F I R S T U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

F OX H I L L

“Generosity Begins with an Open Hand” December 20, 2020

Luke 1:24-45

December 20, 2020 Worship Service

Announcements Pastor Brian

Welcome Marie Clement

Prelude “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Arr. Raney Valentina Sorbera, piano

Advent Candle Lighting Praise Team

Hymn “Canticle of the Turning” Cooney

Children’s Time Leah Graybeal

Offering/Witness Apportionments

Hymn UMH 196 “The First Noel” Larissa Luma

Prayer of Confession Pastor Tommy Mary, Mary, she was not contrary! Mary is a visible sign of what it can look like for human beings to follow your will, Lord. When the angel Gabriel appeared and told her the great tidings that would forever change her life, complicate her upcoming wedding, and break her heart as she witnessed her son die on the cross, Mary said yes. She did not qualify her yes, ask for a second opinion, or bargain. (Sigh…) Help us, Lord. Help us, when life gets complicated, the needs of the moment overwhelm us, and when things seem to be spiraling out of control. Help us say yes to You, even if it means no to our convenience or comfort levels, because You have a gift to give to us and through us, the gift of life and hope. We are forever grateful that Mary said yes, and we want to be more like her, in Jesus’ name. Lord, forgive us, we feel so put upon. We feel so helpless we forget our willingness and fumble at our commitment, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Words of Assurance Pastor Tommy In the Name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven, Glory be to God! Amen.

Pastoral Prayer Pastor Tommy

Lord’s Prayer Ferdinand Clement

Special Music “Noel” Cash/Redman/Tomlin Praise Band

Scripture Luke 1:24-45 Joyce Winston

Sermon “Generosity Begins with an Open Hand” Pastor Brian

Statement of Faith UMH 881 Apostles’ Creed Joyce Winston and Lisa Hite

Hymn FWS 2092 “Like a Child” Mark Biondolillo

Benediction Pastor Brian

Postlude “I Saw Three Ships” Dixon Diane Drury and Valentina Sorbera, piano duet

692352, CSPL No. 114593

Last Week’s Attendance 12/13/2020

8:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Service Sunday School Internet

Live Streaming

Online Only Online Only 47 133

Last Week’s Tithes and Offerings

Total One Fund Pastor’s Discretionary Fund

Last Week: $ 13,881.76 Last Week: $ 130.00

Year to Date: $507,249.83 Year to Date: $ 6,710.82

December 2020

Worship Assistants

8:30 a.m. 11 a.m.

Ushers

Jim Roberson (Capt.), Fred Foster, Rick Nolin, Joyce Winston, A.G. Womble

Kathy Fisher (Capt.), Dallas Jenkins

Liturgist Joyce Winston Jean Bernstrom

Sound & Lights N/A N/A

Projection N/A N/A

Camera / Video Mix

N/A N/A

Night Watchmen

12/6 - Bill Drummond, 12/13 - Dallas Jenkins, 12/20 - Dave Sharp, 12/27 - Jimmy Roberson, 1/3 - Hunter Francis, 1/10 - Dave Rogers, 1/17 - Calvin Leary, 1/24 - Fred Foster, 1/31 - Jesse Barbour

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble.

But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it,

our prayers do make a difference. — Max Lucado

Patrick Parker Joann Smith and Richard Shearer Bud and Bonnie Harper Don and Bonnie Hulton Becca Cross Gordon, brother of Ken Bernstrom Rachel and Jerry, Rob, Mary, and Debbie, friends of Jean Bernstrom Christopher, grandson of Colette Quinn Mary Branch Maria Aviles Richard and Kathy Pallette

Ruth B. Morris 12/20

Ben Kessler 12/20

Bruce Guthrie 12/20

Sara McNeil 12/20

A'nna Irby 12/21

Vickie Carper 12/21

Jim Weaver 12/21

Joyce Winston 12/21

Zaq Selassie 12/22

Jim Dickert 12/22

Carol Oswald 12/23

Richard Pollock 12/23

Melissa Doughty 12/23

Jean Kinard 12/23

Tyler Brown 12/24

Becky Felix 12/24

Shelby Williams 12/26

William & Christine Woods 12/20

Chuck & Holly Blackmon 12/20

First Fox Hill Friends,

Today is the last day to make donations to the Staff Christmas Bonus. Please mark your envelope "Staff Appreciation."

Let's show our devoted staff how much we appreciate all they do for us throughout the year. Thank you in advance for your generosity,

Your Pastor Parish Staff Relations Committee

We extend our condolences to Linda West on the death of her brother, Walter Michie, on Thursday, December 10, 2020.

