Hope In the Darkest Hour

On this Wednesday in Holy Week, the assigned Gospel reading is again taken from John, and we read:

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.  (Jn. 12: 27-36).

John gives us a picture of Jesus’ humanity in this passage.  Jesus is troubled because he is well aware of what is about to transpire.  He knows how physically painful it will be.  Jesus is aware that evil will do its best to destroy him.  But Jesus believes in the goodness of God the Father, and that in the end evil will not prevail.  In the midst of his anticipation of suffering, Jesus has hope.

Let us pray:  Gracious God, when we are in our darkest hour, send your Holy Spirit to fill us with hope.  Amen.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

 

Wednesday: Lenten Program at Trinity at 6 p.m. with Bishop Andy Doyle.

Maundy Thursday: Eucharist with foot washing at 7 p.m. with vigil until midnight.

Good Friday: Liturgy at 12 noon.

Easter Sunday: Choral Eucharist at 9 a.m. with Easter egg hunt and potluck lunch to follow.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

“Those who love their life lose it.”

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, the appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church is taken from the Gospel according to John:

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.  (Jn. 12: 20-26).

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  In his response to Philip's request from the Greeks, Jesus essentially tells us that people will encounter him when you and I follow Jesus, and in order to follow Jesus, you and I must die to self and become selfless people who are willing to give of themselves even when it hurts.  We will see the length to which Jesus lives out what he preaches at the end of the week on Good Friday.

That was counter-cultural then, and it is now.  Our society is so enamored with the idea of self.  We seek our fulfillment, our own happiness, we want things on our own terms.  But Jesus says we need to approach life on God’s terms.  He says, “those who love their life lose it.”  It is just as counterintuitive in today’s world as it was 2000 years ago, but Jesus is right.  When we die to self, we will find true happiness, because true happiness consists in following the will of God.

Let us pray:  Not our will be done, but yours Loving Father.  Amen.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

Wednesday: Lenten Program at Trinity at 6 p.m. with Bishop Andy Doyle.

Maundy Thursday: Eucharist with foot washing at 7 p.m. with vigil until midnight.

Good Friday: Liturgy at 12 noon.

Easter Sunday: Choral Eucharist at 9 a.m. with Easter egg hunt and potluck lunch to follow.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

The Donkey

On this Monday of Holy Week, we hear from John regarding the events of yesterday, Palm Sunday:

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!’

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ (Jn. 12: 9-19).

Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.  What about that poor little donkey? It is not a majestic animal.  It is not an animal that one associates with power.  It is a beast of burden.  It is a stubborn animal.  The donkey, is well, a donkey.  Yet Jesus chooses to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.

On this less than glamorous animal, the King of Kings, Jesus, comes riding into Jerusalem.  What does this say about Jesus?  The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, true God and true man, Jesus, takes on our nature in every which way.  Jesus is humble. Although he had every right to, Jesus does not lord it over anyone.  He is humble.  He does not force anyone to love or to follow him.  Jesus embraces the ordinary.  He sanctifies it.  By sanctifying the ordinary, Jesus also sanctified our daily lives and their ordinary routines.  There is nothing wrong with the ordinary; just as the donkey.  The donkey will tell you who is his riding companion, and he will exclaim: “Jesus who is the Christ!”

Let us pray:  Gracious God, you made all things in heaven and on the earth—those things that are wondrous to behold, and all of those things that are ordinary.  You bless everything, even the mundane.  Bless us, we pray, as we enter into this holy week, that we may see the eternal in the ordinary.  We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

Wednesday: Lenten Program at Trinity at 6 p.m. with Bishop Andy Doyle.

Maundy Thursday: Eucharist with foot washing at 7 p.m.

Good Friday: Liturgy at 12 noon.

Easter Sunday: Choral Eucharist at 9 a.m. with Easter egg hunt and potluck lunch to follow.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Are You Like Martha, Mary or Judas?

The appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church comes from the Gospel according to John and it is our Gospel reading from the Eucharist last Sunday:

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well. (Jn. 12: 1-10).

John says it so nonchalantly, Jesus and his disciples were at “the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.”  Can you imagine that, being with Lazarus who was once dead and now is alive?  What a miracle! Wouldn’t this change your life?  John tells us how different people react: (1) Martha serves and evangelizes; (2) Mary serves and worships, and (3) Judas has his own agenda looking what is in it for him as he plots to steal.  Where do you and I fall?  Are we like Martha or Mary or Judas?

Let us pray:  Gracious God, let us be open to your Word.  May we give our lives to you in service and worship putting aside our own desires.  We ask this in Jesus’ name who lives with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.  We will start at the cross in the courtyard to bless palms and start the procession.  Pease wear red!

