Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.

On this Maundy Thursday, we hear from St. Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth:

 

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Cor. 11: 27-32).

 

Tonight we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist.  Paul reminds the Church in Corinth and all of us that when we received the Body and Blood of Jesus, we must be mindful of the entire community of faith to whom we are answerable.  If we receive and are unmindful of the entire body, we in effect, bring condemnation on ourselves.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

THE BIG BBQ IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER—SATURDAY, 3 MAY!  Tell all of your friends and neighbors about it—spread the word!  This year we will have 8 pit masters including our own Neil “Bigmista” Strawder.

 

Seaside Seniors at 11 AM on Thursday in Sutton Hall.

 

Holy Week & Easter Schedule:

 

         Maundy Thursday at 7 PM, foot washing, Eucharist and the stripping of the altar.

 

         Good Friday at noon, traditional service.

 

          Easter at 9 AM, festival Eucharist followed with Easter Egg Hunt and Pot luck lunch.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550