POPULARITY
Evening Prayer for Thursday, February 13, 2025 (The Fifth Sunday of Epiphany; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 107:23-43Jeremiah 432 Corinthians 11Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Thursday, February 13, 2025 (The Fifth Sunday of Epiphany; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 107:1-22Genesis 43:1-10, 15-34Matthew 3Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Father Paul tells the story of the first African American priest in the Anglican communion.
Sermon from The Rev. Dr. Phillip Bennett on February 9, 2025
Absalom Jones offers us a way to face the challenges of our time with courage, faith, and perseverance.
FOLLOWING THE SAINTS AND HEARING MY CALL January and February celebrate many beacons of Christian faith, including Florence Li Tim-oi, Absalom Jones, and Anna Julia Haywood Cooper. They – and contemporary saint Mariann Budde— show us how to keep the gospel as our Northstar, and what it is to step forward with [...] This post Following the Saints and Hearing My Call is on the Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church website.
As we celebrate JUNETEENTH, we must understand how Folklore and the Blues Narrative relate to this celebration. In this episode, I will discuss the celebration, what the celebration is actually about, and its connection to and significance of African American Folklore and traditional Black Music. Juneteenth should always be mentioned with “African American Traditional Music and Folklore!” Juneteenth is the celebration of the releasing of the last remaining slaves after the emancipation proclamation and civil war. In 1865, June 19 Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger shared the news that the war is over and the slaves were now free, in Galveston, Texas. Ironically, this freedom came after the actual date of 1863, when Lincoln made his declaration. Though, the first documented celebration of emancipation dates back to March 2, 1807, when Congress passed a bill to halt the importation of “slaves” into the United States, effective January 1, 1808, which prompted Absalom Jones, a pastor at St. Thomas's African Episcopal Church in Philadelphia to call for a special commemoration of the ban. “Let January 1, the day of the abolition of the slave trade in our country, be set apart every year, as a day of public thanksgiving for that mercy,” he declared. The 1808 ban fueled annual public observances, primarily religious gatherings in northern cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, called Emancipation Day. Though the initial celebration of January 1, 1808, was the first recording of Emancipation Day, June 19 then took on the name Emancipation Day, as well as Jubilee Day, now known as Juneteenth. In 1866, during the first celebration of “Jubilee Day” aka Juneteenth, newly freed African Americans sang Black Spirituals such as “Go Down Moses,” and “Many Thousands Gone.” In resemblance to Independence Day, they released a barrage of fireworks. The fact is, Texas was the last to free the slaves... Read More Here: Get Merch here: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jackdappabluesradio/message
Despite not being as well known as other leaders of his time, Absalom Jones' legacy is still felt today.Born into slavery in 18th-century Delaware at a time when slavery was being debated as immoral and undemocratic, Jones would go on to become America's first Black Episcopal priest and founder of both the first Black Episcopal congregation and the first ‘Free African Society.'In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon sits down with Philadelphia-based writer and educator Amy Jane Cohen for a closer look at Jones' life and lasting influence ahead of Juneteenth.
White Pastor Defends Slavery And Calls Martin Luther King Jr. A 'Non-Believer Who Misrepresented Christ'News One, By Zack Linly, on March 1, 2024https://newsone.com/5047878/john-macarthur-white-pastor-martin-luther-king-jr/In this segment, the discussion revolves around John MacArthur, a Christian pastor at Grace Community Church in California, who has garnered attention for his controversial views on race, slavery, and religious freedom. MacArthur criticized a group of Evangelical pastors for honoring Martin Luther King Jr. during Black History Month, labeling MLK as an unbeliever and accusing the pastors of succumbing to the "woke movement" and racial baiting. MacArthur's comments reflect a supremacist interpretation of Christianity, justifying racial disparities and advocating for slavery as part of Christianity's history. This narrative contrasts with attempts to whitewash MLK's legacy, portraying him as a colorblind figure, while MacArthur depicts him as a threat to white supremacy.MacArthur's interpretation of Christianity rationalizes bigotry by misusing biblical passages, such as citing the curse of Ham to justify racial disparities. His stance aligns with a history of controversial statements on race and slavery, reflecting a supremacist view emphasizing the subjugation of Black people. The discussion delves into the effectiveness of MLK's nonviolent approach compared to Malcolm X's more militant stance, highlighting how MLK's pacifism made him more acceptable to the American public at the time.The panelists discuss the deep-rooted segregation within Christianity, tracing it back to historical divisions enforced by white supremacy. They reference figures like Absalom Jones, who founded the AME Church due to racial exclusion within white-dominated churches. The conversation extends to systemic racism's pervasive influence in society and the responsibility to challenge such narratives through education and advocacy.Throughout the discussion, panelists express a commitment to challenging bigotry and promoting inclusivity within religious spaces. They emphasize the importance of education, compassion, and self-reflection in combating racism and dismantling unjust systems. Despite acknowledging the challenges and exhaustion in confronting systemic racism, they encourage continued efforts to push back against unfairness and inequality.The Non-Prophets, Episode 23.13.2 featuring Jimmy Jr., Blatant Blatheist , Cynthia McDonald and Kelley Laughlin
