St. Boniface

Today the Church remembers St. Boniface.  James Kiefer writes that Wynfrith, who was nicknamed “Boniface”, meaning “good deeds”, was born around 680 in Devonshire, England. When he was five years old, he listened to some monks who were staying at his father’s house. They had returned from a mission to the pagans on the Continent, and Boniface was so impressed by them that he resolved to follow their example. Although his father had intended him for a secular career, he gave way to his son’s entreaties and sent him at the age of seven to a monastery school. He eventually became director of the school at Nursling, in Winchester, where he wrote the first Latin grammar in England, and gave lectures that were widely copied and circulated.

At thirty, he was ordained a priest and set out to preach in Friesland (which overlaps with modern Holland). Boniface was soon expelled because of war between its heathen king and Charles Martel of France. Boniface, after a brief withdrawal, went into Hesse and Bavaria, having secured the support of the Bishop of Rome and of Charles Martel for his work there. In Hesse, in the presence of a large crowd of pagans, he cut down the Sacred Oak of Geismar, a tree of immense age and girth, sacred to the god Thor. It is said that after only a few blows of his axe, the tree tottered and crashed to the ground, breaking into four pieces and revealing itself to be rotted away within. It was the beginning of a highly successful missionary effort, and the planting of a vigorous Christian church in Germany, where Boniface was eventually consecrated bishop. He asked the Christian Saxons of England to support his work among their kinsmen on the continent, and they responded with money, books, supplies, and above all, with a steady supply of monks to assist him in teaching and preaching. 

Boniface did not confine his attentions to Germany. He worked to establish cooperation between the Pope and others in Italy on the one hand and Charles and his successors in France on the other. He persuaded Carloman and Pepin, the sons of Charles, to call synods for the reform of the church in their territories, where under previous rulers bishoprics had often been sold to the highest bidder. He never forgot his initial failure in Friesland, and in old age resigned his bishopric and returned to work there. Many Frisians had been converted earlier by Willibrord, but had lapsed after his death. Boniface preached among them with considerable success. On 5 June, the eve of Pentecost in 754, he was preparing a group of Frisians for confirmation when they were attacked and killed by heathen warriors.

Let us pray:  Almighty God, who called your faithful servant Boniface to be a witness and martyr in the lands of Germany and Friesland, and by his labor and suffering raised up a people for your own possession:  Pour forth your Holy Spirit upon your Church in every land, that by the service and sacrifice of many your holy Name may be glorified and your kingdom enlarged; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

GOSPEL BY THE SEA: Saturday, 9June 2012 at First Presbyterian.

SAFEGUARDING GOD’S CHILDREN: Saturday, 23 June 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.

ART HAPPENINGS

June 8th Friday night from 6:30 to 8:30, Adult class with wine, we will be making peace souvenirs for the September art show.

June 9th Saturday 10:00 to Noon: children and adult class, we will be working on a banner for the September art show.

June 24th Sunday, after breakfast we will have a very important meeting about the September art show along with a sign-up sheet. We have a list of all the things that we need to make this event a success; there is something for everyone even those who are not artist.

Get the word out ... our first Summer Children's Art Camp, will be every Saturday in July from 10:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m. with snacks. The theme is folk art from many cultures. $10 supply charge per class. Ages 7 to 18. We will need adult volunteers that have had Safeguarding God's Children Training to assist. Space is limited so sign up ASAP. Some of the classes will be taught by guest artists from the Galveston Art League.

         July 7: Signs and symbols found in all cultures, make your own sign.

         July 14: Guardian Angels - guest artist MaryAnn Hasty, Native American

         July 21: Mandela's, African Shields

         July 28: Collage and the art of Mexico.

        There will be no Friday night adult art class in July because of the Summer Art Camp.

STEVE POIRIER was just released from UTMB and has cancer. It is terminal. He is very ill and has no family in Galveston.  He will need an inexpensive place to live and meals. His only income is Social Security. Please keep your ears and eyes open for a cheap, clean place to live.

INSTALLATION OF THE NEW RECTOR AT TRINITY: The Rev. Susan Kennard will be installed as Trinity’s new rector on Sunday, 1 July 2012 at 5 p.m.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Cory Smith who is recovering from surgery, Steve Poirier, Patricia Robinson, Betty Robinson, Robert, Jerald Flight in Afghanistan, Frances Hardaway who suffered a stroke, all of those who are out of work and who are seeking employment.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550