William Wilberforce

 

Today the Church honors and remembers an Evangelical Anglican, a defender of the defenseless, William Wilberforce, who lived from 1759 to 1833.  Wilberforce had a conversion on a trip to the continent of Europe. On the trip he read William Law’s book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life.  Law wrote that “if God is ‘our greatest good,’ then the wisest way to live is to please God through a life of worship, adoration, and devotion. Since many fail to live this way, Law diagnoses why and suggests certain concrete practices as a remedy.” (Tim Perrine in his description of the book.) 

Thereafter, Wilberforce considered how he could best serve God, and he thought about becoming a clergyman; however, he was persuaded by Christian friends that his calling was to serve God through politics. Wilberforce was a major supporter of programs for popular education, overseas missions, parliamentary reform, and religious liberty. He is best known, however, for his untiring commitment to the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. After a long fought fight, he was ultimately successful is passing legislation in 1806 abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire.  It was not until 1833 that slavery was totally abolished, and just a year after his death, nearly a million slaves were set free.  (See James Kiefer on William Wilberforce.)

He was also close friends with the Rev. John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace.” 

Let us pray:  Let your continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in your Church the never-failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the children of the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sundays at 11:00 a.m.: Adult Christian Education-Contemporary Moral Issues.

The Feast of St. Augustine will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 starting with the Eucharist Rite II at 9:00 a.m. followed by a pot luck luncheon.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Martha, Mary & Lazarus

Today the Church remembers and honors Martha, Mary and their brother, Lazarus, who lived in the town of Bethany.  From the stories about them in the Gospels, we can see that they were close friends of Jesus.  You will recall the familiar story in Luke’s Gospel about one of Jesus’ visits to their home, where Martha complained that she was doing all of the work and Mary was just sitting there listening to Jesus.  Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part.  (Lk. 10:38-42).  One of the most dramatic stories about the three of them is in John’s Gospel where we read that Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. 

 

What do these three people in the Gospel stories have to tell us? First, that Jesus had close friends, and that he enjoyed visiting them.  Second, they tell us that different people with different gifts make up the Kingdom of God.  Third, they reveal something about who Jesus is, the Son of God but also true man who wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.

 

Let us pray:  Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE PAINT TO THE MUSIC A SUCCESS, AND ESPECIALLY TO LEE RUNION!

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Sundays at 11:00 a.m.: Adult Christian Education-Contemporary Moral Issues.

 

The Feast of St. Augustine will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 starting with the Eucharist Rite II at 9:00 a.m. followed by a pot luck luncheon.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Mary's Parents

Today the Church honors and remembers the parents of Mary.  Although we really know nothing about them.  James Kiefer writes:  “he Scriptures tell us nothing about the parents of the Virgin Mother, not even their names. An early but unreliable document, known as the Proto-Gospel (or Proto-Evangelion) of James, calls them Ann and Joachim, by which names they are customarily known. Our only real information about them, however, is an inference from the kind of daughter they reared.”

 

Let us pray: Almighty God, heavenly Father, we remember in thanksgiving this day the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and we pray that we all may be made one in the heavenly family of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: thank you to Lee Runion who did a wonderful job with this, and thank you to everyone who helped Lee with the lunches and snacks.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality.  Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?” Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.

  

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Theresa, Henry and Marguerite who are recuperating from their hospital stays.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. James the Apostle

Today the Church remembers and honors St. James the Apostle who was the brother of St. John the Apostle.  Jesus had knick named them the “Sons of Thunder” because of their tempers.  You may recall that when the Samaritan town did not give Jesus a welcome, they both asked whether they should pray that fire rain down on the town.  James was the first of the Apostles who was martyred. 

 

James Kiefer writes:

 

James the son of Zebedee and his brother John were among the twelve disciples of Our Lord. They, together with Peter, were privileged to behold the Transfiguration (M 17:1 = P 9:2 = L 9:28), to witness the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (P 1:29) and the raising of the daughter of Jairus (P 5:37 = L 8:51), and to be called aside to watch and pray with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before His death (M 26:37 = P 14:33).