This special episode comes to you in partnership The Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. In 1787, Absalom Jones, Richard Allen and James Forten staged an action at St. George's Methodist Church (blocks from Independence Hall—where the U.S. Constitution was about to be written). The three men went down from the gallery where Blacks were allowed to sit and knelt at the altar during prayer time. They were told they couldn't pray alongside white parishioners, so they stood up, turned around, and walked out and established the Freedmen's Society. That society provided the seed funding for Absalom Jones to launch a Black stream within the episcopal denomination in 1792. Then a few years later the Society launched Mother Bethel AME with Richard Allen as its pastor. Then, in succession the society launched the first Black Presbyterian church, the first Black Baptist church in Philadelphia, and so on. From that act of protest against second-class citizenship, the Black Church was born. In the spirit of the Black Church, which has begun to rise up and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, St. Thomas's 17th rector, The Very Rev. Canon Martini Shaw and his team decided to focus the church's Lenten season on understanding what's going on in Gaza. So, a portion of this episode has been listened to by the parishioners of Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Church! When considering who should help us understand “What's going on?” there couldn't be anyone better than the author of The Hundred Years' War on Palestine, Palestinian historian Dr. Rashid Khalidi (Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University in NYC). Dr. Khalidi is the author of eight books, in addition to The Hundred Years' War, including: Palestinian Identity, Brokers of Deceit, and The Iron Cage. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Thread or Insta Lisa @lisasharper or to Freedom Road @freedomroad.us. We're also on Substack! So be sure to subscribe to freedomroad.substack.com. And, keep sharing the podcast with your friends and networks and letting us know what you think! www.threads.net/@lisasharper www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us freedomroad.substack.com www.aecst.org us.macmillan.com/books/9781627798556/thehundredyearswaronpalestine history.columbia.edu/person/khalidi-rashid/
Evening Prayer for Tuesday, February 13, 2024 (Tuesday after the Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818). Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter): Psalm 107:23-43 Jeremiah 43 2 Corinthians 11 Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailyofficepodcast/support
Morning Prayer for Tuesday, February 13, 2024 (Tuesday after the Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818). Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter): Psalm 107:1-22 Genesis 43:1-10, 15-34 Matthew 3 Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailyofficepodcast/support
CLIMBING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN Even harder than making it to the mountain top is following Jesus back into our everyday lives. But we are called to do just that. This year, Transfiguration Sunday falls close to the day we honor blessed Absalom Jones, a saint of the church who followed [...] This post Climbing Down the Mountain is on the Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church website.
Sermon from Rev. Sarah Hedgis-Kligerman on February 11, 2024
Today's episode features: Clergyman Absalom Jones Sponsored by 2 Complicated 4 History Produced by Primary Source Media
As Black History Month closes, we wanted to take some time to discuss the life of Absalom Jones, the first Black Episcopal priest in The Episcopal Church. Absalom's story is one of loving God and loving all people. One of starting something brand new with and for God!In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Canon Martini Shaw, 17th Rector of The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, the congregation founded by Absalom Jones. They discuss Absalom's story that led to the founding of St. Thomas and how his legacy is lived out today. Listen in for the full conversation. The Very Rev. Canon Martini Shaw is a native of Detroit, Michigan. In 1982 he earned two undergraduate degrees from Wayne State University, one in Psychology and the other in Biology.In 1988, Fr. Shaw earned a Masters of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Hyde Park (Chicago). Never one to shy away from rigorous challenges, Fr. Shaw also earned a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois the same year. In 2008, Fr. Shaw earned the Doctorate of Ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation, with completed coursework at the University of Oxford, (Oxford, England.)In 2003, Fr. Shaw became the 17th Rector of the Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Philadelphia, Pa. The church was founded in 1792 as the first Black Church in the Episcopal Church, U.S.A. It is also the oldest African American Church in the City of Philadelphia. Fr. Shaw proudly now serves as a successor to the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first Black Priest of the Episcopal Church, and first Rector of St. Thomas Church.
A sermon by The Very Rev. Sarah Hurlbert for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 12, 2023.
