Thursday, November 15, 2012

Whitefield & Asbury

Today the Episcopal Church remembers 2 evangelists, George Whitefield and Francis Asbury. 

George Whitefield (December 16, 1714 - September 30, 1770), was an Anglican itinerant minister who helped spread the Great Awakening in Great Britain and, especially, in the British North American colonies. His ministry had tremendous impact on American ideology. He was a very influential figure in the establishment of Methodism. He was famous for his preaching in America which was a significant part of an 18th century movement of Christian revivals, sometimes called "The Great Awakening." (Wikipedia)

Francis Asbury (August 20, 1745 – March 31, 1816) was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. In 1784 John Wesley named Asbury and Thomas Coke as co-superintendents of the work in America. This marks the beginning of the "Methodist Episcopal Church of the USA". For the next thirty-two years, Asbury led all the Methodists in America.

Like Wesley, Asbury preached in all sorts of places: courthouses, public houses, tobacco houses, fields, public squares, wherever a crowd assembled to hear him. For the remainder of his life he rode an average of 6000 miles each year, preaching virtually every day and conducting meetings and conferences. Under his direction, the church grew from 1,200 to 214,000 members and 700 ordained preachers.  (Wikipedia)

Let us pray:  Holy God, you so inspired Francis Asbury and George Whitefield with evangelical zeal that their faithful proclamation of the Gospel caused a great awakening among those who heard them: Inspire us, we pray, by your Holy Spirit, that, like them, we may be eager to share your Good News and lead many to Jesus Christ, in whom is eternal life and peace; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a pot luck lunch after the Eucharist on 25 November, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The Seaside Seniors are meeting today for lunch in Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.  They are also planning a road trip to see the Painted Churches.  We will get a bus that seats 28 people, so get your spot.

We will start a new Adult Christian Education series on the 1st Sunday of Advent—stay tuned for more details.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, but especially Duane Wolter who is having cataract surgery, Carol Freeman, Betty Robinson and Michael Lombard who is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor, and for his father, Joe and for Carol Hogan, and for all of those suffering from Sandy.

Your servant in Christ,

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

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