This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

First Fox Hill finances continue to be very tight for 2026. We did cover a significant expense to address some needed repairs to the church parsonage, but are behind on our Apportionment shared expenses and planned set-asides for major maintenance. You may have noted that the sidewalk along Salt Pond Road that was part of our roof repair/replacement project is now complete thanks to financial and personal labor gifts. Thanks to everyone who contributed in any way to bringing this project to fruition!

Your donations go to cover many expenses easy to forget about. Some things get our attention like major roof or HVAC repairs, mission programs, and youth trips. And, of course, there are the salaries of our staff. But, without covering the “mundane” expenses like utilities, nothing else could happen. You may be surprised to learn that in the first 7 months of 2026, we have paid over $25,430 for electricity, $6,700 for gas, $1,166 for telephone, and $1,100 for water, sewer, and trash. Thank you for ALL your support.

By the time you receive this copy of the Anchor, you should have received your second quarter donation statement. As always, please remember these statements are not bills, but our way of letting you help us ensure we are correctly posting your information. If you have any questions or don’t receive a statement you are expecting, please contact the office so the finance team can investigate. If you need to update your e-mail address, please call the office, or better yet, send an email to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you don’t have email, that’s fine, we will catch you in person at church or send your report by postal mail.

Remember, on-line giving can be a convenient way to provide church support throughout the year. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow the staff flexibility in managing funds effectively. Click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.
 
Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through June 2026
Income For Planned Expenses1		$213,459
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$265,920
	Actual	$226,190
Pass Through Income2		$4,893
Pass Through Expense2		$5.101
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$1,335
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$270
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263		$4,256
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026		$14,542
Loan Principal Balance – July 1		$147,403
1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

If you keep track of such things, I’ve used this phrase (“the next faithful step”) quite a few times in these articles, and I’ve done a few sermon series on this theme, including the current one. There’s a good reason for that—I have found it to be a useful idea for nearly everything I do.
 
When I first came to First UMC Fox Hill in 2010, I had all kinds of ideas about what we needed to do, when we needed to do it, and how we should go about it. Some of those ideas were good, some were misplaced, and some were excellent, but the timing was off. It is entirely possible to do the right thing at the wrong time.
 
You see, I wanted, above all, to help grow First UMC Fox Hill. But there was a problem: we had too much conflict, too many differences of opinion, and too much friction among our people for a focus on growth to be viable at that time. More than that, I’ve since come to believe that growth is not the purpose of the church. Rather, being faithful witnesses of Jesus in today’s world is our ultimate purpose, and growth will result from our witness and from learning how to love—not always in the way or at the time we want, but in God’s time and in God’s way.
 
We are in a good place now, with people who look after one another, people who are eager to help each other, and people who love each other. Indeed, while we have not grown significantly in Sunday morning attendance, we are blessed with an expanding cadre of children and youth, especially on Sunday evenings. As I write this, a large contingent is heading to Knoxville to be a blessing to the city in the name of Jesus, and last year many of those same youth traveled to the Navajo reservation to bless the people there.
In my humble opinion, it seems to me that we have a couple of next faithful steps we can take now. First, I would like to see how we can connect our youth and children with the rest of our congregation so that we can become more intergenerational. Second, I’d like to encourage us to take advantage of some of the opportunities we have to witness to one another and to thecommunity, especially around the Pumpkin Patch—for instance, by planning community events such as a Pet Blessing Day. Third, I believe we need to continue to love and serve one another well and learn how to include our newest members and guests in that love.

My point isn’t to lay out a multi-point plan, but rather to find the next faithful step in each area. If you have ideas—and particularly if you have the energy to help carry out those ideas—please catch up with me. I don’t keep regular office hours because crises happen when they happen, not when I plan them, but I am generally in the office on Monday through Thursday afternoons, and I respond to texts, emails, and calls.
 
While we are not numerically the church we were when I arrived in 2010, with God, not only are all things possible, but the best days are yet to come!
 
As always, I am privileged to be your pastor and a fellow servant of Christ alongside you.

The 244th Session of the Virginia Annual Conference was held in Harrisonburg, Virginia, at the Atlantic Union Bank Center from June 17–20, 2026. I, along with Pastor Brian, Larissa Luma and 2 of our youth, Ferdinand and Tony Clement attended. The conference continued under the banner of “A Conference in Three Movements”. This year marked the second movement, the historical movement, by focusing on “Reclaiming the Heart of Methodism”.
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson led the conference, which included a Laity Address by Martha Stokes, who reflected on themes of faith, identity, and spiritual mentorship through the lens of 2 Timothy 1:4–7. Worship was a central focus, featuring an Opening Worship service, a Memorial Service preached by Rev. David McAllister-Wilson, and a Juneteenth Worship service.

Business conducted during the conference included the passage of reports regarding equitable compensation, pension and health benefit support, and a single-payer plan. Recognitions were held for various ministries and retirements, including the ministry of Rev. M.J. Kim, which benefited from a newly created fund to support immigrant clergy.
 Additionally, the conference recognized several congregations with "Wesley Flame" awards for their innovative ministries and celebrated new ordinations and pastoral appointments.

The conference also featured presentations from Dr. Ashley Boggan and Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis, who challenged attendees to reclaim the heart of their mission by focusing on heart renewal, small-group discipleship, and a willingness to challenge unjust systems.
All of the session videos and further details may be viewed at https://vaumc.org/ac2026-session-recordings/.

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

Last month I wrote “First Fox Hill finances continue to be very tight for 2026.” That situation continues. We need your energetic, financial support throughout the year.
Comparing different years is not an exact science, but it is significant to note what donations are running a little over 20% behind our 6-year average through May. If you are not where you would like to be, this is a good opportunity to help fill the gap. For many this may be a hard time; for others investments may have helped. Please keep your church in mind.

You may not have thought about it, but cash flow can be almost as great a challenge as just covering our expenses. For example, as we enter the summer, we just incurred nearly $5,000 for maintenance (crawlspace encapsulation) cost at the parsonage on top of $1,700 for a new refrigerator/freezer in April. Add those to our $4,300 annual cost (payable in June) for software supporting live streaming, the web site, and our app. A third major expense just incurred is our support of the Food Bank and Hampton Ecumenical Lodging and Provisions (HELP), totaling $3,000.

