St. Andrew: An Ordinary, Hard Working Man, Who Left Everything to Follow Jesus

Today the Church celebrates the life and ministry of St. Andrew, an apostle.  Matthew writes:

As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. (Mt. 4: 18-22).

When Jesus called Andrew, he left all that he knew and followed Jesus.  Andrew would follow Jesus until he gave up his life for the one who called him.  Andrew was an ordinary man, a hard working man.  Yet when he encountered Jesus, he knew in his heart who Jesus was.  Andrew knew that Jesus was the one who was sent into the world to call the lost sheep.

Tradition has it that Andrew was crucified on a cross shaped like an “X”, and it is known as the cross of St. Andrew.  Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.  Several centuries after the death of Andrew, some of his relics were brought by a missionary to Scotland, to a place then known as Fife, but now known as St. Andrew’s, and best known as the site of a world-famous golf course and club.

Let us pray:  Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

St. Augustine will be hosting World Aids Day in Galveston on Saturday, 1 December 2012 starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. This event will not only provide important information about HIV/AIDS, but we will also have HIV/AIDS testing, food give-aways, a hot dog lunch, music and much more. Please join us.

RBC Kids: Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year. The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families. Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings. We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts. As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers. If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian. We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

         Comfort, Comfort My People

         Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

         For Unto Us a Child is Born

         Glory to God in the Highest

The Seaside Seniors will have their lunch at St. Augustine’s on Thursday, 20 December.  This will be the Christmas luncheon for the group.  The children’s choir from St. Vincent’s House will provide their joyous tones for the event.  There will be deserts of every kind and door prizes for the season.  If you know any seniors, please invite them.  A big “thank you!” to Michelle Walker for heading up this ministry.

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Caleb Boyer who is recovering from surgery, all of those who are unemployed, all of those serving in the Armed Forces, Izzola Collins, Gladys, Patricia and Betty.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Once Found, the Lost Are Called to Build the Kingdom

The appointed Gospel for the Church’s daily prayer is taken from Luke where we hear the story of the king who gave his servants funds to invest while he was gone.  Interestingly, this parable is preceded by the story of Zacchaeus where we are told why God sent His Son, Jesus:

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’  (Lk. 19: 1-10).

Jesus came to “seek out and to save the lost.”  Who among us is not lost?  We are all lost.  Some of us are lost in addictions of all sorts: alcohol, food, drugs, sex.  Some are lost in loveless families.  Some are lost in abusive relationships.  Some are lost in sickness.  Some are lost in fear.  Some are lost in confusion.  Some are lost in self loathing.  Some are lost in despair.  Some are lost in loneliness.  Some are lost in hunger and poverty.  Some are lost in abundance and wealth.  You know how lost you are. 

But here is the Good News: Jesus, the Son of Man, came to seek out and to save the lost.  Jesus came to seek out and to save everyone who is lost. Christ came to seek you out and to save you.  Jesus came to seek me out and to save me.  Jesus then takes those of us who were once lost, but are now found, and He invests in us giving us talents to use for building God’s kingdom.  God expects a return on His investment from those of us who were once lost.

Let us pray:  Holy God, heavenly Father, you formed me from the dust in your image and likeness, and redeemed me from sin and death by the cross of your Son Jesus Christ.  Through the water of baptism you clothed me with the shining garment of his righteousness, and established me among your children in your kingdom.  But I have squandered the inheritance of your saints, and have wandered far in a land that is waste. Therefore, O Lord, from these and all other sins I cannot now remember, I turn to you in sorrow and repentance.   Receive me again into the arms of your mercy, and restore me to the blessed company of your faithful people; through him in whom you have redeemed the world, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

St. Augustine will be hosting World Aids Day in Galveston on Saturday, 1 December 2012 starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m.  This event will not only provide important information about HIV/AIDS, but we will also have HIV/AIDS testing, food give-aways, a hot dog lunch, music and much more.  Please join the various agencies involved, including St. Vincent's House, the Gulf Coast Center, Aids Coaloition of Coastal Texas and others, in this annual event.

