Dear People of Ascension,

Last weekend, the Diocese of New York celebrated the feast day of Blessed Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church. I began to wonder about some of the other early Black leaders of our denomination. In particular, who was the first Black priest in our diocese? A quick search turned up the answer: the Rev. Peter Williams, Jr.

Like Absalom Jones, Peter Williams, Jr. was born in slavery in a northern state- in his case, New Brunswick, NJ around 1780. His father, Peter Williams, Sr., was able to purchase his freedom when he was around five years old. He was educated at the African Free School, established by the New York Manumission Society, where one of his influential teachers was a white man, Thomas Lyell, who became an Episcopal priest.

Williams became a member of a group of Black Episcopalians who were allowed to worship at Trinity, Wall St. on Sunday afternoons. By 1812, weary of that second class status, the Black congregation established their own church, St. Philip's Free African Church, and elected Peter Williams as their lay reader, to be licensed by Bishop John Henry Hobart. The congregation erected a church building (cost c. $8,000) in 1818 and petitioned to have their own ordained leadership. Peter Williams was ordained deacon in 1820, and priest in 1826 by Bishop Hobart. He was the second Black priest in the Episcopal Church.

However, the bishop refused to admit St. Philip's into New York's diocesan convention, and both Williams and his parish were ill- treated by their fellow Episcopalians. Nonetheless Williams focused on building up his congregation and serving the community, offering education, job assistance, and mutual aid as well as worship services. 

Williams was an outspoken abolitionist, and a noted orator. Even in 1808 was invited to give an address on the first anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, which was made into a pamphlet- one of the first publications about abolition by a Black author. As Williams' ministry developed, so did his involvement in the abolitionist movement, and in controversies about free Blacks and colonization.

In 1833 Williams became a member of the executive committee of the interracial American Anti-Slavery Society. The next year, anti-abolitionist riots broke out in New York; Williams and St. Philip's were targeted and the church building severely damaged. Bishop Onderonk (by then the diocesan) insisted that Williams resign from the Anti-Slavery Society and stay out of politics- or face losing his orders and having St. Philip's closed. Reluctantly, Williams agreed. 

Peter Williams, Jr. died of pneumonia in 1840, survived by his wife and one daughter. He was remembered by the vestry of St. Philip's for his "holy zeal and self-sacrificing devotion". The continuing ministry of that parish is surely his greatest legacy.

Happy Black History Month, friends! It seems appropriate that this is also the season of Epiphanies.

Liz

Click this link for this Sunday's bulletin & hymns.

In addition to being in-person in the church, we are happy to provide two additional ways you can watch our services online and participate in the worship:

How to Add Prayer Requests Online for Sunday Service - Go to Ascensionnyc.org/Prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them before the end of the sermon.

If you're present in-person, please join us for coffee hour in our heated tent in the front garden (weather permitting.)

If you watched us via Zoom, then just remain online (or grab a cup of coffee first!) If you watched via the webcast, grab that coffee and click the Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday link.

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Our cameras and sound go live anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes before the service. Please be aware that sounds and conversations are picked up and broadcast during the pre-service time.

Masks must be worn at all times while indoors

A 6' distance must be maintained at all times while indoors

Vaccination is strongly encouraged.

Open Church - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Sirkka Kyle or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620

A word about paper. Apparently copy paper - especially the beige color we use for bulletins - is the latest victim of the supply-chain crunch. Our normal brand is just not available and what is available is over 3-times the cost. So for the duration, we are switching to plain white 20lbs paper for our printing needs.

Shrove Tuesday Bingo Returns! On Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 we will again celebrate Mardi Gras with online Bingo! You must make your own pancakes (or whatever fat things you prefer) this year, but please join us for a lot of fun, moderated by Steve Hubbard, our Bingo-meister.

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8:00 a.m. - Ash Wednesday Liturgy at Side Altar

12 Noon - Ash Wednesday Liturgy at Main Altar

7:00 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Liturgy with full choir at Main Altar

(In-Person and Live Stream)

Recently some parishioners received a fake text (or email) that appeared to be from a member of the clergy or parish lay leaders. If you received such a message, do not reply, just delete it or move it to your spam folder. What is Phishing? Unscrupulous people send out an email or text pretending to be someone you know and trust. Usually they ask for money or to buy gift cards for some urgent need they are experiencing.

How to recognize Phishing –The first thing you’ll notice is that it doesn’t “sound” like the person you know. Their phrasing and choice of words are just a little “off”. Second, if you look closely at the sender’s actual email address or phone number it will be something strange and will not be any contact information you know for this person. What to do? The most important thing is do not reply. The best thing to do is to delete it or move it to your junk/spam folder. If you receive a Phishing text or email feel free to let the parish administrator know (212-254-8620 or apjones@ascensionnyc.org). Check out bit.ly/2TJwAYx for more tips.

[New Date] Needlecraft Guild—Due to Ash Wednesday the Needlecraft Guild’s March meeting will be moved to Wednesday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.

Are you interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL)? Brother Andrew, OSF, is starting a class on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. This is a basic, introductory course and no prior knowledge of ASL is needed. Space is limited so if you are interested, please reach out to him at apjones.nyc@gmail.com.

Monday Evening Lectionary Bible Study -- Join us Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is an opportunity to read and discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. If you are interested in joining, please contact Sibyl Piccone.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music; 11:00 a.m. (Church & Online)

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. If interested, please contact Sibyl Piccone 

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

EfM (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Midweek Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Building & Grounds (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music; 11:00 a.m. (Church & Online)

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

The Church of the Ascension -- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street

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