6th September 2017

Sweet gesture lights up faces in Lancashire town with Good News of Jesus

Profits from The Meaningful Treat Pack, a new resource designed to help with mission work on and around the eve of All Saints (Hallowe’en), will help support the new ‘Jesus Light' appearing in Blackpool illuminations from this September.

The Jesus light was first turned on in Easter this year by the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Geoff Pearson, and will be seen by an estimated 52 million people over its 15-year lifespan. The dynamic new display is 15ft tall by 10ft wide and shows a dark Good Friday cross which transforms into a resurrection scene. 

The dynamic new display replaces a similar one that was a well-known fixture on the promenade but was destroyed in a severe storm a few years ago.

A charitable loan has helped get the new project off the ground but funds are still being raised to pay for it - so this latest gesture by The Meaningful Chocolate Company is a great boost.

The new light design and the associated fundraising campaign, were brainchilds of Rev Canon Dr Simon Cox, Rector of Bispham All Hallows and Area Dean of Blackpool and Andy Divall, Blackpool Council Diversity Officer.

The project was adopted by Churches Together in Bispham, and designs from the Blackpool Council Illuminations Department were developed by Rev Cox and Rev Stef Dnistrianskyj (the Vicar of Anchorsholme) with help from Council Lighting Engineer, Richard Ryan.  

David Marshall, from The Meaningful Chocolate Company, said today: “We think the Jesus light is a great idea and think it’s great that our Meaningful Treat Packs will support an idea which helps Jesus shine in the darkness.”

The Meaningful Treat Pack is suitable for Light Parties, outreach events, schools or for children who call to trick or treat on 31st October. Inside each pack there is a bag of Fairtrade chocolate buttons and a Challenge Activity Poster. The poster has eight challenges  including a quiz, maze, word game, a call to buy Fairtrade, a prayer suggestion, a national competition with a prize, and a challenge to treat someone less well off by donating to a children’s charity.

Rev Canon Dr Simon Cox, Rector of Bispham All Hallows and Area Dean of Blackpool, who is co-ordinating Jesus Light project said: "We welcome the desire to shed Christ's light at Halloween and to partner with sharing His life through the Blackpool Illumination."

Produced by The Meaningful Chocolate Company, each box of Meaningful Treat Packs costs £30 (there are 30 packs per box - £1 per pack). Each box also includes an ideas sheet for leaders. There is free delivery if ordered by September 30th. 50 pence from every box of 30 sold will be donated to the ‘Jesus Light'. Visit www.realhalloween.org

• You can also make a personal donation to the project. Click here for the My Donate fundraising page to make your donation online. Gift Aid will add 25%.
• Donations can also be made by cheque or a Charity Voucher, made out to Bispham Parish Mission (Illumination) and sending to Blackpool Illumination, All Hallows Rectory, 86 All Hallows Road, Bispham, Blackpool, FY2 0AY
• The account details needed for BACS/digital payment are Bispham Parish Mission RBS Bispham 161322 10005262
• Please note, to save administration costs a receipt will only be provided on request.