Stewardship
Autumn 2025 Stewardship Messages from Three Parishioners
A Welcoming Community of Faithful Christian Friends
Greetings:
Nancy and I first attended a service at Fork 26 years ago, soon after moving to Hanover County from Chesterfield County. Our Lutheran Church was now too far away for us to be active members so we were curious about this Episcopal Church that was one mile from our back door. That first Sunday was a pleasant surprise. The historic colonial architecture had a calming and peaceful feeling, the liturgy was familiar to our Lutheran service, the music was joyful and the people were so friendly and welcoming. In fact, a half-hour after returning home, the organist/choir director, Seaton Fulgham, was trudging up our back sidewalk bringing us arm loads of produce from his garden to welcome us to Fork and the community! (I’m not suggesting that Melissa should add “Welcome Wagon” to her duties!)
We join various organizations as a way to share some common interest and to make new friends. But Church, and Fork in particular, is not just another organization. Our first Sunday attending Fork symbolizes what it is for us; a welcoming community of faithful Christian friends who, through worshiping together, have their faith renewed each week. This Christian community has accepted us as adopted family, from that very first Sunday. Being a part of this faithful community could not have been more vividly demonstrated than by the outpouring of prayers and cards and messages of concern for us these past five months as Nancy and I dealt with my various medical issues.
Fork is a very unique small parish and we are blessed to have Father Nik as our Priest. We benefit from his amazing depth of knowledge and spiritual leadership. However, the “small” does not translate to the budget that is necessary to keep the lights on and the roof from leaking. God has blessed us in so many ways. Responding to this Stewardship appeal is one way in which we can demonstrate our thankfulness for all that God has given each of us and to ensure that Fork remains a presence in the community. Please consider ways in which you can reach out and invite neighbors to worship with us. Also, please prayerfully consider increasing your financial contribution to support Fork and our mission to “make disciples of all nations”. Thank you for reading my message and for considering my requests.
Jack L. Haar
A Place Where We Are Known
Dear Friends,
Rachel and I have been attending Fork Church for a few years now, and in that time, we’ve come to understand how deeply the act of giving shapes not just the church, but our family’s daily life and faith journey. We have four children, our oldest is 9, and our youngest just turned 2. And like many families, we live in a constant state of motion. Between our full-time civilian jobs and my service in the Virginia National Guard, time is always in short supply.
But to us, giving means more than money (although yes, Paul, that part’s important too). Giving means carving out that time, no matter how little of it we feel we have to make something meaningful happen. It means reorienting our lives to invest in a larger purpose. For us, that larger purpose is Fork Church.
Giving means we show up, even when it’s hard. It means making the decision on a Sunday morning, after a long week, to get everyone out the door and into the pews. It means choosing to prioritize this community because we see what it gives back, not just to us, but to our children.
One of the most tangible ways we’ve seen that is through Godly Play. Every Sunday, our children race into the Parish House with joy. They are welcomed into a space where they are known, loved, and encouraged to explore their faith. They’ve made real friends who they not only relate to but who they feel comfortable talking about Jesus with and learning together.
Fork Church is where our kids are learning about compassion, forgiveness, and the importance of putting others before themselves, things that are not always easily taught at home or in school. It’s where they see adults modeling what it means to live a life of service and love, and where we, as parents, feel supported in the enormous task of raising children in faith.
Giving also means committing to a community that reflects the values we want to live by. It’s not just about attending a service; it’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s about watching our kids grow up in a church family that surrounds them with love and prayer, and about being part of that family ourselves.
We give because Fork Church is a place where we are known. It’s where our children are nurtured and where we, too, are challenged and encouraged in our walk with Christ. Giving reminds us that we’re not alone in this busy, chaotic world. We are part of something steady, rooted, and good.
So when we give: our time, our presence, our support, we’re investing in the spiritual home that continues to shape our family. We’re giving thanks for all that Fork Church has given us, and hoping to help it do the same for others.
Noel & Rachel Robleto
The Altruism and Self-interest of Giving
In reflection on “why one gives” money to an entity, in my view, is simple. We voluntarily offer our financial resources to causes (charities, churches, civic groups, political factions etc.) because we connect with the principles of those entities. If we do not believe in those actions, philosophies or ideologies we choose not to contribute to them. Yet, giving is also a means to help ensure the continuation and longevity of the missions of those groups. We may financially support the Serra Club or Trout Unlimited, for example, because we are connected to the environment in some way. In that sense we may expect something in return, in hiking a trail or casting a fly line into a stream. Still, we may make that contribution because we feel it is the correct thing to do regardless of what reward we may take from it.
