POHICK POST
Pohick Episcopal Church
9301 Richmond Highway Lorton, VA 22079
Telephone: 703-339-6572 Fax: 703-339-9884
Let your light so shine (Matt. 5:16)
From The Rector
The Reverend
Donald D. Binder, PhD
A s we enter the season of Advent, our hearts and
our minds begin to turn toward Bethlehem, the
birthplace many centuries ago of a newborn savior,
Christ the Lord. Heralded by angels and eventually
visited by priestly kings, he was nevertheless born in a
lowly stable, surrounded by farm animals and greeted
at first only by lowly shepherds. Yet two millennia
later, millions upon millions gather to worship him
during the Advent and Christmas seasons, as well
as throughout the year. What happened in that little
town of Bethlehem those many centuries ago would
forever change our lives - would forever change the
world.
Along these lines, you may have seen or read about
an initiative undertaken on a national level over the
past seven years. Its not been a venture by our na-
tion, but by the South American nation of Colombia.
For more than fifty years, that country had suffered
through a protracted and devastating civil war against
FARC rebels that had cost
the lives of over two hundred
thousand.
Desperate for a way to
end the disastrous conflict,
the government sought an
alternative to warfare, one
that involved instead chang-
ing hearts and minds. And
December 2017
so they turned to - of all things - an ad agency.
Seven years ago, they rolled out an ad campaign
known as Operation Christmas. At great risk to
their lives, soldiers dropped into rebel strongholds at
night and proceeded to string hundreds of Christmas
lights on 75-foot tall trees. Motion detectors tripped
on the lights when the rebels walked by. A banner
strung between the trees also lit up. In Spanish, it read,
If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come
home. Demobilize. At Christmas, everything is pos-
sible. That campaign alone demobilized 331 rebels -
five percent of the total.
The next year, the agency undertook a campaign
involving not just soldiers, but civilians. Some seven
thousand of them wrote heart-warming notes im-
ploring the rebels to disarm and return home to their
loved ones. One was written by Colombias President
Juan Manuel Santos, who was last year awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the war. They
placed the notes along with small Christmas gifts in-
side small plastic globes that lit up at night, and then
they cast these glowing balls into the headwaters of
rivers that led into the jungle to the rebels who re-
ceived them. This initiative was know as Operation
Rivers of Light.
The last of the campaigns Ill mention was called
Operation Bethlehem. Powerful beacons were placed
in key safe places. They lit up the sky with the mes-
sage, This Christmas, follow the light that will guide
you to your family and your freedom. Helicopters
then dropped thousands of lights along paths traveled
Continued on page 2
 Page 2 December 2017
From the Rector:
continued from page 1
by the rebels. Glow-in-the-dark billboards were also
placed along the jungle rivers with the message, Fol-
low the light. Many of the rebels did just that.
Its taken seven long years of such peace-seeking
initiatives, with lots of fits and starts. But last Decem-
ber, Colombias congress approved a peace accord that
brought an end to the civil war. Six months later - this
past June - FARC rebels turned in their weapons, with
their leader proclaiming, Farewell to arms, farewell to
war, welcome to peace! before Christmas Eve.
Now, if such a war-torn nation can undertake a
spiritual renewal of the heart, how much more can we
who gather at Pohick to worship the Prince of Peace
do the same? How much more can we seek to carry
forth his tidings of comfort and joy, witnessing to his
saving mercies in the midst of our own divided na-
tion?
This Advent and Christmas seasons, let each of
us recommit ourselves to undertaking such a spiritual
outreach. Let us each, in the words of Pope Francis,
rededicate ourselves to reflect[ing] visibly the light
of Christ the Word Incarnate. Let us each seek to
purify our hearts so that our Lord Jesus Christ, when
he comes again, will indeed find in there a mansion
prepared for him.
Jackson-Feild Homes
Jackson-Feild Homes in Jarrat, Virginia, be-
gan in 1855 as an Episcopal orphanage for girls.
Now it is a residential adolescent psychiatric pro-
gram for both girls and boys. More than 90% of
the residents suffer from moderate to severe levels
of trauma. Deficient prenatal care, maternal alco-
hol and drug exposure, abandonment, and sus-
tained emotional, physical, and sexual abuse result
in behavioral problems.
For more than 20 years, the Ann Mason Guild,
with the support of the Pohick congregation, has
raised funds to brighten Christmas celebrations
for these children. Please consider supporting this
project again by writing a check to Ann Mason
Guild with Jackson-Feild Homes on the memo
line and putting it in the alms bag or in the Ann
Mason box in the office. These young people will
be very grateful!
Pohick Episcopal Church
Senior Wardens Report
T. E. Fuzzy Thurston, Senior Warden
The only other sounds the sweep/of easy
wind and downy flake.
(Robert Frost from Stopping By Woods)
Have you noticed how most Christmas songs and po-
ems paint the season as tranquil, serene, and unflustered?
Have you noticed that for most of us the season is any-
thing but? Well, here we are again in December, entering
the month on a fast trot that will grow to a full gallop
Christmas falls on a Monday this year. That means the
choir will practice and then perform lessons and carols on
Sunday morning, a Christmas hymn recital in the evening
and then a full-up Christmas Eve Mass covering the wan-
ing hours of Sunday and the initial minutes of Christmas
Day. Some ushers, acolytes, and LEMs will serve at two
services Sunday, and maybe again the next day. The flower
and altar guilds will do double duty. And the priests will
feel like accountants on April 15.
Why am I bringing this up? Because these folks also
