Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord!

One of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 121, and the Psalmist prays:
 
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
   the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time on and for evermore.

Today has been one of those days for us at St. Augustine!  Sherman Boyer was involved in an auto accident and is in the hospital for observation.  Ella Boyer, who has been ill and at the VA Hospital in Houston, died early this morning.  A friend’s mother, Emily, underwent surgery and is in ICU. There was also another death recently, of a friend from a former parish, Barbara. People are in the midst of pain and grief, and I am sure that there is more.  You know the events in your life. 

It is during times like this that the Psalmist’s prayer hits home.  “From where will our help come?”  The Psalmist is quick to answer, “Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”  We are in God’s hands come what may, come when it will.  The Lord watches over our comings and goings.  God is ever faithful, even suffering with us, grieving with us.  In the end, through God’s grace, relief will come.  Amen!

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Clean-up Day at the Church, Saturday, 25 August 2012.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine will be celebrated on Sunday, 26 August starting with Eucharist Rite II at 9 a.m. We will have the Blessing of the Backpacks as well, and a luncheon after the service.

New Adult Christian Education Series starting September: Lord, Teach Us To Pray: Six Studies on the Lord’s Prayer from the Kerygma Series.  This study will be led by Jillian Bain on Sundays and by Tammie Taylor on Mondays.  Please join in this wonderful study of God’s Word.

The Roots of Christian Mysticism, a 3-Year Course of Study, Year 1, September 8, 2012 -May 4, 2013,Houston,Texas.  This 3-year course offers a unique opportunity to explore, in depth, the history of Christian Mysticism. It is structured and taught by leading scholars and practitioners and focuses on the key figures of the mystical tradition. Classes will be held1 Saturday a month for 9 consecutive months at the Dominican Sisters Spirituality Center,6501 Almeda (at Holcombe), Houston, Texas. Annual tuition is $225.

Art in and Around St. Augustine’s:

          The 4th Annual Art Show—this year’s theme is “Peace”. 

          Art Walk at St. Vincent’s House on 25 August, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially, the family of Ella Boyer, the family of Barbara Brunkhorst, Sherman, Emily, for the health of Lee Runion’s mother, Steve, Gladys, for all of those who are traveling, and for all those who are about to start a new school year.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550