Jesus Takes Us Where He Finds Us, But He Doesn't Expect Us To Stay There

Today the appointed New Testament reading from the Daily Office is taken from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. We read about Paul’s conversion experience:

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9: 1-9).

We find Saul (Paul) “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Paul felt threatened by the Christians. Paul was fearful of the Christians. Jesus finds Saul in this state on the road to Damascus. On the road to destroy the Christians, Saul meets the Risen Christ; he meets Jesus where he least expects him. Jesus takes Saul and he meets him, but Jesus does not expect Saul to continue “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Saul is in for some big changes. His life will never be the same.

Jesus does the same with you and me. He takes us where he finds us, but Jesus does not expect us to stay there. Jesus expects us to give up our sinful lives, then follow him wherever he may lead us.

Let us pray: O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who is continuing to recover from surgery.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Sts. Peter & Paul: An Example to Remember

Today the Church celebrates Sts. Peter and Paul. Anyone who thinks the Early Church was always in agreement does not know about these two men. Peter and Paul disagreed. They disagreed about what Gentiles who became believers should do. Paul calls Peter a hypocrite for siding with James on the issue. Peter seems to be caught between two extremes with sympathy for both; James believed that anyone who became a Christian must subscribe to the Jewish customs; Paul believed that no obstacles should be placed in the way of non-Jewish converts. See Acts 15; Gal. 2: 11-21. Nevertheless, they did agreed on the core of their faith, that being that Jesus was the Son of God who gave his life for their sins, should them the Father's forgiveness, and was raised from the dead--Jesus Christ is Lord. In the end, the dispute was resolved when the Church came together and discussed the issue and sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their story is always something to keep in mind.

Let us pray: Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is 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

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who is continuing to recover from surgery.

Your servant in Christ,

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

St. Irenaeus: Bishop & Defender of the Faith

Today the Church remembers and honors someone from the Early Church, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (in France) who lived from about 125 A.D. to 202 A.D. He was born in Smyrna in Asia Minor. Irenaeus studied under Bishop Polycarp, who in turn had been a disciple of John the Apostle.

Irenaeus was made bishop of Lyons in about 178. His saw his main ministry in the refutation of gnosticism (a belief which essentially holds that those in the “know” with secret knowledge will be saved), and to this end he wrote his major work Against Heresies, in which also sought to expound and defend the faith.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who upheld your servant Irenaeus with strength to maintain the truth against every blast of vain doctrine: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in your true religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who is recovering from her successful surgery done yesterday.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Cornelius Hill

In 2009, the Episcopal Church provisionally adopted the commemoration of Cornelius Hill. He lived from 1843-1907. Hill was ordained to diaconate 27 June 1895, and to priesthood in 1903. He was the last of the old Oneida chiefs in Wisconsin. Having been an “interpreter” for Episcopal services, he was ordained by Bishop Grafton. His wisdom and sanctity are still revered by the Oneida.

Let us pray: Everliving Lord, our loving God, you raised up your priest Cornelius Hill, last hereditary chief of the Oneida nation, to shepherd and defend his people against attempts to scatter them in the wilderness: Help us, like him, to be dedicated to truth and honor, that we may come to that blessed state you have prepared for us; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Bishop's Committee had a productive meeting yesterday:

(1) We started planning for St. Augustine's Day this year. The consensus of the Committee was to do a pot luck meal and to have a dance.

(2) The Committee also discussed window coverings for Sutton Hall, and after reviewing samples, it was decided to get an estimate on wooden blinds that would match the overhead ceiling beam.

(3) The ECW will meet in the old parish hall which will be renamed THE CAIN PARLOR.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who went into surgery this morning.

Your servant in Christ,

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

"But I am among you as one who serves. "

The Gospel reading appointed for today is taken from the Gospel according to Luke. The Apostles’ discussion sounds like discussions that we might have heard (or even been a part of) at home, in the workplace, or heaven forbid, in church:

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk. 22: 24-30).

Sound familiar? Not much has really changed from the Apostles’ day to our own. People want to be on top of the heap; people want to win. But what does it really get you. Jesus tells them that a life of service is what counts.

Bishop Doyle just ordained 11 deacons last Saturday at Christ Church Cathedral. The preacher for the ordination was Bishop J. Scott Mayers of the Diocese of Northwest Texas. He challenged the ordinands and those in the congregation by asking: “Do you have what it takes to lose?” Jesus does not ask us do we have what it takes to win, but whether we are open to being vulnerable, to join with the cultural “losers”, to have the humility and the faith to put ourselves in Christ’s hands who has what it take to lose as we can see in Jesus’ cross. What it takes is love.