have gifts to buy, trees to trim, turkeys to roast, cards to
send, family to welcome, childrens pageants and programs
to attend - all the demands on their time that you and I
face - and yet they still find time to volunteer their time
and talent. So, what Im going to ask YOU to do is say
thank you to at least one or two of the countless volun-
teers who make Christmas special at Pohick and as you
get settled in your pew box Christmas Eve, say a little
prayer for those, without whom Pohick would be a cold
and drab place this season.
Some of the matters discussed at the November Ves-
try meeting: The Vestry discussed parishioner safety dur-
ing services. We will see what suggestions the Diocese
and area police departments have to improve the proce-
dures on Sunday mornings and through the week. The
Fair Committee is examining the possibility of holding
the annual Hodge Podge sale on Friday afternoon/eve-
ning as well as Saturday. The Vestry received a letter of
resignation from long-serving head usher effective Janu-
ary 15 and began the process of finding a replacement.
I made the Vestry aware that it was time to fill out the
pledge card to the Diocese of Virginia and the Vestry di-
rected the finance committee to see if we could increase
the pledge slightly in 2018. We received the notification
that our assistant rector, Revd Ruth Correll, will be retir-
ing at the end of the year and set a date of Sunday, Janu-
ary 31 for a reception to honor Ruth and her service to
Pohick as our longest serving assistant.
Pohick Episcopal Church
From The Assistant Rector
The Reverend
Dr. Ruth E. Correll, Ed.D.
Retirement, Really?
Pohick Church members learned on Tuesday, No-
vember 14, that I would be retiring at the end of 2017.
Officially, that begins 1-1-18, a New Year holiday I
plan to celebrate by throwing away three offending
alarm clocks and putting up Christmas decorations a
bit late.
Thank you to Fr. Don for his kind letter to you
telling of my departure. He is merciful. What only the
Wednesday night prayer group may know is some-
thing that happened before the permanent call to Po-
hick. At that time, my full time job was chaplain to
the Greenspring residents in the nursing center and
hospice. After work there, not once, but twice, I fell
asleep in the Pohick parking lot and slept through ser-
vices I was to lead.
Mortified, I made a doctors appointment for fear
I might actually have passed out on those two occa-
sions. The doctor, a deeply Christian man, took a num-
ber of tests that came out negative. Because of his un-
derstanding of pastoral care dealing with impending
death and bereavement, he suggested the symptoms
indicated a delayed grief response. My supervisor at
Greenspring concurred for chaplains may experience
similar depletion at some point. Those loving, hugging
Wednesday night people had the grace to forgive and
kept right on praying. Thats the engine that keeps Po-
hick Church alive and running.
Fr. Dons invitation to return to full time work in
TEC in October, 2012, required some soul searching,
probably on the part of both of us. I had already pro-
cessed one retirement from The Episcopal Church in
2008 and loved the people at Greenspring. Ordina-
tion came in 1999, and the first decade of the 21st
century in TEC was anything but pleasant. Go figure!
My resistance ran deep. But finally peace came with
the call to Pohick. Heres why.
First and foremost, compatibility with the theolo-
gy heard from the pulpit at Pohick reassured me. Sec-
ond, on my initial visit to Pohick, Fuzzy walked in a
roughly diagonal path through the church to the pew
box where I was sitting to welcome me. Most of you
December 2017 Page 3
have no idea how rarely that happens when a woman
by herself visits a church. Third, being 65 years old, I
could leave, if necessary, without either selling my soul
or exhausting resources. Finally, Gods Spirit hovers
over this place where early leaders of our nation had
the vision and fortitude to seek freedom under God
for this young nations people.
How grateful I am for completing my parish min-
istry by participating in the day-to-day work of this
exceptional church. Dons prayerful and strategic lead-
ership on every front keeps this busy congregation of
talented members on their toes. The hours of service
you give to this community reach staggering propor-
tions. The staff offers every ounce of their strength and
highly developed skills to the service of our Lord. Rev.
Ruth will miss you!
Although a pile of books to read and DVDs to
watch beckons, couch potato is not an option. Retire-
ment allows delving into projects waiting to be com-
pleted. A working sabbatical for quiet study, healthy
exercise, and adequate sleep excites and energizes this
old lady. Lord willing, my location will alternate two
or three months at a time between here and the little
get-away place on Lake Erie. No doubt, the Good
Shepherd will continue to lead. It will be a delight to
see you from time to time. God bless and keep you.
Christian Education
Frances Sessums, Director of Christian Education
The annual Christmas Pageant, The Gift, will be
held on December 17 following the 10:00 am service
in the Church. A reception will follow in the Com-
mon Room. Mike Elston is doing a wonderful job of
directing the pageant. Mike has been working hard
with the students and staff these last weeks. All of the
church school students play a part in the pageant. The
preschoolers through sixth graders are working hard
on their parts and songs. The seventh and eighth grad-
ers are writing and practicing the introduction while
the senior high are acting as coaches, stage crew, or
ushers. Please plan to attend this wonderful event!
On the day of the pageant, Preschool, Kindergar-
ten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students who are partici-
pating in the pageant should be in their classrooms
before the church service begins. Stable animals, 5th
and 6th, and Junior High students should be in the
Common Room before the Church services begin.
 Page 4 December 2017 Pohick Episcopal Church