Note below that we have a significant loan balance from our 2025 major HVAC expenses and total roof repair. We pay nearly $1,000 monthly and are eager to pay down the principle to reduce interest expense. Special gifts over-and-above your support for operational expense are always appreciated.

We will soon be sending the second quarter Donation Statements by e-mail. After a few bugs were fixed, the first quarter went well. As always, if you have any questions, please let us know so we can address the issue. Need to update your e-mail address? You can do so by phone call or, better yet, by emailing it to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you don’t have email, that’s fine, we will catch you in person at church or send your report by postal mail.

For many folks, on-line giving can be a convenient way to provide their church support throughout the year. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow the staff flexibility in managing funds effectively. Click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through May 2026
Income For Planned Expenses1		$180,298
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$221,600
	Actual	$185,913
Pass Through Income2		$4,868
Pass Through Expense2		$1.118
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$1,188
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$270
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263		$3,444
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026		$14,542
Loan Principal Balance – June 1		$147,644
1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

I am not a fan of hot weather. Hot weather makes me want to pull out a fan, find a swimming hole, hide inside air conditioning, and avoid the sun. However, I find myself reflecting on my experiences through the years. Like many of you, I didn’t have air conditioning growing up – we used box fans in the windows. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was livable. Likewise, I remember one summer I worked as a camp counselor at Camp Overlook. We had no a/c in the camp and we used box fans. By Friday every week, I had adjusted to the heat, but I spent the weekend in a/c – by Monday, I wished I’d just stayed in the heat!

Don’t worry – I’m not arguing that a/c is bad or that we should live under the stars. I will still find every shade I can when I’m outside, and I rejoice when I can be cool inside on a hot day. Rather, I am noting that some of the things we think we need or require for a good life may not be as necessary as we think.

Let’s remember what we have been through in the past several years: We experienced COVID-19, disaffiliation, all the challenges of aging, and we are slowly beginning to see signs of the future of our church in the guests we have welcomed and who have chosen to become part of our congregation, many of whom are youth and younger adults. All of these things have changed us and challenged us.

Like the hot days we spent outside in our youth, not every experience is pleasant, but every experience teaches us, fundamentally, that our God provides for us and for God’s mission in the world. Heat conditions us for heat, and while we have to be careful to stay hydrated, especially as we age, heat reminds us that we have bodies that can adjust to unpleasant things.
Challenges in how, where, and when we worship and gather are not all pleasant, but they remind us that God meets us when we set aside time to be present with God and each other. Saying goodbye to old friends and meeting new friends is not easy and it brings us grief, but it also gives us an opportunity to do ministry in new ways, and to revive some of the old ways that served us in the past. For instance, when we said goodbye and God bless you to Pastor Tommy (not a forever goodbye, but for the role and place he’s had among us for decades), it hurt, but God provided Pastor Becky, who brings a different perspective, set of skills – and to add icing on the cake, Becky is restarting some of the ministries Pastor Tommy had done so well.

One of the blessings that comes with the summer heat is often a change and slowing down of our schedules. Whether we are traveling, staying home, or just doing things differently, summer often gives us some breathing room. Please enjoy that breathing space! Garden, visit your neighbors and family, relax, and when the heat gets to you and your body gets tired, rest! And I encourage us particularly to take time to notice – what’s happening in our lives that we haven’t seen? What’s happening in our neighbor’s lives we haven’t noticed? What’s happening in the community that we didn’t see yet? And how might God be calling us to act?

So, this summer, I encourage us all to enjoy some extra space and time to rest, to take Sabbath and keep it holy. We do not need to be always busy to be productive, and we do not need to be productive to be accepted in God’s eyes. Rather, God asks us to relax as well as work, to take time to be holy, and not always be doing something “important.”
When the summer begins to end, kids head back to school, and our church calendar starts to fill again, I want us rested and ready – not just to make the Pumpkin Patch strong, and not just to start all the meetings up again – but ready to engage in the hard and blessed work of being the body of Christ for our neighbors, for ourselves, and for Christ’s mission!

As always, I am privileged to be your pastor and a fellow servant of Christ alongside you!

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

First Fox Hill finances continue to be very tight for 2026. Our cancelations due to weather early in the year did not help, but we thank everyone whose contributions have helped support our programs and ministries. We are pleased to report that we were able to bring our Virginia Conference apportionments up to date through the end of April. Still to be addressed are our planned set-asides for future major maintenance which inevitably arises. We know finances may be an extra challenge for many and appreciate your efforts to sustain your giving.

It is hard to believe summer is just around the corner, but here it is. Don’t forget your church if you are enjoying some time away. Our expenses continue every day and with the summer come high electric bills to keep the church cool and comfortable.

You’ll note below that we have a very significant loan balance due to the expense of our 2025 major HVAC expenses and total roof repair. We are eager to pay down that principle to reduce interest expense. If you expect to receive a tax refund, or have already, some of it can be an opportunity to help; just mark your “over and above” contribution for Roof Repair.
Our initial foray into sending Donation Statements by e-mail proved successful saving time and postage. If you did not receive yours, please let us know so we can address the issue. And be sure your e-mail address is up to date in the office. You can report it by phone call or, better yet, by emailing it to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you don’t have email, that’s fine, we will catch you in person at church or send it by postal mail.

Have you tried on-line giving? For many folks, this can be a convenient way to provide their church support. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow the staff flexibility in managing funds effectively. Click here for easy on-line access. You can also go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through April 2026
Income For Planned Expenses1		$140,958
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$183,920
	Actual	$152,193
Pass Through Income2		$4,658
Pass Through Expense2		$4,313
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$807
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$20
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263		$2,644
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026		$13,634
Loan Principal Balance – May 1		$147,862
1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

I am not a big fan of “sound bites” and “bumper sticker” thinking. I don’t like it in political life, because the world is far more complicated than anyone wants to admit, and I don’t like it for personal life for the same reason. Bumper stickers are fine as bumper stickers, and sound bites are fine as political theater, but life is complicated.

That said, I have discovered there are some bumper sticker ideas that make a great deal of sense. In fact, there is one phrase that I have found true on every occasion. That phrase is not “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). In context, Paul isn’t talking about getting a new job, acing a test, or getting a raise, which is how we often use it. No, Paul is talking about how Christ strengthened him to do the hard things in life: dealing with hunger, loss, and hurt, as well as with abundance. I agree with Paul absolutely that we can do all things through Christ, but without the context, we can twist that truth into places it was never meant to go. Christ strengthens us to handle the hard things life throws at us.

