St. Alban

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of St. Alban.  James Kiefer writes:

 

There were probably Christians in the British Isles already in the first century. However, Alban is the first recorded Christian martyr. The traditional date of his death is 304, during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian; but many scholars now date it as around 209, during the persecution under the Emperor Septimius Severus. Alban was a pagan, and a soldier in the Roman Army. He gave shelter to a Christian priest who was fleeing from arrest, and in the next few days the two talked at length, and Alban became a Christian. When officers came in search of the priest, Alban met them, dressed in the priest's cloak, and they mistook him for the priest and arrested him. He refused to renounce his new faith, and was beheaded. He thus became the first Christian martyr in Britain. The second was the executioner who was to kill him, but who heard his testimony and was so impressed that he became a Christian on the spot, and refused to kill Alban. The third was the priest, who when he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, hurried to the court in the hope of saving Alban by turning himself in. The place of their deaths is near the site of St. Alban's Cathedral today.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE OUR CELEBRATION OF THE 150^TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNETEENTH AND FATHER’S DAY A WONDERFUL SUCCESS!  THANKS ESPECIALLY TO SHERMAN BOYER FOR THE MUSIC, TAMMIE TAYLOR FOR THE SERVICE LEAFLET, THE REV. ISAAC WRENN FOR HIS SERMON, IZOLA COLLINS FOR HER REMINDER OF HISTORY, THE REV. TOM BAIN AND MICHAEL JACKSON FOR ASSISTING AT THE ALTAR, AND ALL OF THE LADIES IN THE KITCHEN!

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who were murdered at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and their families, and for healing in our Nation.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550