"Lord, thank you for the gift of rain."

One of the appointed Psalms for today is the 77th Psalm, and verses 17 and 18:

The clouds poured out water;
the skies thundered;
your arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.

What a welcome relief the rains yesterday and early this morning were! In the midst of this draught, the earth and its foliage were refreshed and renewed. Sometimes we take the small things in life for granted, the small things like rain. However, when it is absent for a long season, we remember how precious it is and what a gift from God it is. Today, let’s give thanks for the gift of rain!

Let us pray: O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works, and today especially for the gift of rain; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS & UPCOMING EVENTS

The Third Annual Art Show, starts Saturday evening, the 24th of September. Please sign up to host. The annual art show allows us to share our facilities with others and to showcase the creativity of artists.

New Women’s Bible Study begins this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in Sutton Hall. Please join Jillian Bain for this prayerful study of Scripture.

ST. VINCENT'S HOUSE: It began in 1954 as a small outreach ministry of St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church to the youth and residents “north of Broadway.” St. Vincent’s House has become an urban mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and a recognized Jubilee Ministry. This Saturday, the 24th of September at 10 a.m. the pre-school at St. Vincent’s House will be re-dedicated and the Second Annual Afreda Houston Community Servant Award. Then join us on Sunday, 25 September at the 9 a.m. Eucharist at St. Augustine as we celebrate the ministry of St. Vincent’s House. The preacher will be the Rev. Tom Bain.

St. Augustine is going green (with our coffee cups). In order to cut down on the use of Styrofoam cups, please bring a coffee cup for the Fellowship hour, and maybe even 2 or 3 to share with our visitors. We will store them in Sutton Hall and wash them in our dishwasher.

REPORT FROM THE BISHOP’S COMMITTEE MEETING: We had a fruitful meeting yesterday. The Building Committee (Pat Tate, chair; Bob Newding and Mike Lidstone) provided us with a very thorough report regarding some areas that need attention, and given limited financial resources, prioritized them for action. One of the first action items is the roof over the sacristy which needs to be replaced. The second concerns the A/C system in the church and the need for large air returns. The Committee also authorized Bill Taylor to enter into a contract with TES for a lower price per kilowatt hour for our electrical use. We have also sent to the Diocese our Missionary Asking ($2534) and the Diocesan Budget Assessment ($1981). Out of our total assessment of $6908, our only remaining financial obligation to the Diocese this year is our portion of the insurance costs for the Diocese ($2393).

CLOTHING DRIVE FOR VICTIMS OF THE WILDFIRES: We will begin a clothing drive for the victims of the wildfires, especially the people of Bastrop and Calvary Episcopal. Please bring only CLEAN CLOTHES, SORT THEM BY SIZE, MALE/FEMALE, AND BOX THEM. Thank you in advance.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Tammie’s father who is recovering from surgery, for all parishes with search committees as they seek new rectors, for all of those suffering from the wildfires, and in thanksgiving for all that God has done for us.

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” —Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Your servant in Christ,

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