Next Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Lenten Series continues at Trinity with our own Bishop, Andy Doyle, as the speaker.

Saturday, 23 March, Garden Meeting with pot-luck lunch at noon.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys, Randy, and especially David and Deleoris who have returned home.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Two Different Men, Similar Themes

 

Today Justin Portal Welby was installed as the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury (the first was St. Augustine of Canterbury who was installed in 597).  This week, the newly elected Francis was installed as the 266^th Bishop of Rome.  Both Justin and Francis had similar themes in their first homilies.  Francis reminded the world: “Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political, and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany our world’s journey! But to be ‘protectors’, we also have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that hatred, envy, and pride defile our lives! Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up or tear down! We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!”

Justin echoed a similar theme today.  He said: ““The present challenges of environment and economy, of human development and global poverty, can only be faced with extraordinary Christ-liberated courage. … Courage is released in a society that is under the authority of God, so that we may become the fully human community of which we all dream. … “[We] may properly differ on the degrees of state and private responsibility in a healthy society. … If we sever our roots in Christ we abandon the stability which enables good decision-making. … There can be no final justice, or security, or love, or hope in our society if it is not finally based on rootedness in Christ.” 

There is a new breath of fresh air blowing through creation which is echoed in the homilies of both men.  May we pay attention to what they are saying—it is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Next Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Lenten Series continues at Trinity with our own Bishop, Andy Doyle, as the speaker.

Choir practice this Thursday evening in the Church at 6 p.m.

Saturday, 23 March, Garden Meeting with pot-luck lunch at noon.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys, Randy, and especially David and Deleoris who have returned home.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

On this Wednesday in the 5th week of Lent, we hear from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans where he tells us of the importance of sharing the Word:

 

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’ Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, ‘I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.’ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, ‘I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.’ But of Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. (Rm. 10: 14-21).

Paul tells us: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” We come to our faith because someone has taken the time to tell us about it. It may have been our grandmother or grandfather; it may have been our mother or father. Perhaps we heard about Jesus from a Sunday school teacher or a clergy person as we were growing up. Whoever told us, we came to the faith by what we heard, and what we heard was the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. Will you tell someone what you have heard?

Let us pray:  Lord God, you sent your Son, the Word made flesh, to tell us of your great love for us.  May we, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tell others what has been told to us.  We ask this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Tonight at 6 p.m. the Lenten Series continues at Grace with the Rev. Dr. Pittman McGehee as the speaker.

Choir practice this Thursday evening in the Church.

Saturday, 23 March, Garden Meeting with pot-luck lunch at noon.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys, Randy, and especially David and Deleoris who have returned home.

Your servant in Christ,

 

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

St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Bishop & Theologian

Today the Church remembers, honors and celebrates the life and ministry of St. Cyril of Jerusalem who was a bishop and a theologian during the Patristic period of the Church, that being the from about 100 A.D. to about 500 A.D.

Cyril was born in Jerusalem about the year 315 A.D. (there is disagreement), and died in 386.  His parents were probably Christians and he had great love and respect for them.  After being ordained a deacon and then a priest, his bishop, St. Maximus, respected him enough to put him in charge of the instruction of catechumens. We still have these catechetical lectures of Cyril’s that were written down by someone in the congregation.

When Maximus died, Cyril was consecrated bishop of Jerusalem; however, he was caught between two groups, Arians (who believe Jesus was not also true God as well as true man), and orthodox believers. 

When a famine hit Jerusalem, the poor turned to Cyril for help. Cyril, seeing the poor starving to death and having no money, sold some of the goods of the churches. This was something that other bishops did, including St. Ambrose and our own St. Augustine, and it probably saved many lives.

Cyril’s time as bishop was fraught with problems coming from all sorts of sectors, and he wound up being away from his diocese for a number of years because of it.  This time was a turbulent one for the Church as doctrine was being ironed out; nevertheless, Cyril tried to do his best to keep out ideas that were not faithful to the teaching handed down by the apostles.

Let us pray:  Strengthen, O Lord, the bishops of your Church in their special calling to be teachers and ministers of the Sacraments, so that they, like your servant Cyril of Jerusalem, may effectively instruct your people in Christian faith and practice; and that we, taught by them, may enter more fully into celebration of the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Wednesday, 20 March at 6 p.m. the Lenten Series continues at Grace with the Rev. Dr. Pittman McGehee as the speaker.

Choir practice this Thursday evening in the Church.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys and Randy.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Welby & Francis: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

The last few weeks have been and will continue to be very busy within Christendom which appears many times to be so fragmented. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officially became the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury on the 4^th of February 2013 in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London that is over 1600 years old. He will be enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury on the 21^st of March in Canterbury Cathedral and he is currently making a pilgrimage to the cathedral. The Roman Catholic Church saw the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Francis who will be installed on the 19^th of March.
 