time and talent, Pohick has had a wonderful contribu-

Junior Wardens Report
Fred Crawford, Junior Warden
Thanks: To everyone who continues to support the
maintenance and upkeep of this beautiful parish. It
is continually surprising to see all the things that get
done by members of the parish to keep the property
well maintained and worthy of being called Historic
Pohick Church. Thanks to all.
What has been done:
The painting in the Sanctuary completed on No-
vember 7. Additional painting will be scheduled when
other scheduled projects have been completed.
The open circuit in the power to the light pole
by the Vestry house was found and repaired, giving a
welcome light to that area of the courtyard.
Over the past two years, the volunteer hours, that
I know about, have saved the Parish over $15,000. Of
"
Christmas Flowers All Red Poinsettias
I would like to make a donation towards the poinsettias and greens that decorate the Church at Christmas time.
tion from its members.
It is believed that all the prerequisite paperwork
for Dominion has been completed to begin to bring
the new power feed into the Sanctuary. VDOT ap-
proval is still pending.
The repair of the soffits on the Parish House is
underway, continuing into December.
What is planned:
Dominion will start work to bring the new power
to the Sanctuary as soon as all the permissions from
VDOT are obtained. The route will be from the pow-
er pole at the corner of Old Colchester and Route 1,
underground parallel to Route 1, then under the wall
to the Northwest corner of the Sanctuary. That is the
point of interface with the electrical contractor who
will bring the upgraded power into the Sanctuary.
Planning for the HVAC installation continues and
is nearing the final configuration.

Given By:______________________________________________________________________________
In Memory or Thanksgiving:
(Written the way you wish it to appear in the Christmas Bulletin.)

