“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season, and we hear from the Gospel according to Luke:

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’  (Lk. 18: 9-14).

There is not one among us who has not sinned.  All of us have failed to love God with our whole hearts and minds, and we have failed to love our neighbors.  As we start this season, let us remember, like the tax collector, that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy.  The tax collector’s prayer was one of true penitence; let our prayer be one as well.

Today we would normally celebrate the life and ministry of Absalom Jones, the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church.  He was born into slavery in Sussex County, Delaware, on November 6, 1746. He taught himself to read and knew the New Testament thoroughly at an early age. 

 

He was allowed to work for himself in the evenings and keep his earning.  He was married in 1770. By the time Jones was 38 years old, he had purchased his wife's freedom, and his own, and had bought a house. Later he built two more houses and used them for rental income.

During this period he met Richard Allen, and they became lay preachers in St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church and lifelong friends. Their efforts met with great success, and the congregation multiplied tenfold.

Jones and Allen, in 1787, organized the Free African Society.  The Society was both religious and benevolent, helping widows and orphans and assisting in sick, relief and burial expenses, and the assimilation of newly freedmen into urban life.  Because of racial tensions and an altercation with church officials, they left St. George's congregation.

In 1792, under the leadership of Absalom Jones, "The African Church" was organized as a direct outgrowth of the Free African Society.   In 1793, the two men organized the Black community to serve as nurses and attendants during Philadelphia's severe Yellow Fever epidemic.

Jones led his African Church in applying to Bishop William White for membership in the Episcopal Church.  On Sunday, September 14, 1794, the congregation was received into the fellowship and communion of the diocese of Pennsylvania.  The following year the Diocesan Convention approved the affiliation with the stipulation that the Church could not participate in the Diocesan Convention this was not resolved until 1864. So "The African Church" became The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, and Absalom Jones was ordained deacon. Some nine years later he was ordained priest, becoming the first priest in America of African descent.

During his ministry, Absalom Jones never lost his deep conviction that religious and social action go hand in hand. He founded schools for his people, helped them in distress, and supported them in their protest against slavery and oppression.  He helped to found an insurance company, and a society which fought vice and immorality.  Absalom Jones died at his home, 32 Powell Street, Philadelphia, Pa., on this day in 1818.

Let us pray:  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.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR THE SCOTT SCHOOL project  yesterday, especially Stacy Putman who spearheaded the outreach!

THANK YOU TO OUR KING & QUEEN OF MARDI GRAS, THE TAYLORS, FOR HOSTING ANOTHER WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.  We had nearly 100 in attendance.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

ASH WEDNESDAY Liturgy with the Imposition of Ashes at 6 p.m.

LENTEN PROGRAM: Starting at 6 p.m. with the Way of the Cross, Eucharist, light supper and then the program with—

Feb. 20: The Rev. Allen Robinson, Rector of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Galveston native and a son of St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)

Feb. 27: Br. Michael Gallagher, OSB & Fr. Peter Funk, OSB, Benedictine Monks and Co-Founders of Holy Cross Monastery at Grace (1115 36th St.)

Mar. 6: Ms. Kathy Culmer, Storyteller & Diocesan Mission Funding Coordinator at Trinity (2216 Ball Ave)

Mar. 13: The Rev. Canon John Newton, Diocese of Texas Canon for Lifelong Christian Formation, at St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)

Mar. 20: The Rev. Pittman McGehee, Priest, Author & Jungian Analyst, at Grace (1115 36th St.)

Mar. 27: The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas, at Trinity (2216 Ball Ave)

3^rd ANNUAL ST. AUGUSTINE’S BIGMISTA & FRIENDS BBQ ON SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 2013. If you haven’t volunteered, please do so.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn and her entire family, Dave, and Bob who is in hospice care.

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550