We also extend our condolences to Bishop Sharma Lewis on the death of her mother, Alethia Lewis, on Saturday, December 12, 2020.

A Night’s Welcome December 25

In this time of COVID-19, the Night’s Welcome shelter program is more important than ever for our homeless neighbors. In previous years, the program moved weekly from church to church.

This year, however, A Night’s Welcome will be held at one location — Central United Methodist Church, 225 Chapel Street. Area churches will still be providing volunteers for registration, serving meals, and staying overnight. Meals will be cooked off-site and served in disposable containers.

The next date for First UMC Fox Hill to serve is Friday, December 25. We need approximately 12 on-site volunteers each month as well as volunteers to help with meal preparation at our church. David Rogers will coordinate meals and Julie Allen will coordinate on-site volunteers.

Please prayerfully consider helping with this vital mission. Contact Julie Allen with questions or for more information. There is also a signup sheet located in the narthex.

Holiday Food Pantry

The members of the United Methodist

Women made Thanksgiving a bit brighter

for those visiting the Food Pantry by

providing Food Lion gift cards for each bag.

“I felt like Santa’s elf!,” said Mary

McAnally. “We had persons who were

speechless, one lady started to cry, another

started to pray. One said, ‘Thank God, I

needed this so bad. thank you.’ The

expressions of thanks and gratitude were

on everyone’s lips, as well as the

expression of how generous the Ladies of

the church are.”

The Food Pantry team served 44

households, comprised of 129 individuals,

of which 31 were children, 59 were adults,

and 33 were seniors. The team also helped

clean out the A Night's Welcome closet by

handing out plastic bags of various hygiene

supplies, and Julie Allen handed out lots of

kids activity kits.

Mary McAnally added, “I am very thankful

to be part of the Food Pantry Program

and a member of the UMW, and how we

are truly assisting those who are in need,

and I think every one of our team feels the

same.” Poinsettia Dedications

In honor of: Susan Compton, given by

the Reunion Group

In memory of: Wayne Grigg, given by Judy Grigg

Fred & Dorothy (Tisma) Penfield and Micky & Louise Gulla,

given by Gail and Michael Gulla

Mom, Dad, and Big Bro, given by Dave Sharp

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Sunday, December 20 Fourth Sunday of Advent Note Schedule Changes 8:30 a.m. Livestream Worship Service 9:45 a.m. In-Person Bible 201 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. In-Person Faithlink Sunday School (FH) 9:45 a.m. Zoom Faithlink Class Password: Faithlink 9:45 a.m. Zoom Searchers Class 11:00 a.m. Livestream Worship Service

Monday, December 21 10:00 a.m. Tri-X Monday School (Tri-X) 1:00 p.m. Monday Bible Study (FH)

Tuesday, December 22 10:00 a.m. Shawl Makers (ESR) 1:00 p.m. Bagging for Food Pantry 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 151 Meeting (FH) 7:00 p.m. Scouts BSA Troop 151 Meeting (FH) Wednesday, December 23 10:00 a.m. Zoom Soul Sisters Wednesday Morning Bible Study Password: Jesus

1 Salt Pond Road, Hampton, VA 23664 • 757-851-6302 • churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org Church Website: www.firstumcfoxhill.org • www.facebook.com/firstumcfoxhill

Pastor: Brian Sixbey — Email: PastorBrian@firstumcfoxhill.org Assistant Pastor: Tommy Markham — Email: PastorTommy@firstumcfoxhill.org

Lay Leaders — Pauline Snider and Tom Hite Youth Director: Josh McNutt — Email: jmmcnutt.va@gmail.com

Music Director/Organist: Mark Biondolillo — musicianmark@firstumcfoxhill.org Worship Leader: Larissa Luma

Accompanist: Valentina Sorbera Treasurer: Ruth Simkins — finance@firstumcfoxhill.org

Administrative Assistant: Susan Compton — churchoffice@firstumcfoxhill.org Nursery: Jessica Burns and Samantha Chong

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

F OX H I L L

12:00 p.m. Food Pantry 6:00 p.m. Wesley Bells Rehearsal (Choir) 7:00 p.m. Buckroe New Hope AA Group Meeting (FH - Stage)

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve Offices Closed 10 a.m. Drive-Through Communion

Friday, December 25 Christmas Day Offices Closed 6:00 p.m. Buckroe New Hope AA Group Meeting (FH - Stage)

Saturday, December 26 9:30 a.m. Buckroe Men’s AA Group (FH)