In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic almost destroyed Philadelphia. The young city was saved by two Black preachers, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, who organized the free Black community in providing essential services and nursing the sick and dying. Allen and Jones were assured of two things: that stepping up would help them gain full equality and citizenship, and that they were immune to the disease. Neither promise turned out to be true. About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “Calamity in Philadelphia” is Episode 2 of Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race, a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through Distillations, the Science History Institute's highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innate is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Credits Hosts: Alexis Pedrick and Elisabeth Berry Drago Senior Producer: Mariel Carr Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez Associate Producer: Padmini Ragunath Audio Engineer: Jonathan Pfeffer Richard Allen voiceover by Jason Carr “Innate Theme” composed by Jonathan Pfeffer. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. Resource List How the Politics of Race Played Out During the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic, by Alicia Ault A short account of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in Philadelphia: with a statement of the proceedings that took place on the subject in different parts of the United States, by Mathew Carey Medicalizing Blackness: Making Racial Difference in the Atlantic World, 1780-1840, by Rana A. Hogarth A narrative of the proceedings of the black people, during the late awful calamity in Philadelphia, in the year 1793, by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen Freedom's Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers, by Richard Newman Observations upon the origin of the malignant bilious, or yellow fever in Philadelphia, and upon the means of preventing it: addressed to the citizens of Philadelphia, by Benjamin Rush Bishop Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom, produced by Dr. Mark Tyler Transcript
Sermon for the Feast of Absalom Jones from the Reverend Dr. Glenn M. Libby. Learn more about St. John's Cathedral, by going to our website www.stjohnsla.org Stay Connected Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stjohnsla Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stjohnsla Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stjohnsla SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/3tK7Hga
On February 13, the Episcopal Church commemorates the Feast of Absalom Jones. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Morning Prayer for Monday, February 13, 2023 (Monday after the Second to Last Sunday of Epiphany: World Mission Sunday, or Sexagesima; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818). Psalm and Scripture readings (2-year lectionary; 60-day Psalter): Psalm 107:1-22 Genesis 43:1-10, 15-34 Matthew 3 Click here to access the text for Morning Prayer at DailyOffice2019.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dailyofficepodcast/support
This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of Absalom Jones. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa. Choral repertoire includes:Gerre Hancock (1934-2012), Preces & ResponsesDavid Hurd (b. 1950), Sewanee CanticlesSpiritual, arr. Moses Hogan (1957-2003), This little light of mineSpiritual, arr. Gerre Hancock (1934-2012), Deep River
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta is a vibrant, progressive community that welcomes all – wherever they may be on their spiritual journey. We are called to know, to love, and to serve God and our neighbors. In all that we do, we honor All Saints’ abiding commitment for justice and peace for all people in Atlanta and across the world. Visit us online at https://allsaintsatlanta.org
February 12, 2023 - The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Absalom Jones Sunday)
The Commemoration of Absalom Jones
Welcome to the Whyte House Family Spoken Nonfiction Books podcast: Black History Month edition episode #106. Today we are celebrating the life of Absalom Jones from the book “100 Most Influential Black Christians in History” compiled and edited by the editors of BCNN1.
Dean Kelly Brown Douglas hosted a panel discussing Absolom Jones, the first Black Episcopal Priest. His feast day is February 13th. Featuring- Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont; Bishop Kevin Nichols, The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem; and Bishop Robert Wright, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. As the Episcopal Church's first African American priest, the Rev. Absalom Jones' story is one of resilience, struggle, and powerful witness. Our panel will reflect on the life of Rev. Absalom Jones and the significance of his witness for our Church and nation today. Recorded Thursday, February 10th, 2022
Feast of Absalom Jones Rev. Dominique Piper by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
Morning Prayer for Sunday, February 13, 2022 (Sixth Sunday of Epiphany, or Septuagesima; Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818). Psalm and Scripture readings (2-year lectionary; 60-day Psalter): Psalm 107:1-22 Jeremiah 43 2 Corinthians 11 Click here to access the text for Morning Prayer at DailyOffice2019.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dailyofficepodcast/support
Psalm 107: 23-43; Jeremiah 43; 2 Corinthians 11 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/christanglican-hotsprings/support
Psalm 107:1-22; Genesis 43; Te Deum Laudamus --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/christanglican-hotsprings/support
Although the United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Black Americans have fought for equal protection under the law for centuries. In 1799, seventy-one People of Colour and Freemen in Philadelphia banded together to petition their Congressman for their rights. Led by Reverend Absalom Jones, the first African American Episcopal priest ordained in the U.S., the Freemen sought protections against the oppression and violence they were subjected to despite being free. They called for a stop to the kidnapping of freed people and demanded the abolition of slavery, as well as the unalienable Rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence. On January 2, 1800, Representative Robert Waln introduced the petition to the House of Representatives, where it was tensely debated and eventually sent to committee to die. Today, the Reverend Jones is recognized on the Episcopal Calendar of Saints, the Diocese of Pennsylvania honors his memory with an annual celebration, and the chapel and rectory at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia are named in honor of Jones.Learn more: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h327.htmlBeats Provided By https://freebeats.io; Produced By White Hot