Please make checks payable to Pohick Church. Designate for Christmas Flowers.
The price is $13.00 The deadline is Thursday, December 14
This form with check may be returned to the desk of the Church Secretary or dropped in the alms basket.
Pohick Episcopal Church
Music Notes
Linda Egan, Minister of Music
~On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the
news the angels bring.
So begins the Sussex Carol, which the St. Cecelia
St. Alban Choir will sing on Christmas Eve. Having
just visited Chichester in Sussex, I can well imagine
all Christians singing there to hear the angels news.
News of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our
merciful Kings birth.
Our setting of this traditional carol is filled with
rollicking joy, our voices, the organ, and even a few
bells telling the news of mercy.
Then why should people be so sad since our Redeemer
made us glad?
When from our sin he set us f ree, all for to gain our
liberty.
Here in the United States, we think about our lib-
erty from tyrants, our freedom to think and live within
the law as we see fit. Sin, though, is the ultimate ty-
rant, and his setting us free truly gains us our liberty.
When sin departs before his grace, then life and health
come in its place.
And so, angels above with joy may sing all for to see
the newborn King.
As a church musician, I have to say I truly hope to
hear the angels sing one day. Until then, I am happy to
hear the choristers of the St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
sing.
All out of darkness we have light which made the an-
gels sing this night;
Glory to God, we sing again; now and forevermore,
Amen.
Welcome to new Choir of Pohick member bari-
tone Fred Gray. Nice to have you with us.
The organ project is ongoing. The trumpet pipes
have been reinstalled and are sounding very fine. They
now blend very well with the full organ ensemble, and
are also much more stable in operation and tuning.
The bench has been painted
and installed. A few small
changes are being made to it,
which will be completed soon.
Merry Christmas, and hap-
py music making this season!
December 2017 Page 5
Join The Celebration At Pohick
Sunday, December 17 8:00 am and 10:00 am:
Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Christmas Pageant
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24 8:00 am:
Holy Eucharist 10:00 am: Lessons and Carols
6:00 pm: Family Holy Eucharist 10:30 pm:
Carol Service 11:00 pm: Festival Holy Eucharist
Christmas Day, Monday, December 25
10:00 am: Holy Eucharist
New Years Eve, Sunday, December 31
8:00 am and 10:00 am: Holy Eucharist
Music Schedule December 2017
Sunday, December 3 First Sunday of Advent
9:00 am Choir of Pohick, St. Cecelia
St. Alban Choir
11:15 am Gloria Jackson, soprano
Wednesday, December 6
7:30 pm Blue Christmas
Sunday, December 10 Second Sunday of Advent
9:00 am Choir of Pohick, St. Francis Choir
11:15 am TG Powell, mezzo soprano
Sunday, December 17 Third Sunday of Advent
10:00 am Choir of Pohick
Sunday, December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent:
Lessons & Carols and Christmas Eve
10:00 am Choir of Pohick and Pohick Bell Choir
6 pm St. Francis Choir, St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
10:30 pm Carol Service and 11 pm Holy Eucharist
Choir of Pohick, Early Church Music Ensemble and
Brass Quartet from the US Marine Band
Sunday, December 31
10 am Choir of Pohick
Warm-up rehearsals for Pohick musicians:
for 9 am services: 8 am
for 10 am services: 9 am
Christmas Eve warm-up rehearsals:
5 pm St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
5:30 pm St. Francis Choir
9:15 pm Choir of Pohick, Early Church
Music Ensemble and Brass Quartet
 Page 6 December 2017
Update on Issues in the Anglican Communion
Don Brownlee, Member of Policy and Planning Commission
This monthly report is part of the Vestrys ongoing effort to inform
and update the Parish about the ongoing controversies within The
Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Communion. These
controversies largely involve the blessing of same-sex unions, or-
dination of non-celibate homosexuals, interpretation of Scripture,
and breakdown of traditional boundary lines between Provinces.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has refused to re-
consider its decision this August awarding diocesan funds
and most church property in the Diocese of South Caro-
lina to the group that wishes to remain part of The Episco-
pal Church (TEC). By a two-to-two vote, the
court denied a request by the group that has
broken away from The Episcopal Church for
a rehearing of the August decision. The court
also unanimously refused to belatedly force
one justice to recuse herself. That justice, Kaye
Hearn, has recused herself going forward, and
did not participate in the either of the most re-
cent decisions.
The group that attempted to leave The Episcopal Church
but retain diocesan funds and properties is, for the moment at
least, known as The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.
The group that wished to continue to be part of The Episco-
pal Church is known, again, at least for the moment, as The
Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Which group has the
right to call itself The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
is among the issues being fought out in court.
The state supreme court did not offer any reason or ex-
planation for turning down the request for a rehearing. The
breakaway diocese argued that Justice Hearn should be forced
to disqualify herself, and her deciding vote in the August de-
cision thrown out, because she was a member of a group that
asked for disciplinary charges against Bp. Mark Lawrence
when he was still a bishop in The Episcopal Church. That ac-
tion set in motion the chain of events that led to him leading
his diocese out to TEC. In denying the request to force her
to recuse herself now, the court cited earlier case law saying
Timeliness is essential to any recusal motion. To be timely,
a recusal motion must be made at counsels first opportunity
after discovery of the disqualifying facts. One justice who
has generally sided with the breakaway group noted it had
not challenged Justice Hearns participation until it lost the
case: An adverse decision is no reason to excuse a nearly two-
and-a-half year delay in making a request for refusal.
Bp. Skip Adams, provisional bishop of the continuing
diocese, wrote after the latest court ruling,
From the time this lawsuit was filed the hope of rec-
onciliation has been our guiding principle...We renew our
commitment to this hard work of reconciliation in the days
Pohick Episcopal Church
to come.
We understand that the many peo-
ple in the parishes affected by this ruling
may be experiencing pain, fear and confu-
sion. Let me say to all that The Episcopal
Church in South Carolina is committed
to finding a path that will allow the people
of God to continue to live their lives as a
part of the Anglican Communion in and through the Epis-
copal Church.
The Episcopal Church seeks to be an expression of faith
in Christ that welcomes all to his expansive Table. Our prayer
is that every person in every parish of the Diocese will join in
working and praying together to bring healing to the Church,
the Body of Christ, in this part of South Carolina.
But Bp. Lawrence was having no talk of reconciliation.
He wrote his diocese I would paraphrase (Bp. Adams state-
ment) thusly -- Of course, you may remain worshipping in
your Church buildings. All you have to do is surrender to
the national Episcopal Church and we will receive you back.
Frankly, I believe a more honorable goal would be a charitable
parting of the ways enabling each diocese to get on with its
mission to a needy world.
Bp. Lawrences diocese said it would appeal the case to
the U.S. Supreme Court. At his urging, the various parishes
also filed a betterments claim, a legal action which in es-
sence says, We dont concede that the
properties belong to the continuing dio-
cese, but if the courts say they do, then we
want to be reimbursed for the money weve
put into them over the years for improve-
ments and upkeep.
A separate case over trademark issues
is pending in Federal courts, and currently
in court-ordered mediation. The two sides
met once in November, prior to the latest ruling from the
state court. Another session is scheduled for early December.
Although that mediation strictly speaking involves only the
trademark issues, it potential could broaden to include the
property issues as well.
***
Elsewhere:
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby traveled to
Moscow late last month to meet with the patriarch of the
Russian Orthodox Church. In a joint statement, they pleaded
with the international community to render speedy help to
support the Christian and other populations of the Middle
East.
Continued on page 7
