Episcopal Press and News

Good Friday Offering Destined for Jerusalem, Middle East

Episcopal News Service. January 17, 1996 [96-1357]

(ENS) The Episcopal Church's Office of Anglican Global Relations recently announced that the church's Good Friday offering will be sent to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. According to the announcement, the practice of sending the Good Friday donation to Jerusalem, which was begun in 1922, is intended to symbolize "unity with and passionate concern for those who witness to Christ throughout that region." In his Epiphany letter to all Episcopal parishes, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning said that "modem technology makes it possible for us to know about tragedies and disasters all around the world; we are literally bombarded with news and the inherent call to 'come over and help us!' We know we need to respond but, unlike Saint Paul, we simply can't 'set sail' each time we are presented with a cry for help. And yet we can be there, we can make our presence felt in tangible ways, we are not powerless to help." The statement concludes that this opportunity is expressed through participation in the Good Friday offering. Offering materials are available through Episcopal Parish Services, P.O. Box 269, William Penn Annex, Philadelphia, PA 19105-0269, 1-800 903-5544 or (215) 564-2010.