Monday, September 30, 2013

The Feast of St. Michael & All the Angels

Today the Church remembers St. Michael and all of the Angels.  This is traditionally known as “Michaelmas,” and “Michaelmas term” is the first academic term of the academic year in a number of English-speaking universities and schools, especially in the United Kingdom.  James Kiefer writes:
 
[W]e give thanks for the many ways in which God's loving care watches over us, both directly and indirectly, and we are reminded that the richness and variety of God's creation far exceeds our knowledge of it.
 
The Holy Scriptures often speak of created intelligences other than humans who worship God in heaven and act as His messengers and agents on earth. We are not told much about them, and it is not clear how much of what we are told is figurative. Jesus speaks of them as rejoicing over penitent sinners (Lk 15:10). Elsewhere, in a statement that has been variously understood (Mt 18:10), He warns against misleading a child, because their angels behold the face of God. (Acts 12:15 may refer to a related idea.)
 
In the Hebrew Scriptures, it is occasionally reported that someone saw a man who spoke to him with authority, and who he then realized was no mere man, but a messenger of God. Thus we have a belief in super-human rational created beings, either resembling men in appearance or taking human appearance when they are to communicate with us. They are referred to as "messengers of God," or simply as "messengers." The word for a messenger in Hebrew is malach, in Greek, angelos, from which we get our word "angel" [Digression: angelion means "message, news" and euangelion means "good news = goodspell = gospel," from which we get our word "evangelist" used to mean a preacher of the Good News of salvation, and, more narrowly, one of the four Gospel-writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.]
 
By the time of Christ, Jewish popular belief included many specifics about angels, with names for many of them. There were thought to be four archangels, named Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. An alternative tradition has seven archangels (see Tobit 12:15 and 1 Enoch 20). Sometimes each archangel is associated with one of the seven planets of the Ptolemaic system (the moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). Michael is associated with Saturn and Uriel with the Sun. The other pairings I forget, but I believe that you will find a list in the long narrative poem called "The Golden Legend," by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. (I believe that a pairing is also offered in the opening chapters of the Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, by Irenaeus of Lyons, but I have not the work at hand.)
 
Michael (the name means "Who is like God?") is said to be the captain of the heavenly armies. He is mentioned in the Scriptures in Daniel 10:13,31; 12:1 (where he is said to be the prince of the people of Israel); in Jude 9 (where he is said to have disputed with the devil about the body of Moses); and in Revelation 12:7 (where he is said to have led the heavenly armies against those of the great dragon). He is generally pictured in full armor, carrying a lance, and with his foot on the neck of a dragon. (Pictures of the Martyr George are often similar, but only Michael has wings.)
 
Gabriel (the name means "God is my champion") is thought of as the special bearer of messages from God to men. He appears in Daniel 8:16; 9:21 as an explainer of some of Daniel's visions. According to the first chapter of Luke, he announced the forthcoming births of John the Baptist and of our Lord to Zachariah and the Virgin Mary respectively.
 
Raphael (the name means "God heals") is mentioned in the Apocrypha, in the book of Tobit, where, disguised as a man, he accompanies the young man Tobias on a quest, enables him to accomplish it, and gives him a remedy for the blindness of his aged father.
 
Uriel (the name means "God is my light" -- compare with "Uriah", which means "the LORD is my light") is mentioned in 4 Esdras.
 
It is thought by many scholars that the seven lamps of Revelation 4:5 are an image suggested by (among many other things) the idea of seven archangels.
 
What is the value to us of remembering the Holy Angels? Well, since they appear to excel us in both knowledge and power, they remind us that, even among created things, we humans are not the top of the heap. Since it is the common belief that demons are angels who have chosen to disobey God and to be His enemies rather than His willing servants, they remind us that the higher we are the lower we can fall. The greater our natural gifts and talents, the greater the damage if we turn them to bad ends. The more we have been given, the more will be expected of us. And, in the picture of God sending His angels to help and defend us, we are reminded that apparently God, instead of doing good things directly, often prefers to do them through His willing servants, enabling those who have accepted His love to show their love for one another.
 