Pohick Episcopal Church
Update on Issues in the Anglican Communion,
continued from page 6
Our hearts are pained by the mass exodus of the Chris-
tian population from those places where the Good News be-
gan to be spread throughout the world, they said. Christians
also suffer more subtle forms of discrimination where life is
made so difficult that it is easier for them to leave their an-
cient homeland than to stay.
They called for guarantees of security and the restora-
tion of the social infrastructure and living accommodation
and the setting up of conditions for clergy to carry out their
ministry and the restoration of destroyed churches to retain
the Christian presence in the Middle East and the return of
refugees to the region.
And they called for preventative measures against the
ideology of extremism that has spread throughout the
worldlike an epidemic. They said: We call upon the
worlds religious and political leaders to unite in their efforts
to come up with an effective response to extremism.
The Scottish Episcopal Church has elected its first
female bishop. The episcopal synod last month elected The
Rev. Canon Anne Dyer to be the new bishop of the diocese
of Aberdeen & Orkney. The Scottish Epis-
copal Church agreed 14 years ago to allow
female bishops. Bp-elect Dyer was among
the first women ordained to the deacon-
ate and priesthood in the Scottish Episco-
pal Church as those orders were opened to
women in the 1980s.
The issues of whether women should
be ordained as priests and consecrated as
bishops are largely settled within the Anglican Communion,
but they continue to vex the groups that are theologically
at odds with it. From its inception, the Anglican Church in
North America (ACNA) has acknowledged differences on
the issue. Its constitution lets each diocese decide whether
to ordain women as priests, but says only men can be conse-
crated as bishops. A recent task force appointed to study the
issue (but specifically not to recommend a way to resolve it)
concluded, We have found that no single argument, either
way, that clearly settles this controversy to the satisfaction of
all. Anglicans on both sides hold their opinion with a sincere
wish to serve God and uphold the gospel.
A precipitous decision (to change ACNAs constitu-
tion one way or the other), simply for the sake moving past
this issue, would not reflect the love that is required by Gods
people. Both positions on this issue cannot be right, but both
positions are held by good and godly people. Work toward
a resolution of this issue must move forward, but it should
be done with patience and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Task Force encourages the College of Bishops to adopt a
schedule of discussion that allows for sufficient time for study,
December 2017 Page 7
prayer and interaction.
Bp. Jack Iker, who was one of the last bishops in The
Episcopal Church to refuse to ordain women, and led his
Diocese of Fort Worth out of TEC over this and other is-
sues, told his diocesan convention last month precipitous ac-
tion was indeed needed: We now need to work with other
dioceses to amend the Constitution to remove this provision
(that allows diocese ordain women if they choose).
We are in a state of impaired communion because of this
issue, he said. Noting the task forces conclusion thatboth
sides cannot be right, he said he had no-
tified his fellow ACNA bishops that he
would no longer give consent to the election
of any bishop who intends to ordain female
priests, nor would he attend the consecra-
tion of any such bishop-elect in the future.
It is no longer possible to have business as
usual in the College of Bishops due to the refusal of those
who are in favor of women priests to at least adopt a morato-
rium on this divisive practice, for the sake of unity. Bishops
who continue to ordain women priests in spite of the received
tradition are signs of disunity and division.
It is important to remember that despite all these controversies, the
work of the Church - globally, nationally, and locally - goes on.
Through youth mission trips, food donations to LCAC, donations of
school supplies and backpacks, the Community of Hope and other out-
reach efforts, Pohick continues to leak the love of God to neighbors in
need. As the Sr. Warden recently noted, While human lives are limited
in duration, the church continues from generation to generation and
age to ageThe fruit of our work with homeless children at Christmas
time may be realized 40 years into the future when Pohicks new rector
tells her parishioners how the love she felt at that 2017 party inspired
her to overcome her poverty, and to be the first in her family to gradu-
ate from college then from seminary.
Give Back
While Christmas Shopping!
Visit the Golden Dove Gift Shop for
Christmas decor, Jim Shore statues,
Santa & Snowman items, nativity scenes,
cross jewelry, and special Pohick items!
Funds from all sales go back to Pohick & Outreach Programs!
MARK THE CALENDAR!
December 10, Golden Dove, Christmas
Display with lots for sale! Common
Room-after all services
Have a cup of coffee while shopping!
 Page 8 December 2017
LCAC Christmas Gifts & Food Baskets
Pohick is continuing its outreach to LCAC by
providing Christmas gifts and food to those in the
area that are less fortunate. On the artificial tree in
the Common Room by the glass doors, find gift tags
for children with the item that is wanted. Please take
the tag(s), buy the designated item and return UN-
WRAPPED with the gift tag taped to the gift or bag.
To ensure these families have food for the holi-
days, the following items are needed for the holiday
food baskets:
2 cans each: green beans, peas, corn (low sodium On Monday evening, December 4, beginning at
if possible)
1 pound bag of rice
2 cans of fruit
1 - 6oz box of stuffing (no bags)
1 bottle of Canola oil
1 brownie mix or cake mix with frosting
2 boxes of pasta
1 container of pasta sauce
1 large box of cereal (18oz or larger)
3 - 10 3/4 oz cans of soup (no broth)
$20 gift card to Shoppers or Food Lion
The gifts and the food baskets must be brought
to the Common Room by Saturday, December 16 at
11:00 am. At that time, these items will be delivered
to LCAC. If for some reason food items cannot be
brought to the Common Room by the deadline, de-
liver the gifts and/or food to the Moose Lodge, 9612
Fernedge Lane, Lorton, off Route 1 past the Lorton
Library but before Gunston Road, between the hours
of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
As always, thanks for the continued support of
Pohicks outreach programs. Contact Edwardene Pit-
cock, epitcock@mindspring.com, or Connie Myers,
jetskiing@hotmail.com for more information. Gift
cards for either the gifts or the food may be given to
Edwardene or Connie.
Martha Guild News
Connie Myers
The Martha Guild will NOT meet in December. The
new year will begin with a dinner (place to be deter-
mined) on Wednesday, January 10. Keep watch for the
details. All Women of the Church are cordially invited
to attend.
Pohick Episcopal Church
New Hope Housing
Christmas Gifts & Dinner Party
As in the past, Pohick also extends its support to
those children in the New Hope Housing organiza-
tion by providing holiday gifts. For tags taken from
the fabric Christmas tree that was hanging on the
partition wall between the Common Room and the
Annex, these items must be returned to church by
Sunday, December 3. Please make sure to attach the
tag to the bag containing the unwrapped gift.
6:30 pm, Pohick will host the Christmas Dinner
Party for the individuals and families of New Hope
Housing. On the bulletin board at the bottom of
the stairs near the Annex, find a poster listing all
of the food that is needed for the evening - please
sign-up for an item to contribute to the dinner.
Volunteers are needed on Monday afternoon to
help set-up the room, decorate, and prepare the food
for the evening. Assistance is also needed during
the party with the food, conversing with the guests
and with clean-up. Contacts are Edwardene Pit-
cock, epitcock@mindspring.com, or Connie Myers,
jetskiing@hotmail.com for more information.
2017 Christmas Mart
The 2017 Christmas Mart was another success-
ful event thanks to ALL the wonderful ladies who
worked tirelessly on preparations (some throughout
the year) prior to the Mart and for the many hours
spent during the week of the Mart! Thanks to the
Congregation for all the donations of baked goods,
frozen casseroles, attic treasures, consignments, and
jewelry. To the wonderful men that gave their sup-
port by moving the furniture to the various rooms, a
heartfelt THANKS.
The profits from the
Christmas Mart will allow the
Ann Mason Guild, the Mar-
tha Guild, and the Women of
The Church to continue their
various Outreach missions
as well as needs within the
Church. A sincere Thank You
to everyone!
Pohick Episcopal Church December 2017 Page 9