Stewardship is the subject here. I recall a member of Fork explaining to a group of dinner guests and me that they were the current stewards of the house and land they inherited. It was their duty, they explained, to ensure the property was cared for in a manner that would be passed down to the next generation. That remark made an impression on me, not only for what we leave to our child but to what it means to ensure continuation of, in this case, Fork Church. When the next stewardship campaign came that fall my wife and I reflected on that dinner conversation, and it cemented our benefaction to the church that means so much to us – Fork Church.
My wife and I chose Fork Church to attend following the prodding of our young daughter in her desire to go to church; it is where my daughter and I were baptized on Easter Saturday by the reverend Beryl Chio long ago. In sum, we put down roots and became active in the church. Through the ups and downs, we have stayed the course because we believe in the mission of the church. It is where we renew our faith and engage in its fellowship. We financially support Fork not only for what we get in return but also through the collective contributions of members and guests alike, we can share and offer to others in the present and equally important, to the future members and guests of Fork Church.
Yours in Peace and Faith,
Tim Kestner
Autumn 2024 Stewardship Messages from Three Parishioners
The Journey of Stewardship
by Jan Donovan
Nov. 23, 2024
Dear Fellow Church Members,
My journey in the Episcopal church started as an infant in historic St. John’s, Church Hill where my family were members. My formative years were based in faith, liturgy and the Bible. When we moved to Caroline County, we continued to attend St. John’s for many years but eventually started attending Church in Montpelier. Later I moved to Radford for College and then to North Carolina for work. I found a home in St. Christopher’s in High Point and became very active in the church. I trained with Jerome Berryman to be a Godly Play teacher, sang in the vocal choir, participated in bell choir, helped to prepare integration of monthly services using the youth to present the sermon through drama, served on the vestry and represented my church at the annual conventions.
While living in North Carolina, I met an amazing man and priest who came from Baltimore to be interviewed for the position of Bishop of North Carolina. I learned much during the interviews with this man of God. I even asked him a very difficult question about his greatest achievement and his worst failure. He was very brave and answered me, and I was even more impressed. He became our Bishop and I continued to learn from him. One of the lessons I remember best is discipleship and stewardship. I was sad and happy to see him leave North Carolina and become the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Of course, I’m talking about the Most Rev’d Michael Curry. I was even a member of the statewide choir for his farewell. But he has remained in my heart and soul, and I have chatted with him from time to time since. Michael is very dear to me.
I left North Carolina and came back to Virginia and found my home in Fork Church. I had visited many times over the past 20 or so years as my Mother had moved her membership to Fork, and I would attend with her when I visited.
Recently I was asked to answer the call for the stewardship campaign. I felt it was also a call from God. In pondering what I might say to you, I thought over my journey of life and faith and had a vision of this journey on ships.
When we begin our journey of ships, we ride and sometimes steer. All the ships are intertwined, and we move back and forth between them. We start with Kinship and Relationships which tie us together with those we love and know. These people help us to build our foundation, beliefs and our moral and social compasses. The ties are strong and help us to navigate our continued journey in life and faith. Those ties remain, even as they stretch over time and distance. We grow in love, faith and knowledge as we become the people we are led to be. From there we move to Discipleship which can be as simple as letting someone know what a wonderful family we have in Fork Church or that we are all God’s children and he loves us. It also leads us to invite others to join us in worship with our church family or to share the comfort of the Lord with those who are in need or searching to find their way. We prayerfully move to Worship and Fellowship where we meet weekly for service in the name of the Lord which brings us closer to God and Jesus as we praise with words and song and find comfort in the Lord’s unconditional love. Some of us move to Leadership and help others on their journey of life and faith. Our next stage of the journey is Stewardship. We need to use our talents, gifts and resources to be good stewards of the church and our church family. Some are led to give their talents freely, sharing in the growth of the church and its members. Some give without realizing what they have contributed or the lives they have touched. We must also consider the financial well-being of Fork Church. Without the support of the members, the church cannot continue to do God’s work. Please join us on the continuing journey of Stewardship.
With prayer and respect, we are asking you to consider your pledge for the coming year. As the costs of everything continue to grow, the support needed for Fork Church also grows. Your pledge helps to pay for our programs, the lights, the bills and of course our priest. We have been fortunate in the generous giving of our members in the past which has allowed Fork Church to continue to serve us and the community. It is the only church left in St Martin’s parish as we approach our 300th anniversary. Please consider your pledge for the coming year and know it is needed and appreciated.
