"God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

The appointed Gospel reading for the Daily Office is a well known passage from the Gospel according to John:

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. (Jn. 3:16-21).

 

During this Lenten season it is important to remember that “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  God desires our salvation. God desires that you and I live and that we have abundant life. God desired it so much that God became one with us. 

 

Let us pray:  Gracious God, you gave your only Son so that we might live.  Give us the grace to live as you would have us live, in your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 4 March at 6 PM we continue our Lenten Series, Rule of Life, at Grace Episcopal Church with the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Barkley Thompson.  We will start with Eucharist, a light meal and the presentation.  Please come!

 

ESL Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Spanish Al-anon at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday evenings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn, Lee's father and Raul. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

 

The Golden Calf: We Still Worship It Today

The appointed Old Testament reading for today is taken from Deuteronomy and we read about what Moses found after he had his encounter with the Living God on the mountain:

 

So I turned and went down from the mountain, while the mountain was ablaze; the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. Then I saw that you had indeed sinned against the Lord your God, by casting for yourselves an image of a calf; you had been quick to turn from the way that the Lord had commanded you. So I took hold of the two tablets and flung them from my two hands, smashing them before your eyes. Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin you had committed, provoking the Lord by doing what was evil in his sight. For I was afraid that the anger that the Lord bore against you was so fierce that he would destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. The Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him, but I interceded also on behalf of Aaron at that same time. Then I took the sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly, until it was reduced to dust; and I threw the dust of it into the stream that runs down the mountain. (Deut. 9:15-21).

 

While he was away, the people made a golden calf; they turned to idolatry.  Many times we think that in this day and age there really is no idolatry, but let’s think about that.  In Moses’ day, calf bulls were considered to be a symbol of strength and power, and often times they were depicted with an enhanced sexual organ.  The calf they made was of gold.  It is the same old story for humanity: power, sex and money—that is what their golden calf symbolized.  Sound familiar?  Our culture is well acquainted with the golden calf.  Just read any fashion magazine or watch television.  It’s all there, alluring us to worship power, sex and money.

 

Let us pray:  O Almighty God, who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 25 February at 6 PM we begin our Lenten Series, Rule of Life, at Trinity Episcopal Church with Fr. Peter and Br. Michael of Holy Cross Benedictine Monastery in Beaumont, Texas.  We will start with Evening Prayer and Eucharist, a light meal and the presentation.  Please come!

 

ESL Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Spanish Al-anon at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday evenings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn, Lee's father and Raul. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Matthias

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of St. Matthias.  We read about Matthias in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles:

 

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it”; and “Let another take his position of overseer.”

 

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26).

 

James Kiefer writes:

 

After the Ascension of Our Lord, His followers at Jerusalem chose a replacement for Judas. The man chosen was Matthias, "and he was numbered with the Eleven." Apart from the information given in the first chapter of Acts, nothing is known of him. It would be a mistake to conclude from this that he was a failure and a bad choice as an apostle. We know as much as we do about Peter and Paul because Luke (a travelling companion of Paul) wrote extensively about them. About most of the other apostles (those belonging to the original twelve and later ones like Matthias) we know little after Pentecost on an individual basis.

 

Let us pray:  O Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 25 February at 6 PM we begin our Lenten Series, Rule of Life, at Trinity Episcopal Church with Fr. Peter and Br. Michael of Holy Cross Benedictine Monastery in Beaumont, Texas.  We will start with Evening Prayer and Eucharist, a light meal and the presentation.  Please come!

 

ESL Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Spanish Al-anon at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday evenings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn, Lee's father and Raul. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

 

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Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna & Martyr

On this Monday in the first full week of Lent, the Church celebrates the life and ministry of Polycarp. James Kiefer writes:

 

Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir), a city on the west coast of Turkey. The letters to the “seven churches in Asia” at the beginning of the book of Revelation include a letter to the church in Smyrna, identifying it as a church undergoing persecution.

 

Polycarp is said to have known the Apostle John, and to have been instructed by him in the Christian faith. Polycarp, in his turn, was known to Irenaeus, who later became Bishop of Lyons in what is now France. We have (1) Irenaeus's brief memoir of Polycarp; (2) a letter to Polycarp from Ignatius of Antioch, written around 115 AD when Ignatius was passing through Turkey, being sent in chains to Rome to be put to death; (3) a letter from Polycarp to the church at Philippi, written at the same time; and (4) an account of the arrest, trial, conviction, and martyrdom of Polycarp, written after his death by one or more members of his congregation.

 

Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” The magistrate was reluctant to kill a a gentle old man, but he had no choice.

 

Polycarp was sentenced to be burned. … The fire was then lit and shortly thereafter a soldier stabbed Polycarp to death by order of the magistrate. His friends gave his remains honorable burial, and wrote an account of his death to other churches.

 

Let us pray:  O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who gave to your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 25 February at 6 PM we begin our Lenten Series, Rule of Life, at Trinity Episcopal Church with Fr. Peter and Br. Michael of Holy Cross Benedictine Monastery in Beaumont, Texas.  We will start with Evening Prayer and Eucharist, a light meal and the presentation.  Please come!

 

ESL Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Spanish Al-anon at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday evenings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn, Lee's father and Raul. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Come & See

On this first Friday in Lent, we hear from the Gospel according to John:

 

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). (Jn. 1:35-42).

 

Each of us in our lives is looking for something. We look for connection with others.  Throughout his public ministry, Jesus connected with people. We see this when he called his first disciples.  Jesus connected with Andrew and Simon Peter from the outset.  That connection would grow stronger as they spent more time with Jesus.  During Lent, you and I are called to connect with Jesus, just as the first disciples did, so come and see.

 

Let us pray:  Lord Jesus, we are all looking for something in life.  You bid us to come and see where you abide.  Draw us ever closer to you this Lenten season.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 25 February at 6 PM we begin our Lenten Series, Rule of Life, at Trinity Episcopal Church with Fr. Peter and Br. Michael of Holy Cross Benedictine Monastery in Beaumont, Texas.  Please come!

 

ESL Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Spanish Al-anon at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday evenings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn, Lee's father and Raul. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Lent Is About Reconnecting

Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent.  The Ash Wednesday service includes the following prayer:

 

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

 

The catechumens were preparing for baptism, the sacrament of initial wherein we connect with God, and by connecting with God, we also connect with our neighbors and ourselves.  Lent is about reconnecting.  It is a time when we examine those things which keep us apart from God, and from our neighbors and from ourselves.  The Church calls those things which disconnect us “sin.”  Sin separates us; sin isolates us.  Lent calls us to reconciliation and connection.  During Lent we shed ourselves of those things in our lives which keep us from being connected, those things that isolate us.

 

So, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.”

 

THANK YOU TO THE TAYLORS AND EVERYONE WHO MADE MARDI GRAS 2015 SO WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND FROM LA MARQUE! THE GOOD TIMES CERTAINLY DID ROLL!

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Ash Wednesday service with imposition of ashes and Eucharist at 6 PM tonight.

 

The Seaside Seniors meet tomorrow in Sutton Hall at 11 AM.

 

The Lenten Series begins next Wednesday, 25 February at 6 PM at Trinity Episcopal with Evening Prayer and Eucharist.  The speakers will be Fr. Peter and Br. Michael, Benedictine monks, speaking on the Rule of Life.

ESL every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings in Sutton Hall.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially the Coptic Christians who were killed this week by ISIS.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550