Pohick Church Activities December 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
NOV 26 27 28 29 30 DEC 1 2
Last Pentecost, Year A 7p EFM 9:30a Staff Mtg 10a Docent Mtg 1p Belvoir Co-op 8a Brotherhood
7:45a HE I 2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir of St. Andrew
9a HE II 6p St. Cecelia St. 7p Boy Scouts 10a Yoga
11:15a HE II Alban Choir 7:30p Choir of 1p 1st Sat
6p St. Francis Choir Pohick Docent Tour
7:30p Healing Service
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Advent 1b 6:30p New 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 1p Belvoir Co-op Breakfast 8a Brotherhood of
7:45a HE I Hope Dinner 11a Staff Lunch 6p COH 6:15p Bell Choir w/Santa St. Andrew
9a HE II 7p EFM 4:30p Golden 6p St. Cecelia St. 7p Boy Scouts 10a Breakfast w/
Set up Santa
11:15a HE I Dove Alban Choir 7:30p Choir of
6p EYC Dinner Pohick 10a Yoga
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Blue Christmas
Service
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Advent 2b 7p EFM 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 1p Co-op Holiday Pohick Post 8a Brotherhood
7:45a HE I 9:30a Ann Ma- 6p St. Cecelia St. Party Deadline of St. Andrew
9a HE II son Guild Mtg Alban Choir 6:15p Bell Choir 9a Pageant Re-
11:15a HE II 7:30p Vestry Mtg 6p St. Francis Choir 7p Boy Scouts hearsal
6:30p EYC 7:30p Healing Service 7:30p Choir of 10a Yoga
Pohick

