“And He Shall Reign”
- Epworth Berkeley
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Submitted by Douglas B Smith, Bethlehem Ministry
During Lent, we lit a candle each week representing Joy, Love, Hope and Peace. On Easter Sunday we sang the Hallelujah Chorus: “The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever”
We see evidence of the refrain “And He shall reign for ever and ever” in the actions of people in the Holy Land. Even in the midst of war, we see people risking their own safety so that 200 children in Bethlehem experiencing food insecurity do not suffer from hunger.
As rockets from Iran hit civilian homes in Nazareth, Arab Israeli’s and the Haya Foundation of Nazareth continue to collect food, baby formula and clothing for children in Bethlehem.
Each month, men from Bethlehem risk the dangerous drive to Nazareth to bring the collected items back to St joseph’s home in Bethlehem.
Volunteers in Bethlehem risk attacks from settlers, and shrapnel falling from rockets of war as they deliver relief parcels to families in need as vetted by St. Joseph’s.
Many of the families receiving relief parcels donate handicrafts they have made, but for lack of tourists they cannot sell. These handicrafts are sold at Epworth and other churches, with all proceeds going to the Bethlehem Ministry.
Ibrahim M., a father in Bethlehem, expressed his gratitude in a letter.
I don’t want my children to starve. I offer them love and care, but this is not enough, believe me. Thanks for the food and clothes that helped us these days. May God Bless everyone who offered his time and donations. Happy Easter.
So delicate is this ministry, if any one part “gives up,” the entire ministry fails. We at Epworth are a small, yet essential, part of this ministry. Every month we send $800 to St. Joseph’s to pay drivers for two roundtrips to Nazareth bringing relief parcels to Bethlehem. We need your help. $4.00 per month will feed one child. Consider a recurring donation to the Bethlehem Ministry. Through our actions, we the people of Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Epworth demonstrate that “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ shall reign for ever and ever.” Amen.