Let us pray:  Everlasting God, who have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
The 5th Annual Art Show at St. Augustine is open! Invite your friends and get the word out.  The show is only 1 week this year from the 28th of September to 6 October, and we’ll have extended hours on the 6th since it is Artwalk night.”
 
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, 5 October at 11 a.m. Bring your cats, dogs, birds, lizards, fleas, or whichever of God’s creatures are a part of your home to be blessed.
 
The BBQ at Grace is back!  After being interrupted by Ike, the tradition is back again.  Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 11-3.  There will be a silent auction with all sorts of wonderful items including James Avery jewelry and a bird watching cruise.  Come and support our brothers and sisters at Grace Episcopal Church.
  
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Bishop Lancelot Andrewes

Today the Church remembers Lancelot Andrewes, who was born in 1555 and died in 1626.  James Kiefer tells us that: “He served as Bishop of Winchester, and he was on the committee of scholars that produced the King James Translation of the Bible, and probably contributed more to that work than any other single person. It is accordingly no surprise to find him not only a devout writer but a learned and eloquent one, a master of English prose, and learned in Latin, Greek, Hebrew and eighteen other languages. His sermons were popular in his own day, but are perhaps too academic for most modern readers. He prepared for his own use a manuscript notebook of Private Prayers, which was published after his death. The material was apparently intended, not to be read aloud, but to serve as a guide and stimulus to devout meditation.”
 
Let us pray: Almighty God, you gave your servant Lancelot Andrewes the gift of your Holy Spirit and made him a man of prayer and a faithful pastor of your people: Perfect in us what is lacking in your gifts, of faith, to increase it, of hope, to establish it, of love, to kindle it, that we may live in the life of your grace and glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Please remember everyone one our Prayer List, and especially, Lee, Gladys, Robert, Evelyn, Jim and Shirley.  We also especially remember Duane who celebrates his birthday today.
 
In the Makowski extended family, we had a death. I would ask that you please pray for Mrs. Mendoza, who died in El Paso yesterday morning.  Let us pray: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Mrs. Mendoza. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
The 5th Annual Art Show at St. Augustine’s begins this weekend on Saturday, 28 September at 6 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Joy.”  HELP! Lee sent the following: “We still need some help so please bring: wine, punch, cookies, snacks, cheese ,crackers.  You can contact Tammie who is coordinating the reception.  Invite your friends and get the word out.  The show is only 1 week this year from the 28th of September to 6 October, and we’ll have extended hours on the 6th since it is Artwalk night.”
 
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, 6 October at 11 a.m. Bring your cats, dogs, birds, lizards, fleas, or whichever of God’s creatures are a part of your home to be blessed.
 
The BBQ at Grace is back!  After being interrupted by Ike, the tradition is back again.  Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 11-3.  There will be a silent auction with all sorts of wonderful items including James Avery jewelry and a bird watching cruise.  Come and support our brothers and sisters at Grace Episcopal Church.
 
St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. where the Rev. Kern Huff will be our main celebrant.  We will follow with breakfast for all. Please come to the celebration of St. Vincent's Day and say "hello" to Kern and Becky Huff.
 
Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m. This will be the last in the series.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Love Your Enemies

The selected Gospel passage for today comes from Matthew where we read about loving one’s enemies:
 
‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
 
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt. 5:38-48).
 
In a world that is very polarized today in all areas, politically, religiously, economically and any other number of ways, Jesus’ words may seem to be especially difficult to live out.  I can hear people saying, “But how can I love my enemy; they are evil, horrible and maybe not even human!”  Yet the very people we may despise are also made in the likeness and image of God, and the Son came to redeem them as well. 
 
Let us pray: O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Please remember everyone one our Prayer List, and especially, Lee, Gladys, Robert, Evelyn, Jim and Shirley.  We also especially remember Duane who celebrates his birthday today.
 
Although she was not known to the people of St. Augustine personally, I would ask that you please pray for Amy who died of cancer and especially her 16 year old son.  The father is not present in his life, and his only living relative is his grandmother who has dementia.  Let us pray: O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Amy. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console those who mourn, especially her 16 year old son. Give him faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence he may continue his course on earth, until, by your call, he is reunited with his mother who has gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
The 5th Annual Art Show at St. Augustine’s begins this weekend on Saturday, 28 September at 6 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Joy.” 
 
