March 11, 2005

This year marks the 83rd anniversary of the Episcopal Church's Good Friday Offering, its major grassroots effort to respond to the numerous needs of the church in the Holy Land.

In an annual letter to all congregations, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has asked that Episcopalians join him again this year "as we work and pray for a lasting peace" and to continue to support the Episcopal Church's Good Friday Offering "as we share generously from all the gifts we have been given with our sisters and brothers in the Middle East."

The Province of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East covers the southern Mediterranean coast from Algeria to Lebanon and Syria, and down to the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa. Yet it is one of 38 autonomous Provinces of the the Anglican Communion. Its bishop, the Rt. Reverend Riah Abu el-Assal, was born in Nazareth, where he was a priest for more than 30 years.

Outside of Jerusalem, the countryside is overwhelmingly Islamic and Jewish, and even in Jerusalem the dominant Christian traditions are Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic.

Support received through the Good Friday Offering translates into operating hospitals, schools, orphanages and many other programs, accomplished for the benefit of all people in the province, Christian, Jewish and Muslim alike.

A form to order the 2005 offering materials, which include a poster, a bulletin shell, and offering envelopes, accompanied the Presiding Bishopís letter, released during the season of Epiphany.

The bulletin shell and the poster are also available online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/agr/friday.html. Good Friday Offering materials are also available through Episcopal Parish Services in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at http://www.episcopalparishservices.org/ or by calling toll-free 800-903-5544.

Episcopal News Service