Readings:
Psalm 119:9-16
Sirach 51:13-26
2 Peter 1:16-21
John 3:1-15Preface of a Saint (2)
PRAYER (traditional language)
Almighty God, we bless thee for moving thy servant Samuel Ferguson to minister in Liberia, expanding the missionary vision of thy Church in education and ministry. Stir up in us a zeal for thy mission and a yearning for thy holy Word; through Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER (contemporary language)
Almighty God, we bless you for moving your servant Samuel Ferguson to minister in Liberia, expanding the missionary vision of your Church in education and ministry. Stir up in us a zeal for your mission and a yearning for your holy Word; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This commemoration was provisionally approved at the 2009 General Convention.
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SAMUEL FERGUSON
MISSIONARY BISHOP FOR WEST AFRICA, 1916
Samuel David Ferguson (January 1, 1842-August 2, 1916) was the first Black person to be elected a bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was born at Charleston, South Carolina and died in Cape Palmas, Liberia.
Ferguson moved with his family to Liberia at age six. He was ordained a deacon on December 28, 1865 and a priest on March 15, 1868. He was consecrated as bishop on June 24, 1885 (Saint John the Baptist's Feast Day), at Grace Church, New York, becoming the first black member of the House of Bishops. He married Mary Leonora Montgomery.
As Missionary Bishop of Liberia, he founded what is now Cuttington University College. He also established the Bromley Mission School. He remained in Liberia until his death in Monrovia in 1916.
— from Wikipedia
Further information about Bp. Ferguson may be found in the Episcopal Church Archives and in History of the Afro-American Group of the Episcopal Church, Ch. 24.