My Blog

Tag: Angels

  • In Celebration of Michaelmas

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    Today, September 29, is Michaelmas, The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Since this year the observance falls on a Sunday, the feast is transferred to Monday for public worship. I consider Michael to be my guardian angel, although I've been told that isn't possible. However, if you've ever been visited by an archangel, you know. Here's an icon of the Archangel Michael my wife Gay Pogue wrote for me.

    I’ve been intrigued by angels for many years. On numerous occasions, I’ve wondered if what I’ve experienced was because of the presence and ministration of an angel. I
     once asked my friend Rabbi Jimmy Kessler of Galveston to talk to me about the view of angels in Judaism. He told me many interesting things but the one that stays with me involves the role of angels in the providence of God. He said, “The rabbis said that God has assigned an angel to every living thing, even each blade of grass. The angel’s job is to stand beside every blade of grass and say, ‘Grow! Grow! Grow!’”

    In celebration of Michaelmas, I wanted to share my appreciation of and curiosity about angels, so today I’m posting an article and some hymns for your consideration. I hope you’ll benefit from them and become acquainted with the angels in your life.

     

    Article by James Kiefer

    Hymn – “Ye Holy Angels Bright”

    Click HERE for Text.

    Hymn – “Christ, the Fair Glory”

    Click HERE for Text.

    Hymn – “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”

    Click HERE for Text.

    For he shall give his angels charge over you,
       to keep you in all your ways.
    They shall bear you in their hands,
       lest you dash your foot against a stone.    – Psalm 91:11-12

    Blessings,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ron Pogue

  • Angel Voices Ever Singing

    One of the wisest saints I've ever known was Marjorie Lester. Marjorie was a member of Houston's Bering Memorial Church. She lived to be 101 years old. Before coming to Houston, she was the second woman admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Kentucky after her husband was murdered, leaving her a widow with two young sons. In Houston, she was in charge of legal records for one of the natural gas companies.
     
    In my first year at Bering Memorial Church, during the worship service where I was asking worshipers to complete their pledge cards and bring them to the Altar, she asked to speak to the congregation. Leaning on her cane, she said these words, "The Apostle Paul would be envious of the mission field at our doorstep."
     
    Those who recorded the pledges told me that about half of the cards had the first figure erased or crossed out and a higher amount written in, no doubt in response to what Marjorie said.

    In one of my last home visits to her in 1986, she said this to me. "Ron, I hope what I'm about to say does not render me a heretic, but when we get to heaven if all we are going to do is stand around God's throne and sing, I'm not sure I want to go."
     
    I replied, "The endless singing is the work of the Angels. We get to join them, but there are other things for us to do there. I'm not sure what our other tasks will be, but I look forward to your being there beside me when the time comes."
     
    I wish I'd had this hymn handy to share with her.
     
    Angel Voices Ever Singing
     
    1 Angel voices ever singing
    round Thy throne of light,
    angel harps, forever ringing,
    rest not day nor night;
    thousands only live to bless Thee
    and confess thee Lord of might.
     
    2 Thou who art beyond the farthest
    mortal eye can scan,
    can it be that Thou regardest
    songs of sinful man?
    Can we feel that Thou art near us
    and wilt hear us? Yea, we can.
     
    3 Yea, we know Thy love rejoices
    o'er each work of Thine;
    Thou didst ears and hands and voices
    for Thy praise combine;
    craftsman's art and music's measure
    for Thy pleasure didst design.
     
    4 Here, great God, today we offer
    of Thine own to Thee;
    and for Thine acceptance proffer,
    all unworthily,
    hearts and minds and hands and voices
    in our choicest melody.
     
    5 Honor, glory, might, and merit
    Thine shall ever be,
    Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
    blessed Trinity:
    of the best that Thou hast given
    earth and heaven render Thee.
     
    Author: Francis Pott (1861)
    ANGEL VOICES (Monk) Composer: Edwin George Monk (1861)
     

  • Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ February 22, 2015

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    The First Sunday in Lent

    Listen to the Sermon for February 22, 2015

    Read the Sermon for February 22, 2015

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Sermon at the Church of St. Raphael ~ September 30, 2012

     

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    The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (Transferred)

     

    Listen to the Sermon for September 30, 2012

     

    Read the Sermon for September 30, 2012