When titles like Prophet and Apostle are frequently ascribed, the person in view is someone of great stature and influence. Such is the case with the 18th-century minister and Civil Rights leader, Richard Allen. Born into bondage as a slave, Allen came to know Christ and found ultimate freedom in the gospel. Remarkably, his faith-filled life made such a profound impact on his “master” that he allowed Allen to purchase his freedom and live as a doubly free man. Allen used his newfound liberty to minister the gospel and fight for racial equality. His voice for Christ and for change still speaks volumes today. In this way, ascriptions like Prophet and Apostle are perhaps apropos, after all. The eminence of Richard Allen and his story is nearly impossible to overstate. Join us as we explore the life and influence of this Black founding prophet of Faith and Liberty on this episode of Faith and Liberty Rediscovered! Our guest experts provide a brief summary of Richard Allen's life (3:28)“Freedom's Prophet”: Why this Old Testament title is descriptive of Allen (7:34)A Portrait worthy of a Prophet (10:27)Another biblical title is also fitting for this principle figure of vision and truth (16:16)“Do not make us blacker than we are” (18:49)Allen's remarkable relationship with his “master”, Stokley Sturgis (22:02)“No heaven, but yet a haven for people of color” - Philadelphia in the 1780s (31:15)Allen sparks the first Civil Rights act at St. George's Methodist Church (39:15)The Free African Society is founded (44:27)Allen's compatriot, mentor, and friend, Absalom Jones (47:24)How a Pandemic revealed Allen's merciful heart and indomitable will (55:30)Sowing the seeds of Abolition that were watered and harvested by Fredrick Douglas and others (1:04:12)The immigration option: Allen's frustration with America's lack of change led him to dream of equality elsewhere (1:08:17)Richard Allen's incredible spirit and message still echoes today (1:10:34)Special thanks to Dr. Richard Newman and Leonard Dozier for their incredible insights today. Faith and Liberty Rediscovered features conversations that investigate the people behind historically significant events in American history while also exploring the direct connection between faith and liberty in America from its founding to today. All from the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center which is located in the heart of our nation's birthplace: On Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Together, We'll bring history to life in a fun and accessible way by leveraging relevant segments, guests, and exploring topics that allow us to discover our Nation's history in a fresh and new format. Be sure to subscribe to the platform of your choice or visit podcast.faithandliberty.org for more information.
#OTD Richard Allen and Absalom Jones established the Free African Society, an organization that provided fellowship, a place of worship and monetary support to free Africans and their families in cases of sickness and death. Recording artist Kwamé narrates.
In the years between the American Revolution and the U.S. Civil War, as legal and cultural understandings of citizenship became more racially restrictive, black writers articulated an expansive, practice-based theory of citizenship. Grounded in political participation, mutual aid, critique and revolution, and the myriad daily interactions between people living in the same spaces, citizenship, they argued, is not defined by who one is but, rather, by what one does. In The Practice of Citizenship, Derrick R. Spires examines the parallel development of early black print culture and legal and cultural understandings of U.S. citizenship, beginning in 1787, with the framing of the federal Constitution and the founding of the Free African Society by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, and ending in 1861, with the onset of the Civil War. Between these two points he recovers understudied figures such as William J. Wilson, whose 1859 "Afric-American Picture Gallery" appeared in seven installments in The Anglo-African Magazine, and the physician, abolitionist, and essayist James McCune Smith. He places texts such as the proceedings of black state conventions alongside considerations of canonical figures such as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Frederick Douglass. Dr. Derrick R. Spires is Associate Professor of Literatures in English at Cornell University. He specializes in early African American and American print culture, citizenship studies, and African American intellectual history. His first book, The Practice of Citizenship: Black Politics and Print Culture in the Early United States (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019), won the MLA Prize for First Book and the Bibliographical Society/St. Louis Mercantile Library Prize. His work appears or is forthcoming in African American Review, American Literary History, and edited collections on early African American print culture, and the Colored Conventions movement. Dr. Spires was an Albert M. Greenfield Foundation Fellow in African American History at the Library Company in 2008. This chat originally aired at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021.
In our latest podcast, The Rev. Nancy Bryson, Deacon at St. George Episcopal Church, tells us about several African-American leaders who have influenced the Episcopal Church, beginning with Absalom Jones. A former slave in the 1700s, Jones' unwavering faith helped him to become the first ordained African-American priest in the Episcopal Church. Send comments to musingsonfaith@gmail.comor leave a voice message at: https://anchor.fm/st-george-episcopal-ch/message. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/st-george-episcopal-ch/message
A message from Bill Jensen and Stirring The Waters Ministry#livegodslove #ColumbaDailyBreadDB #dailyinspiration #dailyprayers #livegodslove #inspiration
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard for me not to get caught up in my awe for someone like Absalom Jones. How did he do it? Bear the abuse? Keep the faith? Not punch someone in the face? Like, a lot.
On the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, the Rev. Carol Duncan offers us a sermon for Blessed Absalom Jones' Feast Day (Feb. 13 annually). Can you hear God's call to us in the story of Blessed Absalom Jones' life? (The Rev. Barbara Ballenger delivered the Rev. Carol Duncan’s sermon, due to icy conditions preventing her from being in person.) Today's readings are: Isaiah 42:5–9 Psalm 126 John 15:12-15 Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net http://lectionarypage.net/LesserFF/Feb/AbsJones.html
In 1808, on the day the trade of enslaved Africans became illegal, the first black Episcopal priest, Absalom Jones climbed into the pulpit. The day was remarkable, the sermon even more so...
