teacher, poet, orator, and defender of the Faith. (To English-speakers, the most familiar form of his name will be "Ephraim." It is the name of the younger son of Joseph, son of Jacob (see Genesis 41:52), and is thus the name of one of the largest of the twelve tribes of Israel.) Edessa (now Urfa), a city in modern Turkey about 100 kilometers from Antioch (now Antakya), was an early center for the spread of Christian teaching in the East. It is said that in 325 he accompanied his bishop, James of Nisibis, to the Council of Nicea. Certainly his writings are an eloquent defense of the Nicene faith in the Deity of Jesus Christ. He countered the Gnostics' practice of spreading their message through popular songs by composing Christian songs and hymns of his own, with great effect. He is known to the Syrian church as "the harp of the Holy Spirit."
Ephrem retired to a cave outside Edessa, where he lived in great simplicity and devoted himself to writing. He frequently went into the city to preach. During a famine in 372-3 he worked distributing food to the hungry, and organizing a sort of ambulance service for the sick. He worked long hours at this, and became exhausted and sick, and so died.
Of his writings there remain 72 hymns, commentaries on the Old and New Testaments, and numerous sermons.
Let us pray: 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.
MARGARET BIEHL COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS
Karen Lehr writes: We have tomatoes! okra! baby cantaloupe! Wow! It is time to fertilize again if you haven't done so for the last 4-6 weeks.
Have you noticed that Katina put up a hose reel and a whiteboard (that is inside the shed and will have garden updates)? She also trimmed the palm tree, and it looks MUCH better.
I've put stakes with plant names in the approximate places where we will hopefully be planting them in the fall after all the soil is moved and drainage issues addressed, the weather moderates, and we have more funds.
Speaking of funds, we have been invited to submit a grant proposal again this year to First Presbyterian's Outreach Fund. We received $3000 from them last year. This involves matching funds on our part.
Happy gardening!
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Art Classes with Lee Runion: Saturday, 11 June from 10 a.m. until 12 noon where Lee will lead everyone in making Father’s Day cards.
Remember this Sunday is Pentecost. Please wear red. We will also have a special procession for children of all ages and those who are young at heart. If you wish to participate in the procession please contact Lee Runion at 409.539.4632.
Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who serve in our armed forces at home and abroad, those who are ill, and those who are shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Ephrem (or Ephren or Ephraim or Ephrain) of Edessa was a teacher, poet, orator, and defender of the Faith. (To English-speakers, the most familiar form of his name will be "Ephraim." It is the name of the younger son of Joseph, son of Jacob (see Genesis 41:52), and is thus the name of one of the largest of the twelve tribes of Israel.) Edessa (now Urfa), a city in modern Turkey about 100 kilometers from Antioch (now Antakya), was an early center for the spread of Christian teaching in the East. It is said that in 325 he accompanied his bishop, James of Nisibis, to the Council of Nicea. Certainly his writings are an eloquent defense of the Nicene faith in the Deity of Jesus Christ. He countered the Gnostics' practice of spreading their message through popular songs by composing Christian songs and hymns of his own, with great effect. He is known to the Syrian church as "the harp of the Holy Spirit."
Ephrem retired to a cave outside Edessa, where he lived in great simplicity and devoted himself to writing. He frequently went into the city to preach. During a famine in 372-3 he worked distributing food to the hungry, and organizing a sort of ambulance service for the sick. He worked long hours at this, and became exhausted and sick, and so died.
Of his writings there remain 72 hymns, commentaries on the Old and New Testaments, and numerous sermons.
Let us pray: 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.
MARGARET BIEHL COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS
Karen Lehr writes: We have tomatoes! okra! baby cantaloupe! Wow! It is time to fertilize again if you haven't done so for the last 4-6 weeks.
Have you noticed that Katina put up a hose reel and a whiteboard (that is inside the shed and will have garden updates)? She also trimmed the palm tree, and it looks MUCH better.
I've put stakes with plant names in the approximate places where we will hopefully be planting them in the fall after all the soil is moved and drainage issues addressed, the weather moderates, and we have more funds.
Speaking of funds, we have been invited to submit a grant proposal again this year to First Presbyterian's Outreach Fund. We received $3000 from them last year. This involves matching funds on our part.
Happy gardening!
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Art Classes with Lee Runion: Saturday, 11 June from 10 a.m. until 12 noon where Lee will lead everyone in making Father’s Day cards.
Remember this Sunday is Pentecost. Please wear red. We will also have a special procession for children of all ages and those who are young at heart. If you wish to participate in the procession please contact Lee Runion at 409.539.4632.
Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who serve in our armed forces at home and abroad, those who are ill, and those who are shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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