| A Message from First Presbyterian Church | ||||
![]() | Room
in the Inn Room in
the Inn originated
in Nashville, TN when Fr. Charles Strobel opened the door of the church he was
serving, to several unhoused neighbors sleeping in their cars on a cold winter
night in 1985. The model has spread to over 100+ congregations in Nashville and
36 other cities In the
Louisville Metro area, Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral opened their doors at
the beginning of 2025 and served 450 women and children. This year Grace
Immanuel United Church of Christ in the Butchertown area will join them. At
both sites 15 unhoused neighbors were served each night. Sometimes the same
neighbors return every night; other times new people take the place of those
who don’t return. The neighbors are screened by other agencies, and this year,
male guests will be served at Grace Immanuel UCC. In 2027, it
is hoped that a church in Jeffersonville will open its doors to serve neighbors
on this side of the river. Jeffersonville churches are asked to volunteer at
one of the two Louisville churches this year in preparation. Both churches are
staffed each day from 4:30 pm to 7:00 am beginning January 8 to February 28.
The staff will receive a short training session by Room in the Inn organizers.
Each day there are three volunteer shifts: 4:30-10 pm; 9:45 pm-5 am; and 5-8
am. At least two volunteers are there at all times to assist in welcoming
guests, making and serving dinner and breakfast, ensuring the evening’s program
proceeds smoothly, that everyone makes it to bed and wakes up on time, and
cleaning up after departure. If you are not able to volunteer for a shift, you
are needed to provide a hot meal for dinner or breakfast each day. Folks from
St. Luke’s UCC and First Christian Church have already signed up. Please let
Rev. Karen for additional information and/or contact Andrea Woolley at First
Christian Church to volunteer, 502-295-0285. What better Christmas gift can you
give to an unhoused neighbor than a warm place to sleep, two hot meals and the
company of a friend who cares about them? Those churches are just across the
river, less than 2 miles from our church. “As you do it to one of the
least of these, you do it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) | |||
