online at https://www.facebook.com/www.stmarysstoneharbor.org at 9 am.

www.stmarysstoneharbor.org

 "Blessed are they who hope in the Lord"

To hope for something is to have an anticipation of receiving it. As a theological virtue, hope is defined as "desiring the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, trusting in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the assistance of the Holy Spirit". Thus, the issue posed by Sunday's readings is, "Where am I placing my hope?"

The prophet Jeremiah makes no equivocations in the first reading: Cursed is the one who trusts in human creatures, who finds strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord. Jeremiah is stating that individuals who reject God and place their confidence in mere humankind would suffer terrible repercussions, as we cannot genuinely satisfy our deepest needs and aspirations on our own.

Jeremiah is being straightforward. He is cognizant of our fallen human nature. All too frequently, we find ourselves relying only on ourselves and others. When things go well, we often believe it is due to our intelligence, our abilities, our knowledge, or the outcome of anything we accomplished. However, our life and everything inside it is ultimately dependent on our relationship with the Lord, since only God is capable of offering us salvation and eternal life. Only God is capable of rescuing us. We, nor anyone else, are capable of saving ourselves from sin and death. Only God is capable of salvation, which God has accomplished through the merits of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Sunday's Gospel is something of a mini-treatise on hope, illuminating the ways in which our optimism might become misplaced. We frequently convince ourselves that if we place our hope in this or that person or thing, we will avoid sorrow. However, the Christian life is not about evading pain. The Christian life entails finding significance in one's suffering as a result of one's faith in Christ Jesus. Christ's redemption upends cultural conventions. Sufferers — the impoverished, the hungry, the crying, and the persecuted – are spiritually much richer, as they have nothing left but the Lord. In some ways, the more we have stripped away in this life, the wealthier we become as our reliance on the Lord grows.

As we pray in response to the readings, let us ask ourselves, "In what do I place my hope?" Is my hope wholly in the Lord, or is it in people or things?"

Blessed are those who put their trust in the Lord... For the Lord guards the path of the righteous, but the path of the wicked perishes.

Blessings in Christ,

Mo. Allison+

All clergy and deputies are invited to attend one or more of the pre-convention hearings to learn more about the budget, resolutions, and canons being presented at the convention.

Meetings will be held via Zoom on the following dates. Register here: https://dioceseofnj.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucuCtqjMuGdVj8mvHlm76t-sG7eH1bh7X

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Feb. 13

5:45 p.m.: Pre-Service Concert

6:00 p.m.: Service

Register Now: bit.ly/AbsalomJones2022

Black Clergy Caucus Commission on Black Ministries Union of Black Episcopalians

Preaching: The Rev. Shelton Radix, Affiliated Parishes of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Churches, Beverly & Riverside, NJ

Highlighting: St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ

Ven. Lynn H. Johnson, Archdeacon

Canon Clive Sang, Deacon

Ms. Linda Shomo, President EBS-UBE

Celebrating the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African-American ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, 1804.

Born into slavery, Jones founded the first African-American Episcopal congregation–the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia.

Ten years later, in 1802, he was the first African American to be ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church of the United States. He is listed on the Episcopal calendar of saints. He is remembered liturgically on the date of his death, February 13, in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

As we age, we begin to experience changes physically, and emotionally, and spiritually. For many people, this involves taking a spiritual journey.

We may find ourselves seeking more meaning and purpose in life as our loved ones pass away. We may feel more isolated as we move from a family of many to one of one. And we may even experience feelings of resentment and anger as we struggle with financial burdens and realize that our careers and lifestyles will never be the same.

This is natural, and it’s part of the human experience. What does this mean for us? How can we find peace as we age? And what can spirituality offer to help us through this journey? Read on to learn how meditation, mindfulness, prayer, and other spiritual practices can help you find peace as you grow older.

Aging is a journey, not a destination. As we age, our bodies, minds, and spirits change. The physical changes are apparent: hair grayer, skin thinner, joints stiffer. But the emotional and spiritual changes are often less visible to those around us. The body may grow weaker, but the spirit grows stronger. Those who have found peace at the end of life are often more grateful for their blessings than resentful of what they don’t have or didn’t accomplish.

To be sure, there are challenges to aging that can seem impossible. For example, loneliness is common as friends move away or die; financial burdens can increase due to health care needs or other obligations; careers may come to an end as bodies slow down.

But many people find peace in their old age because they know it’s part of living a meaningful life. People who allow themselves time to process and reflect on these challenges may also find themselves better able to cope with them and even grow from them. They might ask themselves: What am I really grateful for? What do I want my legacy to be? Am I living out my values?

We can tap into this sense of peace by practicing spirituality in our everyday lives: meditation, prayer, mindfulness practices like yoga and tai chi (or even walking), journaling, or talking with friends. These activities help us reconnect with ourselves and others in new ways that lead us back to our true selves—and bring us closer to God. Read more...

Absalom Jones was born enslaved to Abraham Wynkoop, a wealthy Anglican planter in 1746 in Delaware. He was working in the fields when Abraham recognized that he was an intelligent child and ordered that he be trained to work in the house. Absalom eagerly accepted instruction in reading. He also saved money he was given and bought books (among them a primer, a spelling book, and a bible). Abraham Wynkoop died in 1753, and by 1755 his younger son Benjamin had inherited the plantation. When Absalom was sixteen, Benjamin Wynkoop sold the plantation and Absalom’s mother, sister, and five brothers. Wynkoop brought Absalom to Philadelphia, where he opened a store and joined St. Peter’s Church. In Philadelphia, Benjamin Wynkoop permitted Absalom to attend a night school for black people operated by Quakers, following the tradition established by abolitionist teacher Anthony Benezet.

