On February 13
th, 1804, The Rev. Absalom Jones was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church of the
United States.
While the Church itself was in its infancy, as we had officially claimed separation from the Church of England a mere twenty years before, the event of this ordination established our individual identity before the world.
Fr. Jones, you see, was a freed slave and the first black man to be ordained in our tradition.
In fact, he was the first to receive sacramental ordination in any American Christian church or denomination.
Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
February 14: Cyril and Methodius
While most people think of St. Valentine on the 14th, on the Episcopal Church's calendar we remember Sts. Cyril and Methodius, remarkable brothers who were priests, missionaries, and the creators of the Slavic language. It's a good story, and well renedered at this
link.
Almighty and everlasting God, by the power of the Holy
Spirit you moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light
of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and
strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the
banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
February 15: Thomas Bray
Although he only spent a brief time in the colonies, Bray established the two organizations that built missions and parishes throughout the New World, including the original Christ Church. Those organizations, now 300 years old, remain active to this day. More may be read of him at
their site. He also, among other endeavors, founded a number of lending libraries that enabled the Church of England in the colonies to champion colonial literacy and education; and was also responsible for the creation of what would become the state of Georgia. Not bad for a parish priest in England.
O God of compassion, you opened the eyes of your servant
Thomas Bray to see the needs of the Church in the New World, and led him to
found societies to meet those needs: Make the Church in this land diligent at
all times to propagate the Gospel among those who have not received it, and to
promote the spread of Christian knowledge; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