The phrase I find useful in nearly every setting, though, comes from Nehemiah, and I have no doubt it also lives on a bumper sticker somewhere: “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Understanding the context helps, but once that is understood, the truth can be used almost anywhere in life. In context, Nehemiah has gone to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city so that the people can live in safety and begin to flourish. As the project nears completion, Ezra, the scribe, comes and brings the books of the Law (that is, the Torah). Nehemiah and Ezra work together to gather all the people to hear the Law, and when they hear it, they are struck with grief, probably because they had never heard the Law before and realized that they had been doing wrong in God’s sight. But Nehemiah stands up and tells them not to grieve, but to celebrate with a feast and to look after their poorer neighbors so they could celebrate too. Then he spoke these words, that the joy of the Lord is their strength.

The reason I am perfectly happy for this to be a bumper sticker is because once we think it through, it applies everywhere. For instance, when I feel overwhelmed or anxious, my thoughts and my spirit spiral in tight circles. I can’t think of solutions, because all I see are problems. Fear constricts our vision, and because our vision is narrowed, a solution-or any good solution-could be hitting us over the head while we are blind to it. However, tapping into joy – not happiness or glee, but joy – opens the eyes, expands the vision, and makes things possible. Diving deeper into the idea – what I often do when I am fearful is look for quick fixes, easy solutions, distractions, or anything that could free me from fear. The reason I want to escape fear is often because beneath the fear is judgment, and I am judging myself, often in ways God would not judge me.

Here, I run into another possible, though longer, bumper sticker saying: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” (1 John 4:18) Getting back to the idea of fear constricting my thoughts because I am judging myself wrongly, when I fear judgment, I want to blame someone else, something else, or just wallow in self-pity. Blame, shifting responsibility, or pitying ourselves has never helped anyone. In fact, that is why our world seems so upside down these days. We are as a nation living under a blanket of fear, and until we throw that blanket off, we will not see the light of a better day. Thus, the joy of the Lord can be our strength.

Allow me to elaborate on this joy and how it strengthens us. Nehemiah is not talking about being silly or ignoring reality. He isn’t distracting anyone either, as if he had YouTube videos to pacify the people. To have the joy of the Lord is to see reality and take it seriously, but not to take ourselves too seriously. Would a good God create us only to have us suffer, hurt each other, and hurt ourselves? Would a loving God place us in a world without beauty or hope? Would a God of steadfast love abandon us as soon as we had transgressed? No, for all the trouble, all the problems, and indeed, all the mistakes and wrong you and I perpetuate, a loving God provides a way to turn it around.

That way is Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection. And joy is the response when we are forgiven, when we find hope, when we are loved despite ourselves, and joy is the response when we do not know what we should do, because we realize we do not have to possess the answers. We need only possess a loving relationship with our Maker, with our neighbors, and with ourselves. The rest will be sorted out one day at a time. We cannot think our way out of a problem we have felt our way into. Rather, when we find the Light, we celebrate and move into the light!

In truth, I have here only scratched the surface of this “bumper sticker” theology. It goes even deeper than I can express. I encourage you to contemplate it and practice it. Test it out when life is challenging, and I pray you will also discover that “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

Thank you for your continued financial support of First Fox Hill. March contributions picked up some from past years, but we still haven’t made up for what we missed in the first couple months of the year. We were able to forward two months of Apportionments to the Virginia Conference and expect to be able to do the same this month bringing us up to date by the end of April. Still to be addressed are our planned set-asides for future major maintenance which inevitably arises. We know finances may be an extra challenge for many and appreciate your efforts to sustain your giving.

If you are anticipating, or have already received, a tax refund, consider the opportunity to share with your church. Don’t forget that when you reach the point where an IRA required minimum distribution is part of your life, consider First Fox Hill for a Qualified Charitable Donation which can help you and your church. Always talk to your financial/tax advisor and Finance Chair, Bill Bryan, before any unfamiliar actions.

In case you are wondering…. We expect to send first quarter Donation Statements via e-mail in the next few days, if it hasn’t already happened. This will get you the information much quicker and save substantially on mailing and related costs. The statements are not bills, but a way for us to be certain we are accurately recording your information. When you receive yours, please check it for accuracy and let us know if you have any questions or other issues. If you do not receive a statement and expect one, also let us know promptly so we can address the issue. Please be sure that we have a good address for you by sending it, preferably from that e-mail address, to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you do not have access to e-mail where you can receive your statements, let the office know so alternate arrangement can be made.

Your gifts -- cash, checks, or on-line -- are always needed and appreciated. On-line giving can often help you control your cash flow. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow the staff flexibility in managing funds effectively. Click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net

Total One Fund – Through March 2026
Income For Planned Expenses1		$105,621
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$132,960
	Actual	$110,758
Pass Through Income2		$3,929
Pass Through Expense2		$4,034
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$762
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$20
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263		$2,244
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026		$11,817
Loan Principle Balance – April 1		$148,317
1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

As Easter fades from memory and summer comes into view, we are not only preparing for Pentecost, but confirmation and preparations for the fall. And, in another month, Annual Conference will be taking place, in Harrisonburg this year. As I think about these things, I am struck by the fact that all of these things will involve our young people, especially confirmation and Annual Conference.

Speaking of confirmation, I need to let you know that I have been more impressed by our current confirmands, Domingo, Dallas, and Parker, than I have been by any other group I’ve led, except perhaps when I did confirmation with my son anddaughter! They have been engaged, interested, and thoughtful, from our teaching sessions, to mentor meetings, to our field trip. I don’t expect confirmands to have all the answers, but I am pleased that they show up, put their thoughts in, and are invested.

Speaking of Annual Conference, we will once again have several youth who are going to conference this year. Larissa and the youth have been providing leadership across the Conference in the past few years, not only at the annual conference youth delegation, but also for the conference retreats. And this doesn’t note the fact that our second service every Sunday relies on our youth to make it happen.

Speaking of our younger folks, I also consider just how much our older members provide – dealing with the legal issues, fixing things when they break, providing the administrative and supporting backbone to make us work. Our older folk are the leadership that keeps us running day to day, week to week. If our young people give us reason to hope and feel good for our present and our future, our older members have kept the flame of faith alive and well for generations.

What is in store for the future?

