Do Not Ordain Anyone Hastily

The Epistle for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from 1 Timothy where we read:

 

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’, and, ‘The laborer deserves to be paid.’ Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

 

No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

 

The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there. So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. (1 Tim. 5: 17-25).

 

This is good advice for the Church community, and especially timely since this is the time that deacons are ordained.  Paul tells his partner in the ministry of Church leadership not to ordain anyone hastily.  The process for preparation for ordination is one of discernment by the Church community and the individual under consideration for ordination.  It is a time of prayerful consideration.  It is a time of prayerful preparation.  Not all those who seek ordination should be ordained while there are those who may not consider themselves worthy of ordained ministry whom God is calling.

 

Let us pray for all those to be ordained: By the Holy Spirit all who believe and are baptized receive a ministry to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord, and to love and serve the people with whom they live and work. In Christ they are to bring redemption, to reconcile and to make whole. They are to be salt for the earth; they are to be light to the world. After his resurrection and ascension Christ gave gifts abundantly to the Church. Some he made apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers; to equip God’s people for their work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ.  We stand within a tradition in which there are deacons, priests and bishops. They are called and empowered to fulfill an ordained ministry and to enable the whole mission of the Church. Our authority is in Scripture and in the Church's continuing practice through the ages. Shower your abundant grace to all those who are about to be ordained and to all those who serve in ordained ministry, we ask this through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE.  ARE YOU READY?

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

This is the Memorial Day weekend.  Please keep in your prayers the families of all of those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

 

St. Augustine’s Community Garden is on the Garden Tour on the Island next weekend.

 

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday.

 

Gospel by the Sea, 8 June 2013.

 

EFM begins in the fall.  Please contact Tammie Taylor to sign-up.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially all of the victims of the recent tornadoes in North Texas and in Oklahoma. During this graduation season, please remember all of those who are graduating from high schools and universities.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550