Collect Day #12, SECO God Almighty, you made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace. We believe this to be true. We want peace and the dignity of freedom for each individual, as long as they exist first for us. Seco served you and humankind to make our country free. How could we have missed the fact that he lived as chattel, instead, always more bound than free? Would we…
Collect Day #11, THE PORTSMOUTH AFRICAN BURYING GROUND Loving God, Author of our pasts, we thank you for the journeys of our ancestors, especially those who worked without recognition, without freedom, and with little hope. Whatever our condition today, we stand on their shoulders. Help us to remember this profound, simple truth. With gratitude, we affirm the dignity and worth of every child of yours. We name: their work, worthy; their lives, significant; their journeys, an essential link in our…
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is honored to partner with the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire to offer a collection of short readings on little known historic figures from New Hampshire’s African American community for the Episcopalians’ 2018 Lenten Program, beginning Ash Wednesday, February 14. Please join us in prayer: Becoming Beloved Community Prayer Creator of All, When you send your Holy Spirit to us in baptism, You invite us into deep communion with you and with one…
Collect Day #1 WILL CLARKSON Lord of freedom and life, we raise up today Will Clarkson who fought for the freedom of this country even while enslaved: grant that his service to our country and to the state of New Hampshire may inspire us not to rest until all racism is erased and that true community among all is made a reality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DAY #1, February 14, 2018 PORTSMOUTH WILL CLARKSON (C. 1739 – 1809)…
Collect Day #2, PRINCE WHIPPLE O God, our true ruler and guide, we remember today Prince Whipple who sacrificed his life for the freedoms we all now enjoy: grant that as he and other black citizens petitioned bravely for the end of lifetime servitude in New Hampshire, that we may engage our public servants to end all discrimination so that “the name of slave may no more be heard in a land gloriously contending for the sweets of freedom;” who…
Collect Day #3 BOAD O God, who sent shepherds forth to care for all people: we remember today Boad who while enslaved cared for cattle in the midst of the abundant fields of Mason, New Hampshire; grant that we may become shepherds of truth and honor as we remember all those whose life and work built our communities though we easily forget them at our peril; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Day #3, February 16, 2018 Mason BOAD JerriAnne…
Collect Day #4 AMOS FORTUNE O God of true justice and peace: we remember today your free servant Amos Fortune who paid for his freedom from enslavement and then contributed much to the community of Jaffrey in founding a library and supporting public education and the maintenance of the church; may we boldly confess the gifts of all citizens woven into a beautiful fabric from all races that enrich our lives and open our minds to the truth of your…
Collect Day #5 CORYDON CHESLEY Almighty and everlasting God, you choose those whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame: we remember today your free servant Corydon Chesley who fought bravely for the freedom of this country while he himself was enslaved; may we never forget the sacrifices of the African Americans who gave us the gift of freedom so that the shame and sin of racism may end in our communities and nation; through Jesus Christ…
Collect Day #6 DINAH GIBSON O God, you open your hand and feed us richly from your creation: we remember today your free servant Dinah Gibson whose culinary skills and grace fed many even while she was enslaved; may we in her memory feed each other with the truth of how much our lives and freedoms depended upon those we have overlooked or forgotten so that no one is left behind; this we ask in the name of our Lord…
Collect Day #7 JENNY and CATO Almighty God, you have given us this good life as our heritage. However, we do not always act as people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. We think of Jenny, who spent her years living a life that was fashioned by the whims and needs of others. She was brought to New England as a child, from a place with a different tongue. Her name was changed and her life…