RBC Kids: Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year. The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families. Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings. We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts. As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers. If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian. We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

          Comfort, Comfort My People

         Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

         For Unto Us a Child is Born

         Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Caleb Boyer who is recovering from surgery, all of those who are unemployed, all of those serving in the Armed Forces, Izzola Collins, Gladys, Patricia and Betty.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

 

Our Faith Is Built on the Foundation of the Apostles

In this last week of the Church year, we hear from Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth.  Paul writes:

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’, and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’

So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. (1 Cor. 3: 10-23).

All of us as Christians have received our faith from others.  This is part of the apostolic succession. Our faith is built first upon Christ as its foundation which as its first layer has the faith as transmitted by the apostles, and then the next layer by those who came after them, and so on to the present day.  There is a great cloud of witnesses who have handed down the faith through the centuries.  Paul reminds us that through the centuries, the temple of God, the Church, is made up of people, those who came before us and now us.  The head of the Church is Christ himself and we should not put our faith in, or “boast about human leaders” as Paul reminds us. 

Let us pray:  Almighty God and Father, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the head of the Church, as we are sanctified as the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.  Renew your Church in all things, keep it leaders ever mindful of who they serve.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

RBC Kids: Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year. The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families. Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings. We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts. As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers. If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian. We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

         Comfort, Comfort My People

         Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

         For Unto Us a Child is Born

         Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Caleb Boyer who is having surgery today, all of those who are unemployed, all of those serving in the Armed Forces, Izzola Collins, Gladys, Patricia and Betty.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

 

Restore In a Spirit of Gentleness

In this last week of the Church year, we hear from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians:

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.

Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.  (Gal. 6: 1-10).

You and I do not live in isolation.  We live in relationship to one another both inside the community of faith and outside the community of faith.  We cannot avoid one another.  We one person does has an impact on others.  So Paul tells us that when someone within the community sins, we are to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”  We are to be honest with others, but we are not to be harsh.  So when someone transgresses, let them know, but do it in a kind way.

Let us pray:  Forgiving Lord, each of us misses the mark, we all sin.  Give us the spirit of repentance when we transgress and when others sins, give us the gift of justice tempered with mercy.  We ask all this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

RBC Kids: Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year. The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families. Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings. We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts. As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers. If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian. We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

  

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

Comfort, Comfort My People

Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those who serve in the medical field, all of those who are unemployed, all of those who are alone this Thanksgiving, all of those serving in the Armed Forces who are away from home, all of those who are in the hospital during this holiday season, and for Izzola Collins, Gladys, Patricia, Betty and Duane.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

In All Circumstances Give Thanks

On this Thanksgiving Day, the appointed Epistle for the daily prayer of the Church is taken from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians:

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. (1 Thes. 5:12-24).

In all things be thankful! Yes, in good times and in bad times.  For Paul, it is a matter of perspective.  If we live in the Holy Spirit and if our focus is on Jesus Christ and on his Father, there is much to give thanks for come what may.

Let us pray:  Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.  And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Praise God

The appointed Psalm for the Eucharist today is Psalm 150 and it is appropriate for the eve of Thanksgiving:

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
   praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
   praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
   praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
   praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Psalm 150 is a good reminder to praise God from whom all good things come. Take a few minutes today to give praise to God.

Let us pray:  Almighty God, creator of all that is, seen and unseen, we give you thanks for all of the blessings of this life and for your immeasurable love for us as expressed in the life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, send your Holy Spirit to sanctify our praise.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

RCB Kids: Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year. The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families. Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings. We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts. As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers. If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian. We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

Sunday, 25 November, we will celebrate our Thanksgiving feast in Sutton Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service where Fr. Kern Huff will be the preacher and the main celebrant. Please remember to bring your dish to share.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

Comfort, Comfort My People

Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those who serve in the medical field, all of those who are unemployed, all of those who are alone this Thanksgiving, all of those serving in the Armed Forces who are away from home, all of those who are in the hospital during this holiday season, and for Izzola Collins, Gladys, Patricia, Betty and Duane.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Edmund of East Anglia, King & Martyr

Today the Episcopal Church remembers a king and martyr who lived over 1200 years ago, Edmund.  He was born around the year 840 in East Anglia, and he became king at the young age of 15 in the year 855.  Edmund is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written years after Edmund’s death.  Then in about 986, Abbo of Fleury wrote of Edmund’s life and martyrdom. 

