Fredericksburg’s downtown churches began their journey toward the vision for Micah Ecumenical Ministries 18 years ago. We’ve now been at this as many years as there are miles to the treacherous Jericho Road of the Good Samaritan story. Along the way, encounters with our neighbors’ suffering have taught us much about the home God envisions for humanity, and how we are called to take part.
Be it 18 miles on the Jericho Road or 18 years of ministry with unhoused neighbors, we have 18 reasons to thank you, our travel companions, for making the journey possible.
Would you help us put a face on the growing community that is working to build the supportive, life sharing place that our neighbors need?
Email [email protected] with your name and a picture that we can use in social media and visual demonstrations of the many people who are getting behind this vision.
Learn More: www.jeremiahcommunity.org
Giving Tuesday 2023!
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on November 28, 2023, and throughout the year.
Micah will be participating in GivingTuesday, which is also the start of our annual love your neighbor campaign, and we need your help! We ask that you prayerfully consider how you might be part of the “tapestry of love” we are weaving in ministry with our neighbors.
Here is how you can get ready:
Give. On November 28, go to www.micahfredericksburg.org and give, or bring a check to our office at 1013 Princess Anne St. You can also support us by contacting us to volunteer, joining us for special events over the advent season, or supporting some of the special needs we have throughout the Christmas season (ideas in this very newsletter!).
Spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating real impact on November 28 by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support our organization.
Consider setting up a Facebook fundraiser and asking for contributions to Micah. Make sure to use hashtag #GivingTuesday, #loveyourneighbor and #tapestryoflove so we can share!
Let’s rally together to build stronger communities. When we love our neighbor, the whole neighbor, we are all better for it.
Buy a Wallet, fill it up,
bring Christmas cheer to our neighbors this year!
In Micah Christmas tradition, we are seeking to gift our neighbors with a “Christmas pocket.” Christmas Pockets are a new wallet, stuffed with a variety of gift cards and items intended to bring joy this holiday season.
Please include the following items:
—$10 Dollar fast food gift card (McDonalds and Hardee’s are favorites)
—$10 gift card to Walmart or Target
—A $25 to Great American Buffet OR Golden Corral ($25 is a great amount for the full-priced adult dinner buffet, plus the cost of a soft drink, and enough left for our neighbors to leave a tip, at either of these two restaurants. Choose whichever restaurant is more convenient.)
—A $20 movie theater gift card for a movie ticket and a snack (Regal Theater or Paragon Theater only, please. The closest AMC Theater is in Woodbridge, and most of our neighbors can’t get there.)
—A small note of encouragement
Total cost — including the wallet — is estimated at $80 or less.
Please keep contents the same to preserve the equity in our distribution to all of our neighbors.
Please deliver your filled wallet to the Micah Hospitality Center, 1013 Princess Anne St., by Wednesday, December 20 to give us time to plan for distribution
It’s not too late to help with Cold Weather Shelter this year!
The cold weather shelter operates approximately mid-November through mid-March based on projected overnight temperatures and other weather parameters.
Dinner Support
Seeking a small group to provide a simple dinner on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, on the nights when CWS is open. The space is provided — all we need are the groups to provide the meal and serve it! A simple dinner (subs, pizza, sandwiches) is fine. This is not a full community meal. It will be open only to those waiting to get on the bus to CWS, so numbers will remain manageable (no more than 40), even at the height of the season. This group activity will not be needed if the shelter is closed that night; groups will receive notice the morning of if they will be needed or not, so simplicity is key!
Women’s Shelter Volunteers
We are planning to expand bed space later this winter by adding a second shelter location for women only. We will need volunteers to help with check-in and hospitality when our women arrive (5:30-7:30 or so each night that the shelter is open.) Because the number of women who access our CWS is much smaller than men, we do not need large groups for this request. This is a perfect task for individuals to jump in! Both men and women are welcome to help!
If interested, please email [email protected]