Christ’s Blessings,
Jan Donovan
More than a Sunday Morning Service
Katherine Forti-Vargas
Nov. 1, 2024
Dearest Fork Church Members,
I have been “visiting” Fork Church ever since my brother became the priest here. Before kids, many people will remember my beloved German Shepherd Dog Manny coming with me to the annual Halloween Party, Blessing of the Animals, and other outdoor events. At that time Ramon and I lived in downtown Richmond while he attended VCU. Driving to Fork was always fun because it felt like driving out to the country from the city.
During those many visits, I met and became friendly with many members of the church. The first time I visited Fork, I saw Austin Joy’s name on a card on Nik’s desk. I was surprised because Austin was the real estate agent for the building Ramon and I were living in. Austin met our 104-pound German Shepherd at church. Although he affectionally called Manny,“Kujo,” he told us that he loved our dog. He reassured us that we didn’t need to worry about finding a place to put him when they were showing the building. “Now that I know he won’t eat me,” Austin said, “I’ll just put him on the leash and have him walk beside me when potential buyers tour the place.”
After we had Jo and Ana, they were in the NICU because they were so premature. They were included in Fork’s prayers for the people and mentioned in the weekly e-newsletter. When I came for my daily visit to the hospital, one of our favorite nurses asked if we attended Fork Church. She said her mom was asked by her cousin if she was one of the nurses taking care of those Forti-Vargas twins. Apparently, the cousin was on Fork Church’s email list even though the family had moved away several years before. It was nice to make a connection and really showed how deep and far Fork Church’s roots stretch.
Jenny Smith and I bonded over our love of German Shepherd Dogs. In fact, it was Jenny who put me in touch with the specialist who helped us become pregnant with Ana and Jo. I always say Jenny is the reason I became pregnant with twins! She passed the magic twin dust to me. Boo and I got to know each other over Advent wreaths when I needed her guidance for restarting the Advent wreath workshop at St. Andrew’s, Oregon Hill. Boo showed me the ropes on what materials to buy and which suppliers to use. Boo also graciously allowed me to come and pick greens at Mount Olympus Farm for St. Andrew’s for many years. Melissa was (and continues to be) a great resource for me in all things parenting. She has always been just a text away to answer all my first time parenting questions. I also had a great time bumping into Jeanette at Goodwill one day. We discovered we both share a love of thrifting.
In 2020, COVID hit, I gave birth to Angelina, and my mom died. St. Andrew’s, along with the other Episcopal churches of the Diocese of Virginia, shut down. We watched the live-streamed services and attended coffee hour by Zoom. Angelina was baptized on my mom’s back porch, and it was live-streamed for members of St. Andrew’s to watch. Going into the spring of 2021, St. Andrew’s was still not gathering for worship, even outside. Then our priest got engaged and moved away. When church finally did open for St. Andrew’s it was only for Morning Prayer. My family was out of our rhythm, especially for Sundays. We attended St. Andrew’s for a few services and funerals but struggled to get back in the groove of regular attendance.
This was also the time my husband decided to make a major career change from being an engineer at the Naval Shipyard to joining the Fairfax County Fire Department. He attended Fire Academy, which meant for six months he was gone from Sunday afternoon until Friday evening. It was hard to think about bringing three young children to church by myself without a children’s program. Then during the summer of 2023, at the beach one morning, Nik suggested to me that I should consider interviewing for The Christian Education Director at Fork Church. I had helped in the nursery at St. Andrew’s before I had my kids and had also worked at a Montessori-based preschool when I was young. So he thought I might enjoy the job. I was intrigued but still hesitant. Would I be able to learn all the Godly Play stories? Would I be able to engage all the children? Could I handle the long drive from New Kent after getting my three kids and myself ready? Most of all though I worried about leaving my St. Andrew’s family. I was reassured by several of my St. Andrew’s friends that this would be a wonderful opportunity. God had put my family at the right place in the right time.
Since taking the position of Christian Education Director, I have felt such a sense of joy and comfort. It is such an honor getting reacquainted with many of you and meeting new Fork parishioners. The best part of all is seeing the relationships my children are making at Fork Church. Every time they see Paul they just giggle and giggle. Paul even sometimes lets them “help” with treasurer duties. Jenny brings them special rocks from her farm. If you ever need any advice on what to buy a seven-year-old for their birthday, make sure to ask Ellie and Justus. Jo and Ana were surprised that the Robletos knew exactly what they wanted. The older Hawks kids have been great to my girls, taking them to play and go on hikes around the churchyard after coffee hour. Chris Hawks always takes his time to answer my kids’ questions. Patty Skjei made sure all the children of Fork went off to school feeling the support of the church by giving each child an after-school snack bag and some extremely cool school supplies. My kids talked about this for weeks. I am sure that when they look back upon their school days they will never forget this special gift. What a great way to connect school life with church life!
