Thursday, February 27, 2014

George Herbert: Poet & Priest


Today the Episcopal Church remembers the life and ministry of a poet and priest, George Herbert who was born in 1593 and died on this day in 1633. James Kiefer writes:  
 
George attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and became the Public Orator of the University, responsible for giving speeches of welcome in Latin to famous visitors, and writing letters of thanks, also in Latin, to acknowledge gifts of books for the University Library. This brought him to the attention of King James I, who granted him an annual allowance, and seemed likely to make him an ambassador. However, in 1625 the king died, and George Herbert, who had originally gone to college with the intention of becoming a priest, but had his head turned by the prospect of a career at Court, determined anew to seek ordination. In 1626 he was ordained, and became vicar and then rector of the parish of Bemerton and neighboring Fugglestone, not far from Salisbury.
 
He served faithfully as a parish priest, diligently visiting his parishioners and bringing them the sacraments when they were ill, and food and clothing when they were in want. He read Morning and Evening Prayer daily in the church, encouraging the congregation to join him when possible, and ringing the church bell before each service so that those who could not come might hear it and pause in their work to join their prayers with his. He used to go once a week to Salisbury to hear Evening Prayer sung there in the cathedral. On one occasion he was late because he had met a man whose horse had fallen with a heavy load, and he stopped, took off his coat, and helped the man to unload the cart, get the horse back on its feet, and then reload the cart. His spontaneous generosity and good will won him the affection of his parishioners.
 
Today, however, he is remembered chiefly for his book of poems, The Temple, which he sent shortly before his death to his friend Nicholas Ferrar, to publish if he thought them suitable.  They were published after Herbert's death, and have influenced the style of other poets, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  Several of them have been used as hymns, in particular "Teach me, my God and King," and "Let all the world in every corner sing."
 
Let us pray:  Our God and King, who called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a pastor of souls, a poet, and a priest in your temple: Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to perform the tasks you give us to do, knowing that nothing is menial or common that is done for your sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Mardi Gras celebration hosted by Tammie and Bill Taylor, Tuesday, 4 March at 6 p.m. in Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.
 
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 5 March at 6 p.m. with the Imposition of Ashes and Eucharist.
 
Lenten Program on the Island: “Nick at Night”:
 
Mar. 12th: The Rt. Rev. Jeff Fisher Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of Texas at St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)
 
Mar. 19th: The Rev. Wendy Wilkinson, Rector, Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, Virginia Beach, VA at Grace (1115 36th St.)
 
Mar. 26th: The Rev. Canon Glenice Robinson-Como Canon Pastor at Christ Church Cathedral & Chaplain to the Beacon at Trinity (2216 Ball Ave)
 
Apr. 2nd: Br. Michael Gallagher & Fr. Peter Funk Benedictine Monks and Founders of Holy Cross Monastery at St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)
 
Apr. 9th: The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Dean & President of the Seminary of the Southwest, Austin at Grace (1115 36th St.)
 
Apr. 16th: The Rev. Mike Chalk, Diocese of West Texas at Trinity (2216 Ball Ave).
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Patricia, Pat and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Fr. John Roberts: Missionary to the Shoshone and Arapahos


Today the Episcopal Church remembers the life and ministry of John Roberts, a priest and missionary who was born in 1853 and died in 1949.  John Roberts was born in Dyserth, on the coast of North Wales. Roberts went to St David’s College, Lampeter, then affiliated with Oxford University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1876.  Roberts was ordained a deacon in 1878 at Lichfield Cathedral by the Rt. Rev. George Augustus Selwyn, and he was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Francis Cramer Roberts at Nassau. He served as chaplain of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and he also ministered to the leper colonies. In 1880 he set out for New York and applied for his first preference of priestly work: ministering to the Native Americans of the United States. 
 
The University of Wyoming has this to say about Fr. Roberts: 
 
Assigned to minister to the Shoshone and Arapahos on the Wind River Reservation, he set about his work by learning all he could about Native American customs and beliefs, believing that by knowing the people he hoped to minister to he would be more effective. He also learned the native languages, eventually translating the gospel for his Native American congregates.
 
Roberts often said the object of his work among the Indians was to make them self supporting. With this in mind he established two schools, the Indian Boarding School at Ft. Washakie and the Shoshone Indian Mission Boarding School. Roberts cultivated friendships with tribal leaders, including Chief Black Coal and Chief Washakie, whom he later baptized. He earned the trust of the tribal leadership and was often involved in their negotiations with the agents of the federal government. The Indians rewarded Roberts for his fairness in dealing with them by giving him the name “Elder Brother.”
 
Roberts also ministered to the non-natives of the state, establishing Episcopal churches in towns across Wyoming. Roberts retired from active missionary work in 1921 but continued to live on the reservation until his death in 1949 at the age of ninety-seven.
 
