Stop the Waiting; Make the Room
Waiting' and 'no room' are two themes that run through this Advent/Christmas season. 'Waiting' is an Advent theme. It represents the 4000 years of waiting for the birth of the Messiah. 'No room' is a Christmas theme. It recalls the situation that existed, after those 4000 years, when the time came for his birth. "There was no room for him in the place where travellers lodged." (Luke 2:7).
There's a particular kind of 'waiting' and 'no room', in our times, that troubles us here at Epiphany House. It is the waiting of thousands of children to find families where they can belong, be safe and be loved. This kind of waiting can be ended by those able to make room in their lives for such a child.
Recently, while attending a concert performed by Ugandan orphans, we were reminded about what Mother Theresa of Calcutta described as the worst suffering. Mother Theresa often said the worst suffering and poverty is that of being unwanted and unloved. Here at Epiphany House, we believe no child should be neglected or unloved. That is why, in the coming year, we will make it our primary goal to find five new families, in our region, who are able and willing to make room in their lives, for a child who is waiting for a family. This seems to us a good way to honor the spirit of the Advent/ Christmas season. End the waiting and make the room. Please, join us in this work.
Celebrating Foster/Adoptive Families in 2007.
Epiphany House is committing to a bold initiative in 2007. Our goal is to find five new families in our local region who will become adoptive families to Pennsylvania waiting children.
Epiphany House is kicking off this challenge with an open house on January 6th (see below). During the year Epiphany House will be honoring current adoptive families with a view to inspiring others to consider becoming foster/adoptive families. Each month we will host a family of the month celebration here at Epiphany House. Throughout the region we will work with local churches and community organizations to identify and honor families in those communities who are foster/adoptive parents.
For further information about Pennsylvania waiting children.
To commemorate our 4th anniversary and the feast of the Epiphany we will be holding an open house on Saturday, January 6, 2007 from 3PM to 8PM. Meet us, the kids, learn more about what we do. Refreshments, kids entertainment, artwork. All who attend will have a free chance on two excellent seat tickets for the Philadelphia Flyers VS the Pittsburgh Penguins game January 13th, 2007
Nicky
This month Epiphany House will begin the adoption application procedure for Nicky O'Keefe. Nicky is 15 years old and currently a resident in a New Jersey pediatric care facility. We were introduced to Nicky about two years ago. Nicky has Cerebral Palsy and related medical needs. Our experience with our daughter, Salinna, makes us very familiar with Nicky's needs. Because Nicky is not as small as Salinna we will be needing to make some structural renovations so that our home will be more handicap accessible. Nicky will be visiting with us for the open house on January 6th.
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Suky helps decorate angel tree. |
Angel Tree
Once again, this year, Epiphany House is assisting in the organizing of the Angel Tree at Christ Church in Philadelphia. During advent, the tree has tags with names of children and gift requests fro which parishioners choose. This year Christ Church congregation will meet nearly 140 gift requests which will be distributed for the children at several local shelters and charitable organizations. Epiphany House is grateful to have a role in this project at Christ Church.
Watoto Choir
Watoto Children
Dexter and some of our children recently attended a lively and joy filled performance, in Vineland NJ, by The Watoto Children's Choir. Watoto Child Ministries is from Uganda and is a response to provide homes for children left orphaned by the HIV-AIDS epidemic and African wars. This was a high energy concert in which the children celebrated the hope and joy their lives have been given through the homes found for them in Watoto villages. Because Epiphany House responds to a similar need, we are excited to learn of Watoto and are proud to offer support. For more information about Watoto see www.watoto.com