In the midst of such activity on this Friday in the fourth week of Lent, we hear from Paul’s Letter to the Romans where he writes:

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rm. 8: 28-39).

 

In the midst of this season of Lent, in the midst of so much activity, there is a breath of hope, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and echoes of St. Paul’s words: “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” For example, Francis has reportedly said the Church universal needs Anglicans. In a note released after the election of the first ever pontiff from Latin America, the Anglican Bishop of Argentina and former Primate of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, the Rt. Rev. Greg Venables said Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was "an inspired choice." Many are asking the Rt. Rev. Venables what Francis is really like since they both served in Argentina; who said, "He is much more of a Christian, Christ centered and Spirit filled, than a mere churchman. He believes the Bible as it is written. I have been with him on many occasions and he always makes me sit next to him and invariably makes me take part and often do what he as Cardinal should have done. He is consistently humble and wise, outstandingly gifted yet a common man. He is no fool and speaks out very quietly yet clearly when necessary."

 

The Rt. Rev. Venables added that in a conversation with the new Pope Francis, Francis made it clear that he values the place of Anglicans in the Church universal. "He called me to have breakfast with him one morning and told me very clearly that the Ordinariate (the acceptance and ordination of former Anglican/Episcopal clergy as Roman Catholics) was quite unnecessary and that the Church needs us as Anglicans. The former Primate of the Anglican Communion's Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America added, "I consider this to be an inspired appointment not because he is a close and personal friend, but because of who he is In Christ. Pray for him."

 

This is a breath of fresh air indeed; the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the world. 
 

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.
 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 March, we will have our regularly scheduled Bishop’s Committee meeting immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service.

Lenten Series: Wednesday, 29 March at 6 p.m. at Grace with the Rev. Dr. J. Pittman McGehee.

The Seaside Seniors will meet in Sutton Hall on Thursday, 21 March.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Gladys.

Your servant in Christ,

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

St. Gregory the Great

Today the Church remembers Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome from 590 to 604.

James Kiefer tells us that Gregory was born around 540, and in 573 he became Prefect of Rome.  Shortly afterwards, he resigned and became a monk. In 579, Gregory was sent to represent the Bishop of Rome to the Patriarch of Constantinople. When Gregory returned, the Bishop of Rome, Leo, died of the plague, and in Gregory was elected bishop in 590.

Like Leo before him, Gregory became the practical governor of central Italy. When the Lombards invaded, Gregory organized the defense of Rome, and entered into a treaty with them. When there was a food shortage, Gregory organized the distribution of grain from Sicily.

Gregory is also known as a liturgist and an organizer.  He used plainchant (Gregorian chant), and founded a school to train church musicians. He introduced a lectionary of readings.

Although Gregory wanted to go himself but was unable to, he sent missionaries headed by Augustine of Canterbury (not to be confused with our own Augustine of Hippo, more famous), to preach the Gospel in the land known today as England.

He died in Rome in 604.

Let us pray:  Almighty and merciful God, who raised up Gregory of Rome to be a servant of the servants of God, and inspired him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people: Preserve in your Church the catholic and apostolic faith they taught, that your people, being fruitful in every good work, may receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen,

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Wednesday, 13 March, at 6:00 pm, we will host the 4^th in the Lenten Series. Please remember we need to feed about 90 people. Our speaker will be the Rev. Canon John Newton, the Canon for Lifelong Formation in the Diocese of Texas. John is responsible for casting a vision for lifelong Christian formation in the Diocese of Texas by building teams, networks and relationships that clarify our vision and that empower us to live into it. The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation, approved by General Convention in 2009, compels the Church to minister to people of all ages, races and life situations so that all people become mature in the Christian faith. Lifelong Christian formation includes a heavy emphasis on Christian education. John’s vocation is to work throughout the parishes and institutions as an ambassador for the diocese. His vocation is to preach, teach, guide, shape, clarify, listen, articulate, and empower so that we can grow up into Christ together and joyfully live into our Baptismal Covenant.

Sunday, 17 March, we will have our regularly scheduled Bishop’s Committee meeting immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service.

The Seaside Seniors will meet in Sutton Hall on Thursday, 21 March.

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

God Does Miracles With Our Meager Offerings

The selected Gospel passage for the Church’s daily prayer is taken from the first fifteen verses of the 6^th chapter of the Gospel according to John:

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (Jn. 6: 1-15).

There was a boy here who had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish.  The boy freely gave what he had to Jesus who took the boy’s offering and fed the multitude, and there were 12 baskets of leftovers.  Jesus takes what we have and he does the miraculous with it.  We bring to Jesus our meager gifts and he fills the hungry with much more to spare.  Turn over to Jesus what you have, and see what miracles come from it.