East Anglia was destroyed by invading Danes who wiped out all physical evidence of Edmund’s kingdom.  Tradition has it that Edmund died around the year 870 at the hands of the Danes when he refused to give up his faith in Christ.  On the orders of Ivar the Boneless and his brother, Ubbe Rannarsson, the Danes beat Edmund, shot him with arrows and then beheaded him. 

Edmund is an example of someone in power who gives up all that is in his possession, his kingdom, his wealth, and even his life for his life for his faith in Christ.

 

 

 

Let us pray:  O God of ineffable mercy, who gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith, with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

RCB Kids:  Jillian and Jo want to thank our St. Aug's family for adopting the Rainbow Connection as your Christmas outreach this year.  The Rainbow Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving children living with cancer or blood disorders, and their families.  Activities include: The Rainbow Connection Camp, community education, holiday parties, parent support activities, quarterly newsletters, and outings.  We have a Christmas party for them each year, with a Santa shop where the children may choose a few gifts.  As mentioned in Church, we are most in need of gift cards and gifts for teenagers.  If you'd prefer, you can give a cash donation to Jillian.  We will be shopping for gifts on December 12, and would appreciate having all donations in hand by then.

Sunday, 25 November, we will celebrate our Thanksgiving feast in Sutton Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service where Fr. Kern Huff will be the preacher and the main celebrant. Please remember to bring your dish to share.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

         Comfort, Comfort My People

         Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

         For Unto Us a Child is Born

         Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those who serve in the medical field, all of those who are unemployed, all of those who are alone this Thanksgiving, all of those serving in the Armed Forces who are away from home, all of those who are in the hospital during this holiday season, and for Gladys, Patricia, Betty and Duane.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

 

 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary: Concern for the Ill

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of St. Elizabeth of Hungary who lived from 1207 to 1231.  She was married when she was only 14 years old, and her husband, Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, died when Elizabeth was 20.

After her husband died, Elizabeth dedicated her life totally to God.  She built hospitals out of concern for those who were ill.  Elizabeth cared for the poor and the hungry.  She became a member of the Third Order of Franciscans, a lay group.

That is why there are so  many hospitals dedicated to her honor. 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 25 November, we will celebrate our Thanksgiving feast in Sutton Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service where Fr. Kern Huff will be the preacher and the main celebrant.  Please remember to bring your dish to share.

Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December, as well as our new Adult Christian Education series from Kerygma on Handel’s Messiah where we will explore:

         Comfort, Comfort My People

         Who shall Abide the Day of His Coming?

         For Unto Us a Child is Born

         Glory to God in the Highest

PRAYER LIST:  Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those serving in the medical field, all of those who are unemployed, all of those who are alone this Thanksgiving, all of those serving in the Armed Forces who are away from home, all of those who are in the hospital during this holiday season, and for Gladys, Patricia, Betty and Duane.

 

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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 1^st 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

A Free Gift

One of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 119 where the Psalmist writes:

 

Oh, how I love your law!
   It is my meditation all day long.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
   for it is always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
   for your decrees are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
   for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
   in order to keep your word.
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
   for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
   therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
   and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
   to observe your righteous ordinances.
I am severely afflicted;
   give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
   and teach me your ordinances.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
   but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
   but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your decrees are my heritage for ever;
   they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
   for ever, to the end.
I hate the double-minded,
   but I love your law.
You are my hiding-place and my shield;
  I hope in your word.
Go away from me, you evildoers,
   that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
   and let me not be put to shame in my hope.
Hold me up, that I may be safe
   and have regard for your statutes continually.
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes;
   for their cunning is in vain.
All the wicked of the earth you count as dross;
   therefore I love your decrees.
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
   and I am afraid of your judgments. (Ps. 119: 97-120).

