“Do you indeed decree righteousn​ess, you rulers? Do you judge the peoples with equity?”

One of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 58 which seems very appropriate in a time when there is so much armed conflict:

 

Do you indeed decree righteousness, you rulers?

 do you judge the peoples with equity?

No; you devise evil in your hearts,

 and your hands deal out violence in the land.

The wicked are perverse from the womb;

 liars go astray from their birth.

They are as venomous as a serpent,

 they are like the deaf adder which stops its ears …

 

There is armed conflict in the Gaza and Israel, in Iraq, in the Ukraine and in other parts of the world.  The innocent of all faiths are suffering.  As of today, in the Gaza alone 1058 people have and 218 of the dead are children.  In Israel 46 people have died.

 

The BBC has reported that the fighting in the eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 1000 lives and nearly 300 innocent people died as their aircraft was shot down over the Ukraine.

 

Here is a link to what is going on in Iraq: Vicar of Baghdad: "They just go around and shoot the odd person dead."

 

The Psalmist rightly asks all of the rulers:  “Do you indeed decree righteousness, you rulers? Do you judge the peoples with equity?”  The Psalmist answers: “No.”  That answer is certainly the same on Monday, 28 July 2014, some 3000 years after the Psalmist wrote those words!

 

Our help is in God alone.  Please remember all of the people in war torn areas; lift them up in your prayers that they may have the strength to endure the days before them.

 

Let us pray: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO LEE RUNION AND TO ROSE DANIELS AND TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO HELPED TO MAKE THE SUMMER ART PROGRAM, “THE ART OF LISTENING”, A SUCCESS. 

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

St. Augustine’s Feast Day and the 130^th Anniversary of the establishment of the parish is Sunday, 24 August.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Lloyd Guidry and his family and Patricia Florence and her family.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Thomas á Kempis, Priest, Monk & Spiritual Writer

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of a German priest, monk and spiritual writer who was born in 1380 and died in 1471, Thomas á Kempis.  James Kiefer writes:

 

Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean “little hammer”) was born at Kempen (hence the “A Kempis”) in the duchy of Cleves in Germany around 1380. He was educated by a religious order called the Brethren of the Common Life, and in due course joined the order, was ordained a priest, became sub-prior of his house (in the low Countries), and died 25 July 1471 (his feast is observed a day early to avoid conflict with that of James bar-Zebedee the Apostle). 

 

Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will. An extract follows: 

 

When God bestows Spiritual comfort, receive it with a grateful heart; but remember that it comes of God’s free gift, and not of your own merit. Do not be proud, nor over joyful, nor foolishly presumptuous; rather, be the more humble for this gift, more cautious, and more prudent in all your doings, for this hour will pass, and temptation will follow it. When comfort is withdrawn, do not immediately despair, but humbly and patiently await the will of Heaven; for God is able to restore you to a consolation even richer than before. This is nothing new or strange to those who know the ways of God, for the great Saints and Prophets of old often experienced these changes. ...Indeed, the temptation that precedes is often a sign of comfort to follow. For heavenly comfort is promised to those who have been tried and tempted. To him who overcomes,” says God, “I will give to eat of the Tree of Life.”

 

Let us pray:    Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.   Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Idell Guidry’s funeral will be this Friday, 25 July, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Augustine of Hippo followed by internment at the cemetery and thereafter returning to St. Augustine’s for a catered reception in Sutton Hall.

 

ALBERT GREEN’S FUNERAL WILL BE SATURDAY, 11:00 A.M. At the E.R. Johnson Funeral home on 3828 Avenue O, Galveston, TeXas 77550.

 

The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts today, Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.

 

Please sign up to make Sunday Breakfast during the summer!

 

We will celebrate the 130^th anniversary of the establishment of St. Augustine and St. Augustine’s feast day on Sunday, 24 August.

 

In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith.  We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

"Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you have to do it, especially if it causes trouble for others."

The appointed Epistle reading for today is taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans:

 

Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Rm. 14:13-23).

 

There are many in the Body of Christ, the Church.  Some have a strong faith, others not so strong.  Some of the Christians in Paul’s day had scruples about eating meat and about drinking wine.  Paul regards these scruples as unnecessary; however, he says that those who do not have these scruples should not pass judgment on those who may have them.  Rather, Paul tells the Romans, “just because you can do something doesn’t mean you have to do it, especially if it causes trouble for others.”  Our right to do something must take second place to our obligation not to destroy the work of God by making our brother or sister stumble.

 

Let us pray:  O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Idell Guidry’s funeral will be this Friday, 25 July, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Augustine of Hippo followed by internment at the cemetery and thereafter returning to St. Augustine’s for a catered reception in Sutton Hall.

