Absalom Jones
Long before Martin Luther King Jr., there was Absalom Jones.
Born a slave in 1746, he gained his own freedom in 1784 and went on to become the first black priest in the Episcopal Church in 1802. The Feast of Absalom Jones is celebrated in the church on February 13 and is part of the Black History Month program at Grace Episcopal Church.
The story of how Absalom Jones and Richard Allen opposed segregation within a Philadelphia church, formed an independent black church and later came into the diocese on their own terms is a compelling testimony to the strength of the human spirit. It was refreshing to be reminded of it in a packet handed out at Grace’s Martin Luther King Jr. service on Jan. 15. That event launched Grace’s Black History Month program, which runs through February 17.
Today (Saturday, Jan. 27) there is an all-day Race and Reconciliation workshop at the church. Other events include a Spiritual Singalong on Feb. 3; slave narratives and African-American music at the Feb. 4 and 11 services, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on both Sundays; a Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 10; the Feast of Absalom Jones, 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13; and a gala dinner at 6 p.m. featuring foods from the African Diaspora. The church is also co-sponsoring presentation of the documentary "Slavery and the Making of America" at the Plainfield Public Library, 6 to 9 p.m. at the library on Feb. 8 and 15.
Absalom Jones was known for his strong stand against slavery and preached a Thanksgiving sermon on Jan. 1, 1808 in which he called for the first day of January to be marked as “the day of the abolition of the slave trade in our country.”
Enslavement of individuals for economic gain is still going on in human trafficking and forced labor around the world. Some say the tacit use and exploitation of day laborers in our country is a present-day form of slavery. The work begun by Absalom Jones is not finished. But he lives on as an inspiration to all, no matter what race or religion.
--Bernice Paglia
Born a slave in 1746, he gained his own freedom in 1784 and went on to become the first black priest in the Episcopal Church in 1802. The Feast of Absalom Jones is celebrated in the church on February 13 and is part of the Black History Month program at Grace Episcopal Church.
The story of how Absalom Jones and Richard Allen opposed segregation within a Philadelphia church, formed an independent black church and later came into the diocese on their own terms is a compelling testimony to the strength of the human spirit. It was refreshing to be reminded of it in a packet handed out at Grace’s Martin Luther King Jr. service on Jan. 15. That event launched Grace’s Black History Month program, which runs through February 17.
Today (Saturday, Jan. 27) there is an all-day Race and Reconciliation workshop at the church. Other events include a Spiritual Singalong on Feb. 3; slave narratives and African-American music at the Feb. 4 and 11 services, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on both Sundays; a Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 10; the Feast of Absalom Jones, 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13; and a gala dinner at 6 p.m. featuring foods from the African Diaspora. The church is also co-sponsoring presentation of the documentary "Slavery and the Making of America" at the Plainfield Public Library, 6 to 9 p.m. at the library on Feb. 8 and 15.
Absalom Jones was known for his strong stand against slavery and preached a Thanksgiving sermon on Jan. 1, 1808 in which he called for the first day of January to be marked as “the day of the abolition of the slave trade in our country.”
Enslavement of individuals for economic gain is still going on in human trafficking and forced labor around the world. Some say the tacit use and exploitation of day laborers in our country is a present-day form of slavery. The work begun by Absalom Jones is not finished. But he lives on as an inspiration to all, no matter what race or religion.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 10:00 AM
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