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, 6 October at 11 a.m. Bring your cats, dogs, birds, lizards, fleas, or whichever of God’s creatures are a part of your home to be blessed.
 
The BBQ at Grace is back!  After being interrupted by Ike, the tradition is back again.  Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 11-3.  There will be a silent auction with all sorts of wonderful items including James Avery jewelry and a bird watching cruise.  Come and support our brothers and sisters at Grace Episcopal Church.
 
St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. where the Rev. Kern Huff will be our main celebrant.  We will follow with breakfast for all. Please come to the celebration of St. Vincent's Day and say "hello" to Kern and Becky Huff.
 
Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m. This will be the last in the series.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Covenant Faithfulness

Today’s Epistle reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth, and Paul speaks about a topic that may be uncomfortable for some:
 
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?
 
For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
 
Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5:1-8).
 
Paul is advocating good, old fashioned chastity, which in his day, and in ours, is not a very popular theme.  But there is wisdom behind his thinking.  The created order, of which we human beings are an integral part of, participate in the very act of creation.  For the rational being, this is indeed a gift that is not to be taken lightly.  Human sexuality is a gift which is to be used in a permanent relationship, one that is committed, and as sign of God’s faithfulness, a part of God’s covenant relationship with humanity.  To flitter from person to person is an abuse of the gift of sexuality.  God calls for a commitment where one looks for the good of the other person ahead of one’s own.  It is about placing the beloved first.  Paul tells us that anything outside such a permanent relationship is not healthy or holy.
 
Let us pray:  O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon your servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
 
Please remember everyone one our Prayer List, and especially, Lee, Gladys, Robert, Evelyn, Jim and Shirley.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, 6 October at 11 a.m. Bring your cats, dogs, birds, lizards, fleas, or whichever of God’s creatures are a part of your home to be blessed.
 
The BBQ at Grace is back!  After being interrupted by Ike, the tradition is back again.  Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 11-3.  There will be a silent auction with all sorts of wonderful items including James Avery jewelry and a bird watching cruise.  Come and support our brothers and sisters at Grace Episcopal Church.
 
St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. where the Rev. Kern Huff will be our main celebrant.  We will follow with breakfast for all. Please come to the celebration of St. Vincent's Day and say "hello" to Kern and Becky Huff.
 
Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m. This will be the last in the series.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Salt & Light

The Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church today comes from Matthew where we read:
 
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
 
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Mt. 5:11-16).
 
Jesus tells us: “You are salt and light.”  How are we salt and light?  People know that we believe in Jesus and in his dying for us while we were sinners thereby giving us life when we treat others as people who have been redeemed by Christ.  How does that look? Feed the poor, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty.  In England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has paved the way for the Church to be linked with credits unions where Church volunteers would work with financial cooperatives.  His goal is to help those who are in financial difficulty who go to pay day loan lenders who charge extremely high interest rates. When they go there, those in financial trouble get into more trouble and further behind.  The Church is even teaching those in financial trouble how to manage their money.  It is working in the parish Church in Louth, Lincolnshire.  The Church is helping people to break the cycle of debt and to be free.  In the modern world, that is what it looks like.
 
Let us pray: Gracious God you ate with sinners, with those who were shunned by the world.  Send your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how we can be salt and light to the world as we spread the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.  Amen.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, but especially, Robert, Gladys, Shirley, Lee , all of those suffering from cancer, all of the families of the victims of the shootings at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., and the victims of the terrible rains in Mexico where people have been left with nothing.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
The BBQ at Grace is back!  After being interrupted by Ike, the tradition is back again.  Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 11-3.  There will be a silent auction  with all sorts of wonderful items including James Avery jewelry and a bird watching cruise.  Come and support our brothers and sisters at Grace Episcopal Church.
 
St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. followed by breakfast.
 
Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m.-the ethical consideration of stem cell research.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Reformer: The Rev. Edward Pusey

 
Today the Church remembers and honors someone who wanted to get back to the practices of the Early Church and to the Church’s more universal roots, Edward Pusey (1800-1882), a priest, an Oxford professor, and a member of the Oxford Movement.  Pusey was competent in Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic, and was Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford, and a canon of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, from 1828 until his death.

