Pilgrimaging with the Magi:
Helping Children in Need
The Magi saw a bright star in the sky. With their curiosity heightened, they headed off on a journey, a pilgrimage, to follow this bright star. The journey took many months, well past the birth of Jesus. They journeyed, following the star to the place where Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were staying, the stables of an inn in Bethlehem.
With them on their journey, they brought gifts. They had studied the stars and knew that this star was pointing to someone special, someone who would change the world. Their gifts were gifts to honor this child.
We believe that every child deserves to be celebrated and honored. Every child has the potential to grow up and work to create a better, more just world. However, we recognize that some children are born into families and lives that create challenges. Some children experience trauma at a young age, creating wounds within their hearts that make it hard for them to believe they are indeed Gift from the Sacred. Some children, especially girls, growing up in this culture absorb the negative propaganda that tells them that they are not good enough, that they do not deserve to be loved.
These children, especially if they are born into a violent and/or neglectful home, need our help to heal and remember that they are indeed Gift, that God does Love them.
Bethany Children’s Home is there to help support their healing and growth.
Our member, Bonnie Yost, has this to share about Bethany:
In the late 1860’s, Bethany Children’s Home was founded to serve children who became orphans during the Civil War. It was supported by the Reformed Churches in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is located in Womelsdorf, Berks County and currently serves children who cannot live with their families and/or have been sent by the courts. The children attend the local public schools but also receive multiple services and support on campus. In an effort to create a home-like atmosphere, the children live in cottages with Houseparents who provide guidance and structure.
One of my happiest memories of growing up in St Stephen’s Reformed Church in Reading during the 1950’s and 60’s was shopping for our “White Gifts” which were collected during Advent to send to the children at Bethany. We would carefully select our gifts, wrap them in white tissue paper, and take them up to the altar. The idea of giving anonymous gifts has always appealed to me and I believe it stems from my experience of White Gift Sunday!
For more than 10 years, the Women’s Group at UCC East Goshen have used the proceeds from their Election Day Bake Sales to support a cottage at Christmas. The children provide their wish list and the women of the church go shopping with the funds raised to fulfill as many of their wishes as possible.
Bethany Children’s Home provides vital services to children who find themselves in difficult circumstances and need support to become responsible and caring adults.
Your donations to our pilgrimages walking for the health and welfare of children allow UCCEG to offer additional support to Bethany Children’s Home, especially around Christmas and birthdays. It will enable us to sponsor a Cottage and provide presents for Christmas and their birthdays. We believe that every child deserves to be celebrated. Through your generous sponsorship, we can do just that! We believe in the powerful transformative work that they do and hope that you will help us make a difference in this community! To learn more about Bethany Children's Home click here.