At St. Augustine, we have numerous opportunities to serve: 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).

Let us pray: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son 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

26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost and traditional jazz by Chosen Vessels.

26 June 2011, Bishop’s Committee Meeting in Sutton Hall during the Fellowship hour.

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill.

Your servant in Christ,

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

St. Alban, the First Martyr in Britain

Today the Church remembers and honors St. Alban from the British Isles who is considered to be the first martyr in Britain who died during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian around the year 304. (Some scholars now date his death around 209 during the persecution under the Emperor Septimius Severus).

Alban was a pagan, and a soldier in the Roman Army. During a persecution, Alban hid a priest in his house. The priest made such a great impression on him that Alban received instructions and became a Christian himself.

In the meantime, the governor had been told that the priest was hiding in Alban’s house, and he sent his soldiers to capture him. But Alban changed clothes with his guest, and gave himself up in his stead. The judge was furious when he found out that the priest had escaped and he said to Alban, “You will get the punishment he was to get unless you worship the gods.” Alban answered that he would never worship those false gods again. The judge asked: “To what family do you belong?” “That does not concern you,” Alban responded. “If you want to know my religion, I am a Christian.” Angrily the judge commanded him again to sacrifice to the gods at once. “Your sacrifices are offered to devils,” answered Alban.

Since he was getting nowhere, the judge had Alban whipped. Then he commanded him to be beheaded. On the way to the place of execution, the soldier who was to execute Alban was converted himself, and he too, became a martyr.

Let us pray: Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost and traditional jazz by Chosen Vessels.

26 June 2011, Bishop’s Committee Meeting in Sutton Hall during the Fellowship hour.

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Withstanding the Test of Time

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday with the Apostles in prison. Now they are brought before the high priest:

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. Then he said to them, ‘Fellow-Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’

They were convinced by him, and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. (Acts 5:27-42).

The high priest says to the Apostles: “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” You can feel the fear in the words. But Gamaliel steps forth. (You may recall that Saul, later Paul, was taught by Gamaliel.) He has the voice of reason; there is no fear in his voice. He basically says: “If God is behind this you won’t be able to stop it. Time will tell.”

Here we are over 2000 years later talking about it. The Apostles’ teaching has withstood the test of time, and the Good News of Jesus is proclaimed in all parts of the world. Gamaliel was right!

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for the Apostles whom you called to preach the Gospel to the world. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost and traditional jazz by Chosen Vessels.

26 June 2011, Bishop’s Committee Meeting in Sutton Hall during the Fellowship hour.

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill.

Your servant in Christ,

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

The Isolating Power of Fear

In this season after Pentecost, we hear from the Acts of the Apostles. Today, we hear about how powerful fear can be in people’s lives:

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.’ When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, ‘We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5: 12-26).

The Holy Spirit is at work after Pentecost. People are being healing left and right; miracle after miracle is taking place. In the midst of healing, the "high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.” Jealousy is a form of fear; it is fear of being displaced. It is amazing how much power fear can have in our lives. Fear closes us up; we focus totally on ourselves. Living life in fear destroys the joy of life. Fear, in many instances, is needless. The Evil One loves it when we live in fear because he has us right where he wants us—closed off from others, desperate to cling to what we perceived as being valuable, perceived power, perceived affection or perceived freedom.

Notice how God deals with fear—He banishes it. The Apostles are put in prison, but the fear of the high priest and the Sadducees cannot hold the Apostles in chains. God literally frees them from the prison.

In this season after Pentecost, be open to the Holy Spirit; be open to life and all that it has to offer. Do not let yourself live in fear, but pray for the grace of God to open your heart to receive the power of God’s liberating love.

Let us pray: Almighty God, you sent Your Son into the world so that we might have life; free us from the power of fear with the presence of Your Holy Spirit so that we might become more fully alive in You who are one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you to everyone who made Father’s Day special at St. Augustine. The food was great, and there were plenty of leftovers.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost and traditional jazz by Chosen Vessels.

26 June 2011, Bishop’s Committee Meeting in Sutton Hall during the Fellowship hour.

8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeil.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Making the Liturgy Accessible: the First Book of Common Prayer

Today the Church remembers the first Book of Common Prayer which was compiled by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer. It was a work of genius. It was in the language of the people, not in Latin, so that those who worshiped could do so in their own language. In our day it is common place; however, at the time of the Reformation some 500 years ago, it was revolutionary. The Roman Catholic Church did not adopt this concept until Vatican II in the 1960s.

Some of the most recognizable phrases in the English language are from the first Book of Common Prayer, for example, the words from the marriage rite:

“Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. … Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.”

