Prayer List -- February 12, 2021
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Members and friends are encouraged to remember the intentions on the prayer list in their own prayers throughout the week.
You are welcome to add your intercessions and thanksgiving., by contacting one of the clergy, or email Wendy Shepherd at wshepherd@holyapostlesnyc.org, or call the parish office (212) 807-6799 with your prayer requests. They will remain on the list for two weeks. Names may be added to the long-term list and will then remain there until the end of the current calendar quarter.
The prayer list is read at Morning Prayer on Wednesday and is also prayed daily by all the members of the parish Prayer Chain. If you would like to join the prayer chain, committing to praying the prayer list every day for a month at a time, please let Mother Susan know at shill@holyapostlesnyc.org.
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Meditation from Mother Anna |
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Tomorrow our church remembers Absalom Jones, the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. Jones was born into slavery in Delaware and at sixteen was sold to a shopkeeper in Philadelphia. He married at age 20, bought his wife’s freedom and then bought his own in 1784, when he was 28 years old. In Philadelphia, Absalom Jones served as a lay minister for the black membership of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. As the black membership increased, the Vestry (white) decided to segregate them in an upstairs balcony. This decision was communicated unexpectedly on a Sunday morning, and when ushers tried to remove black parishioners from the main floor they walked out of the church in protest.
Absalom Jones went on to become one of the founders of St. Thomas African Episcopal Church, the first independent black Episcopal congregation. He was ordained a deacon in 1795 and a priest on September 21, 1802. He was an ardent abolitionist, who believed that God hears the cries of the oppressed and acts on their behalf. He was beloved by his congregation; St. Thomas grew to over 500 members in its first year. His community mourned his death in 1818 on February 13, and that is the day we honor his many contributions to our nation and our church.
It’s important to recognize “the firsts:” those courageous people who shatter the boundaries around any category and, by their very presence, widen the circle of acceptance and inclusion. Of course, any “first” is exactly that—the initial recognition of what should have been reality all along. We should rejoice in each and every “first.” At the same time, we can never be complacent. The work continues, always. Both our individual hearts and the spirit of our faith communities must always remain open to conversion and to change.
Every year at this time, the Episcopal Diocese of New York holds a special service in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to honor Blessed Absalom Jones. This year the service will be held online next Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Here is a link, and here is the collect for the day:
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 forever. Amen.
Blessings,
-- Anna
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Dear Holy Apostles Family,
If you would like to have individual healing prayer with Deacon Bob or one of the Lay Eucharistic Visitors, please leave a message on Deacon Bob’s church phone: 646-998-6107 or 212-807-6799 ext. 107. State who you are and the number where you may be reached, and a Healing Team member will contact you.
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We pray for all God’s people throughout the world; and in the Anglican Cycle of prayer this week we pray for The Anglican Church of Canada, the Right Reverend Linda Nicholls, Archbishop and Primate and Bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada.
We pray for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Andrew, Allen, and Mary, our own Bishops.
We pray for our parish clergy, Anna, Bob, and Susan; for our director of music, Tim; for our director of children’s ministries, Ellen; for our seminarian from GTS, Anne; for our Episcopal Service Corps intern, Troy; and for our parish administrator, Wendy.
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For Our Nation and the World |
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We pray for Joseph, our President; for Andrew, our Governor; and for Bill, our Mayor; for Congress and local leaders; that they may lead with compassion and do justice.
We pray for healing, reconciliation, economic justice, and peace in our nation and all the nations of the world.
We pray that we may reflect the wonderful diversity of your creation among us; your loving compassion through the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, Ecclesia, and our outreach efforts, and your justice through being a community that strives for peace and social and economic justice.
We pray for all those affected by COVID-19, throughout the world, and their caregivers; healthcare workers; first-responders; essential workers; educators and school staff; and social service agencies, especially our own Holy Apostles staff.
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For Health and Well Being |
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For the week of 2/14/2021
Tom Smart
Ron Toth
Michael Mullane
Lauren Hill
For the week of 2/7/2021
Long Term (1/1 through 3/31/21):
Carl Anderson
Tamara Paquette
Gabriela Amari
Maureen McGrath
Sean Campbell
Richard Majewski
Tracey Carden
Father Peter Carey & David Natoli
Lynn Agapi Gilligan
Patricia Owen Schaffer
Franz Klein
Larry Gifford
Paul LoBello
Kristine and Brent Sundberg
Carl Johnson
Glenn Pennoyer
Barbara Engler
Ethan Gibson and Linda Gibson
Roseanne Kelleher Heinricks
Norma Moy-Chin
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The departed:
Dominick Mirambeau (friend of R. J. Kennedy)
Violet VanOsdol (added by Shirley Swardenski)
and for all who have died of COVID-19 virus
We pray for all those killed serving in the armed forces, especially: Timothy Luke Manchester; and for all others killed in conflicts around the world, both civilians and combatants, unknown to us but precious to God.
We pray for the bereaved, especially: the family and friends of Dominick Mirambeau, and Violet VanOsdol.
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We pray for the ministry of Flora Labora and all who tend to the altar flowers on Sundays at Holy Apostles.
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