The Lost Sheep

The appointed Gospel reading for the Eucharistic celebration is taken from the Gospel according to Luke.  We read:

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’  (Lk. 15: 1-10)

A new Archbishop of Canterbury has been appointed.

 

The 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury is Justin Welby, the current Bishop of Durham in England.  He was born in 1956 in London. He has a degree in law and history, and went to work in the oil industry for 11 years.  Justin married Caroline in 1979.  They had a daughter who died in a car accident in 1983.  The Welbys have 5 children ranging in age from 16 to 27.

Welby went to seminary at Cranmer Hall in Durham and was ordained deacon in 1992 and thereafter, he was ordained a priest.  He served in several parishes and became Bishop of Durham in 2011. 

In an interview in March of this year, Bishop Welby said that he wanted to be remembered as a “bishop who cared about God and cared about the people.”  Today’s Gospel reading is one that he should read again and again.  In that same interview, Bishop Welby said that there needs to be “a cultural change that says it is normal for us to share our faith … for that to happen in this area it has got to be clear that the Church is working effectively with those on the edge.”  The Church must reach out to the lost sheep, to those who have not only strayed away, but who have no idea how to get back.  Not only does the new Archbishop of Canterbury have that challenge, but you and I do as well, right here in Galveston.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty and most merciful Father, we all have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, we have all followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have all offended against your holy laws, we have all left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have all done those things which we ought not to have done. O Lord, have mercy upon us, restore those who are penitent, give us strength to seek those who are lost and to declare the Good News of your salvation to all people.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Saturday, 10 November, we will have a second work day at the Community Garden. Following on Karen Lehr’s report to everyone in Church on Sunday, we have an opportunity to reach out to work with the Scott School in our Community Garden. Please keep this opportunity in your prayers.

Thanksgiving in nearly upon us! Please remember St. Vincent’s House and bring a food donation for the food pantry and place it in the St. Vincent’s basket in the narthex of the Church.

We will have a pot luck lunch for our Thanksgiving celebration at St. Augustine’s this year.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially all of those who are recovering after Sandy.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550