It always comes back to asking where we came from – our Lord, our faith, our people. Without Jesus’ death and resurrection, we would not be here at all. Without our faith, we are just another group of people doing good in the community – not a bad thing, but not why we exist. But without our people, we aren’t able to accomplish anything. Jesus told us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That means, digging into our past shows the future – building relationships with each other, the community, and our Lord.

In short, this is my request: That we get to know each other. That we form friendships across generations. That we take some time to grow closer to the people we see in the pews, in the hallways, and in the parking lot – because God is giving us new birth and new life right where we are!

It is my joy to praise God alongside you!

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

We have begun the year with some challenging financial experiences. Missing two in-person Sunday services in January did not help. Since then, we continue to lag behind compared with our anticipated expenses. Thank you to all who have maintained their support, in-person and on-line. If you aren’t there yet, we encourage you to help refill that gap. Church area leaders are carefully watching expenses, but a significant percentage of our expenses are pretty much fixed and, of course, expenses don’t go away just because we are not here on any given Sunday.

An important reminder: We are planning to make future distribution of quarterly Donation Statements via e-mail. This will get you the information much quicker and save substantially on mailing and related costs. Please be sure that we have a good address for you by sending it, preferably from that e-mail address, to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you do not have access to e-mail where you can receive your statements, let the office know so alternate arrangement can be made.

We are in the heart of tax time and encourage everyone who may receive a tax refund to consider sharing it with your church. If you have you reached the point where an annual IRA required minimum distribution is part of your life, consider First Fox Hill for a Qualified Charitable Donation which can help both you and your church. Be sure to talk to your financial/tax advisor and our Finance Chair, Bill Bryan, before you take any unfamiliar actions.

Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow your financial staff flexibility in managing cash flow effectively. Many people find making on-line donations convenient. If you are reading this online click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through February 2026 Income For Planned Expenses1 $ 53,732 Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2) Planned $ 92,208 Actual $ 66,968 Pass Through Income2 $ 3,173 Pass Through Expense2 $ 3,066 “Pay-It-Forward” Contributions $ 407 LUMENs Fund Raiser Income $ 20 LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense $0 Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263 $ 1,374 Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026 $ 11,815 Loan Principle Balance – Mar 1 $ 148,598 1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

For some unknown reason, my brain occasionally works on a problem I didn’t know I had. Recently, I was puzzling over words and the word “praised” popped into my head. I bounced the word around a little bit, looking for another word that used all of the same letters, and I realized that “despair” used the same letters as “praised.” Interesting! Or perhaps not…

I have found that praise is the answer to those moments when I believe I am stuck and without hope. I have found that praise is the answer when I get down in the mouth and feel frustration. However, it usually takes something else to prod me into praise. It is not automatic. I have to choose praise before despair can be turned into praise! Or, if you want some more word play, I have to “parse” my “despair” until God is “praised!”

For a case in point, I have been noticing our decline in worship attendance for some time. We finally turned a corner following Covid and began growing again, but in the past couple of years, we reached a plateau, and while we still receive guests and visitors, our overall worship attendance has declined again. I am not a charismatic leader, nor am I a miracle worker, so I have been feeling down in the dumps about it.

Until… until I realized that we are not a Sunday morning church only! We have always had activities and groups beyond Sunday morning. Sometimes, those groups will feed our worship attendance, but not always. Likewise, I have read more than one article that says churches need to look beyond Sunday morning these days to see what God is doing. At the same time, many of us have been noting that we are growing older, all of us, and that is not a good recipe for the future.

But – all it takes is to look beyond our worship space and see what is happening in the other rooms and on Sunday evenings. On Sunday mornings, we have children in two or three rooms for Sunday school and the nursery, and on Sunday evenings, we are moving beyond twenty youth towards thirty. And one thing will be essential to turning those young people into strong members of our congregation – for us to get to know and engage with them
We have everything we need to turn despair into praise – all it takes is looking where God is moving rather than looking at where we want God to be moving!

It is my joy to praise God alongside you!

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

Clearly, having two out of four Sundays “closed due to weather” is not the best way to start the year. Fortunately, on-line giving and our members who have caught up since returning have helped. Thank you to all who have maintained their support. If you aren’t there yet, we encourage you to help refill that gap; expenses don’t go away just because we are not here on any given Sunday.

Annual Donation statements have been distributed. If you did not receive yours and/or have any questions, please contact the office promptly so we can get that addressed.

Speaking of donation statements, we are planning to make future distribution via e-mail. This will get you the information much quicker and save substantially on mailing and related costs. Please be sure that we have a good address for you by sending it, preferably from that e-mail address, to churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org. If you do not have access to e-mail where you can receive your statements, let the office know so alternate arrangement can be made.

As shown in the accompanying stats, we continue to whittle away at the loan we secured to complete our major HVAC repair and roof replacement. Thank you to all who have stepped up and made specific, “over-and-above”, contributions to those projects. Now we need to pay off that loan. The quicker we do so, the less we have to pay for interest. As you look at your giving for the year, we encourage you to help us eliminate that ongoing cost.
Tax time is right around the corner and a tax refund can be an easy way to help your church meet financial obligations. If you are looking at an anticipated IRA required distribution, consider First Fox Hill for a Qualified Charitable Donation which can help both you and your church. Be sure to talk to your financial/tax advisor and our Finance Chair, Bill Bryan, before you make any unfamiliar actions.

Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow your financial staff flexibility in managing cash flow effectively. Many people find making on-line donations convenient. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or go to www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through January 2026
Income For Planned Expenses1		$24,909
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$46,104
	Actual	$33,788
Pass Through Income2		$1,662
Pass Through Expense2		$1,862
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$202
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$0
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20263		$502
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2026		$10,908
Loan Principle Balance – Feb 1		$148,598
1Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

The “helping hands” of our Missions Team are up and running here at First UMC Fox Hill. At our first meeting in January, 2026, we discussed how we can grow our mission work as a church. We reviewed the mission team guidelines from the United Methodist Church and discussed our church’s strengths and interests. We will continue to explore opportunities to expand our impact by deepening relationships with our mission partners. Our focus will be on making a difference right here in our community and beyond.

We approved a request for funding for Marie Clements and her upcoming mission trip to Morocco. Marie is a student at UVA and actively participates in our contemporary service on Sundays when she is not at school. This is her fourth trip with her UVA service organization and we are excited to hear about the impact she and her team will have on this mission trip.

