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[ Back to index of March articles ] Serving God and man
On Feb. 8 about 320 people gathered at the Church of Our Saviour, Silver Spring, to celebrate the life of the Rev. Absalom Jones (1746-1818) and to raise funds for the higher education of black students. Jones, the first black American to be formally ordained as an Episcopal priest, was born into slavery and was able to buy his freedom at age 38. He volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, but left his church in Philadelphia after it ruled that the black members should sit only in the balcony. The Episcopal bishop of Philadelphia agreed to let the alienated group organize as a parish, and after his ordination, Jones became the parish's rector. Among his other contributions to Philadelphia's needy, Jones encouraged the black community to work as nurses, cart drivers and grave diggers during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 that claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the city. Jones and others put their lives at risk for the benefit of the sick and dying.
"Just as Absalom responded to the needs of his people in his time, it is up to us to respond to the needs in our time. We cannot leave it up to the city officials or federal officials to solve the needs in our community," said the Rev. Nan Peete, canon for deployment and ordination for the diocese, in her sermon. "What difference will this Eucharist make in our lives, in the lives of those outside these doors?" she said, challenging those in attendance to be transforming agents in the world. One immediate difference the event made was to raise more than $15,000 for scholarships and endowment funds at three historically black colleges and the chaplaincy at Howard University. "There are a lot of students these days that can't afford [college]," said Natasha Henderson, 20, a third-year nursing student at Howard. Henderson, a member of Calvary, D.C., read the Epistle during the service. The event, sponsored by the Washington chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, was highlighted by the recognition of Ellen D. Washington, a member of St. Philip's, Laurel. Washington was honored for her "untiring, committed loyalty and service to church and community," said MaryRose Chappelle, general chair of the 2004 Absalom Jones Day Committee and a member of Calvary, D.C. Among her many achievements, Washington established an Absalom Jones memorial window and scholarship fund at St. Philip's.
The Rev. Tom Logan, rector of Calvary and president of the Washington chapter of the U.B.E., which has about 39 members, welcomed the worshippers, "to celebrate an African/Anglican Eucharist as only U.B.E. can." With incense, clapping and much singing, accompanied by piano, organ, synthesizer, drums, trumpet and even a tambourine, the liturgy was as spirited as the message. And the message was clear. "What am I doing first
to serve my God and second what am I doing to help my fellow man?"
said Chappelle. "And if we're not doing anything, begin to start." [ Back to index of March articles ]
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