Today’s Daily Office New Testament reading is taken from the second chapter of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we see a Spirit filled Peter preaching:
‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”
‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ”
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ (Acts 2: 22-36).
Peter tells the crowd that God raised Jesus up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. God does the very same thing for you and for me. Make no mistake about it, you and I share in the resurrection of Jesus, and during this time of Pentecost we remember that the Holy Spirit is poured forth upon us to be witnesses to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Don't live as if we were dead people walking! Live knowing that Jesus has redeemed you, and now the enemies of sin and death are Jesus' footstool. Jesus has elevated you to be a child of the Father who made Jesus Lord and Messiah and who raised him from the dead. So put a smile on your face and go forth rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Let us pray: Almighty God, on the feast of Pentecost you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday, 19 June is Father’s Day. Don’t forget Dad! We will have a special breakfast by Idell and Alicia for all of the dads at St. Augustine on Father’s Day. Let us pray for our fathers: Loving Father, we pray that our earthly fathers may imitate the manly courage of Abraham, Jesse and Joseph, and all the holy fathers of the past in providing wise counsel to the children you have given to their care. And may our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people throughout the world. Amen.
Opportunities for Ministry: Altar Guild (every Sunday), Art Classes (as announced on Saturdays), Community Garden (continuing), Fellowship Breakfasts (every Sunday), Food for St. Vincent’s House (continuing), Nets for Life, Prayer Shawls (continuing), S.A.S.S. (every Thursday for those impacted by HIV/AIDS) and St. Augustine History Project (continuing).
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Gladys, Pat, Cindi, Liz, Tom, all of the men and women of our armed forces serving at home and abroad, and all of those who are alone and shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”
‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ”
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ (Acts 2: 22-36).
Peter tells the crowd that God raised Jesus up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. God does the very same thing for you and for me. Make no mistake about it, you and I share in the resurrection of Jesus, and during this time of Pentecost we remember that the Holy Spirit is poured forth upon us to be witnesses to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Don't live as if we were dead people walking! Live knowing that Jesus has redeemed you, and now the enemies of sin and death are Jesus' footstool. Jesus has elevated you to be a child of the Father who made Jesus Lord and Messiah and who raised him from the dead. So put a smile on your face and go forth rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Let us pray: Almighty God, on the feast of Pentecost you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday, 19 June is Father’s Day. Don’t forget Dad! We will have a special breakfast by Idell and Alicia for all of the dads at St. Augustine on Father’s Day. Let us pray for our fathers: Loving Father, we pray that our earthly fathers may imitate the manly courage of Abraham, Jesse and Joseph, and all the holy fathers of the past in providing wise counsel to the children you have given to their care. And may our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people throughout the world. Amen.
Opportunities for Ministry: Altar Guild (every Sunday), Art Classes (as announced on Saturdays), Community Garden (continuing), Fellowship Breakfasts (every Sunday), Food for St. Vincent’s House (continuing), Nets for Life, Prayer Shawls (continuing), S.A.S.S. (every Thursday for those impacted by HIV/AIDS) and St. Augustine History Project (continuing).
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Gladys, Pat, Cindi, Liz, Tom, all of the men and women of our armed forces serving at home and abroad, and all of those who are alone and shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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