Thank you to everyone who supported our 2025 Christmas Angel Tree project with prayers and gifts. Hampton Healthy Families was able to provide gifts for 511 families. Thank you for helping us provide gifts to 28 Hampton children!

First UMC Fox Hill Missions Team continues to support Jones Magnet Middle School and will be providing an appreciation gift for all staff during the first week in February. Thank you to Mary McAnally for helping Kathy Fisher and Pat Leary put together 80 brownies and hot chocolate packets to deliver to the school. We met with members of their staff on February 11 to discuss more ideas about how we can continue to partner with them and further our relationship.

We invited families from the Lighthouse Daycare Center (across the street) to our Feb. 5 production of Jack and the Beanstalk by Rainbow Puppets (thank you, Dave Messick). We have such a positive presence in our community for the pumpkin patch and feel like this could be extended with events like these at other times of the year.

Judy Adams and Jane Barbour continue to work on outreach for church members who are housebound and are considering ways to provide support for caregivers. There are good opportunities for providing outreach in this area right here at our “church on the corner”. Another opportunity to extend a helping hand! Stay tuned for more information as we discuss the possibilities.

Our next Mission Team meeting is March 18, 2026 at 4:30 pm. Location to be announced.

Send us your ideas and feedback for mission work!

For whatever reason, I remember hearing and saying “take care” at the end of many conversations growing up. Instead of “goodbye” or “see you later,” the common phrase was, “Take care.” I write this because I just read an article about taking care of ourselves, and I realized it has been a long time since I have heard someone say, “Take care!” I am not suggesting that anyone change their vocabulary or common phrases—I am suggesting that Lent is a good time for us to “take care” of ourselves.

Now comes the part you may not have expected: taking on a spiritual discipline during the season of Lent is a great way to take care of ourselves! For example, although I am not Roman Catholic, I decided that this year I would use the “Breviary” as a daily morning discipline during Lent. The Breviary is a series of readings, prayers, and Psalms used daily by Catholics. If you attend Mass, much of what you do during worship comes from the Breviary. The reason I am using it is that it is a discipline I have never practiced before, and I believe it will add more structure to my quiet time. The Book of Common Prayer, which is Episcopalian, could be used just as well, by the way.

The truth is, though, that any spiritual discipline will do. Fasting, keeping a regular prayer time, reading, serving others, giving, centering prayer, meditation, contemplation, meeting with others for Christian conversation—many disciplines exist. If some of these interest you and you have never tried them, I would be more than happy to explain them as best I can and help you get started. The only thing I would like to encourage you to do is to take on a spiritual discipline during this season. If you fast, take the time you are fasting to read, pray, or do something for your spirit. If you serve others as a discipline, then use the time preparing to serve to pray, and follow your service with reflection and prayer. If you try meditation or contemplation, there are many books and articles to help you. The main thing is to learn how to deal with the distracting thoughts that will emerge—that is the real discipline of prayer, meditation, and contemplation.

All of the disciplines take time. They require time to plan and to implement. That is time you will take away from other things, such as worrying, fretting, and being anxious. Taking time away from worry and anxiety is a powerful way to care for yourself. Therefore, please do not see “spiritual discipline” as something that makes you anxious or worried. Instead, see it as a way to reduce worry and anxiety.

Footnote: It is possible that you may suffer from depression or clinical anxiety. I do not want to suggest that you can merely “pray” these struggles away. Please reach out for help while you pray over them. If you do not know of a competent counselor, I would be glad to suggest some to you.

Please take some time this season to “Take Care!”

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

I am pleased to report we began 2026 with all our bills paid and a decent balance in our bank accounts. We paid all of our Apportionments. In order to watch our cash flow carefully, we intentionally did not make our planned set asides for possible future major maintenance, but hope to make up for that in the near term. Already in January we have made a large repayment of principle on our loan with funds not needed for the work.

As most of you know, we secured a large loan to cover the huge cost of our new boiler, HVAC repair, and roof replacement. The need for the climate control equipment was obvious as they just plain broke, and while we know the roof replacement was needed. That was even more clearly demonstrated by the long-term damage uncovered during the work. Our challenge now is to repay the loan as quickly as possible to save us interest expense. We are receiving recurring “over and above” donations toward that cause, but we will soon have a directed campaign to that end. No need to wait, you can help now.

Annual Donation statements are being passed out as I write this in mid-January. We are trying to minimize postage costs, but will mail the balance at the end of January. If you do not receive yours and/or have any questions, please contact the office promptly so we can get that addressed. Likewise, if you didn’t receive donation envelops for 2026 and would like some, talk to Kassandra in the office.

Cash and checks work great and the envelopes are for that purpose. If you would like to make your donations on-line, we are happy to make that easily available for you. Many people find it convenient and helpful. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or manually go to our web page www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow your financial staff flexibility in managing our cash flow effectively.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

I mentioned last month that I have a hard time planning ahead at the end of the year, and I have to confess that I used a mental game to get past writing this article: I thought about the word “ash” and realized there are many words built from “ash” – for instance, bash, cash, dash, gash, lash, mash, rash, sash, and wash. If you allow for more letters, it nearly becomes infinite – quash, stash, clash, and so forth. However, it’s interesting to note that “ash” and “wash” are nearly at opposite ends of the spectrum. Ashes are things we sweep off, wash off, rinse off, or just generally don’t like to keep around because they are dirty in some way – they stain, smell, or just look like dirt. We would wash ashes away gladly!

But, when we peer into how ashes are used, especially in the Bible, it gets more interesting. Ashes are used to make soap, and they are good for fertilizing and cleaning. In the Bible, ashes are also used as a symbol of purification – as in putting on sackcloth and ashes in repentance (this reference shows up 9 times, 7 in the Old and 2 in the New Testament). Ashes also symbolize death and ruin, as in cities burned to ash. Ashes also resemble dust, which is what we are made of - “then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) In fact, the service of death and resurrection (funeral service) has as a standard phrase for the prayer of committal – “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” to remind us that we came from nothing and return to nothing, except by the grace of God. So – in fact, ashes are used for washing – washing the body, the mind, and the spirit!

All of this is to say – when we get to Ash Wednesday and starting the season of Lent, keep in mind that the ashes are doing a lot of work! They are a reminder that we survive and thrive by the grace of God. They are a reminder to take our mortality seriously and make the most of whatever time we have left on earth. They are a symbol of repentance and a symbol of becoming clean. Most of all, they are a physical reminder of the spiritual reality that we are beloved children of God!

