A Few Days in New York City

Friday, 17 September 2010

Yesterday I was on a bus in Lower Manhattan near the financial district (Wall Street). The bus was stopped at a traffic light. On the corner there was a man, white and in his late 50s, who was going through a trash can looking for food. He pulled out what looked to be a half eaten calzone (a pizza sandwich). He broke off a few outer parts, then he took a bite. Not good. He kept going through the trash can and found another calzone. It was a whole one. He took it and put it in his sack, then walked off.

One of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 69. The Psalm begins:

Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.

There are many today, including that man going through the trash can looking for a meal, who are in waters up to their necks. The latest poverty statistics have indicated that it is a growing problem in the U.S. The economy is bad. There are many in need of help. In New York City, Trinity Episcopal Church, right in the heart of the wealthiest few miles in America (Wall Street and Broadway), is reaching out to those in need. This is nothing new at Trinity. They have done it for years--since George Washington's day.

At Trinity and its outreach chapel, St. Paul's, the sound that it is heard is from Psalm 69:

For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah;
and his servants shall live there and possess it;
the children of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall live in it.

Amen!

Thursday, 16 September 2010

I am in New York City this week and staying right across the street from Ground Zero. The hotel room overlooks the exact spot where the two World Trade Center Towers stood. Although the area is fenced off as the construction of the memorial continues, downstairs in front of the hotel people gather and simply look. They look in silence. People of different races and I would imagine different creeds. It is particularly appropriate that one of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 70:

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me.
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and confusion
who seek my life.
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour
who desire to hurt me.
Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’
turn back because of their shame.

Let all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation
say evermore, ‘God is great!’
But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!

The psalmist echoes the emotions of many people. We are all poor and needy, in need of God's deliverance and love. In the face of so much pain and suffering, anger and hate, our salvation is in God alone who is our helper and deliverer.

Please remember all of those who lost their lives on 9/11, all of the families who lost loved ones, and remember to pray for all of those who worked to commit such an atrocity--they too are in need of God's love.

In peace,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
1410 Jack Johnson Blvd. (41st Street)
Galveston, Texas 77550

People Do Not Always Get Along, Not Even Saints

Today we hear about the split between Paul and Barnabas in the selection from the Acts of the Apostles:

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the believers* in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily. (Acts 15: 36-16: 5).

I can imagine Paul’s personality. He was a man of his convictions, probably stubborn and prone to “get excited” about some things. Paul does not want John Mark to accompany them on their trip to visit the churches that they had been to previously. What did John Mark do? The passage does not say. No one really knows. But here is what we do know: The incident between Paul and Barnabas is embarrassing; nevertheless, Luke includes the event in the Acts of the Apostles. What does this say about the Church? First, rather than hide embarrassing events, the Church accepts them. People do not always get along. Sometimes the reasons why are petty. You and I cannot base our faith in God by what we sin prone humans do. Second, whatever John Mark did, he and Paul eventually reconciled (2 Tim 4:11). There is a clear lesson here that both personal failure and fractured relationships are redeemable in Christian ministry.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

On this second anniversary of Hurricane Ike, let us pray in thanksgiving for recovery, for help for those who have not yet recovered, and for everyone who has helped and continues to help. May God the Father embrace all of us in His loving arms, may God the Son touch us with His healing hands, and may the Holy Spirit be out companion now and always.

Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m. with Houston’s Heroes and then at 11:00 a.m. health walk with refreshments after.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Although Different, We Are All Made in God's Likeness and Image

In today’s reading from Acts we hear the continuation of the debate regarding whether Gentiles who accepted Christ must also be circumcised according to the law of Moses:

The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.’ Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.” (Acts 15: 12-21).

James, having listened to Simon Peter and Paul, and having prayerfully considered how the Gentiles should be treated, decided that the Mosaic law of circumcision should not be imposed on the new believers. Rather, the Gentiles who have come to believe in Christ must only abstain from eating animals sacrificed to the Roman gods.

Not only then, but even now, the Church has struggled to deal with how people from different cultures fit within the Church. No doubt, we all have the same core belief. However, we come from different societal, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. How does this diverse group of believers live as a single body joined together by the belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the very Son of God and true man, who died and rose for us so that we may achieve the fullness of salvation? We do so by remembering that each of us, no matter where we come from or what our particular customs or language may be or whatever we may hold dear, is made in the image of God and loved by Christ so much that He gave up his life for the other person.

