The annual diocesan Absalom Jones Day Celebration, hosted by the Commission on Racism, will be held on February 3 at Trinity Cathedral.
The theme of the celebration is "If all Christians are called to ministry, how do we get there?" The guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Fred D. Smith, Ph. D., an associate professor of urban ministry and associate director of the practice of ministry and mission at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. For more information call Gladys Hunt-Mason at 412-672-8490.
The 2007 Absalom Jones Service for the Diocese of Southeast Florida will be held February 10 at 10 a.m. at Historic St. Agnes Church in Miami, Florida.
This year's theme will be "Keepers of the Flame"; the event will honor senior members of predominantly Black congregations who have made significant contributions to the life and ministries of their parishes.
The Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder, national president of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) will preach and Assistant Bishop James Ottley will be the celebrant.
The service will be followed by a luncheon and fashion show in Blackett Hall at St. Agnes, sponsored by the Theodore R. Gibson chapter of the UBE. For more information, email Kathleen Walker at walkerkathleen@bellsouth.net or call 786-417-3261.
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: Presiding Bishop to preach at Absalom Jones celebration
The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first black Episcopal Church in the United States, will celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones, its first rector and the first black priest in the Episcopal Church, on February 11 at 10 a.m. The guest preacher will be Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on the original altar (table) used by Jones during the 18th century. For more information contact the Rev. Martini Shaw at 215-473-3065.
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts: Absalom Jones Service
The Massachusetts chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) will hold their annual diocesan service of celebration and thanksgiving for the life of Absalom Jones on February 11, at 4 p.m. at St. Bartholomew's Church, Cambridge.
The theme of the day is "Without a Vision, the People Perish" and the guest preacher will be Dr. Deborah Harmon Hines, the first female national president of UBE. A highlight of the annual service is the presentation of the Frederick Douglass Isaacs Jr. award for outstanding lay leadership to persons nominated by their parishes. For more information, call Marsha Isaacs at 617-285-0540 or the Rev. L. Nelson Foxx at 617-354-8482.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: Absalom Jones remembered
St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis will commemorate Absalom Jones on February 11 at their 8:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Eucharists. For more information, call 612-870-7800 or visit http://www.ourcathedral.org/.
HARTFORD, Connecticut: Absalom Jones Celebration
An Absalom Jones celebration will be held at Christ Church Cathedral at 3 p.m. Guest speaker will be Bishop Clarence Coleridge, retired bishop of Connecticut. For more information, call Dorothy Jackson at 860-525-4289, ext. 10.
ATLANTA, Georgia: Feast of Absalom Jones
The Feast of Absalom Jones will be celebrated on February 11, at 4 p.m., at Cathedral of St. Philip, in Atlanta.
Bishop Michael B. Curry of the Diocese of North Carolina will be the guest preacher and will be joined by Bishop J. Neil Alexander of the Diocese of Atlanta.
CINCINNATI, Ohio: Absalom Jones Service
Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, in collaboration with the Diocese of Southern Ohio and the Union of Black Episcopalians, will commemorate the life of Absalom Jones on February 11 at 4 p.m. The Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, bishop-elect of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, will preach.
WASHINGTON, DC: Absalom Jones Day celebration
The Washington chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians will celebrate the life and legacy of Absalom Jones at Calvary Episcopal Church, Washington, on February 11 at 3 p.m.
Coming February 14, 2007...
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts: Episcopal Divinity School celebrates Absalom Jones
Episcopal Divinity School celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Absalom Jones Lecture on February 14 at 7 p.m., in St. John's Memorial Chapel on the EDS campus.
The Rev. Dr. Harold Lewis will lecture on Jones as "An Icon of Inclusivity." Lewis will also preach at the 8:30 a.m. Eucharist on February 15, and the Rev. Jayne Oasin, staff officer for social justice at the Episcopal Church Center, will be the celebrant.
Coming February 17, 2007...