Boo and Jim have really taken my kids under their wings. I don’t even have the words to describe how meaningful this is. They drove down to Chester to see my girls perform in The Latin Ballet of Virginia. They even came to the roller-skating rink for their birthday. Jo asked one time if Boo was her family. When I asked her why she was asking this, she said, “Because Boo treats us like family.” Lynda Wright let “Ana” help her all afternoon during the church clean up. Then Sid and Patty treated Ana to a special kids’ meal when they picked up lunch for everyone. All the volunteers for Godly Play: Faye Joy, Lou Ann Cave, Alexis Harris, Jane Donovan, Janet Taylor, and Mary Anne Pugh have been amazing! They bring so much knowledge, patience, and creativity each Sunday. I can only hope they realize the powerful impact their generosity is making on the children and on Fork Church as a whole. The Godly Play Volunteers really are a special group that is dedicated to the future of Fork Church.
The children of the church bring so much, too. As a parent I take so much joy in the friendships that all the kids at Fork have formed. I love hearing Issa (Elizabeth) say she wants to come to church to see her friends. It is also amazing to watch each of The Robleto children grow. Can you believe Juliette is already one and that Cami is now a part of Godly Play? I know I am not the only one to experience such happiness in watching the kids develop their own fellowship spot at coffee hour on the stage in the Parish Hall. I look forward to hearing about these memories when my children become adults.
As you can see, Fork Church is so much more than Sunday morning service. It is with your kind pledge of generosity to Fork Church that we are able to make all this happen. With your donation, you are not only serving the church in today’s needs but ensuring that the tradition of Fork continues in the future. As I think of the stewardship season, I think of the old adage, “Blessed are old people who plant trees knowing that they shall never sit in the shade of their foliage.” What you give to the church will have a lasting impact on spreading Christ’s love for generations to come. Please join us on Sunday, November 24, when we conclude our stewardship campaign during the service and following at the special Sunday lunch. I encourage you to look at this through the eyes of the future generation of Fork Church.
Oh, and those long car rides to Fork, they make a great time for the kids to practice their songs so they are able to participate in the choir “just like the adults!”
Fondly,
Katherine Forti-Vargas
Director of Christian Education for Children
If These Walls Could Talk
Mary Anne Pugh
Oct. 24, 2024
Dearest Fork Friends,
I often imagine the history that has transpired in our beloved sanctuary, but never, of course, do I daydream during one of Fr. Nik’s sermons. I do, though, think of the families across three centuries who came together to read the same liturgy we do to worship God as they celebrate their baptisms, mourn their dead, and find sustenance for their life circumstances. I wonder whose imagination designed the building and which skilled hands mixed the mortar and laid the brick? Coming to church would often have been a way to learn the news of the day. What would it have been like to be sitting in this very pew on Sunday, July 7, 1776 and hear what had happened that week in Philadelphia? Did worshipers on Sunday, April 2, 1865 know that Richmond was burning and being evacuated? On Sunday, December 7, 1941 no one at the service could have imagined the cloud that would hang over their lives by nightfall.
Over the years how many congregants looking through the clear glass windows, seeing snowflakes on the pines, a dogwood bloom peeping through the window, or colorful leaves fluttering through the air have marveled at God’s handiwork and experienced a sense of peace? How many lifelong, life-sustaining friendships were forged under this roof?
Over the years the focus of the ministries would have changed, but educating children in the knowledge and love of God is always a priority. I am grateful to hear the giggles of our Godly Play children in church and thankful they haven’t taken to carving on the pews as we see that previous mischievous generations did. It is difficult to think that the music of the past could equal that of our beloved choir, but at some point, our predecessors considered music important enough to provide our magnificent organ. As the definition and needs of community have broadened and changed, so has our outreach mission. Changes, yes, but the core remains.
During times of war, strife, pandemic, and the vagaries of everyday life, our faithful band of pilgrims has carried on, each generation, often in hard times, serving as stewards for the next. We have inherited a treasure, not just this precious structure, but the even longer tradition of loving God and serving our neighbor. Now is our time to be the stewards. This is our moment in the long history of the Church. We must each decide, understanding the manifold needs, how we best honor God and the sacrifices of our forbearers to pay it forward for the generations that will follow us.
Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we
possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our
substance, and, remembering the account which we must one
day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer, page 827
Grace and Peace,
Mary Anne Pugh
Autumn 2020 Stewardship Messages from Parishioners
A Message from the Woods Family
A Message from Glenn and Debbie
A Message from John and Elizabeth
A Message from Tim Kestner
A Message from Father Nik