Psalm 107:1-22; Genesis 43; Benedicite, Omnia Opera Domini --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/christanglican-hotsprings/support
Psalm 107:23-43; Jeremiah 43; 2 Corinthians 11 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/christanglican-hotsprings/support
Feast of Absalom Jones Rev. Jordan Casson by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
This episode of the Black History Fashion Show covers two titans of black freedom - Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Two men who demonstrated who demonstrated character, wisdom, and leadership that resounds to this day. Lester covers the origins of the black church and black mutual aid societies. Lester also recalls a time when he was not popular on campus. Was Lester the first ever victim of cancellation? Find out on this episode of the Black History Fashion Show.
The Gist of Freedom Preserving American History through Black Literature . . .
Free Afrcan Society's Black Nurses and the 1793 Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic In 1793, Philadelphia was as large and as cosmopolitan a city as could be found in the new United States. Until 1800, Philadelphia served as the U.S. capitol. The city was also home to a substantial number of people of color. The yellow fever outbreak that began that summer led to an outcry for help to the Black Benevolent Societies.. As the disease spread, so too did panic. Some 20,000 residents fled the city. Deaths became so frequent that the College of Physicians asked city officials to stop tolling bells for the dead because the constant ringing was so oppressive. With the exodus of so many able-bodied people, care for the sick and dying was limited at best. In desperation, civic leaders — including Declaration of Independence signatory Benjamin Rush, M.D., then a professor at the Institutes of Medicine — approached the city's black community for help. Like many people of the time, he believed that black people had some special immunity to the virus. The leaders of Philadelphia's Free African Society, a mutual aid organization founded in 1787 by ministers Absalom Jones and Richard Allen in partnership with black abolitionists like William Gray, willingly agreed to provide that help, often asking little or no pay. Jones and Allen, who had some medical training, also played an active role in treating the sick, sometimes working directly with Rush. By their own account, they cared for “upwards of 800 people.” ** Image: Black Cross Nurses https://youtu.be/9r4KJMsaD3s
The Gist of Freedom Preserving American History through Black Literature . . .
Join The Gist of Freedom ~Corona Virus Epidemic from an Emergency Doctor's Perspective | Dr. Ishmael Griffin, a Harvard Educated, Board Certified Emergency Physician, has practiced over 20 years in level 1 and 2 emergency departments. Currently works in NYC. Dr. Griffin was also led a delegation of Pre-Med Students to study in Cuba for nearly two decades. You can listen to The Gist of Freedom at www.BlackhistoryUniversity.com ********** This show is in honor of: The Black Nurses and the 1793 Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic In 1793, Philadelphia was as large and as cosmopolitan a city as could be found in the new United States. Until 1800, Philadelphia served as the U.S. capitol. The city was also home to a substantial number of people of color. The yellow fever outbreak that began that summer led to an outcry for help to the Black Benevolent Societies.. As the disease spread, so too did panic. Some 20,000 residents fled the city. With the exodus care for the sick was limited. In desperation, civic leaders — including Declaration of Independence signatory Benjamin Rush, M.D., then a professor at the Institutes of Medicine — approached the city's black community for help. The leaders of Philadelphia's Free African Society, a mutual aid organization founded in 1787 by ministers Absalom Jones and Richard Allen agreed to provide that help. They too had some medical training, and played an active role. They cared for “upwards of 800 people.” **** Image: Black Cross Nurses 1920
Preached at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Midtown Detroit. Evening Prayer for the Feast of Absalom Jones
The Feast of Absalom Jones Bishop Carl Wright by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
On the Feast of Absalom Jones
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger preaches on texts for the Feast of Absalom Jones, on this Sunday following his feast day of February 13. Absalom Jones was the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, but in our remembering of him, we should not dis-member him. Listen in to Rev. Ballenger's sermon to understand more.
The Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany. Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37
This is the prescribed reading for the Thursday after the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, or Septuagesima The Psalm Appointed: Psalm 107:1-22 (pg 412) Lessons: First Reading: A Reading; beginning with the first verse, of the forty-third chapter of the Book of Genesis. Second Reading: A Reading; beginning with the first verse of the third chapter of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew. Collect: Martyrs of Japan, 1597 This is the prescribed reading for the Thursday after the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, or Septuagesima A Collect for Absalom Jones, First African American Priest, 1818 Supplemental Canticle: N/A
Trinity CathedralEpiscopal Diocese of ArizonaPhoenix, AZFebruary 12: The Rev. Rosa Brown will be preaching Absalom Jones Absalom Jones was born on November 6, 1746, in a house slave in Delaware. He taught himself to read out of the New Testament, among other books. When sixteen, he was sold to a store owner in Philadelphia. There he attended a night school for blacks, operated by Quakers. At twenty, he married another slave, and purchased her freedom with his earnings. Jones bought his own freedom in 1784. In 1787, black Christians organized the Free African Society, the first organized Afro-American society, and Absalom Jones and Richard Allen were elected overseers. Members of the Society paid monthly dues for the benefit of those in need. The African Church applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and in October 1794 it was admitted as St. Thomas African Episcopal Church. Bishop White ordained Jones as deacon in 1795 and as priest on September 21, 1802. St. Thomas Church, Philadelphia, grew to over 500 members during its first year. Known as “the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church,” Jones was an example of persistent faith in God and in the church as God’s instrument. Jones died on February 13th, 1818, in Philadelphia. https://www.lectionarypage.net/LesserFF/Feb/AbsJones.html
Robert Lehman, Preces & Responses in A flatBryan Kelly in CSpiritual, arr. William Dawson, Ain-a that Good NewsSpiritual, arr. Carl Haywood, There is a balm in Gilead
Dr. Jonathan Tran preached in honor of Absalom Jones. All Angels Church celebrated the blessed Absalom Jones, who the Episcopal Church commemorates each year during the first week of February. Absalom Jones was ordained as the first black priest in 1802, and spent most of his life and ministry as an abolitionist.
Dale Adelmann, Preces & Responses (St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo)David Hurd, Magnificat & Nunc dimittis (Sewanee Church Music Conference)Spiritual, arr. Larry Fleming, Give me JesusSpiritual, arr. Dale Adelmann, Steal away to Jesus
Trinity Episcopal CathedralDiocese of ArizonaPhoenix, AZThe Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, Associate Rector, St. John's Norwood (Chevy Chase/Bethesda).Hershey is a native North Carolinian. Baptized and raised at St. Ambrose Church in Raleigh, she is a third-generation Episcopalian. Hershey was educated at North Carolina A&T State University and Howard University before graduating from General Theological Seminary.Most recently, Hershey has worked in the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Evangelism, where she was Project Lead for the Beloved Community Storysharing Campaign.Hershey is married to Rob Stephens. Rob is the Minister for Congregational Life at Middle Collegiate Church, a multicultural community in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Together, they enjoy cooking, and also working on the Poor People’s Campaign.
Feast of Absalom Jones Rev. Warner Traynham by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
Absalom was a slave, owned by a member of St. Peter’s, who refused to grant him freedom until he was 38 years old. So telling the story of Absalom Jones necessarily means telling a story about slavery and also a story about race: a story that should leave us discomfited by our own history and by the sanitized ways that it has so often been written and told.
Thanks for Joining Episode 2 of the Philly People Now Deceased Podcast. In this episode we discuss the zombie apocalypse of 1793 aka Yellow Fever and the heroic efforts of Philly’s free black community, led by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones to nurse the sick.Support the show (https://www.facebook.com/deadphillypeeps/)
Today our guest is the Honorable Steven Mullins, President of the Southern Connecticut Chapter of UBE (Union of Black Episcopalians) and Commissioner of Planning & Zoning and a Justice of the Peace in the city of West Haven. The Union of Black Episcopaliansis a successor organization continuing a tradition "of more than 200 years of Black leadership in The Episcopal Church." Locally, there is a chapter in Hartford and the Southern Connecticut Chapter which was formed in 2013, following the merger of the New Haven and Bridgeport Chapters. Steven is the chapter's first president following this merger. The focus of the Union of Black Episcopalians is to serve as an organization of predominately Black clergy and laity that advocates for Black Episcopalians and commemorates the lives and ministries of Black saints in the Episcopal Church. Steven was born in Glenwood, Alabama and came to Connecticut at the age of 5. Steve is an active member of the Holy Spirit, West Haven. He is married to Jean and they have two extraordinary children, both actors Nora and Christian. We begin our conversation learning about Steven’s history with the Union of Black Episcopalians, beginning in 1966. His introduction to UBE was at a celebration at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford celebrating the feast day of Absalom Jones, which the church remembers on February 13, the first Black ordained Episcopal priest. Steven says the hallmark of his participation with UBE thus far has been the 2013 burial of Mr. Fortune, an enslaved man in Waterbury who died in 1798 and whose body was used for scientific research without the family’s nor Mr. Fortune's consent for years after his death. Steven, and the UBE Southern Connecticut chapter, helped arrange a wake at the Connecticut capitol and the burial at the Riverside Cemetery in Waterbury. Steven shares that although The Episcopal Church does have a Black presiding bishop, and the Episcopal Church in Connecticut has had a Black bishop diocesan, there is still more work to be done. He says it is the goal of UBE to make the black Episcopal presence known in the church and to encourage more Black leadership — particularly lay leadership. The Southern Connecticut chapter of UBE hosts a number of events, including their annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial service and their Celebration of the feast day of Absalom Jones, which will be held at 3:00 p.m. on February 24, 2019 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. Steven provides us with a “Cliff's note” biography of Absalom Jones, a full biography is available here. Karin asks what Steven’s goals or dreams are for the future of UBE, to which he responds to make sure people of color are in leadership roles in the Episcopal Church. If you are interested in joining the Southern Connecticut chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, or learn more about what they are up to, Steven encourages you to email him at smullinsjpwh@aol.com or see their Ministry Network page.
