A relaxed, welcoming space where we gather as a community to share a meal and explore our faith together. We're saving you a seat atThe Table

local outreach

EXPLORE OUR MISSIONS

Below, you'll find an accordion-style layout that serves as your comprehensive guide to the many missions we support. Whether you're interested in helping the homeless, supporting refugees, or contributing to children's welfare, there's a place for you in our outreach efforts. Simply click on the mission that resonates with you to expand it for more details. Your involvement can make a world of difference.

3E RESTORATION

Join members of the Local Outreach Team of WUMC to help homeless Williamsburg residents find their way to self-sufficiency. The All-in-Friends program provides compassion, friendship, and help with seeking food, employment, housing, sobriety, and other necessities of independent living. The Friend-in-Need participates in the 3e Restoration process, which is spiritually based on the Christian principle of loving and caring for others.

AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT TEAM

Join us in supporting two Afghan refugee families who relocated to Williamsburg in 2021. Through personal relationships and financial support, WUMC has: provided transportation and childcare; helped with school enrollment and obtaining needed documents; found medical care, language skills and advice in navigating life in the USA.

ALTERNATIVE GIVING FAIR

This annual opportunity during Advent allows non-profit organizations to accept donations as an alternative to traditional holiday consumerism. Advent offering recipients provide items for sale or acknowledgment cards in exchange for donations.

CHILDREN'S COAT DRIVE

Join us each October to collect new winter coats for preschool-age children enrolled in the local Preparatory Academy program (formerly Head Start), which enables these children to interact with others and learn basic skills needed to begin kindergarten. Place donated coats in the WUMC Collection Closet near the church office.

CROCK POT MINISTRY

Join us in this ministry sponsored by Greater Williamsburg Outreach Mission (GWOM), which serves families who live in residential motels without cooking facilities. Serve with us and other area churches to purchase and deliver groceries and recipes to those who have received a crock pot, so they can prepare their nutritious meals. To learn more and volunteer online, click here.

FAMILY MEALS PROGRAM

Join us on the 1st Wednesday of each month as we serve with St. Martin’s Episcopal to deliver dinners prepared by Meals on Wheels to families, seniors, and disabled individuals living in motels (some of the sheltered homeless) in our area. The meal cost is divided between the two churches, and our share is funded through the Local Outreach budget. This program is administered by a local faith-based organization, From His Hands.

GREATER WILLIAMSBURG OUTREACH MISSION

WUMC partners with this inter-faith coalition working to address poverty and homelessness in Greater Williamsburg. We are a charter member of the coalition and provide funding and volunteer servants for a variety of projects. Join us at Greater Williamsburg Outreach Mission!

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

In August, school supplies are collected to share with students from Highland Park, the Prep Academy, and local public schools. Join the Local Outreach team in sorting and packaging the supplies into backpacks. Through WUMC's Local Outreach budget, we also provide funding to purchase other supplies that are needed, such as backup computer drives and earbuds.

SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS PROGRAM

Each summer our church partners with Meals on Wheels (MOW) to provide healthy lunches for about 300 children living in local motels and low-income apartments who receive free or reduced lunches at their public schools during the school year. Join us each Thursday from mid-June through late August in serving to make and package sandwiches along with a snack, fruit, juice box, and homemade cookies. You can also donate food to our food drive to collect many of the needed food items. To assist with the Summer Meals ministry, please click here.

THANKSGIVING MEAL MINISTRY

Our church partners with Meals on Wheels (MOW) to provide Thanksgiving dinner for those in need in our area. Join us the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to package the main meal at MOW, then meet at church to package extra items. On Thanksgiving morning, the meals are readied for delivery by volunteers of From His Hands (FHH), a local faith-based organization. Help us fund this ministry by giving to a special congregational offering.

WINTER SHELTER MINISTRY

Community of Faith Mission (COFM) is a local faith-based organization that operates an emergency shelter program during the coldest months of the year for those experiencing homelessness in our community. This weekly program has a capacity of 25 individuals and operates from 6:30 pm to 7:00 am, Sunday to Sunday. WUMC serves as a host church for one week each winter. Join us to: register clients; cook and serve dinner and/or breakfast; and/or spend the night as a chaperon.


FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Our Local Outreach Committee is committed to supporting a wide range of local non-profit organizations that make a meaningful difference in our community. From scholarships for children to medical assistance for low-income families, our financial contributions are a testament to our faith in action. Click below to view our comprehensive PDF that details the organizations we support.

VIEW OUR LOCAL PARTNERS

prayer shawl ministry

About the Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry at Williamsburg United Methodist Church is more than just a knitting circle; it's a community of caring individuals committed to providing tangible symbols of love and prayer. Each shawl we create is a labor of love, intended to bring comfort, peace, and spiritual sustenance to those in need.

Join Our Crafting Gatherings

We warmly invite you to be part of this heartfelt ministry. Whether you're an experienced crafter or a beginner eager to learn, you're welcome in our circle.

  • When: Fourth Wednesday at 1pm and again at 6:00pm
  • Where: Room 303

Other Ways to Contribute:

  • Donate crafted shawls
  • Supply crafting materials like yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks
  • Donate craft books and patterns

Important Links

Prayer Support

Keep our ministry in your prayers. Find our "Prayer for All" here.

Prayer Request

Submit requests to our prayer chain by clicking here.

Request a Shawl

To request a shawl for yourself or someone in need, contact the church at (757) 229-1771 or submit an online request here.

quilt MINISTRY

The Quilt Ministry creates beautiful quilts for various nonprofit organizations in the Williamsburg area. Special quilts have been given to the elderly clients at Williamsburg United Methodist Church Respite Care Center, women given a second chance in life at Latisha's House, homeless patrons served by 3eRestoration, and the residents leaving the county's juvenile detention center at Merrimac Center. We hope that all recipients feel the love, support, and encouragement that is quilted into each one of our gifts.

The Quilt Ministry welcomes anyone interested in working as a team to construct quilts. No prior experience is necessary. We will share all of our skills and teach you everything you need to know.

Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 12 pm to 3 pm in Room 307. Drop in as you are able, at any time, and stay as long as you can. You will find us busily engaged, experiencing great fulfillment, and having lots of fun along the way. Help us sew and pray.

Other ways to help are to create quilts as donations or supply materials for the ministry. Needed items are:

  • Individual Finished Blocks
  • Unfinished Quilt Tops
  • Lightweight Batting (not fiberfill)

To request a quilt for someone in need, or for more information, please contact the church at 229-1771 or submit an online request to the Quilt Ministry team by clicking here.

G-Z7YWJW6S54