Let us pray:  Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Wednesday, 13 March, at 6:00 pm, we will host the 4^th in the Lenten Series.  Please remember we need to feed about 90 people. Our speaker will be the Rev. Canon John Newton, the Canon for Lifelong Formation in the Diocese of Texas.  John is responsible for casting a vision for lifelong Christian formation in the Diocese of Texas by building teams, networks and relationships that clarify our vision and that empower us to live into it. The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation, approved by General Convention in 2009, compels the Church to minister to people of all ages, races and life situations so that all people become mature in the Christian faith. Lifelong Christian formation includes a heavy emphasis on Christian education. John’s vocation is to work throughout the parishes and institutions as an ambassador for the diocese. His vocation is to preach, teach, guide, shape, clarify, listen, articulate, and empower so that we can grow up into Christ together and joyfully live into our Baptismal Covenant.

Sunday, 17 March, we will have our regularly scheduled Bishop’s Committee meeting immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service.

The Seaside Seniors will meet in Sutton Hall on Thursday, 21 March.

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

What Is My Blindness?

The appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church today is taken from the 8^th chapter of the Gospel according to John where we hear Jesus say:

          “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (Jn. 8: 12-20).

There is no blindness like the blindness of someone who does not want to see.  For whatever reason, the Pharisees did not want to see who Jesus is.  Perhaps they wanted to keep their hold on power, or maybe they were too enamored by their man made rules appended onto the Ten Commandments.  Just maybe, they were too afraid to change or to rock the boat fearful of what the Roman authorities might do.  I’m sure they each had the motives and reasons. 

What about us?  Are we sometimes blind to what Jesus is saying to us?  Do we, like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, refuse to see whatever our reason might be?  In the end, Jesus’ way is the way of truth and light.  There is no darkness in him at all.

Let us pray:  Gracious God and Father, send your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the light of your Son, Jesus Christ.  Give us grace to move beyond those things which hold us from walking in the way of light.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This evening at 6 pm the Lenten Series continues at Trinity Episcopal Church with Kathy Culmer.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, and especially all those who are traveling.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Tell the Old Story

The appointed Psalm for the daily prayer of the Church today is Psalm 78. It is rather long, so we will look at the first verses:

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings from of old,

things that we have heard and known,

that our ancestors have told us.

We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

The Psalmist knows that each generation must be reminded of God's saving acts.  The Scripture of Christianity and Judaism tell the story of God’s people. The characters are far from perfect; they are flawed human beings. The first kings of Israel are good examples. Saul became paranoid and was on a rampage to kill David. David was hungry for power, and subject to being lustful. He sent one of his officers into battle so that he would be killed so that King David could have his wife. Nevertheless, God finds a way to work with these flawed humans to bring about salvation through Jesus. The story in the Old and New Testaments is our story; it is an old story that we must tell and re-tell.

Let us pray: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. David of Wales, Bishop & Monastic

Today the Church remembers St. David of Wales who lived in the 500s.  David (also known as “Dewi”), became a priest, engaged in missionary work and founded many monasteries, including his principal abbey in southwestern Wales. Many stories and legends sprang up about David and his Welsh monks. Their austerity was extreme. They worked in silence without the help of animals to till the soil. Their food was limited to bread, vegetables and water.

He gained some fame around 550 when he attended a synod of bishops for his eloquence.  The headquarters of his diocese were moved to Mynyw, where David had his monastery. 

David is often pictured standing on a mound with a dove.  Legend has it that once while he was preaching a dove descended to his shoulder and the earth rose to lift him high above the people so that he could be heard.

 

David ruled his diocese until he had reached a very old age; his last words to those in his care were: “Be joyful, brothers and sisters. Keep your faith, and do the little things that you have seen and heard with me.”

Let us pray:  Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.  Amen.

THANK YOU TO WILLIAM TEMPLE EPISCOPAL CENTER FOR THE BOOKS OF COMMON PRAYER AND HYMNALS.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Lenten Series continues next Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church where we will hear from Kathy Culmer.

Friday and Saturday, 8& 9 March, Wine Glass and Art Class with Lee Runion.

We will host St. Christopher’s quiet day and vestry planning day at St. Augustine’s the 9th of March.

Quiet Day of Prayer at Grace Episcopal, Saturday, 16 March from 9 A.M. to Noon with the Rev. Kate Picot, associate rector at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston.

Adult Christian Education Series continues this Sunday come and join us as Jillian and Tom Bain guide us through the Scripture behind Handel’s Messiah. This is a wonderful study!

Remember to collect those paper towel tubes and oatmeal containers for the Summer Art Camp at St. Augustine’s.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys and Pat.

Your servant in Christ,

 

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