North Carolina Saints
The Episcopal Church recognizes five saints native to North Carolina: Manteo and Virgini Dare, Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, the Rt. Rev. Henry Beard Delany (celebrated with the Rt. Rev. Edward Thomas Demby) and the Rev. Pauli Murray. The following collects and readings are taken from Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 (Cooper, Murray) and A Great Cloud of Witnesses 2015 (Delany, Manteo and Dare).
ANNA JULIA HAYWOOD COOPER: FEBRUARY 28
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Anna Julia Haywood Cooper with the love of learning and the skill of teaching: Enlighten us more and more through the discipline of learning, and deepen our commitment to the education of all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lessons and Psalm
Proverbs 9:1–6
Psalm 119:33–40
Luke 4:14–21
THE RT. REV. HENRY BEARD DELANY: APRIL 14
Loving God, we thank you for the ministries of Edward Thomas Demby and Henry Beard Delany, bishops of your Church who, though limited by segregation, served faithfully to your honor and glory. Assist us, we pray, to break through the limitations of our own time, that we may minister in obedience to Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE REV. DR. PAULI MURRAY: JULY 1
Liberating God, we thank you for the steadfast courage of your servant Pauli Murray, who fought long and well. Unshackle us from the chains of prejudice and fear, so that we may show forth your reconciling love and true freedom, which you revealed through your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Lessons and Psalm
Galatians 3:26–29
Psalm 119:17–24
Mark 12:1–12
BAPTISMS OF MANTEO AND VIRGINIA DARE: AUGUST 17
O God, you have created every human being in your image, and each one is precious in your sight: Grant that, in remembering the baptisms of Manteo and Virginia Dare, we may grow in honoring your gift of diversity in human life; become stronger in living out our baptismal vow to respect the dignity of every human being; and bring into the fellowship of the risen Christ those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Missioner for Adult and Life-long Formation