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

While it is still December when this is being written, we are about to enter a new year. Finances are an important part of most everything we do here at First Fox Hill. We wholeheartedly thank you for your continued support. Clearly, donations are how we are able to do all we do. Programs and ministries require staff and materials to make them happen, while utility, maintenance, equipment, A/V, and IT expenses are needed to support it all. And, like all United Methodist churches, we share connectional expenses supporting programs worldwide. We expect to finish the year in decent financial shape due to your regular support, as well as careful spending by the paid staff and our wonderful volunteers.

As you know, we incurred substantial expenses for our major HVAC and roof repairs/replacement. Your contributions have paid for about one-third of the cost and continue to make our monthly payments, but we still have a 6-figure loan to pay off as soon as possible to minimize interest costs.

Everyone is in a different financial position, but if you have been blessed with the ability to make a directed “over-and-above” contribution toward that loan principal, your support is truly appreciated. If you have any questions about how you can help, be sure to talk with your personal tax and/or financial professionals and check in with Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, before any unfamiliar transactions.

You probably noticed we manually passed out most of our donation envelopes for next year; the rest we will mail. If you do not receive envelopes and would like some, we are happy to take care of that; just let the church office know. Simply put, the change resulted from more people making online contributions and, not surprisingly, related significant increase in postal costs.

Cash and checks work great and the envelopes are for that purpose. If you would like to make your donations on-line, we are happy to make that easily available for you. Many people find it convenient and helpful. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. You can also use your phone and the donation QR Code or manually go to our web page www.firstumcfoxhill.org, click on give, scroll down to GIVE ONLINE, and click. There you can set up one-time gifts or automatic regular giving on a weekly, twice a month, or monthly schedule. Gifts to the One Fund – General Offering allow your financial staff flexibility in managing our cash flow effectively.

Annual donation statements will be distributed by the end of January. Please check yours carefully as soon as you receive it and contact us promptly if you have any questions or issues. If you don’t receive a statement you are expecting, let the office know so we can address the issue before last-minute tax time.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through November 2025
Income for Planned Expenses1		$457,832
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$546,722
	Actual	$447,975
Pass Through Income2		$4,365
Pass Through Expense2		$4,178
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$2,684
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$25
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20253		$65,834
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2025		$251,123
Loan Balance – Nov1		$158,967
1 Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2 Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3 Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

Every year, I try to plan my sermons well in advance so that our wonderful musicians have time to prep the choirs, bands, and so forth. Most of the time, I can stay a few months ahead, but every year I have the same issue – I get a block in December! Once I work past December, the block lifts and I can push ahead again.

This is such a frequent occurrence for me that I no longer shake my head at it, but accept it as a routine, with apologies to Mark and Larissa. However, as many of you might point out: “A failure to plan is a plan to fail.” So I have found some workarounds.

The first workaround is that the first two Sundays of January are always set ahead of time. The first Sunday is Epiphany, or “Three Kings Sunday.” And the second is Baptismal renewal, or “Baptism of the Lord.” Those two weeks give me a little cushion.

The second workaround is for me to realize that just because I want to have the best Christmas Eve sermons I can possibly produce, if what follows Christmas Eve isn’t significant, then it doesn’t matter. Sure, we all have special days in our lives, days that we want to be especially good – perhaps birthdays, anniversaries, and the like. But most of our lives are lived in ordinary days. What makes those days special is not some secret sauce, but realizing that “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) In other words, every day is a special day when we walk with the Lord. Every day is a chance to learn, to grow, to be stretched, and to witness the goodness of God. After all, isn’t the real meaning of Christmas that God took on human flesh in order to transform us, and transformation into maturity (“the full measure of the stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)), not just getting older, is what our lives are about? The babe in the manger is lovely to look at and think about – but how that babe has changed everything is what we are here to experience.

Perhaps you are like me, and you experience “glitches” in your plans or roadblocks that seem to prevent you from moving forward. If so, take heart – you are just as human as Jesus was! And step forward, knowing that even if you can’t see the way in front of you, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

In the early years of the church, right after Jesus’ death and resurrection, some practices were tried that we are still trying to understand today. One of them was using a fish to indicate where people gathered for worship. The fish was drawn on the ground, in the sand, and sometimes on buildings or places where believers met. You may still see fish symbols today on car bumpers, keychains, or necklaces. There is no definitive explanation of how and why the fish was used, but I have heard two theories—or metaphors—that I’d like to explore with you today.

The fish that reminds us to “go with the flow.”
This metaphor encourages letting things run off us. If someone mistreats or wrongs you, the idea is to do what the fish does: keep swimming. Don’t hold on to the wrong, but forgive and move forward. This image is similar to the saying about letting sin go “like water off a duck’s back,” meaning we aren’t meant to hold on to grudges, but to be free—because we have been freely forgiven by Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

The fish as swimming upstream, against the current.
According to this theory, Christians swim against the current of the world’s practices and customs. Like salmon that fight for hundreds of miles to return to their birthplace to spawn, we are striving to return to the ways of Jesus. And if we push the metaphor further, we are helping the Holy Spirit bring new life into our lives and the lives of others.

I appreciate both metaphors, because both contain truth. It is far too easy to get caught up in the wrongs done to us or the wrongs we have done to others. When we are mistreated, lied about, gossiped about, or abused, those hurts form hard memories that cling to us. Letting go of that hurt is not easy—but if we remember what Jesus did for us, what we could not do for ourselves, then “letting go and letting God” becomes easier. It is also biblical: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 echo this teaching.

But in this season, I find the metaphor of swimming upstream to be especially helpful. As our culture becomes more politicized, and as more people distrust institutions—especially the church—we are swimming upstream. Some claim the name of Christian while visiting retribution on their “enemies.” Others call themselves Christian but follow a Jesus who, in their minds, has no power to save or transform lives. It is harder to follow the ways of Jesus and recognize his power and authority. It is hard because we do not get to take vengeance, and hard because we are commanded to love and pray for our enemies.

We face a fundamental choice: Do we follow the ways of the world—swimming downstream and doing what feels good to us—or do we follow the ways of Jesus, swimming upstream and staying in line with him, knowing we may suffer as he suffered? The Son of God became incarnate, taking on our flesh and blood so that he could obey the Father’s will and die on the cross. Now that he has risen to the Father and sent us the Holy Spirit to empower our mission, he asks us: Will we stay true to him as he stayed true for us?