“Will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

We also have the words from Ash Wednesday: “remember man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”

The Book of Common Prayer made the liturgy accessible to all people.

Let us pray: Almighty and everliving God, whose servant Thomas Cranmer, with others, restored the language of the people in the prayers of your Church: Make us always thankful for this heritage; and help us so to pray in the Spirit and with the understanding, that we may worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and 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.

Bishop’s Committee Meeting on Sunday, 26 June 2011 during the Fellowship hour.

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 and I Share in Jesus' Resurrecti​on

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 Can't Always Count on the Government

One of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 82. It picks up on a theme that comes up again and again in the Old Testament, the treatment of the poor. As you read it, keep in mind that Psalm 82 was written some 2600 years ago. The Psalmist writes:

God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
‘How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’

God calls us to treat the least among us with dignity. Just because someone may be poor or out of a job does not mean that they are less human. God reminds us, in the words of the Psalmist, that we must “give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy.”

Helping the poor is not a question of “whether”, but a question of “how”. What can we do that is the most effective for those in need? How do we maintain their human dignity?

The follower of Christ cannot relinquish his or her responsibility to help the poor by expecting the government to take care of it. Jesus did not say, “For I was hungry and the Welfare Department gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and Health and Human Services gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and the Social Security Administration invited me in.”

No, Jesus said: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” (Mt. 25: 35).

What can you and I do? We have ways to help in our local community and the greater world. Sitting quietly in the back of the Church is the St. Vincent’s House food box. Take the time to drop something into it from time to time. There is still time to help stem malaria and to educate people how they can better care for themselves with Nets for Life. It is just a $12 gift. The Community Garden is another way to help those in need. What else can you and I do at St. Augustine to better people's lives? Take time to think and pray about it.

Let us pray: Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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

St. Basil: Bishop, Theologian & Doctor of the Church

Today the Church remembers and honors St. Basil who lived from around 339 and died in 379. He was a bishop, a theologian, is considered a “doctor of the Church” and was one of the “Cappadocian Fathers” (so called because they were all from Cappadocia) along with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom.

James Kiefer writes:

Basil was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia, a province in what is now central Turkey (more or less directly north of the easternmost part of the Mediterranean, but with no seacoast). He was born in 329, after the persecution of Christians had ceased, but with parents who could remember the persecutions and had lived through them. He originally planned to become a lawyer and orator, and studied at Athens (351-356), where two of his classmates were Gregory of Nazianzus (who became a close friend) and the future Emperor Julian the Apostate. When he returned home, the influence and example of his sister Macrina led him to seek the monastic life instead, and after making a tour of the monasteries of Egypt in 357, he founded a monastic settlement near his home. He remained there only five years, but the influence of his community was enormous. Whereas in the West there are numerous monastic orders (Benedictines, Carthusians, etc.), in the East all monks are Basilian monks. His Longer Rules and Shorter Rules for the monastic life remain the standard. Basil expresses a definite preference for the communal life of the monastery over the solitary life of the hermit, arguing that the Christian life of mutual love and service is communal by its nature. In 367-8, when Cappadocia suffered a severe and widespread famine, Basil sold his family's very extensive land holdings in order to buy food for the starving, persuading many others to follow his example, and putting on an apron to work in the soup kitchen himself. In this crisis, he absolutely refused to allow any distinction to be made between Jew and Christian, saying that the digestive systems of the two are indistinguishable. He also built a hospital for the care of the sick, housing for the poor, and a hospice for travelers.

These were the years between the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea, 325) and the Second (Constantinople, 381), years in which it was uncertain whether the Church would stand by the declaration made at Nicea that the Logos (the "Word" -- see John 1:1) was fully God, equally with the Father, or seek a more flexible formula in the hope of reconciliation with the Arians, who declared themselves unalterably opposed to the Nicene wording. Basil had been ordained priest in 362 in order to assist the new Bishop of Caesarea, whom he succeeded in 370. (Since Caesarea was the capital, or metropolis, of the province of Cappadocia, its bishop was automatically the metropolitan of Cappadocia, which included about fifty dioceses (bishoprics). A metropolitan was roughly what we would call an archbishop, although in ancient terminology an "archbishop" was one step above a metropolitan.) By that time, an Arian emperor, Valens, was ruling. Basil made it his policy to try to unite the so-called semi-Arians with the Nicene party against the outright Arians, making use of the formula "three persons (hypostases) in one substance (ousia)," thus explicitly acknowledging a distinction between the Father and the Son (a distinction that the Nicene party had been accused of blurring), and at the same time insisting on their essential unity.

