2025 LENTEN OFFERING
Lent is traditionally a time when we focus on committing to spiritual practices to help us grow in faith and love of God and neighbor – even and especially our enemies. An important spiritual practice for the members of WUMC during Lent is living into Jesus’ call to give to support those in need (see Matthew 6:2 and 25:31-46).
The Local and Global Outreach Committees have selected the following as a means to live into that call:
LOCAL INITIATIVES
Housing Partnerships: Since 1985, this organization has served the Williamsburg community and surrounding neighborhoods to ensure that everyone has a safe, warm, and dry home. To accomplish this goal, they use a volunteer-driven approach to repair the homes of the area's most impoverished residents, especially the elderly and the disabled. Learn more: www.housingpartnerships.org. Latisha’s House, Virginia This organization provides a long-term, transitional housing program for adult, female survivors of sex trafficking and offers individualized support to empower them to build a bridge from their traumatic past to a positive future. Learn more: www.latishashouse.com.
William & Mary Food For All: This group supports the William & Mary Campus Food Exchange and swipe drives (providing additional meals for students throughout the year). It continues and expands these resources to serve students, faculty, and staff who may face issues of food access. Learn more: foodforall.pages.wm.edu.
Latisha’s House, Virginia: This organization provides a long-term, transitional housing program for adult, female survivors of sex trafficking and offers individualized support to empower them to build a bridge from their traumatic past to a positive future. Learn more: www.latishashouse.com.
GLOBAL INITIATIVES
Church World Service: This ministry is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. Fourteen denominations (including the UMC) work together through this initiative. Your gift will be sent to support their work in Tanzania supporting families as they create food security and stable incomes. Learn more: www.cwsglobal.org/our-work/africa/tanzania. Good Shepherd Community School, Zambia – This community school of in Ng’ombe Compound and surrounding areas in Lusaka, Zambia has been a passion of WUMC’s own Jeanne Niebel since 2004. It educates children and supports their spiritual development while providing resources like technology and books and of the children.
UMCOR Global Initiatives: UMCOR is a humanitarian organization that provides for the mental, physical, and spiritual needs of people around the world reeling from natural and human-made disasters. This ministry assists the most vulnerable people affected by crisis or chronic need without regard to their race, religion or status. This year’s offering will focus on needs around the world. Learn more: www.umcmission.org/umcor.
Good Shepherd Community School, Zambia: This community school of Ng’ombe Compound and surrounding areas in Lusaka, Zambia has been a passion of WUMC’s own Jeanne Niebel since 2004. It educates children and supports their spiritual development while providing resources like technology and books.