17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Advent 3b 7p EFM 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir 8a Brotherhood
7:45a HE I 7p Docent Gen 6p St. Cecelia St. 7p Boy Scouts of St. Andrew
9a HE II Mtg Alban Choir 7:30p Choir of 10a Yoga
11:15a HE I 6p St. Francis Choir Pohick
7:30p Healing Service
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Advent 4b Christmas Day Office Closed 2p HE, the Fairfax 7p Boy Scouts 8a Brotherhood
8a HE I Office Closed 9:30a Staff Mtg 7:30p Healing Service of St. Andrew
10a HE II, Lessons 10a Yoga
& Carols 10a Christmas
6p Christmas Eve Service Day Service
10:30p Carol Service 7p EFM
11p Christmas Eve Service
31 JAN 1 2 3 4 5 6
New Years Eve New Years Day 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir 8a Brotherhood
Christmas 1b Office Closed 6p St. Cecelia St. 7p Boy Scouts of St. Andrew
8a HE I 7p EFM Alban Choir 10:30a Yoga
7:30p Choir of
10a HE II 6p St. Francis Choir 1p 1st Sat Do-
7p 5/6 grade New Pohick cent Tour
7:30p Healing Service
Years Lock-in

Contact the Parish Secretary, Susan Hayward-Costa, to list group meetings or events on the calendar, shcosta@pohick.org.

Save the Date February 10, 2018

The Docent Guild will hold a Mardi Gras celebration on February 10, 2018
from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Stay tuned for more details!
 Page 10 December 2017 Pohick Episcopal Church

