At its 122nd Annual Council in February, 2014, the Diocesan of Southern Virginia passed a resolution
that encourages the parishes in the Diocese to support the Church of
the Province of D. R. Congo in the weekly Prayers of the People for
peace with justice and to recognize May 30
as Apolo Kivebulaya Day in their cycle of prayer in unity with the Anglican Church in D. R. Congo.
Who was Apolo Kivebulaya? There is much on the internet about him, but
briefly, Apolo was a converted Ugandan Christian who was sent to a
region which is now the D. R. Congo to evangelize an area that had
previously rejected the faith. Unlike his two predecessors, Apolo
withstood difficulty and after several years, prevailed. Known for
rising at five in the morning, Apolo was known to have spiritual gifts
including the gift of prayer for healing. Beginning in a small village
in 1896, the Anglican Church of D. R. Congo is now composed of nine
dioceses and is considering creating two more in a country the size of
western Europe.
The day Apolo
died, May 30, 1933, he wrote this final prayer: "O God our Father and
the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, may you give me a blessing
while in this world while you lead me through the forests, through the
lakes and the mountains, so that I may do your work among your people.
Grant that I may be loved by you and by your people. Amen."
Prayers and readings for Apolo Kivebulaya Day:
Traditional:
Almighty and
everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant Apolo Kivebulaya, whom
thou didst call to preach the Gospel to the people of Boga in central
Africa. Raise up, we pray thee, in this and every land evangelists and
heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the unsearchable
riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Contemporary:
Almighty and
everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Apolo Kivebulaya, whom
you called to preach the Gospel to the people of Boga in central Africa.
Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your
kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our
Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Psalm 96 or 96:1-7
Isaiah 52:7-10
Acts 1:1-9
Luke 10:1-9
Isaiah 52:7-10
Acts 1:1-9
Luke 10:1-9
