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

eres a question I receive from time to time during the season of Advent that weve just entered:
If Christmas comes on December 25, why then do
so many churches (including our own) have their big
services the night before on Christmas eve?
Its a fair question. In fact, our colonial forebears
always came out to worship in our church on Christmas Day. It wasnt until 1961 that we held our first
Midnight Mass at Pohick Church (and only in 1980
that we added an earlier family service, now held at
6 pm).
Why then, did our congregation make the switch?
For that matter, why did thousands of other churches
over the past two centuries begin this curious custom
of gathering for worship on the eve of Christmas, often at a very late hour - something we do for no other
Christian holiday?
The answer can be summed up in two words: the
shepherds.
Here, youll recall from the Christmas story that
the angels appeared to the shepherds watching their
flocks by night. As Luke recounts, it was at nighttime
that the angels declared to the shepherds their joyous
message and sang their wondrous hymn of Glory to
God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
But here we must read the words in the Christmas
story carefully. For although we probably remember
that the lead angel told the shepherds where to go and

DECEMBER 2016
how to find the newborn savior, we likely dont recall
that he didnt command the shepherds to go. He left
that decision for them to make for themselves.
So when the angels departed, we then read how
the shepherds actually did respond: Suddenly filled
with a great joy at the angels wonderful message of
hope, they said to each other, Let us go
- when? Let us go now to Bethlehem to see this
thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made
known to us.
Indeed, they
were so excited
that they couldnt
wait for the morning. They couldnt
wait for the sun to
come up, when it
would have been
far safer to travel over the rocky hillsides that surround the outskirts of Bethlehem.
Thats because a new light had come into the
world - a divine light that would illumine the human
heart. And so they made haste to Bethlehem in the
middle of the night, wandering through the darkness
that engulfed the wicked world and into the shining
light of Gods love come down from heaven.
That is the reason we and so many other Christians gather in our churches on Christmas eve (as well
as the during joyous aftermath of Christmas Day): we
are following in the footsteps of those first shepherds
who were filled with such hope and expectation at
Continued on page 2

Page 2 December 2016

From the Rector: continued from page 1

the angels message that they couldnt wait for a more
convenient time. They made their journey of faith in
the middle of the night - and so now do we.
For us living in the 21st century, the significance
of this journey is mostly masked by the aid of modern technology. We zip to church in our climate controlled cars on illuminated roads making barely a
movement with our major muscles.
To remind us of that shepherds journey we aspire
to make, we would do well to ponder the recollections of a French woman attending Midnight Mass
in the middle of the 19th century. In her memoirs,
she writes:
I can see myself as a little girl, bundled up to the tip
of my nose in furs and knitted shawls, tiny wooden shoes on my feet, a lantern in my hand, setting
out with my parents for the Midnight Mass of
Christmas Eve. . .We started off, a number of us,
together in a stream of light. . .Our lanterns cast
great shadows on the white road, crisp with frost.
As our little group advanced it saw others on their
way, people from the farm and from the mill, who
joined us, and once on the [church courtyard]
we found ourselves with all the parishioners in a
body. No one spoke - the icy north wind cut short
our breath; but the voice of the chimes filled the
silence. . .We entered, accompanied by a gust of
wind that swept into the porch at the same time
we did; and the splendors of the altar, studded
with lights, green with pine and laurel branches,
dazzled us from the threshold.
Although its unlikely that any of us will have
similar rustic journeys to Midnight Masses in our future, the outward journey, while deeply symbolic, is
much less important than the inner one.
Thats because for many of us we still feel at least
moments of darkness in our lives, whether in a global
sense or on a more personal level. Left unchecked,
that darkness can overwhelm us, sending us into a
downward spiral of despair.
Thats a struggle that we all face, because we all
deal with not only our own frailties and failures, but
also those of others around us. Even after 2,000 years,
we and all of humanity are still in need of a Savior.
We still desperately need a power beyond our own to
lift us out of the mire.