You see, the message of Christmas is not only about a child born in a stable, but also about his invitation to be born as both child and King of Kings in our hearts and lives. Will we let him be Lord of our lives so that the world may be saved through him? As a friend of mine says, “There has never been a better time to be a Christian than today!” For my part, I am glad to have you with me as we journey together to the stable, to the cross, and to the skies.

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

As I write this a few days before Thanksgiving, it is a perfect time to again share the thanks that accompany our offerings and all support for First UMC Fox Hill. When we make our donations to the church, it is an opportunity to thank God for our many blessings, large and small, every day. It is your donations of time, talent, and certainly “treasure” which allow us to provide support to our community close to home and worldwide. Without funds, we would not be here and our programs would not be happening. As an organization, we thank you for your generous support. This has been a challenging year with huge costs for our new roof, boiler, and related expenses. Thank you for your continuing support as we work to pay off our very substantial loan. Your support is also putting us in a position to pay all of our Apportionment obligations by year end while keeping us current on our operating expenses. As you show your thanks for the blessings you receive, we thank you for your support.

Speaking of the loan, we appreciate your on-going donations specifically for that purpose as they help with our monthly payments. We are eager to make some direct additional payments on the principal of the loan to save on long-term interest costs. You may want to make a special, additional gift at year end and designate it for that purpose.

And, as the year ends, this is an important time for us all to ensure our finances are in the best shape possible. Your giving can help ensure your church starts the new year on the best financial footing possible. Whether you are giving cash or checks, in-person or on-line, we appreciate it. If you are sharing from your investments, e.g., IRAs or actual stocks, be sure to discuss the procedures with your tax and/or financial advisor and touch base with Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, before taking any unfamiliar action, but don’t delay.

Remember, your regular giving to the General (One) Fund can help your cash flow and the church’s. Use the method that works best for you. You may want to use our web site www.firstumcfoxhill.org where you can click on Give. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. Or use your camera to scan this QR code which is regularly seen in our publications and live stream.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through October 2025
Income for Planned Expenses1		$404,482
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$497,020
	Actual	$413,914
Pass Through Income2		$1,110
Pass Through Expense2		$4,178
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$2,185
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$25
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20253		$96,411
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2025		$218,847
Loan Balance – Nov1		$159,156
1 Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2 Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3 Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.

It is hard to believe the end of the year is just around the corner! Hard to believe, yes, but also a great time to work on putting our church finances into the best possible condition to be ready to start a new year. Except for some sidewalk work by the Prayer Garden, our major repair and replacement projects on the Boiler, HVAC, and Roof are complete. Your support for that project has gone a long way towards the cost, but has also left us with a substantial loan to pay off as soon as possible. We have also delayed payment of our Apportionments and set-asides while we worked through those project expenses/cash flow. By year end, we need to pay all that we can to clear that slate. Your support is critical to make that happen.

Please take a look at your finances and church support and see if you are where you want to be. Some of you may be impacted by the unfortunate federal “shut-down”, directly or in-directly. Others may be fortunate enough to be benefiting from this year’s dramatic growth in the stock market. Whatever your situation, we ask you to do whatever you can to support your church. Those who have IRA Required Minimum Distribution obligations may find significant benefit in taking the opportunity to make a Qualified Charitable Donation to the church. Others may have stock which has appreciated substantially in value and donating some of the shares could provide a tax advantage. We need everyone’s help. Be certain to talk with your tax and/or financial advisor and touch base with Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, before taking any unfamiliar action, but don’t delay.

Whether you give through the offering plate, in the mail, or on-line, your routine regular giving to the General (One) Fund can help your cash flow and the church’s. Use the method that works best for you. You may want to use our web site www.firstumcfoxhill.org where you can click on Give. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. Or use your camera to scan this QR code which is regularly seen in our publications and live stream. As noted above, those with IRA funds which must be withdrawn and/or appreciated stocks, may be able to achieve some added benefits by using them for direct contributions. Always talk with your tax and/or financial advisor before taking any unfamiliar action. Also talk with Bill Bryan, our Finance Chair, about your plans.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through September 2025
Income for Planned Expenses1		$325,830
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$447,318
	Actual	$346,482
Pass Through Income2		$1,085
Pass Through Expense2		$4,178
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$1,998
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$25
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20253		$95,384
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2025		$218,847
Loan Balance – Oct 1		$159,320
1 Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2 Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3 Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

By the time you read this, we will have had our Homecoming Revival, Homecoming service, packed up the pumpkins, and we will be settling in for Thanksgiving and thinking about Advent and Christmas. But there’s one thing I don’t think I’ve talked about that I want to bring up now: life gives us highs and lows, mountains and valleys – what is a faithful way to live and thrive in each condition – the highs and the lows?

Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9 all tell the story of Jesus going up to the mountain, being transfigured, hearing a word from the Father, and then going back down the mountain into the valleys, where he will be heading to Jerusalem, where he would suffer and be put to death. In other words, he had an amazing spiritual moment, followed by a long period of grief, challenges, and betrayal. While we could say that Jesus is unique, and no one’s life should be like his, the reality is that while Jesus is unique as the only begotten Son of God, he also is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

As an example, it is said that Mother Teresa had many visions and spiritual experiences before she started the Missionaries of Charity order, but once she began the work, the experiences ceased to happen. Likewise, the prophet Isaiah had an amazing spiritual experience when God called him (Isaiah 6), but he endured significant suffering as he did the work of a prophet. My guess is that you too, whether you’ve followed Jesus your whole life or just started recently, have had a similar experience – blessings followed by trials – the mountain followed by the valley.

As a church body, we are going through a period of mountains – from Homecoming to the Pumpkin Patch, to Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. But January is coming, followed by February and March, and early next year, we will move into Lent, which is a valley followed by the mountain of Easter (which will be April 5 next year). What’s important for us to do and remember is this: rejoice and be grateful for the mountaintop experiences, and remember them when we are in the valley, whether it is a personal valley or a common valley. Remember that you are loved, forgiven, and called to be God’s instruments of grace for the world. Remember that, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not fear any evil, for God’s rod and staff will comfort us, bringing us to the rich banquet of eternity!