 

ALBERT GREEN’S FUNERAL WILL BE SATURDAY, 11:00 A.M. At the E.R. Johnson Funeral home on 3828 Avenue O, Galveston, TeXas 77550.

 

The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts today, Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.

 

Please sign up to make Sunday Breakfast during the summer!

 

In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith.  We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Mary Magdalene

Today the Church remembers St. Mary Magdalene. She is called “Magdalene” because she was from Magdala near Tiberias, on the western shore of Galilee.

James Kiefer writes:

 

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels as being among the women of Galilee who followed Jesus and His disciples, and who was present at His Crucifixion and Burial, and who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday to anoint His body. She was the first to see the Risen Lord, and to announce His Resurrection to the apostles. Accordingly, she is referred to in early Christian writings as “the apostle to the apostles.”

 

Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus), and the unnamed penitent woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-48) are sometimes supposed to be the same woman. From this, plus the statement that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2), has risen the tradition that she had been a prostitute before she met Jesus.

 

Because of the assumption that Mary Magdalene had been a spectacular sinner, and also perhaps because she is described as weeping at the tomb of Jesus on the Resurrection morning, she is often portrayed in art as weeping (see References, right), or with eyes red from having wept. From this appearance we derive the English word “maudlin”, meaning “effusively or tearfully sentimental.” There is a Magdalen College at Oxford, and a Magdalene College at Cambridge (different spelling), both pronounced “Maudlin.”

 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know you in the power of his endless life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Idell Guidry’s funeral will be this Friday, 25 July, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Augustine of Hippo followed by internment at the cemetery and thereafter returning to St. Augustine’s for a catered reception in Sutton Hall.

 

ALBERT GREEN’S FUNERAL WILL BE SATURDAY, 11:00 A.M. At the E.R. Johnson Funeral home on 3828 Avenue O, Galveston, TeXas 77550.

 

The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts today, Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.

 

In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith.  We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

Idell Guidry’s funeral will be this Friday, 25 July, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Augustine of Hippo followed by internment at the cemetery and thereafter returning to St. Augustine’s for a catered reception in Sutton Hall.

 

The appointed Epistle reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from the 13^th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome where we read:

 

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.  (Rm. 13:8-14).

 

Paul asks you and me to understand the true meaning of the word “love.”  It is not a romantic notion.  It is not a warm and fuzzy feeling.  Rather, love is hard work.  Love seeks the good of the other person.  Therefore, if you really understand what love is, you will automatically keep all of the commandments.  As our own St. Augustine said, “Love God and do what you please.”  He was able to say that because if we truly love God, we will want to do only that which will please God.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts today, Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.

 

In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith.  We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Dr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

God's Good and Faithful Servant: Idell Guidry

Dear people of St. Augustine’s, it is with profound sorrow that I inform you of the death of Idell Guidry who died in her sleep yesterday.  I would ask that you please keep her family in your prayers as they mourn her death. 

 

The appointed Epistle reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church is from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome; it reminds me very much of Idell Guidry and the life that she led:

 

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  (Rm. 12:9-21).

 

Idell lived what St. Paul preached. She always held fast to that which was good.  Idell was ardent in service and always rejoiced in that which was good.  Idell always extended hospitality to strangers.  She always blessed others, and Idell was never haughty and she lived peaceably.  Idell is one of God’s saints; now she has met her Savior face to face, and Jesus Christ has said to her those coveted words: “Come, Idell, blessed of my Father and possess the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world!  I was hungry and you gave me to eat.  I was thirsty and you gave me to drink.  I was alone and you visited me.  Whenever you did this for the least of my brothers and sisters, Idell, you did it for me!” 

 

Let us pray: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Idell. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

 

I remain your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

The immediate question for us as the Church is what does Jesus call us to do in these circumstan​ces, right now, where we are?

The appointed Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Given the situation that is currently occurring in Texas and across the U.S. border with Mexico, we have witnessed an influx of unaccompanied children entering the U.S. illegally believing that they will find relief because of the Dream Act. Today’s Gospel gives us something to ponder:

 

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’  (Mt. 25:31-46).

 

For us as people of faith, the immediate question is not what should the U.S. Government do to secure the borders (that is a public policy issue for our elected officials and for all of us individuals who vote), or what is the press in foreign countries saying that is encouraging these unaccompanied children to travel 1500 miles to come to the U.S (that is a matter we have no control over).

 

Rather, the immediate question for us as people of faith, as the Church, is what does Jesus Christ call us to do in these circumstances, right now, where we are? 

 

The Gospel speaks for itself: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. … Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”  Enough said.

 

Let us pray:  Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Seaside Seniors, Thursday, 17 July at 11 A.M.  The theme is Independence Day!

 

The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.

 

In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith.  We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550