When the emperor Valens passed through Caesarea in 371, he demanded the theological submission of Basil, who flatly refused. The imperial prefect expressed astonishment at Basil's defiance, to which Basil replied, "Perhaps you have never met a real bishop before." Valens retaliated by dividing the province of Cappadocia into two provinces, with the result that the Arian Bishop of Tyana became metropolitan of the new province of Western Cappadocia. Basil responded by going political. He ramrodded his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus into bishoprics that they did not want, and for which they were totally unsuited, so that he would have the votes of those bishoprics when he needed them. (Neither Gregory ever quite forgave him for this.) His interests were not exclusively theological: he denounced and excommunicated those who owned houses of prostitution, he worked to secure justice for the poor against those who oppressed them, and he severely disciplined clergy who used their office to accumulate money or to live too well at the expense of the faithful.

His most famous writings include the Hexaemeron ("The Six Days"), a series of nine sermons on the days of creation, in which he speaks of the beauties of the created world as revelations of the splendor of God. His Against Eunomius defends the deity of Christ against an Arian writer, and his On the Holy Spirit speaks of the deity of the Third Person of the Trinity, and the rightness of worshipping Him together with the Father and the Son. In his Address to Young Men (originally written for his nephews), he urges Christians to make themselves acquainted with pagan philosophy and literature, arguing that this will often lead to a deeper understanding of Christian truth. His personality comes through most clearly in his letters, of which more than three hundred have been preserved. Some deal with points of theology or ethics, some with canon law, and many simply with everyday affairs. Ten times a year the Eastern churches use the Liturgy of St Basil rather than the more usual Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. It differs chiefly in having a more elaborate Anaphora (the prayer of consecration offered over the bread and wine), expressing some of his characteristic turns of thought, probably dating back to his time and used by him, and possibly composed by him personally.

Basil died in 379, shortly after the death in battle of the Arian Valens removed the chief threat to the Nicene faith to which Basil had devoted his life. He was mourned by the entire city, and the weeping crowds at his funeral included Christians, Jews, and pagans. He is counted (with the two Gregories) as one of the three Cappadocian Fathers, and (with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom) as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs. In the West, he is reckoned (with Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, and Athanasius) as one of the Four Greek (Eastern) Doctors of the Undivided Church. (The Four Latin (Western) Doctors are Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great.)

Let us pray: Almighty God, who has revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace that, like your bishop Basil of Caesarea, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who live and reign 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

"The Acts of the Apostles" Should Be Called "The Acts of the Holy Spirit"

Interestingly, on the Monday after the Feast of Pentecost, one of the Daily Office readings is taken from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles and it is the account of Jesus’ ascension:

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. (Acts 1: 1-14).

“The Acts of the Apostles” should really be called “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that the Apostles are able to do what they do. We see in today’s passage that the Apostles still don’t get what Jesus’ kingship and kingdom are about. They ask Jesus: ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ They are still awaiting, to some extent, the glory days of Israel. They have witnessed Jesus’ public ministry, his death and resurrection, but it is not until the Holy Spirit comes that the Apostles finally get what Jesus is about. Some of the sanctifying gifts the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding and courage. We see this gifts unfold in the lives of the Apostles in the Book of Acts. I urge you to look for the unfolding of the Holy Spirit’s gifts in your life.

Let us pray: O God, on Pentecost you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Thank you to everyone who made Pentecost a wonderful liturgical celebration, especially to Lee Runion and the Altar Guild.

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.

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

Deacon and Defender of the Faith in the Early Church: Ephrem of Edessa

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

St. Columba: the Monk of Iona

Today the Church honors St. Columba who was born in Ireland around the year 521 and died on this day in 597. He was a leading figure in the revitalization of monasticism, and Columba’s achievements illustrate the importance of the Celtic church.

Columba studied at Moville under St. Finnian then in Leinster at the monastery of Clonard. He was ordained before he was 25 and spent the next 15 years preaching and setting up foundations at Derry, Durrow, and Kells.

Columba left Ireland at 42 and landed on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. There he built the monastery which was to become world famous becoming the center of operations for the conversion of the Scots and Picts as well as the most famous religious house in Scotland. There Columba baptized Brude, King of the Picts, and later a King of the Scots came to this Abbot of the “Holy Isle” for baptism.

The memory of Columba lives on in Scotland, and Iona, though desecrated during the Reformation, today houses a flourishing ecumenical religious community. You can check it out at http://www.iona.org.uk/.

Let us pray: O God, who by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

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.

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.