SUNDAY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

3 DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 17 DECEMBER 24 DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER
USHERS
7:45 Mike Zane Don Cooke 8a Rodger Jones 8a Tony Marsico 8a Don Cooke
Stew Remaly Becky Wagner Mike Vaughn Stew Remaly Mike Zane
9:00 Dru Hodges Edwardene Pitcock 10a John Pasour 10a Pehr Pehrsson Chris Brown
Brent Goeller Tom Goeller Tom Bland Beth Altman Hank Foresman
Dennis Myers Matt Gurrola Angela Edgemon Paul Walden Rita Smith
Greg Wilson Bill Patton Steve Edgemon Mike Wooten Fuzzy Thurston
11:15 Kathy Kirkland Dave Billingsley
Ed McGovern Sandra Caesar
OPEN - UP
7:00 F. Thurston E. Thorson D. Smith A. Choi K. Kirkland
LOCK - UP
1:00 A. Derbes J. Rolander C. Cockroft F. Crawford S. Pehrsson
TELLERS
12:15 Heintz/Jacobus Faber/Kirkland M/M Thurston Pasour/Remaly M/M Brown
ALTAR GUILD
AM J. Sunderland J. Wells J. Wells BJ McPherson BJ McPherson
B. Altman N. Sage N. Sage A. Powell, J. Schmid A. Powell, J. Schmid
N. Bireley C. Foster C. Foster M. Tonkin M. Tonkin
V. Jones J. Geschickter J. Geschickter S. Caesar S. Caesar
J. MacDonald J. Mullins J. Mullins E. Pitcock E. Pitcock
R. Teale H. Parker H. Parker A. Marsico A. Marsico
B. Wagner R. Stankwitz R. Stankwitz M. Yezek M. Yezek
FLOWER GUILD
AM Advent Flowers Advent Flowers Advent Flowers Poinsettias TBD
COFFEE HOUR
7:45 M/M Bryant M/M Bireley 8a M/M Altman 8a Byrne/Wagner 8a Byrne/Wagner
9:00 M/M Wise Pitcock/Schmid 10a Christmas Reception Team 10a M/M Ayorinde 10a Persigehl/Dudley
11:15 S. Caesar S. Pehrsson
GREETERS
7:45 D. Smith R. Stankwitz 8a S. Remaly 8a B. Wagner 8a M/M Biddlecomb
9:00 Stribling/Brimmer J. Sweetser 10a C. Turner 10a M. Elston 10a M/M Cooke
11:15 L. Aqueron M. Kanu
DOCENTS
9:00 P. Kind H. Parker B. Bland F. Crawford New Years Eve
11:15 D. McHugh G. Delaune Christmas Pageant Lessons & Carols New Years Eve
LAY READERS
7:45 Foresman (R) Thorson (P) 8a Foresman (P) 8a Thorson (R) Sunderland (R)
Sunderland (P) Booth (R) Arning (R) Foresman (P) Pasour (P)
9:00 Pasour (P) Faber (P) 10a M. Harding (P) 10a Lessons & Carols Sage (P)
Sage (R) Egan (R) S. Harding (R) Walden (R)
11:15 Cockroft (R) Arning (P)
Walden (P) Ayorinde (R)
The Sunday Service Volunteers Schedule is also available at Pohick Churchs website, www.pohick.org, under Ministries.
Pohick Episcopal Church
General Browns Scalpel
By Lawrence M (Larry) Nelson, MD, MBA
CAPT USPHS, Retired
Noticed the new addition to Richmond Highway?
On Veterans Day, the Pohick Community and the
State of Virginia dedicated a new highway marker in
honor of Physician General William Brown, MD.
The marker reads:
William Brown, M.D. (ca. 1748-1792)
Dr. William Brown, Revolutionary War physician,
was born in Scotland and raised in Maryland. After
studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, he
established a practice in Alexandria. In 1775 he be-
came surgeon of the 2nd Virginia Regiment. In 1778
the Continental Congress appointed him physician
general of the Middle Department, extending from
the Hudson to the Potomac River. At the military
hospital in Lititz, PA, Brown compiled the Lititz
Pharmacopeia (1778), a collection of medical pro-
cedures and formulas for the compounding of medi-
cations. This was the first American formulary and a
pioneering effort to provide standardized care. Brown
is buried here in Pohick Cemetery.
The Pohick Community also welcomed a new ad-
dition to the world of entertainment, affectionately
deemed Ken Smith and the General Brown Band.
The National Brotherhood of Saint Andrew has
an initiative to develop veteran friendly congregations.
As the church of General Washington, this effort is
particularly relevant to Pohick Church.
The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is a worldwide
ministry founded in 1883 by a group of workingmen
at Saint James Episcopal Church in Chicago. The fo-
cus is to bring men, boys, and youth to Christ with a
vision of a muscular form of Christianity, a source of
strength for dealing with adversity. The Pohick Chap-
ter meets every Saturday morning at 8:00 am for a
hearty mans breakfast, prayer, service, and study. New
members are welcomed with open arms.
By the way, the logo above is Saint Andrews cross.
As their patron saint his cross comprises the flag of
Scotland and is also part of our Episcopal flag.
December 2017 Page 11
Nursery Volunteers Needed
Nursery volunteers are needed for the 9:00 am ser-
vice. Anyone interested in helping once every couple
of months, please call the church office or Frances
Sessums at 703-472-5180. This is a great opportuni-
ty to hold and nourish babies and toddlers! The ages
are newborns to 3 years of age. Please consider this
important ministry!
Stewardship Corner
More Hands on the Nets:
Stewardship and the Christmas Mart
Earlier today I attended the Christmas Mart. It
was noon time and the place was jumping. The sec-
ond seating of lunch was underway and in addition
to a nearly full Common Room, there were easily
60 or more shoppers perusing merchandise at the
various sales venues.
Putting Christmas Mart together takes many
hands. Including those who set up and tear down,
those who prepare and serve food, those who tend
the shops, sell tickets, and the like, it takes at least
four dozen workers to put on this annual activity.
That does not include those who make the baked
goods and casseroles, those who bring in items for
the sales, or the docents who give church tours as
part of the day. Along with apple butter and the fair,
it is certainly one of the best example of hands on
the nets.
And what does it do for the surrounding com-
munity? It gives neighbors, including many residents
of the Fairfax, a place to enjoy a good meal and to
spend a pleasant few hours. It advertises Pohick as a
happy, friendly neighbor and welcomes people into
the warmth of the church family. And, of course, it
brings in funds that are spent on outreach and other
missions. I like to think of it as a place Jesus might
have enjoyed visiting and perhaps it is a place He
does visit annually and enjoy.
For those who had their hands on the nets that
produced another very successful Christmas Mart,
thank you. To those who might be able to take a
few hours to participate next year, even if it means
taking an afternoon off from work, I think you willl
find your time well spent. There are still jobs to be
filled and fellowship to be enjoyed.
 The Purpose of Pohick Church is to be a nourishing community where Christs love is experienced and taken beyond its walls.

VESTRY GRAM
Non-Profit Org.

Permit No. 2
U.S. Postage

Lorton, VA
PAID

Date: _____________________ Subject: _____________________

To: The Vestry
From:
Pohick Church Staff Pohick Church Vestry
Rector: The Revd Donald Sr. Warden: Fuzzy Thurston
Binder, PhD Jr. Warden: Fred Crawford
Assistant: The Revd Dr. Ruth Treasurer: Doug Smith
E. Correll, Ed.D. Register: Susan Pehrsson
Lorton, Virginia 22079-1519

Seminarian: Wesley Arning Members: Beth Altman, Amanda Choi,

9301 Richmond Highway

Minister of Music: Linda Egan Caroline Cockroft,

Return Service Requested

Director of Anne Derbes, Emily Elston,

Christian Ed: Frances Sessums Kathy Kirkland,
Pohick Church

Youth Minister: Rusty Booth Carney McCullough,

Parish Secretary: Susan Hayward-Costa Jane Rolander,
Finance Admin: Mike Morgan Eric Thorson
Sexton: John Sessums
Telephone: 703-339-6572 Fax: 703-339-9884
Church Office Email: shcosta@pohick.org Web Site: www.pohick.org