At twenty, with the permission of their masters, Absalom married Mary Thomas, who was enslaved to Sarah King, who also worshiped at St. Peter’s. The Rev. Jacob Duche performed the wedding at Christ Church. Absalom and his father-in-law, John Thomas, who used their savings and sought donations and loans, primarily from prominent Quakers, in order to purchase Mary’s freedom. Absalom and Mary worked very hard to repay the money borrowed to buy her freedom.

They saved enough money to purchase property and to buy Absalom’s freedom. Although he repeatedly asked Benjamin Wynkoop to allow him to buy his freedom, Wynkoop refused. Absalom persisted because, as long as he was enslaved, Wynkoop could take his property and his money. Finally, in 1784, Benjamin Wynkoop freed Absalom by granting him a manumission. Absalom continued to work in Wynkoop’s store as a paid employe.

Absalom left St. Peter’s Church and began worshiping at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. He met Richard Allen, who had been engaged to preach at St. George’s, and the two became lifelong friends. Together, in 1787, they founded the Free African Society, a mutual aid benevolent organization that was the first of its kind organized by and for black people. Members of the Society paid monthly dues for the benefit of those in need. At St. George’s, Absalom and Richard served as lay ministers for the black membership. The active evangelism of Jones and Allen significantly increased black membership at St. George’s. The black members worked hard to raise money to build an upstairs gallery intended to enlarge the church. The church leadership decided to segregate the black worshippers in the gallery without notifying them. During a Sunday morning service, a dispute arose over the seats black members had been instructed to take in the gallery. The ushers attempted to physically remove them by first accosting Absalom Jones. Most of the black members present indignantly walked out of St. George’s in a body.

Prior to the incident at St. George’s, the Free African Society had initiated religious services. Some of these services were presided over by The Rev. Joseph Pilmore, an assistant at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Society established communication with similar black groups in other cities. In 1792 the Society began to build the African Church of Philadelphia. The church membership took a denominational vote and decided to affiliate with the Episcopal Church. Richard Allen withdrew from the effort as he favored affiliation with the Methodist Church. Absalom Jones was asked to provide pastoral leadership, and after prayer and reflection, he accepted the call.

The African Church was dedicated on July 17, 1794. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Magaw, rector St. Paul’s Church, preached the dedicatory address. Dr. Magaw was assisted at the service by The Rev. James Abercrombie, assistant minister at Christ Church. Soon thereafter, the congregation applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania on the following conditions: 1) that they would be received as an organized body; 2) that they would have control over their local affairs; 3) that Absalom Jones would be licensed as lay reader, and, if qualified, be ordained as a minister. In October 1794, it was admitted as the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. The church was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1796. Bishop William White ordained Jones as deacon in 1795 and as priest on September 21, 1802.

Jones was an earnest preacher. He denounced slavery and warned the oppressors to “clean their hands of slaves.” To him, God was the Father, who always acted on “behalf of the oppressed and distressed.” But it was his constant visiting and mild manner that made him beloved by his congregation and by the community. St. Thomas Church grew to over 500 members during its first year. The congregants formed a day school and were active in moral uplift, self-

empowerment, and anti-slavery activities. Known as “the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church,” Jones was an example of persistent faith in God and in the Church as God’s instrument. Jones died on this day in 1818.

  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 our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

A new edition of Forward Day by Day, Daily Devotions for Disciples, for February, March, and April, has arrived. Copies both large and small print may be found in the narthex. Please help yourself. We would also be glad to mail you a copy. Call the church office 609-368-5922 or email saintmarysstoneharbor@gmail.com

The 2022 Flower Chart is now posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall. Altar flowers are a wonderful way to honor loved ones throughout the year. Choose a date on the chart and fill in the name of who you would like remembered and by whom. A donation may be sent to the church office. Flowers may be removed after the service and taken home or delivered to a shut-in.

Ellie Markle on February 14th, and

Fr. Ken Gorman on February 15th!

We would like to shower her with cards! If you would like to send a birthday card, her address is: 227 Fishing Creek Rd., Cape May, NJ 08204

If you shop on Amazon, please remember The Branches can receive a percent of your purchase. It's easy! Simply go to this link https://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-2710178 and shop with your Amazon account as usual. A percent of your purchase will automatically be given to The Branches. Thank you!

February 12th: Saturday Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and continues weekly (chapel)

February 13th: Vestry Meeting after service

February 17th and continues weekly: Holy Hour Devotion at 3 PM (chapel)

February 18th - 22nd Mo. Allison is Away.

March 10th: Lenten Concert at First United Methodist at 6:30pm

March 24th: Lenten Concert at First United Methodist at 6:30pm

April 7th: Lenten Concert at First United Methodist 6:30pm

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR on our website for all activities taking place throughout the week.

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Sunday 9:00 AM Live on Facebook

Services, studies, and service bulletins may be accessed on our website: www.stmarysstoneharbor.org