 

James and John were apparently from a higher social level than the average fisherman. Their father could afford hired servants (P 1:20), and John (assuming him to be identical with the "beloved disciple") had connections with the high priest (J 18:15). Jesus nicknamed the two brothers "sons of thunder" (P 3:17), perhaps meaning that they were headstrong, hot-tempered, and impulsive; and so they seem to be in two incidents reported in the Gospels. On one occasion (L 9:54ff), Jesus and the disciples were refused the hospitality of a Samaritan village, and James and John proposed to call down fire from heaven on the offenders. On another occasion (M 20:20-23 = P 10:35-41), they asked Jesus for a special place of honor in the Kingdom, and were told that the place of honor is the place of suffering.

 

Finally, about AD 42, shortly before Passover (Acts 12), James was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great (who tried to kill the infant Jesus--Matthew 2), nephew of Herod Antipas (who killed John the Baptist--Mark 6--and examined Jesus on Good Friday--Luke 23), and father of Herod Agrippa II (who heard the defence of Paul before Festus--Acts 25). James was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom, and the only one of the Twelve whose death is recorded in the New Testament.

 

Let us pray:  O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. 

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: today is the last day.  They start at 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality.  Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?” Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.

  

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Theresa who is in the hospital, and Henry and Marguerite who are recuperating from their hospital stays.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Thomas a Kempis

 

Today the Church remembers Thomas a Kempis, a priest, monk and writer, who was born in Germany around 1380 and died in 1471.  He is most known for his book, The Imitation of Christ, which he wrote between 1418 and 1427.  The book is one of the most widely read Christian works.  Thomas a Kempis places great emphasis on the interior life, the life of contemplation, as opposed to the active life of Christian works of charity.

 

It is divided into four sections: (1) “Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life”, (2) “Directives for the Interior Life”, (3) “On Interior Consolation” and (4) “On the Blessed Sacrament”.

 

The Imitation of Christ has influenced many people, including John Wesley and John Newton, the founders of the Methodist Movement, who said that the book influenced them at their conversion.

 

Here is a sample from The Imitation of Christ:

 

When God bestows Spiritual comfort, receive it with a grateful heart; but remember that it comes of God’s free gift, and not of your own merit. Do not be proud, nor over joyful, nor foolishly presumptuous; rather, be the more humble for this gift, more cautious, and more prudent in all your doings, for this hour will pass, and temptation will follow it. When comfort is withdrawn, do not immediately despair, but humbly and patiently await the will of Heaven; for God is able to restore you to a consolation even richer than before. This is nothing new or strange to those who know the ways of God, for the great Saints and Prophets of old often experienced these changes. ...Indeed, the temptation that precedes is often a sign of comfort to follow. For heavenly comfort is promised to those who have been tried and tempted.” To him who overcomes,” says God, “I will give to eat of the Tree of Life.”

 

Let us pray:  Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: going through to Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality.  Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?” Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.

  

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church. 
 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are recuperating from their hospital stays.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

"We bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God."

The story of the early Church continues in the Acts of the Apostles today and we hear about Paul and Barnabas’ continued travels and their preaching of the Word:

 

The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.

 

In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ ¹²Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.  (Acts 14:1-18).

 

Paul and Barnabas meet a man who has been crippled since birth who listened to their preaching.  He must have been touched by what they said, and Paul sensed that the man had faith in Jesus and his power to make us whole.  SO Paul says to him, “Stand upright on your feet,” and the man is healed!  This so impressed the Gentiles, that they immediately thought that Paul and Barnabas were the gods of Greek mythology. Rather than letting the praises of the Gentiles to go to their heads and to misuse the gifts that Go has given them, Paul and Barnabas use this as an opportunity to preach Christ crucified and risen!  “We are just like you,” they say, “except that we have experienced the risen Jesus in our lives and not these worthless gods of mythology that are no better than mixed up humans.  We have Good News for you, and that is nothing less than Jesus Christ who has the power to make you whole, to give your lives meaning and to transform you into sons and daughters of the Most High.” 

 

Let us pray:  Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have been given the Good News may spread it to every race and nation and may we praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: going through to Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality.  Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?” Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.

  

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are recuperating from their hospital stays.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Do Not Be Discouraged

The Daily Office continues with the growth of the early Church as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles:

The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”’

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 13:44-52).

Paul and Barnabas proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, yet there are some who rejected it.  As we discover in Paul’s letters, this broke his heart because it was the Chosen People who rejected the Good News.  Nevertheless, the Word thrived in the hearts of the Gentiles who when they heard the Good News preached to them by Paul and Barnabas, they rejoiced. 

