Steve Poirier

Steve Poirier died yesterday.  Steve came into St. Augustine and into our lives through Charles Lemons about 2 years ago. Steve’s presence among us has been an act of God’s grace to Steve and to all of us.  At first Steve sat in the back, in the bell tower.  At the end, he was sitting in the Church, right in the middle next to the Bains, and he went to Communion, and he received the anointing of the sick.

 

During the Memorial Day holiday weekend, I received a call from Charles Lemons letting me know that Steve was at UTMB and it looked like it was cancer.  I went to see Steve in the hospital and visited with him, and the prognosis was not good.  The cancer was fairly wide spread.  Steve told me that he had no family in the area.  The Holy Spirit moved me to tell Steve that St. Augustine would be his family.  Steve responded as only Steve could, “I’m not going to blow sunshine up your ---, I’m not a religious person and I don’t even believe in God.”  I said, “it doesn’t matter Steve, we’ll be your family, just let us know what you need.” 
 

And boy, did Steve let us know! Charles Lemons would take Sunday breakfast to Steve.  Carol Freeman made food runs for Steve (and I’ll let her tell you the rest of the story.)  The Bains sent food and Tom sat by his bedside numerous times.  When Steve cam to church and said he needed a new TV, and he was specific, he got one and then some.

 

 

Everyone at St. Augustine’s made Steve a part of the family, and not only was Steve transformed, but we were as well.  Steve changed, he was transformed, he had a metanoia, a conversion.  Steve was transformed through the love of Christ as expressed by the Body of Christ, you, the Church.  And the Church was transformed.

 

 

As a priest, I was and am humbled.  I administered the sacraments of the Church to Steve, signs of God’s love and grace, and I was changed and amazed.  Steve was an instrument of God’s grace to me.  I know that he was also an instrument of God’s grace for many of you.
 

 

Let us pray:  Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Steve Poirier. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

 

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

 

The Ladies from the Diocese of Southern Malawi are being hosted by the Taylors and St. Augustine’s is hosting a pot luck dinner for them tomorrow, Thursday, during their visit to the Island. They will discuss with us their work in the literacy field.

 

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Steve Poirier who died yesterday, Rose Daniels, Patricia Florence and Gladys Simon.

 

 

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550