Let us pray:  Creator God, we thank you for bringing your missionary John Roberts from his native land to live and teach your Gospel in a spirit of respect and amity among the Shoshone and Arapahoe peoples in their own language; and we pray that we also may share the Good News of your Christ with all we meet as friends brought together by your Holy Spirit; for you are one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, living and true, to the ages of ages. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Mardi Gras celebration hosted by Tammie and Bill Taylor, Tuesday, 4 March at 6 p.m. in Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.
 
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 5 March at 6 p.m. with the Imposition of Ashes and Eucharist.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Patricia, Pat and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Friday, February 21, 2014

John Henry Newman

 
Today the Episcopal Church remembers the life and ministry of an Anglican priest who became a Roman Catholic priest later in life and was named a Cardinal, John Henry Newman, who was born in 1801 and died in 1890.
 
Newman was part of the Oxford Movement wherein certain Anglican clergymen (Edward Bouverie Pusey, John Keble, Charles Marriott, Richard Hurrell Froude, Robert Wilberforce, Isaac Williams and William Palmer) at the University of Oxford desired the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy and theology. They conceived of the Anglican Church as one of three branches of the Catholic Church (Roman, Orthodox and Anglican).  The movement eventually spread to the United States.
 
Let us pray:  God of all wisdom, we thank you for John Henry Newman, whose eloquence bore witness that your Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, and who made his own life a pilgrimage towards your truth. Grant that, inspired by his words and example, we may ever follow your kindly light till we rest in your bosom, with your dear Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, where heart speaks to heart eternally; for you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Saturday, 22 February, at 11 am at St. James in Houston: Absalom Jones Day.
 
Sunday, 23 February, at the 9 am Eucharist, we will baptize 2 of Samuel Daniel’s children.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Pat, Patricia and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Martin Luther: Reformer


Today the Episcopal Church remembers a Reformer, Martin Luther.  Recently while I was visiting with Roman Catholic friends from Ireland, they said: “I read what Martin Luther advocated at the time of the Reformation, and he was right, and now the Roman Catholic Church agrees with what he said and made many of the changes he advocated were passed during Vatican II in the 1960s, but the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated him then.  How could the Roman Catholic Church have been right at the time?”  My answer: sometimes institutions, and those who have a vested interest in them, let things like power, wealth, “it’s the way we’ve always done it” attitude; blind our eyes to the need for change and renewal.  Martin Luther recognized that the Church is always in need or reformation.  He had the courage to step out and to engage the powers that be to work for renewal and reformation.  So today we remember that Augustinian monk who was born in 1483 and died in 1546, who taught theology at a new university in Germany, Wittenberg, who translated Holy Scripture into the language of his people and did the same with the liturgies of the Church, and we give thanks to God for those who have the courage to challenge the greater Church to renewal and reformation.
 
Let us pray:  O God, our refuge and our strength, who raised up your servant Martin Luther to reform and renew your Church in the light of your word: Defend and purify the Church in our own day and grant that, through faith, we may boldly proclaim the riches of your grace, which you have made known in Jesus Christ our Savior, who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Thursday, 20 February 2014: the Seaside Seniors meet at Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s at 11 A.M. to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.
 
Join the Absalom Jones Eucharistic Celebration: Come Saturday, 22 February at 11 A.M. to St. James', Houston, and meet the seven diocesan Black clergy and enjoy the musical talents of St. James’ Young Dancers and The Jazz Ensemble.  Enjoy a great lunch and a lively panel discussion on "Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America." St. James is located at 3129 Southmore Blvd. in Houston.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Pat, Patricia, Karen and Xavier and the Daniel’s children to be baptized this Sunday.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Monday, February 17, 2014

God Is Light



The Epistle reading today is taken from the opening of the first letter of John:
 
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
 
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 Jn. 1:1-10).
 
The opening of the epistle is just as powerful as the opening of the Gospel according to John.  Whereas in the opening of his account of the Good News John tells us that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, in the opening of his letter, John tells us that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all.  John acknowledges that we are all sinners and that we cannot lie to ourselves about that.  Once we acknowledge our sinfulness, we can be open to the great mercy of God who forgives our sins in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, who dwells in endless light.
 
Let us pray:  Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMIDNERS
 
The Seaside Seniors will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on Thursday, 20 February starting at 11 A.M.  The children, under Lee Runion’s guidance (and maybe the help of some adults), are making the centerpieces.
  
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Pat, Frances, Carol, Xavier, Patricia and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The Rev. Absalom Jones

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Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of Absalom Jones, the first Black Episcopal priest and he was ordained deacon in 1795 and priest in 1802 (61 years before the Civil War).  (By contrast, Augustus Tolton was the first Black to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest was in 1866, a year after the Civil War ended.)
 