The law of the Lord; it is something that we love, yet something that we find difficult to keep.   Try as we might, we can never be totally faithful to the law of the Lord. We will always fall short.  Yet God in His infinite love redeems us, and He frees us from the law.  That is what we call grace, a free gift from God. 

Let us pray:  Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The 10 large (about 20 pound) turkeys from St. Augustine landed at St. Vincent’s House Monday morning for the Thanksgiving celebration for the clients of St. Vincent’s House.  Please remember to bring food to St. Vincent’s House for the Holiday Season.

We will celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a community of faith on Sunday, 25 November after the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist where Fr. Kern Huff will concelebrate. Please sign up to bring a side dish or dessert.

On Sunday, 25 November, we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.

We will begin a new Adult Christian Education series on the first Sunday of Advent. Please join Jillian Bain for the study.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Betty Robinson who fell while she was working with the Altar Guild this last Friday, Michael Lombard who is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor, and for his father, Joe and for Carol Hogan. 

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

The Invited Make Excuses

The appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church is taken from the Gospel according to Luke where we read:

He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.” ’  (Lk. 14: 12-24).

We are so easily distracted by what we consider to be important.  Just like the characters in today’s Gospel reading, we are so much so distracted that when Jesus calls us to follow him and to join the feast, we make excuses as to why we cannot come.  Why do we do it?  Why do we fail to follow Jesus when he calls us to the feast?  Why is what we want so much more important that what Jesus calls us to?

Let us pray:  O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The turkeys from St. Augustine made it to St. Vincent’s House this morning for the Thanksgiving celebration for the clients of St. Vincent’s House. 

We will celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a community of faith on Sunday, 25 November after the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist where Fr. Kern Huff will concelebrate.  Please sign up to bring a side dish or dessert.

On Sunday, 25 November, we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.

We will begin a new Adult Christian Education series on the first Sunday of Advent.  Please join Jillian Bain for the study.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Betty Robinson who fell while she was working with the Altar Guild this last Friday, Michael Lombard who is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor, and for his father, Joe and for Carol Hogan.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

The Lost Sheep

The appointed Gospel reading for the Eucharistic celebration is taken from the Gospel according to Luke.  We read:

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’  (Lk. 15: 1-10)

A new Archbishop of Canterbury has been appointed.

 

The 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury is Justin Welby, the current Bishop of Durham in England.  He was born in 1956 in London. He has a degree in law and history, and went to work in the oil industry for 11 years.  Justin married Caroline in 1979.  They had a daughter who died in a car accident in 1983.  The Welbys have 5 children ranging in age from 16 to 27.

Welby went to seminary at Cranmer Hall in Durham and was ordained deacon in 1992 and thereafter, he was ordained a priest.  He served in several parishes and became Bishop of Durham in 2011. 

In an interview in March of this year, Bishop Welby said that he wanted to be remembered as a “bishop who cared about God and cared about the people.”  Today’s Gospel reading is one that he should read again and again.  In that same interview, Bishop Welby said that there needs to be “a cultural change that says it is normal for us to share our faith … for that to happen in this area it has got to be clear that the Church is working effectively with those on the edge.”  The Church must reach out to the lost sheep, to those who have not only strayed away, but who have no idea how to get back.  Not only does the new Archbishop of Canterbury have that challenge, but you and I do as well, right here in Galveston.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty and most merciful Father, we all have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, we have all followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have all offended against your holy laws, we have all left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have all done those things which we ought not to have done. O Lord, have mercy upon us, restore those who are penitent, give us strength to seek those who are lost and to declare the Good News of your salvation to all people.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Saturday, 10 November, we will have a second work day at the Community Garden. Following on Karen Lehr’s report to everyone in Church on Sunday, we have an opportunity to reach out to work with the Scott School in our Community Garden. Please keep this opportunity in your prayers.

Thanksgiving in nearly upon us! Please remember St. Vincent’s House and bring a food donation for the food pantry and place it in the St. Vincent’s basket in the narthex of the Church.

We will have a pot luck lunch for our Thanksgiving celebration at St. Augustine’s this year.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially all of those who are recovering after Sandy.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550