Annual Thanksgiving Offering Will Raise the Roof

BY MARTI PIEPER

When is an offering more than an offering? When it touches and changes people’s lives. For decades, the fruit of the Diocese of Central Florida’s Thanksgiving offering has gone to the Diocese of Honduras. This year’s giving will again reach out to our companion diocese — and again, it will be more than an offering. The 2021 Thanksgiving Offering will seek to raise the roof, according to The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen, bishop of the Diocese of Honduras. He intends to use funds raised to repair or replace (depending on the amount received) the roof of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in the port city of Tela. Holy Spirit has a rich heritage. Founded in 1914, it is one of the diocese’s oldest churches and has provided The Episcopal Church with two bishops and two priests — one of those being Allen himself. “So I have a very strong tie to that congregation,” Allen said. “And the roof is in pretty bad shape; it’s leaking.” Tela, like the rest of Honduras, was hard-hit by twin hurricanes in November 2020 even as the country dealt with the continued impact of the COVID-19

Rt. Rev. Allen and the young iPad recipient pandemic. “That increased the crises in the country,” Allen said. Still distributing tablets and computers to children using funds from last year’s Thanksgiving offering, he thanks the Diocese of Central Florida for its generous partnership in joyful service. He also shares the story of a little boy whose family helps run the program at the diocesan camp and conference center. “The three kids would fight over the mother’s cellphone because that was the only tool they had to be able to receive their classes and do their homework,” Allen said. The little boy’s two older sisters wouldn’t let him use the phone. Allen brought him a refurbished iPad furnished through the 2020 offering and told him, “You will not have to wrestle with your sisters for your mother’s phone anymore. This is your iPad.” “He was so happy,” Allen said. “You cannot imagine the expression on this little boy’s face.” But Allen has even better news. “Today, that little boy is excelling in his class; he’s on the honor roll; he can do his homework,” he said. When is an offering more than an offering? When it touches and changes lives. Pray, give and stay tuned to the Central Florida Episcopalian as we help Allen raise the roof.

Donate with checks made payable to: “Diocese of Central Florida.”

Memo: “2021 Thanksgiving Offering” Mail to: Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St.,

Orlando, FL 32801

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Tela, Honduras