The annual Bishop’s Harvest Appeal is well under way in the Diocese with parishes and schools across Lancashire taking part; while this year there have been a series of digital innovations to promote the appeal and make it easier for anyone to give.  

• For the first time ever, you can now give online to the Appeal, as well as via more traditional routes. We’ve made it really straightforward … to go straight to making a donation just click here.
• And Rt Rev Julian Henderson, the Bishop of Blackburn, has also made a YouTube video message to encourage donations. You can watch the video here.
• Bishop Jill also spoke about the Appeal on BBC Radio Lancashire recently (listen from 1h 54m 50s). 

This year, the annual appeal is supporting Tearfund and Friends of the Holy Land. Please encourage friends and family to donate as well as your own church family:

• Tearfund is a global charity which seeks to work with local churches and local people to find solutions to poverty and injustice. Any money raised will go into their relief fund, which is currently being used to respond to issues caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
• The Friends of the Holy Land is a charity working in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and in Israel and aims to support Christian communities there which often find themselves living in very difficult circumstances.

Last year the total raised by the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal was £23,789.11.

Despite the obvious current restrictions of lockdown, Bishop Julian hopes the donations will continue to come in at their usual levels this year for the latest appeal – particularly as people can now give online.

This year marks the first time that online giving has been an option for the Harvest Appeal, although donations by cheque can still be made. Find out more – including how to give by cheque – in this leaflet (You can view a video about the specific Tear Fund) water project in Ethiopia here. Online giving is really easy and straightforward – it also makes it easier to encourage people outside of our schools and churches to donate to these very important causes … just share the link with them!

Bishop Julian said: “I have always enjoyed seeing the various exciting and creative ways people have responded to this appeal and this year will be no different I am sure! 

“We know that the coronavirus pandemic has brought new and acute problems, particularly in places where poverty is already an issue. So, I am delighted the charities chosen will work towards the relief of some of the hardship caused by the virus, supporting the most vulnerable. This year our schools will be raising money in support of Tearfund and our churches will be able to choose to support either Tearfund or the Friends of the Holy Land.”

Bishop Julian added: "Please pray about the level of your support for the Appeal, which is a helpful reminder of the needs of those much less fortunate than ourselves. Out of our thankfulness may there be generosity, even in the uncertain and unsettling times of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Ronnie Semley, September 2020