Here we are at the start of 2012, a time for New Year’s resolutions. On television, we see ads for all sorts of weight reduction programs followed by ads for exercise centers. If you want to make a New Year’s resolution, look to see what St. Paul has to offer from today’s appointed Epistle lesson for the daily prayer of the Church:
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ …
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4: 1-8, 11-16).
This New Year try speaking the truth in love growing in every way into Christ forming one body building itself up in love. That’s a New Year’s resolution worth living into. Try it and see what happens.
Let us pray: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your Incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; 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
ANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, 8 January 2012 in Sutton Hall after the Eucharist. We’ll review 2011 and see what’s in store for 2012. We will also elect new members for the Bishop’s Committee and a representative and an alternate to the 163rd Diocesan Council.
DISCOVERY SERIES FOR CONFIRMATION: On 15 and 22 January 2012 we will study the Discovery Series in preparation for Confirmation on Sunday, 5 February with Bishop Harrison.
ART CLASSES on 13 and 14 January with Lee Runion. Back by popular demand, we’ll be making Stepping Stones! Friday will be “Art Class and Wine Glass.” The Saturday session begins at 10 a.m.
SACRED PLACES TOUR: St. Augustine will be on the tour this year. It is a wonderful opportunity to share our faith history with others. Please plan to be a part of it.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are chronically ill, the lonely, the depressed, the unemployed, the ill and those who have no one to pray for them.
“In former times, God, who is without form or body, could never be depicted. But now when God is seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake.”—St. John of Damascus (676-749)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ …
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4: 1-8, 11-16).
This New Year try speaking the truth in love growing in every way into Christ forming one body building itself up in love. That’s a New Year’s resolution worth living into. Try it and see what happens.
Let us pray: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your Incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; 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
ANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, 8 January 2012 in Sutton Hall after the Eucharist. We’ll review 2011 and see what’s in store for 2012. We will also elect new members for the Bishop’s Committee and a representative and an alternate to the 163rd Diocesan Council.
DISCOVERY SERIES FOR CONFIRMATION: On 15 and 22 January 2012 we will study the Discovery Series in preparation for Confirmation on Sunday, 5 February with Bishop Harrison.
ART CLASSES on 13 and 14 January with Lee Runion. Back by popular demand, we’ll be making Stepping Stones! Friday will be “Art Class and Wine Glass.” The Saturday session begins at 10 a.m.
SACRED PLACES TOUR: St. Augustine will be on the tour this year. It is a wonderful opportunity to share our faith history with others. Please plan to be a part of it.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are chronically ill, the lonely, the depressed, the unemployed, the ill and those who have no one to pray for them.
“In former times, God, who is without form or body, could never be depicted. But now when God is seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake.”—St. John of Damascus (676-749)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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