 

Over time, the liturgy had the Eucharist in the deep background.  People did not go to Holy Communion that often.  The leaders of the Oxford Movement wanted to reinvigorate the Church by going back to more frequent reception of Holy Communion.  James Kiefer writes: “Then, in the 1830's, several lecturers at Oxford University, reading their copies of the Book of Common Prayer, noticed that this was not the intended state of affairs. The Prayer Book provided for a sermon at the Liturgy, but not at Morning Prayer, for the taking of a collection at the Liturgy, but not at Morning Prayer. In every way it was clear that the compilers of the Prayer Book had intended the Liturgy to be the principal service on every Sunday and Feast Day. So the lecturers got busy and wrote a series of pamphlets explaining this and various related points to their readers. They called the pamphlets Tracts for the Times, by Residents in Oxford, and the public referred to them as The Oxford Tracts.

 

At first, it met with little acceptance.  However, within time it certainly caught on and led to many denominations, including the Roman Catholics, on paying more attention to the liturgy.

 

If you go to Oxford today, you will find a chapel named after Edward Pusey where they celebrate Morning Prayer, the Eucharist and Evening Prayer each day.

 

Let us pray:  Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your presence and obey your will; that, following the examples of your servant Edward Bouverie Pusey, we may with integrity and courage accomplish what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, but especially, Robert, Gladys, Shirley, Lee , all of those suffering from cancer, and all of the families of the victims of the shootings at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. followed by breakfast.

 

Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m.-the ethical consideration of stem cell research.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

God's Wisdom Is Not the World's Wisdom

The appointed Epistle reading for today’s Daily Prayer is taken from Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth where Paul reminds us that God’s ways are not the ways of the world:
 
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
 
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ (1 Cor. 1:20-31).
 
To be sure, the Early Church was a mixed bag of rich and poor, but it was particularly attractive to those who the world considered to be of little importance, for example, the poor, slaves, women and children.  Paul preached the Good News of Jesus that redemption was open to all; it made no difference who you were.  In fact, Jesus himself was not a man of wealth and he died the death of a criminal being crucified.  In the eyes of the wise and powerful, God’s approach seemed absurd.  Why would God save creation through the death of someone on a instrument of execution?  God’s values and not the world’s values.  God values everyone, no matter that their station in life might, or might not, be.
 
Let us pray:  Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, but especially, Robert, Gladys, Shirley, Lee and all of the families of the victims of the shootings at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
St. Vincent’s House Day, Saturday, 28 September at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent’s House with Bishop Fisher and continuing on Sunday, 29 September, with the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 a.m. followed by breakfast.
 
Adult Christian Formation: this Sunday at 11 a.m.-the ethical consideration of stem cell research.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

A Day to Remember

 
This is the 12th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11.  This morning I am leaving New York City for Boston from Penn Station.  This day is much like that day 12 years ago.  The sky is clear.  The traffic on the streets is building as cabs and buses bring workers to their employment.  Penn Station is filled with people living their daily lives.  Some are going to work; some are folks traveling to see loved ones, or perhaps to see a bit of the world.  But on this day, there is that underlying tension in New York City, that remembrance of how an ordinary morning can change in an instant from the mundane to the horrific when hate prevails and unleashes deadly destruction.  On that day 12 years ago, our nation changed.
 
At St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church on Park Avenue in New York City at noon today, firefighters, choirs, and people from the city and other places will come together to remember and to pray for all of those who lost loved ones on that day, and to pray for healing in New York City; Shankesville, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; the nation and for the world.  Join with them in your prayers today.
 
Let us pray: Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
 
Back to Church Sunday is this Sunday, 15 September!  This is an Anglican Communion wide event.  Please invite someone to Church that Sunday.  We will also be having a baptism.
 
Adult Christian Education: we will resume the ethics series on the 15th of September.
 
William Temple Cooking Teams: All 3 parishes on the Island are forming teams to cook one Wednesday a month for the William Temple students.  Trinity will have 2 teams and Grace and St. Augustine will each have a team.  William Temple will provide the food, and we provide the cooking.  I will have a sign-up sheet in Sutton Hall.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Lee and Gladys.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550