When my two daughters were in elementary school, my husband and I took them to an interactive Christmas experience called “Journey to Bethlehem.” A local Presbyterian church put it on. Members transformed the grounds, offices, meeting rooms, chapel and sanctuary into impressive sets depicting the Nativity story.

Visitors walked through the experience and met church members of all ages, always in character, along the way. They played tax collectors, travelers, Roman soldiers, King Herod, the Magi, shepherds, an angel, the innkeeper and the Holy Family.

The journey brought the Bible stories to life for our family, especially for the girls. I’ll never forget one scene in the chapel, which had been transformed into Herod’s palace. At one point, Herod, in a booming voice, said to the “rabble” in the audience, “Get out!” My older daughter, 10 years old at the time, bolted from our pew and out the chapel doors. At that moment, she felt as if she were part of the story.

I feel the same way when I read Matthew’s telling of the Epiphany, or gaze into the sky on a clear fall night and wonder if any of the sparkling stars looks like the one the Magi followed.

“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.”

The passage reminds me of our work at Unbound and our commitment to visiting families in their homes in the 19 countries where we work. While that hasn’t been possible to the same extent during the pandemic, we’ve found other ways to connect, mainly through virtual means or meeting outdoors.

I imagine the Magi must have felt a compelling need to personally connect with the Baby Jesus and his family. After all, they risked the ire of Herod by refusing to return to him or send word of the family’s whereabouts.

Epiphany also calls to mind for me the people who sponsor a child through Unbound. They share treasures and personally connect with a child and family, whether that’s through letters, photos or travel.

On Epiphany, let us follow the example of the Magi and connect with a sponsored friend or someone else in our lives who’s vulnerable, letting them know that they’re not alone.

God of love, let us remember on The Epiphany of the Lord that we are your messengers, bringing the good news that you never leave us alone, no matter what trials come our way. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.