ashes, ashes

Blessed Absalom pray for us!

Absalom Jones Founder of the African Episcopal Church

Set us Free, Heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear: Collect for Absalom Jones, priest

Reverend Absalom Jones (1746-1818) is remembered in the Episcopal Church Kalendar as first African American Priest of the Church. Jones was born a slave in Delaware and sold to Mr Wynkoop, a Phildelphia merchant. Jones married Mary King, a slave to Wynkoop's neighbor Mr King, and very quickly raised funds to purchase his wife's freedom. He correctly reasoned their children, born of a freedwoman, would not be considered slaves. Jones eventually bought a house for his family, and subsequently purchased his freedom from Wynkoop.

Absalom Jones and Richard Allen were organizers of the Free African Society and became licesend preachers of St George's Church. Jones and Allen's efforts grew the membership of St George's and they, along with white members built a larger church. When Jones, Allen and other members of the Free African Society came to worship in the sanctuary of St George's, the ushers removed them from the sanctuary floor and showed them to the slave gallery upstairs. Jones and Allen led the members of the society to walk out St George's.

Absalom Jones organized the Free African Church with Allen and members of the Free African Society. Allen left the Free African Church to found the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Jones led the African Church to join the Episcopal Church, and was ordained the first African American priest in 1804. Jones spent his life working for abolition, the protection of freedmen and freedwomen from slave catchers, and education for the betterment of the people.

In 'Causes and Motives for Establishing St. Thomas's African Church of Philadelphia, Jones wrote: “to arise out of the dust and shake ourselves, and throw off that servile fear, that the habit of oppression and bondage trained us up in."

We remember the pioneering work of Reverend Absalom Jones on February 13, and this feast day is celebrated in many Episcopal churches nationwide. Join the Union of Black Episcopalians and the Afro Anglican Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of California at our annual celebration of the life and work of the blessed Reverend Absalom Jones, priest. We begin at 18 February, 11am, at St Augustine's Episcopal Church, 29^th and Telegraph in Oakland.

Ain't nobody gonna turn me around

It's me, It's me oh Lord, Standing in the need of prayer

On Wednesday night we viewed 'Soundtrack for a Revolution', a documentary about the songs sung during the Civil Rights Movement. It is part of our 'Screening the Revolution' Film series. 'Soundtrack' followed the history of the Rev Dr King and the Civil rights movement from the Montgomery bus boycott to his murder in Memphis, with movement participants sharing their stories and singing songs they sung; in addition were modern performers singing the same music. In some ways it was part documentary, part music video, but the strength of the film was the honest portrayl of a particulary brutal period of our common history. A period where non-violent protestors faced the full armed force of Jim Crow Law. As one survivor descbied it: 'they could do what they want with you, and if you turned to the law for protection, well, you found out it was the law that beat you up!'

I've seen several documentaries about this period, one of the best is 'Eyes on the Prize' – one of the great documentary films ever (watch it, it is worth the eight hours running time). The strength of 'Soundtrack' is the focus on how the music of the movement kept the protestors going. It begins with a quote of Harry Belafonte 'You can cage the singer but not the song' followed by images of men and women singing, in rallies, whilst marching, in jail. Remarkable, inspiring. In seminary we learn the importance of music in worship, the faithful gathered in song; 'Give thanks to the Lord, Sing to Him a new song...' (Ps 33). Our worship of God includes song and our theology is learned in the songs we sing: Martin Luther's 'A mighty fortress is my God (Ein feste burg ist meine Gott)' is the battle hymn of the Protestant Reformation, or 'Amazing Grace' for William Wilberforce and the English Abolitionists.

Watching 'Soundtrack' I understood how the gospel songs became the battle hymns of this revolution, the hymns that kept the faithful going. 'Ain't nobody (gonna turn me around)', 'Wade in the water', 'We shall overcome' and other songs were taught to movement workers in their training sessions; they sang in full voice which gave power to the seemingly powerless, the everyday person.

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They took away everything but songs, which meant we kept our souls,' said one Freedom Rider; 'Ordinary people did extraordinary things' said the Hon. Julian Bond. Singing 'Wade in the water, God's gonna trouble the water' or 'Precious Lord, lead me on (lead me on)' feels so different now, so filled with that righteous Holy Spirit guiding us toward doing the Right Thing.

As I reflect on what we saw Wednesday in 'Soundtrack for a Revolution' I understand that when we sing our hymns in church we need to sing loudly, proudly; remembering we can do extraordinary things, and when it seems everything is lost, we still have our souls and we can still sing.

Join me now, sisters and brothers:

'Ain't nobody gonna turn me around, gonna keep on a walkin'

Keep on a talkin', marchin' on to freedom land.'

see you about Turk and Lyon for our next film: 'Black Power Mixtape', Weds 8 Feb 7pm, the church hall.

-eric