Today the Church celebrates the life and ministry of the Rt. Rev. Paul Jones, a voice of peace in a time of war. James Kiefer writes:
Paul Jones was born in Pennsylvania in 1880. He attended Yale University and the Episcopal Divinity School [then called the Episcopal Theological Seminary] in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was ordained and served a mission church in Logan, Utah. In 1914 he was made Bishop of the Missionary District of Utah.
He was an outspoken pacifist, and when World War I began in 1914, he spoke against it. As the war progressed, and when the United States entered the war in 1917, many Americans were vehement in holding that pursuing the war was a moral duty, and opposition to the war was immoral. In the spring of 1918, yielding to pressure, Bishop Jones resigned as Bishop of Utah. He continued to speak out within the Church as an advocate of peace and the Christian renunciation of war, until his death on 4 September 1941.
This is once again a time of extended violence, and it is violence associated with religious belief. When I watch the news, I hear politicians and pundits talk about the ISIS problem, and no one seems to know what to do about it.
One of the reasons the West does not know how to deal with ISIS is because it does not understand the religious underpinnings of the movement. For many years now, the West has disregarded the place of religion in public life with its stark separation of Church and State, and government has become the new “religion” of this nation. This society once again needs to understand the place of religion and faith in life, understanding the varied and different religious beliefs. The longer we disregard and try to place religion in a box separated from public life, the more difficulties we will have in the future. Although the adherents of ISIS will not listen to words of peace, we need to hear those words once again. Bishop Jones is a reminder of that.
Let us pray: Merciful God, who sent your beloved Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Raise up in this and every land witnesses, who, after the example of your servant Paul Jones, will stand firm in proclaiming the Gospel of the Prince of Peace, our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Invite Someone to Church Sunday is on the 21st of September 2014. Please invite someone to Church to experience the joy of the Good News.
St. Vincent’s Feast Day and the 60th Anniversary of St. Vincent’s House will be celebrated the weekend of 27 and 28 September 2014. We will have the installation of the new director of St. Vincent’s House, the Rev. Freda Marie Brown, on Saturday, 27 September 2014 starting at 10 AM, the Houston’s Hero Award and then on the 28th the Eucharist at St. Augustine’s at 9 AM with Bishop Jeff Fisher and then the dinner starting at 3 PM. Don’t miss this!
The 6th Annual Art Show, “Let There Be Light,” will start on the 4th of October and last for 1 week.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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