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

Roland Allen: Missionary

Today the Church recalls someone who worked as a missionary, Roland Allen. He was born on 29 December 1868 in Bristol, England.

Allen was the son of an Anglican priest, but was orphaned early in life. He trained for ministry at Oxford and became a priest in 1893. He spent two periods in Northern China working for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The first from 1895 to 1900 ended because of the Boxer Rebellion; Allen was forced to flee to the British Legation in Beijing. He was chaplain to community throughout much of the siege. After a period in England, Allen returned to North China in 1902, but was forced to return home because of illness. These early experiences led him to a radical reassessment of his own vocation and the theology and missionary methods of the Western churches.

Allen became an early advocate of establishing Churches which from the beginning would be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing, adapted to local conditions and not merely imitations of Western Christianity. These views were confirmed by a trip to India in 1910 and by later research in Canada and East Africa. It is with this background that Allen wrote his book Missionary Methods which was first published in 1912.

Allen’s approach to mission strategy for indigenous Churches is based on the study of Saint Paul’s missionary methods as he is convinced that in them can be found the solution to most of the difficulties of the day. He believed it was the recognition of the Church as a local entity and trust in the Holy Spirit’s indwelling within the converts and churches which was the mark of Paul’s success.

Allen died in Nairobi, Kenya on 8 June 1947.

Let us pray: Almighty God, by your Spirit you opened the Scriptures to your servant Roland Allen, so that he might lead many to know, live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Give us grace to follow his example, that the variety of those to whom we reach out in love may receive your saving Word and witness in their own languages and cultures to your glorious Name; through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

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.

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.

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

God Stands By His Promises

The Daily Office continues today in the Letter to the Hebrews, and we read that God stands by His promises:

When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and multiply you.’ And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 6:13-20).

As St. Anselm wrote, “God is that than which nothing greater can be thought.” Who or what is greater than God? “Nothing,” says the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. Therefore, when we stop to reflect on it, one of the characteristics of God is not only omnipotence, but also complete faithfulness. God always keeps His promises. God kept His promise to all of humankind to send a messiah, and God did in His only Son who humbled himself to take our humanity upon himself. In Jesus Christ, we have a steadfast anchor in whom we can place our hope.

Let us pray: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.

On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal, we will commission to newest members of the Community of Hope and our own Carol Freeman is a member of this class. Please come and celebrate this ministry.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially the victims of the bad weather across the nation, our sons and daughters serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, all of the who are ill and the homebound.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Moving Forward in Hope

Today in the Daily Office, we hear from the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews:

Therefore let us go on towards perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this, if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.

Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. 6: 1-12).

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews urges Christians to move forward in hope. Hope is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Those who despair have lost hope. Those who dwell in despair have failed to acknowledge that with God all things are possible. But the author reassures us that we are not among those who have lost hope because God “will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.” To be sure, the people of St. Augustine are a people of hope. We have moved forward and we continue to do the work of Jesus with diligence.

Let us pray: We come before you gracious Father ever thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who fills our lives with hope and makes us instruments of Jesus in the world. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.

On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 7 p.m. at Grace Episcopal, we will commission to newest members of the Community of Hope and our own Carol Freeman is a member of this class. Please come and celebrate this ministry.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially the victims of the bad weather across the nation, our sons and daughters serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, all of the who are ill and the homebound.

Your servant in Christ,

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

St. Justin: the Wanderer

Today the Church remembers and honors one of the early saints and defenders of the faith, Justin. He was born around the year 100 A.D. and he died about 65 years later at the hands of Junius Rusticus who was urban prefect from 163-167. Justin, along with six others, was beheaded, probably in the year 165 A.D.

Justin was known for his writings explaining the Christian faith using Greek philosophy. Before converting to Christianity, Justin wandered around a bit. He first tried the Stoic philosophers, but they were unable to explain God’s being. Justin then went to a Peripatetic philosopher, but he was put off because the philosopher was too eager for his fee. Then he went to hear a Pythagorean philosopher, who demanded that he first learn music, astronomy and geometry, which he did not wish to do. After this he was drawn to Platonism, until meeting an old man who told him about Christianity; then, Justin converted. Justin’s conversion was influenced by the fearless conduct of the Christians facing execution.

Some of Justin’s works have survived, but many have been lost. Here is what Justin said about the Eucharist in The First Apology addressed to the Emperor Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar:

For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “Do this in remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who found your martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and revealed to him the sublime wisdom of your eternal Word: Grant that all who seek you, or a deeper knowledge of you, may find and be found by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are ill, alone, all of the men and women serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, and all of the victims of natural disasters in the United States.

Your servant in Christ,

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