Loving God, may thy Name be blest for the witness of Ini Kopuria, police officer and founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, whose members saved many American pilots in a time of war, and who continue to minister courageously to the islanders of Melanesia. Open our eyes that we, with these Anglican brothers, may establish peace and hope in service to others, for the sake of Jesus Christ; who with thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Though skeptical of some of the commemorations in our new calendar of Lesser Feasts, I think a day in honor of Ini Kopuria is a welcome addition. I’m not so sure about the aptness of the propers chosen by ECUSA. Much better suited are the ones I found at this website [url=http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/feast-of-ini-kopuria-june-6/] “Sundry Thoughts” [/url] of one Kenneth Randall Taylor (in the UK perhaps?).
The selections on Taylor’s site make more sense than the ones prescribed in Holy Women, Holy Men in light of Kopuria’s life, and I much prefer this Collect:
God of all tribes, islands and nations, you called your servant, Ini Kopuria, to take the light of Christ to those who lived in darkness: inspire our hearts with the same love of you, so that we may become faithful messengers of your gospel, and in word and action share the good news of salvation with all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Who cares that Kopuria was a policeman? He was an evangelist and, as far as I can tell, a very holy man! And it may be true that the members of the Brotherhood saved many downed US pilots; it may be true that Kopuria himself was involved in that himself, but I haven’t been able to verify that. Maybe I was drawn to the Collect above because I live on an Island (sort of…). The HWHM collect is quirky and doesn’t do justice to the man’s ministry.
Pax Christi!
Chuck Bradshaw
Hulls Cove, Maine
pastorchuckie, thank you for posting the link and comment above. He is certainly a worthy addition to the calendar.
I read at your parish website that you may be sent as a missionary to Africa. May God bless you and your wife and may he send your parish a godly successor.