Not everyone who hears the Word accepts it.  Our task is to proclaim the Good News, to tell others what impact Jesus has had not only in our lives, but in the life of the world.  Do not be discouraged when some people reject it; rather, be like Paul and Barnabas, filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray:  Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Paint to the Music: starting today and going through to Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality.  Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?" Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite as they recover from their hospital stays.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

A Story of Reconciliation

The Daily Prayer of the Church continues with the Acts of the Apostles, and we hear about Paul’s travels and preaching:

 

Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem; but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.’ So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:

 

‘You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.” (Acts 13:13-25).

 

Paul covers a lot of ground in a very short paragraph.  He recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus to the people in the synagogue at Antioch.  He recalls the people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years, and after that God gave them the land of Canaan for 450 years, and after that the Judges ruled Israel under they wanted a king, Saul, who lasted for 40 years and then David came along as king.  He uses all that as an introduction to Jesus to tell how Jesus fulfilled Israel’s expectations. Sometimes we forget that there is a plot to the story of the Old Testament.  It is a story about how we humans broke off from God and how God worked at a reconciliation which culminated in Jesus Christ.  It is a love story about God’s relentless pursuit of a stubborn people, us.

 

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 our selves 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.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: the week of 25 July from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  

 

The Seaside Seniors will meet this Thursday for lunch starting at 11:00 a.m. and then there will be dancing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

 

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are in the hospital.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

The Laying on of Hands

 

 

After the laying on of hands at a diaconate ordination. (Diocese of Texas 2009)

 

In today’s continuation of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the laying on of hands on Barnabas and Saul (Paul):

 

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

 

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. (Acts 13:1-12).

 

Since the start of the Church, those who have been set apart for ordained ministry have had hands laid upon them by their fathers in faith.  That continues today.  There are 3 rites of ordination: deacons, priest and bishop.  In the ordination rites for deacons and priests, the bishop lays hands on the head of the person to be ordained.  When a bishop is ordained, there are 3 bishops who lay hands on the head of the person to be ordained bishop.  The basics have remained the same for 2000 years.

 

Let us pray for all of those who have been and will be ordained this summer as deacons and some subsequently as priests in the various parts of the Church:  O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made  new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: the week of 25 July from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  

 

The Seaside Seniors will meet this Thursday for lunch starting at 11:00 a.m. and then there will be dancing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

 

St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch.  This is the 129^th anniversary of the church.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are in the hospital.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Don't Let Your Anger Consume You

The Daily Prayer of the Church continues with the Acts of the Apostles and we hear Herod’s reaction to Peter’s angelic prison break:

 

When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

 

Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!’ And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

 

But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.  (Acts 12:18-25).

 

Herod believes that he has the power of life and death, and he does.  However, Herod misuses his power.  He is an angry man.  Herod reacts with anger when he hears that Peter has escaped his prison.  He is so angry that he orders the guards to be killed. Herod is also angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and he has the power to starve those people to death.  When Herod comes to visit the people of Tyre and Sidon, they lavish great praise on him to appease him so that they will not starve.  Herod, the angry man, believes his own lies, and he forgets who the Truth is.  Herod is literally eaten from the inside out; his anger has consumed him.

 

How many times have we allowed ourselves to become controlled by anger so much so that it begins to eat at us?  Don’t be like Herod; remember the Truth.

 

Let us pray:  O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the  night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: the week of 25 July from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  

 

The Seaside Seniors will meet this Thursday for lunch starting at 11:00 a.m. and then there will be dancing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are in the hospital.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Just When It Seems Hopeless

Today in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the first Apostle to be killed for his faith, and how Peter makes a jail break with an angel’s help:

 

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

 

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists. angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’

 

As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind!’ But she insisted that it was so. They said, ‘It is his angel.’ Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, ‘Tell this to James and to the believers.’ Then he left and went to another place.  (Acts 12: 1-17).

 

James was the first of the Apostles to be executed by the authorities because he preached Jesus crucified and risen. Since it was a crowd pleaser, Herod decided that Peter should be next on the list, and he had him arrested.  God had different plans, though, and with the help of an angel, Peter makes a prison break.

 

Sometimes when we are in the toughest positions, and just when it seems hopeless and that we will not be able to escape a fate that we fear, God comes to our aid and releases us from our captivity.  There is a way out with God’s grace.  Just ask Peter.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Paint to the Music: the week of 25 July from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.

 

Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  

 

The Seaside Seniors will meet this Thursday for lunch starting at 11:00 a.m. and then there will be dancing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are in the hospital.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550