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PENNSYLVANIA: Historic St. Thomas in Philadelphia to welcome Jeremiah Wright as revivalist
[Episcopal News Service] For the third consecutive year, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright will serve as revivalist for the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 28 and 29.Wright is former pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), a mega church in Chicago, Illinois with approximately 10,000 members.
St. Thomas is the oldest African American Episcopal Church in the United States and the first black church in Philadelphia. It was founded by the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first person of African ancestry to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church.
This year's theme is "Remember the Journey: Rejoice in the Blessings," said the Rev. Martini Shaw, rector of St. Thomas.
Shaw said they are expecting 500-600 people to attend the May 28-29 services.
"Revival is open to the public so we have an overflow room with closed circuit television," he explained. "This will also be the first time that Rev. Wright will be speaking in Philadelphia since all the media attention he has recently received so we are prepared."
Wright, a native of Philadelphia, has had his beliefs and manner of preaching scrutinized recently in the media and segments from his sermons publicized in connection with presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Despite that, Shaw said these yearly revivals are important to St. Thomas' congregation.
"We see them as a wonderful opportunity to really empower and revitalize St. Thomas and get refueled for another year of ministry," he explained. "So we expect people to leave feeling very excited and enthused about ministry."