ABSALOM JONES

(November 6, 1746 – February 13, 1818)

 THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY REDEEMER INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ABSALOM JONES

THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL PRIEST WITH A SPECIAL MASS

WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025 | 10:00 A.M.

WHERE: CHURCH OF THE HOLY REDEEMER 

CELEBRANT, THE RT. REV. KYM D. LUCAS

BISHOP, THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN COLORADO

LUNCHEON WITH THE BISHOP TO FOLLOW MASS

ALL ARE WELCOME!

R.S.V.P. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025, 5:00 P.M. BY EMAIL TO: NORA J. ROBINSON, CO SENIOR WARDEN – ca*******@ms*.com 

Who is this Absalom Jones that Episcopalians celebrate each year in February?

Born into slavery in Delaware in 1746, Absalom Jones began to teach himself to read and write as a teenager, buying books with pennies he received from visitors to his master’s home. While still in his teens, his master relocated to Philadelphia, taking Absalom with him, thus separating Absalom from his family who were sold away along with the Delaware plantation. He worked as a clerk in his owner’s store during the day, working for himself and attending an all-Black school at night.

The life of Absalom Jones was marked by vision, faith, focus, discipline, patience and selflessness. At any point in his life, he could have made a wanton decision to take the easy route, to rebel against his condition, or to look out for himself first. In the face of adversity, Absalom Jones never did that. Putting his faith completely in God, he could see the long view of where he wanted to go, and exercise the discipline, patience and focus to get himself there. (Union of Black Episcopalians)