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church at the time was Williams White (1789-1st PB; 1795–1836-4th PB).  James Kiefer writes: “1786 the membership of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia included both blacks and whites. However, the white members met that year and decided that thereafter black members should sit only in the balcony. Two black Sunday worshippers, Absalom Jones (1746-1818) and Richard Allen (1760-1831), whose enthusiasm for the Methodist Church had brought many blacks into the congregation, learned of the decision only when, on the following Sunday, ushers tapped them on the shoulder during the opening prayers, and demanded that they move to the balcony without waiting for the end of the prayer. They walked out, followed by the other black members.  Absalom Jones conferred with William White, Episcopal Bishop of Philadelphia, who agreed to accept the group as an Episcopal parish.”
 
That parish, St. Thomas, has thrived since the late 1700s to this very day where Fr. Martini Shaw serves as the parish’s 17th rector.  Here is a link to their parish’s website: http://www.aecst.org/.
 
On Saturday, 22 February at 11 A.M. at St. James Episcopal Church on 3129 Southmore, Houston, the Diocese will gather together to celebrate the life and ministry of Absalom Jones.  Please come, if you are able, and be a part of the celebration.
 
Let us pray:  Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear: that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servants Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMIDNERS
 
The Seaside Seniors will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on Thursday, 20 February starting at 11 A.M.  The children, under Lee Runion’s guidance (and maybe the help of some adults), are making the centerpieces.
  
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Pat, Xavier, Patricia and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Powerful Blessing: the End of the Epistle to the Hebrews

The Epistle reading appointed for the Daily Prayer of the Church is the end of the Letter to the Hebrews:

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with all of you. (Heb. 13:17-25)

The blessings in the Epistles are always very powerful.  In today’s blessing, you and I are reminded that our God offers peace, that He raised Jesus from the dead, that Jesus gave his life for you and me, and that God will make us complete in everything good so that you and I may do God’s will in everything we do.  Remember the power of that blessing today.

Let us pray: Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S MADE DIOCESAN NEWS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH:  Check out this link:  http://www.epicenter.org/article/black-history-spotlight-st-augustines-the-first-african-american-episcopal-church-in-texas/

CALENDAR REMIDNERS

The Seaside Seniors will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on Thursday, 20 February starting at 11 A.M.  The children, under Lee Runion’s guidance (and maybe the help of some adults), are making the centerpieces.

Saturday, 22 February, 11 A.M. at St. James, 3129 Southmore, in Houston, will celebrate Absalom Jones Day with a Festive Eucharist and lunch to follow with a presentation.  Please make plans to join the Diocese as it gathers to celebrate the life and ministry of Absalom Jones.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Patricia and Karen.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Holy Spirit at Work!

Thank you to everyone for making Bishop Fisher’s visit such a special event!  The hospitality shown by the people of St. Augustine’s is legendary and it is a gift that we share with everyone.  There is no doubt that we have entertained angels without knowing it, and as the holy spirit would have it, that is exactly what today’s epistle reading is all about!
 
The Daily Prayer of the Church has as its appointed reading for today a passage from the Letter to the Hebrews:
 
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’
 
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.  (Heb. 13:1-16).
 
The Holy Spirit has been full of surprises for us at St. Augustine’s.  Bishop Fisher in his sermon preached about “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” As we were gathering before the procession, Bishop Fisher told me that he was going to sing that during his sermon, but that he did not know that would be the sequence hymn.  The Holy Spirit was at work.  When I started to write the Daily Reflection, I wrote the thank you first, only to find that the Holy Spirit was already at work when I looked at the readings for today.
 
At St. Augustine’s we witness the Holy Spirit’s moving among us and using us as the Trinity’s instruments in showing hospitality to the stranger.  You have reached out beyond the doors to invite everyone to experience the love of Christ in reconciliation at St. Augustine’s from the Seaside Seniors, to the art programs throughout the year which include adults and children, to the Community Garden, to the BBQ, the World Wide Aids Day, to simply living out the Gospel’s call to love God, neighbor and self. I am continually humbled to witness God’s work at St. Augustine’s.  The Lord is indeed our helper!
 
Let us pray:  Holy God and Father you are the source of all graciousness.  We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so that we may all have life in You.  Continue to send the Holy Spirit to burn brightly in our hearts.  Amen.
 
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE 165th DIOCESAN COUNCIL!  IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE AND HELP.
 
CALENDAR REMIDNERS
 
The Seaside Seniors will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on Thursday, 20 February starting at 11 A.M.  The children, under Lee Runion’s guidance (and maybe the help of some adults), are making the centerpieces.
 
Saturday, 22 February, 11 A.M. at St. James, 3129 Southmore, in Houston, will celebrate Absalom Jones Day with a Festive Eucharist and lunch to follow with a presentation.  Please make plans to join the Diocese as it gathers to celebrate the life and ministry of Absalom Jones.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Patricia and Karen.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550