A faith that persists is a faith that is worth having. And remember this too – even if we forget, others in the church body remember. May we help each other experience the whole of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love!

This report briefly addresses finances at FUMC Fox Hill. The latest information is in the weekly bulletin available at church or through our web site.


Speaking of year end contributions, they are always needed just to pay our bills. At this point we are still behind on our Conference and District obligations and have not set aside planned reserve funds for future major maintenance. We need everyone’s help. If you are fortunate to have stocks that have done well this year and/or have an IRA with a required minimum distribution, contributions to First Fox Hill can be of mutual benefit. Talk with your tax and/or financial advisor and touch base with Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, before taking any unfamiliar action, but don’t delay and miss out.

Your latest giving statements should be out soon. These are not bills, but a way for you to help us make sure we have properly recorded the information which may be important for the upcoming tax time. Be sure to check yours as soon as you receive it and let us know of any issues, including if you don’t receive one you expect.

Regular giving is usually the most convenient. Your contributions count whether they are through the offering plate, in the mail, or on-line. One way to help you stay up to date may be on-line where you can easily make one-time gifts or regular recurring donations. Get started at our web site www.firstumcfoxhill.org by clicking on Give. If you are reading this online, click here for easy on-line access. Or use your camera to scan this QR code which is regularly seen in our publications and live stream. As noted above, those with IRA funds which must be withdrawn and/or appreciated stocks, may be able to achieve some added benefits by using them for direct contributions. Always talk with your tax and/or financial advisor before taking any unfamiliar action. Also talk with Bill Bryan, our Finance Chair, about your plans.

Please direct concerns/questions about FUMC FH finances to our financial staff via the office or Bill Bryan, Finance Chair, at (757) 851-0748 or by e-mail to billb-1111@cox.net.

Total One Fund – Through August 2025
Income For Planned Expenses1		$288,901
Total One Fund Expenses (excludes pass through2)	Planned	$397,616
	Actual	$307,063
Pass Through Income2		$1,085
Pass Through Expense2		$3,950
“Pay-It-Forward” Contributions		$1,719
LUMENs Fund Raiser Income		$25
LUMENs Fund Raiser Expense		$0
Roof & Boiler Repair Income 20253		$94,494
Roof & Boiler Repair Expense 2025		$101,791
1 Includes regular and memorial contributions, building use income, interest, not listed, etc. 2 Represents contributions for non-budget items, e.g., flowers, special mission programs, not listed, etc. 3 Does not include $153,922 net loan for roof project.

You know the feeling – you’re in a car, truck, SUV, bus, van, plane, or train, and if there is a child around and if the trip will take more than five minutes – the question will come up: “Are we there yet? How much longer?”

A friend of mine, a long-time youth pastor, had a good solution: He would tell them how long the trip would take before they started, but every time someone asked, “How much longer?” His answer was “Twenty minutes.” All the adults he worked with would give the same answer, “Twenty minutes.” I think that’s a great way to deal with the frustration, at least from an adult perspective.

But the question still comes up, even when we go far past our teenage years. How much longer until I’m the person I want to become? How much longer until I can retire? How much longer do I have on earth? Am I home yet – no, not in my home on earth, but in my forever home? As we begin to lay out everything to get ready for Homecoming, I think it’s a valuable question to ask. What does it mean to go home? Does our church, our faith, our community, tell us anything about home?

The idea of “homecoming” as a church body is that we have been the spiritual home or birthplace of many people through the years, and homecoming is a time to celebrate and remember how we have been home for people. And the idea isn’t just an American idea – the British also have a homecoming Sunday every year – they call it “mothering day,” as in going back to your mother church, the community that was your mother in faith.

But I think homecoming is more than that, as important as it is to remember, regather, and reflect. Homecoming is actually a reminder that our destination isn’t just a church family on earth, but a reminder that we have an incredibly wide and deep home we all hope to get to. Whether we call it heaven, the new creation, the city of God, or just being with Jesus in eternity – we actually don’t belong to earth – our origin and destination is the One who made the heavens and the earth.

So, the next time you ask those deep questions about who we are, where we are going, and what the point of it all is, remember that Homecoming is more than an event – it is preparation for eternal life that begins right now. And yes, please do invite friends, family, and those who were part of our church before, but who have moved elsewhere. Remind them that if they cannot physically come, they can join us online, and if they have passed from this life, they are no longer members of our church, but members of the church Triumphant and Eternal, and we will see them again!

And yes, I’ll give you a breakdown of what we’re doing in another article, but for now, get excited about Homecoming, and invite the people you love to be part of it! Thank you for being part of our church family and our eternal family as well!

To Our Live Stream Viewing Audience,

We sincerely apologize for the recent interruptions during our Sunday morning live-stream broadcasts.

While we are committed to providing consistent weekly services, our efforts are occasionally hindered by issues beyond our control—specifically, our internet service provider (Cox). Unfortunately, we’ve experienced several recent instances of reduced bandwidth, which have disrupted our live streams. We deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused and are actively exploring alternative options to ensure a more stable and reliable connection.

What to Do If the Livestream is Interrupted:

• If you’re watching on our church website and experience an interruption, please wait a few minutes. We may be able to reestablish the connection.
• If you're watching on Facebook, unfortunately, the stream will be disconnected for the remainder of the service.
• If you are unable to reconnect during the 9:00 AM traditional service, we encourage you to try joining us for the 10:30 AM modern service—provided bandwidth has been restored. Pastor Brian shares the same sermon at both services.

Missed Both Services?
You can always watch the archived version of the service on our church website’s media page. These are typically posted within a couple of hours after the live broadcast, using our backup recording.

Help Us Improve
We welcome your feedback—how are we doing, and how do you usually connect to our services? If you have ideas to improve our broadcasts or make them more accessible, please let us know:

• Email the church office at: churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org
• You can also reach Jim directly at: comanche1@cox.net

Join the Production Team
We’re always looking for a few good people to join our production team! We've intentionally simplified our setup to make it accessible to non-professionals—though the “back row” might look intimidating at first glance, don’t worry, we provide full training.
Ideally, a full production team includes:

1. Front-of-house audio
2. Presentation visuals
3. Livestream producer/director
4. Mobi-cam operator
5. Dedicated livestream audio (“make-up” audio)

Let us know what role interests you—no multitasking required if that’s not your thing!

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. We are grateful for your presence—whether in person or online.