HOUSTON, Texas: Second Annual Absalom Jones Festival
The second annual Absalom Jones Festival will be held on February 17 at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston. The day will include workshops, a Discovery Center, a Eucharist and a gathering of oral histories. For more information, call Janie Stevens at 800-318-4452.
NEW YORK, New York: Absalom Jones Celebration
All Souls' Church, New York City, will hold an Absalom Jones Celebration on February 17.
DETROIT, Michigan: Absalom Jones Service
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit, will hold an Absalom Jones service on February 17 at 10 a.m.
Coming February 18, 2007...
BUFFALO, New York: Celebrating Martin Luther King and Absalom Jones
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Buffalo, will celebrate the lives of Martin Luther King and Absalom Jones at their February 18 services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Cheryl Parris will preach. A festive Shrove Sunday brunch will follow the 10:30 a.m. service. For more information, visit: http://www.standrewbuffalo.com.
NATIONAL: Southern storyteller bishop preaches on 'Day 1'
Retired Episcopal bishop Charles F. Duvall, known for his Southern storyteller style of preaching, will be featured February 18 on "Day 1," a nationally broadcast radio program also accessible by podcast at http://www.Day1.net.
The program includes a sermon preached by Duvall and a five-minute interview with him by the program's executive producer, Peter Wallace.
Duvall retired in 2001 after 20 years as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Gulf Coast. During his previous 20 years as a parish priest, he served congregations in North Carolina and South Carolina. He recently ended four years as chairman of the board of trustees of the Episcopal Media Center, which joined with the Day 1 ministry to become the Alliance for Christian Media during his tenure. He is a graduate of the Citadel and the Virginia Theological Seminary and received a doctor of divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South.
Duvall emphasizes the teaching office of a bishop and conducts teaching missions and preaches in parishes and dioceses around the nation. He has recorded two audio series that retell ten popular Bible stories, "Biblical Stories Retold to Tickle the Ear and Touch the Heart." They are available from the Alliance for Christian Media at http://www.alliance4media.org. For more information, call toll free 888-411-Day-1 or visit: http://www.Day1.net.
AKRON, Ohio: Absalom Jones remembered
St. Philip's, Akron will host a festive Eucharist commemorating the life of the Rev. Absalom Jones on February 18 at 5 p.m. The celebrant will be the Rt. Rev. Arthur B. Williams, Jr., retired bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Ohio. St. Philip's is located at 1130 Mercer Ave. at Diagonal Rd. in Akron.
For more information, call 330-535-7295 or email dcc1655@aol.com. This event is sponsored by the Wilma Ruth Combs Northern Ohio Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.
Coming February 24, 2007...
NEW YORK, New York: A tribute to the Anglican Delegates to the UNCSW
The Parish of Trinity Church/St. Paul's Chapel and Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE) will host "Girls Claiming the Future: Hopes and Challenges" on February 24 at 4 p.m. at Trinity Church, Wall Street.
This event honors the efforts of AWE, the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN), the Office of the Anglican Communion Observer to the United Nations, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the women and men of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion throughout the world who are committed to supporting the work of the UNCSW [United Nations Commission on the Status of Women] and promoting the full inclusion of women in government, civil society, and religious institutions.
The program will also offer a short film presentation of interviews with young women throughout the world on their greatest hopes and challenges; girl choristers from New York Episcopal parishes; and the commissioning of the Anglican delegates to UNCSW.
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Absalom Jones and Richard Allen Celebration Service
The Diocese of California will commemorate the lives of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen on February 24 at 1:30 p.m., at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.
Featured speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Howard Mayberry, pastor of First A.M.E. Church, Oakland. Bishop Marc H. Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California will be the celebrant.
The event will be presented by the Afro-Anglican Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of California and the Northern California/Vivian Traylor Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.
BALTIMORE, Maryland: Commemorating the life and legacy of Absalom Jones
The Union of Black Episcopalians of the Diocese of Maryland will commemorate the life and legacy of Absalom Jones on February 24 at 8:30 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Walbrook, in Baltimore.
The Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address and the Rev. Gerald S. Collins will preach.