Let us pray: Loving Father help us to respect everyone of Your children, even those with whom we may not agree, keeping ever in our minds and hearts the knowledge that Jesus Christ died and rose for them as well as for us. Give us the grace through the Holy Spirit to treat all believers with the respect due to them as Your children made in Your likeness and image. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m. with Houston’s Heroes and then at 11:00 a.m. health walk with refreshments after.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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

The Church's Discernment Is a Process of Prayer With Reasoned Debate

The Acts of the Apostles continues in today’s Daily Office readings with the 15th chapter; Luke writes:

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15: 1-11).

Controversy is nothing new in the Church. Today we hear about those in the Church who thought that the Gentiles who became followers of Christ had to adhere to the Jewish law of circumcision. There were others, including Paul, who thought it was not necessary. What did the Church do? The Church gathered together and debated the issue. I can imagine that their debate was filled with passion, each side expressing their views and beliefs. Neither side had malicious intent; rather, each side wanted to follow God’s will. Their open discussion and passionate debate was part of the discernment process together with prayer, contemplation and listening to the Holy Spirit.

That can be difficult to do especially when the topics we are discussing are close to our hearts and souls. The Apostles could not let their passions control the outcome of the debate; they had to put aside their personal agendas and use their God given gift of reason to methodically discern the direction of the community of faith. That process has served the Church well not only as we read about in the Acts of the Apostles, but in Church Councils throughout time, including Nicaea in 325, Constantinople in 381, Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 431 where major issues of faith were decided.

Let us pray: Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with us when we take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m. Houston Hero’s Award and the introduction of the Hope Mile; 11 am, the introduction of the Hope Mile and Inaugural Walk with city leaders heart healthy refreshments served after the walk.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Through Trials and Tribulations

Following on the heels of yesterday’s reading from Acts, we have the continuation of the story:

But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. And they stayed there with the disciples for some time. (Acts 14: 19-28).

There they were riding high, and the crowd, who at first thought they were gods, has now been swayed, and the rocks come flying. Thinking that they had killed him, the crowd drags Paul out of the city. And so it goes, Paul’s ministry in preaching the Good News. The next day, Paul and Barnabas set out again to bring others to Christ knowing that “[i]t is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.”

It is nothing short of miraculous that after such a terrible beating, literally within inches of his life, that Paul picks up where he left off and continues. Paul continues even though he knows that it will no doubt happen again. Paul continues in the sure and certain knowledge that he and Barnabas will be “commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.” Their reward is in God alone. Their salvation is in God alone. Their hope is in God alone.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, sometimes we find it difficult to do what You want us to do. Sometimes we feel as if we are getting nowhere even though we try. Give us the strength and courage of Paul and Barnabas who endured hardship and rejection because they followed You. Even though things seemed bleak at times, they persevered. Give us Your grace to do the same. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Saturday, 18 September 2010, Earlie Evans’ 90th birthday celebration in Sutton Hall.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do. We will also have a group of young string musicians at the Service providing the music for the Eucharist.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”. The opening reception will be at 6 p.m.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Paul & Barnabas Mere Mortals Empowered by the Holy Spirit

The Acts of the Apostles continues today in the 14th chapter. Luke writes:

In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. (Acts 14: 8-18).

With the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul is the instrument of a miraculous healing. When the crowd sees this, they think Paul and Barnabas are gods, but they quickly inform the crowd that they are not. Rather, Paul and Barnabas are just like those who witnessed the miracle, mere humans, but there is something different about them. Paul and Barnabas are followers of the Risen Christ. That does set them apart. Their tremendous faith has opened them to be led by the Holy Spirit to bring the Good News to the Gentiles who respond to what they witness being done through these men. In tomorrow’s reading, we’ll see what the crowd does in response to Paul’s preaching.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Work Is Sacred

Work is sacred. It is made holy because when we work we participate in God’s creative power. It is made holy because Christ himself worked as a τεκτων (“tekton”) meaning a skilled worker, craftsman, or carpenter. The Benedictines also treat work as sacred. If work is sacred, so is the worker. On this Labor Day, let us remember that our work is made holy by Christ. Let us remember that workers are also holy.

Let us pray: Lord God of creation, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, worked in a carpenter shop alongside Joseph in Nazareth. Jesus made work holy by blessing it when he engaged in it. May the Holy Spirit sanctify the work of our hands and minds, and bless all those who work, and all those who are out of work but desire to work. Amen.


CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do.

25 September, Celebration at St. Vincent’s House at 10 a.m.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

26 September at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Eucharist Rite II celebrating St. Vincent’s House.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

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