Jarrett reflects on the life and ministry of Absalom Jones, the first African-American priest ordained in the Episcopal Church.
4 Epiphany The Feast of Absalom Jones The Reverend Lester V. MacKenzie by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
6 Epiphany "The Feast of Absalom Jones" The Rev. Dr. Ronald David by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral Los Angeles
The Presiding Bishop’s Pilgrimage for Reconciliation, Healing and Evangelism continues on, this the Feast of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African American Priest in the Episcopal Church. We have interviews with Carrie Boren Headington, (Missioner for evangelism for the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas and is founder of The Good News Initiative), and Kim Karashin (Canon for Mission in the Diocese of Pittsburgh). Today's update also features a segment from today's sermon from the Presiding Bishop.
On January 1, 1808 the United States abolished the importation of slaves to this country. On that same day, Rev. Absalom Jones presented a sermon at St. Thomas African Episcopal Church to celebrate this momentus event. The sermon conveys thankfulness for that step toward freedom and hope for the days to come. In this episode Adam Coleman recites that sermon in celebrating 2017 and reaching back in thankfulness for the freedoms we now enjoy. Absalom Jones had powerful words for his congregation in 1808 and those words still have relevance for us today. Hear ye him....
First Week Of Lent And Absalom Jones - 14 February 2016 by St. Francis In-The-Fields Episcopal Church
Our Scripture verse for today is Colossians 1:9 which reads: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Our History of Black Americans and the Black Church quote for today is from Lee June, a professor at Michigan State University and the author of the book, "Yet With A Steady Beat: The Black Church through a Psychological and Biblical Lens." He said, "Although what is called the ‘Black Church' is still the most powerful institution within the Black community, there is a need for some midcourse corrections. Though there are many encouraging signs, the dangers are there also. Our challenge in the years ahead is to continue to maximize the resources that will advance Christ's church as a whole." Our first topic for today is titled "The New World Experience" from the book, "From Slavery to Freedom" by John Hope Franklin. As Van Sertima has ably pointed out in his book, They Came Before Columbus, peoples of African descent arrived in the United States before Christopher Columbus allegedly discovered America. It should also be noted that there were Africans who were on the same ship with Columbus during his exploration. The fact remains, however, that most African Americans arrived in the United States as slaves, and a few arrived as indentured laborers. In the early 1400s, the Portuguese began to make their way along the west coast of Africa. It was Portugal that led Europe in its search for an all-water route to the East—India, China, and the East Indies. ... Our second topic for today is "The Institutional Church of the Free Negroes, Part 7" from The Negro Church in America by E. Franklin Frazier. He writes: The Free Negroes Establish Their Own Churches After Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organized the Free African Society, they differed as to whether Negroes should model their church organization after the Methodist or after the Protestant Episcopal Church. Allen was of the opinion that the Methodist form of worship was more suited to the religious needs and form of worship to which the Negroes had become accustomed. As a consequence of this difference between Jones and Allen, Jones organized the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas but the majority of the Negroes who had seceded from the white church followed Allen. ... Our third and final topic for today is from "The Black Church in the U.S.: Its Origin, Growth, Contributions, and Outlook" by Dr. William A. Banks. Today we are continuing with part 4 of Chapter 3: "Reaction -- 1820 to 1865" NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES AND SLAVERY Not only were scriptures cited in an attempt to support the belief that Negroes were cursed, but they were used to support the very institution of slavery itself. These passages include Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10; 1 Peter 2:18-19; and Philemon. ...
Our Scripture verse for today is Genesis 15:13-14 which reads: "And [God] said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance." Our History of Black Americans and the Black Church quote for today is from Lee June, a professor at Michigan State University and the author of the book, "Yet With A Steady Beat: The Black Church through a Psychological and Biblical Lens." He said, "Faith in the God of the Bible and an association with the institutional church have had overall positive influences on the African-American community and were key in the survival of the slave experience in America." In this podcast, we are using as our texts: From Slavery to Freedom, by John Hope Franklin, The Negro Church in America/The Black Church Since Frazier by E. Franklin Frazier and C. Eric Lincoln, and The Black Church In The U.S. by William A. Banks. However, our first topic today is some good work done for the "God In America" series titled "The Origins of the Black Church" which was aired by the Public Broadcasting Service. This is just a brief historical overview; we will delve into these topics in great detail in upcoming episodes The term "the black church" evolved from the phrase "the Negro church," the title of a pioneering sociological study of African American Protestant churches at the turn of the century by W.E.B. Du Bois. In its origins, the phrase was largely an academic category. Many African Americans did not think of themselves as belonging to "the Negro church," but rather described themselves according to denominational affiliations such as Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and even "Saint" of the Sanctified tradition. African American Christians were never monolithic; they have always been diverse and their churches highly decentralized. Today "the black church" is widely understood to include the following seven major black Protestant denominations: the National Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Convention of America, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church of God in Christ. New historical evidence documents the arrival of slaves in the English settlement in Jamestown, Va., in 1619. They came from kingdoms in present-day Angola and the coastal Congo. In the 1500s, the Portuguese conquered both kingdoms and carried Catholicism to West Africa. It is likely that the slaves who arrived in Jamestown had been baptized Catholic and had Christian names. For the next 200 years, the slave trade exported slaves from Angola, Ghana, Senegal and other parts of West Africa to America's South. Here they provided the hard manual labor that supported the South's biggest crops: cotton and tobacco. In the South, Anglican ministers sponsored by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, founded in England, made earnest attempts to teach Christianity by rote memorization; the approach had little appeal. Some white owners allowed the enslaved to worship in white churches, where they were segregated in the back of the building or in the balconies. Occasionally persons of African descent might hear a special sermon from white preachers, but these sermons tended to stress obedience and duty, and the message of the apostle Paul: "Slaves, obey your masters." Both Methodists and Baptists made active efforts to convert enslaved Africans to Christianity; the Methodists also licensed black men to preach. During the 1770s and 1780s, black ministers began to preach to their own people, drawing on the stories, people and events depicted in the Old and New Testaments. No story spoke more powerfully to slaves than the story of the Exodus, with its themes of bondage and liberation brought by a righteous and powerful God who would one day set them free. Remarkably, a few black preachers in the South succeeded in establishing independent black churches. In the 1780s, a slave named Andrew Bryan preached to a small group of slaves in Savannah, Ga. White citizens had Bryan arrested and whipped. Despite persecution and harassment, the church grew, and by 1790 it became the First African Baptist Church of Savannah. In time, a Second and a Third African Church were formed, also led by black pastors. In the North, blacks had more authority over their religious affairs. Many worshipped in established, predominantly white congregations, but by the late 18th century, blacks had begun to congregate in self-help and benevolent associations called African Societies. Functioning as quasi-religious organizations, these societies often gave rise to independent black churches. In 1787, for example, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organized the Free African Society of Philadelphia, which later evolved into two congregations: the Bethel Church, the mother church of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which remained affiliated with a white Episcopal denomination. These churches continued to grow. Historian Mary Sawyer notes that by 1810, there were 15 African churches representing four denominations in 10 cities from South Carolina to Massachusetts. In black churches, women generally were not permitted to preach. One notable exception was Jarena Lee, who became an itinerant preacher, traveling thousands of miles and writing her own spiritual autobiography. We will continue this brief historical overview of the black church in our next podcast. _______ Our second topic for today is "The First West African States: Mali (Part 1)" from John Hope Franklin's book, From Slavery to Freedom. He writes: As Ghana began to decline, another kingdom in the west arose to supplant it and to exceed the heights that Ghana had reached. Mali, also called Melle, began as an organized kingdom about 1235, but the nucleus of its political organization dates back to the beginning of the seventh century. Until the eleventh century it was relatively insignificant and its mansas, or kings, had no prestige or influence. The credit for consolidating and strengthening the kingdom of Mali goes to the legendary figure Sundiata Keita. In 1240 he overran the Soso people and leveled the former capital of Ghana. It was a later successor, however, who carried the Malians to new heights. Variously called Gonga-Musa and Mansa-Musa, this remarkable member of the Keita dynasty ruled from 1312 to 1337. With an empire comprising much of what is now French-speaking Africa, he could devote his attention to encouraging the industry of his people and displaying the wealth of his kingdom. The people of Mali were predominantly agricultural, but a substantial number were engaged in various crafts and mining. The fabulously rich mines of Bure were now at their disposal and served to increase the royal coffers. We will continue looking at this topic in our next episode.
The Gist of Freedom Preserving American History through Black Literature . . .
Est. in 1778, within 10 years, the Free African Society had a balance of 42.416 pounds on deposit at the Bank of North America. By 1838 the number of benevolent organizations grew to 100, with membership recorded as 7,448. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones formed the Free African Society in Philadelphia, a mutual aid society designed to provide socioeconomic guidance to newly freed people. Among its main objectives were teaching thrift and saving to build wealth in the community. These mutual aid societies served as a model for banks later formed in the black community. Romulus Hall was brought by a pitying stranger to the Vigilance Committee, in a most shocking condition. The frost had made sad havoc with his feet and legsso much so that all sense of feeling had departed therefrom. How he ever reached this city is a marvel. On his arrival medical attention and other necessary comforts were provided by the Committee, who hoped with himself, that he would be restored with the loss of his toes.