Pohick Episcopal Church

Christina Rosettis text of the Christmas hymn,

In the Bleak Midwinter (#112), beautifully describes this midnight journey of the heart, the journey
from darkness into light:
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow has fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago
Such is the hopeless state of our lives before that
birth in Bethlehem. And so Rosetti goes on to write
about how neither the heavens nor the earth could
sustain the great goodness of God - and yet in the
bleak midwinter, a lowly stable could.
But the most important verse of all is the last one
where Rosetti considers how we might best respond
to Gods gracious gift:
What can I give Him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him Give my heart.
Those closing words are the most poignant of all,
since the greatest gift we can give back to God is the
gift of our heart. When we do, that is where that inner journey both begins and ends. Thats where the
light of Christ starts to overcome the darkness within
us, sometimes haltingly, sometimes overwhelmingly
- but, in the end, in ways beyond what we can ask or
imagine.
And so as we enter the season of Advent, with
Christmas eve drawing inexorably near, I hope you
will think of the shepherds and their journey towards
Bethlehem. I hope that you will see yourself as following in their footsteps, not just on that holy night,
but whenever you feel stuck in the bleak mid-winter.
And when you arrive at that stable to behold Joseph and Mary and that blessed babe lying in a manger, I hope the true joy of that encounter will well up
within you. And then, in that quiet moment, I hope
that you once more will give the Lord Jesus the gift
that he wants most of all: the gift of your heart.

Pohick Episcopal Church

From The Assistant Rector

The Reverend
Dr. Ruth E. Correll, Ed.D.
Accents of Advent

Since childhood, many of us have heard the stories associated with Advent and Christmas. The message of the angel of the Lord sent the shepherds to
Bethlehem to see what the Lord has made known to
us. As directed, they found a baby lying in a manger
and wrapped in swaddling clothes or bands of cloth.
Throughout hundreds of years of Israels history, the
people had longed for this Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord, of whom the angel spoke.
We have hints of what their hopes were as the
shepherds announced Jesus birth on their way back
to the sheep. The following seven quotes come from
before Jesus was born. See if you can identify A. who
said it, B. to whom, and C. about whom. They are not
in chronological order.
1. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne
of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
2. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the
Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his
ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the
forgiveness of their sins.
3. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of
the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from old, from
ancient days.
4. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before
him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord.
5. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.
6. He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry
with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
7. And why has this happened to me, that the mother
of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound
of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And
blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.

December 2016 Page 3

Score yourself by the answers given on page 4.

Looking back, we see that Jesus ALREADY has
given salvation to his people and forgiven their sins.
More than once he filled the hungry with good things,
and he sent at least one rich young man away empty.
And, oh, how he lifted up the lowly again and again:
the women, the children, the sick, the poor, and the
powerless! On the other hand, anyone reading these
hopes knows that all of them have NOT YET been
fulfilled. Jesus of Nazareth did not bring down the
powerful from their thrones. He did not reign in Israel
or over the house of Jacob at all, let alone forever. But
we believe that one day he shall reign eternally.
In Advent, we reaffirm our longing and trust that
Jesus will return in power and glory. In Advent, we
ready ourselves to be a people prepared for the Lords
coming. In this already but not yet era of the Kingdom
of God, we accept the gift that blessed are we who believe that there shall be a fulfillment of what has been
spoken to us by the Lord. Soak in the hope of Advent!

Christian Education

Frances Sessums, Director of Christian Education

On December 11, Pohick will present its annual
Christmas Pageant, The Gift. It will be held following the 10:00 am service in the Church with a party
afterwards in the Common Room. Mike Elston is
doing a wonderful job of directing it. Mike has been
working hard with 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 graders are writing and practicing the introduction while the senior high
are coaches, stage crew, or ushers.
Please attend this wonderful event!
On the day of the pageant, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and
3rd grade students who are participating in the pageant should be in
their classrooms before the church
service begins. The Stable animals,
5th & 6th, and Junior High students should be in the Common
Room before the Church services
begin.

Page 4 December 2016

Senior Wardens Report

Helen Parker, Senior Warden

The Christmas Mart last month was a spectacular

event! In addition to the monetary rewards benefitting outreach, Pohick had many visitors - touring the
church, interacting with parishioners, socializing over
lunch, shopping, and enjoying a delightful day.
As we approach Christmas, let us always be
mindful of the needs of others. The dinner/party for
New Hope Housing is scheduled on December 5, and
Breakfast with Santa that helps Lorton Community
Action Center is December 10. The gifts for those less
fortunate are important for both the donor and the
recipient!
Pohicks Blue Christmas Service on December 7
is a wonderful bridge into the holidays for those who
have suffered loss. The Christmas Pageant on December 11, Lessons and Carols on December 18, and
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists will be
delightful celebrations of the birth of Our Savior.
At the November meeting, the Vestry discussed
this years Stewardship campaign and the need for an
elevator in the Parish House.
ANSWERS to identifications of the quotes in
Rev. Ruths article from page 3:

1. Luke 1:32-33: the angel Gabriel said this to

Mary about her son to come, Jesus.
2. Luke 1:76-77: Zechariah said this to his neighbors about his newborn son, John the Baptist.
3. Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:1-8: the prophet
Micah said this to the people of Judah centuries
before Jesus birth. The chief priests reported this
to King Herod who sent the wise men to Bethlehem in search of the newborn king of the Jews.
4. Luke 1:17: an angel said this to Zechariah
about his son to come, John the Baptist.
5. Matthew 1:21: an angel said this to Joseph in a
dream about Mary and her son.
6. Luke 1:52-53: Mary said this to Elizabeth
about God, suggesting that her son and Gods son
would do the same.
7. Luke 1:43-45: Elizabeth, mother-to-be of
John the Baptist, said this to Mary about Jesus.

Pohick Episcopal Church

Junior Wardens Report

Fred Crawford, Junior Warden

Thanks: To Jim Foster for his assistance and the

Building and Grounds Committee members who
helped prepare the gravel base for the Conex boxes
(steel storage containers) on October 29. In addition, some of the worst holes in the lower access
drive were patched. To John Sessums for completing refurbishment and repair of two courtyard lamp
posts. To Jeff Parker for all his work to get the two
20 foot Conex boxes bid, contracted, and delivered
on October 31.
What has been done: The electric circuits for the
new dishwasher were completed in October and the
new dishwasher is in the acquisition and scheduling
phase by the Renovation Committee (Stew Remaly
& Rodger Jones).
The door to replace the exterior Boiler Room
door has been ordered and will be installed as soon
after delivery as possible.
The proposal for conversion of the Sanctuary to
electric heat has been reviewed and a meeting with
R&B will be held to resolve questions and fine tune
the proposal.
The repointing of the brickwork in the back of
the Parish House has been completed except for
some punch list items. This should be completed at
the end of November.
The Eagle Scout project proposed was the short
retaining wall behind the shed. This project was not
chosen by the candidate. He had other options. Pohick will pursue other means to complete this project.
What is planned: A follow-up meeting with the
contractor about the heating for the sanctuary is expected in December.
Repair of the exterior door to the Boiler room
will be undertaken in the month of November. The
replacement door will be a metal fire-rated door
with the required ventilation for the oil fired boiler.
Troubleshooting and repair of the courtyard
lamp by the Vestry House will be done in December. That post does not have power. Digging is required to find the disconnect in the electrical supply
to that post.

Pohick Episcopal Church

December 2016 Page 5

The Persecution Corner

By Bob Munson

A Prophecy Against Cush

Woe to the land of whirring wings along the rivers of Cush, which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water.
Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide,
an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. - Isaiah 18: 1-2

Just south of Egypt, one finds the country of Sudan sitting astride the Nile River. The Old Testament
writers knew this area as Cush (or Kush) and it often
appeared in their writings with an exotic hint. Cush
was one of the oldest African states outside of Egypt
and the area, known later as Nubia, became the home
to various kingdoms and one of the first Christian
communities. Acts 8:26-40 tells of the conversion of
an Ethiopian slave of the Queen Mother in Meroe,
a kingdom in northern Nubia. Over the years, Christians fleeing Roman persecutions likely moved down
the Nile River but only in the 6th century did Christian missionaries from the north truly convert Nubian
kingdoms to Christianity. The Christian kingdoms
survived until the 16th century, ultimately falling to
the advance of Islam. Later, European missionaries
arrived from the south and converted a significant
portion of the population to Christianity but the independence of South Sudan in 2011 took the majority of Sudanese Christians with it.
Sudan today is a perplexing country, once host to
Usama bin Laden and a Sudanese brand of Islamic
extremism, but now a county trying to reintegrate itself into the global community. President Bashir has
been ruling the country since 1993 and uses Islam as
a weapon to buttress his power: more extreme when
necessary, less extreme when it fits. The majority of
people in Sudan are Sunni Muslim with only a small
remnant of Christians, mostly Anglican or Roman
Catholic. These few Christians are concentrated in
the capital of Khartoum or in the southern Nuba
Mountains. The Sudanese state has been waging a war
against the Nuba Mountain people, trying to subdue
their yearning for self-determination. They were left
on the wrong side of the border after South Sudans
independence and Sudan does not want to see any
further loss of land.
The Sudanese constitution as well as a later agreement guarantees freedom of religion, but de facto conversions from Islam are banned and can be punished
by death. In 2014 the Sudanese government arrested

Meriam Yahia Ibrahima and accused her of adultery and apostasy. Meriams father was Muslim but
she had been raised as an Orthodox Christian by her
mother and she married a Christian man (who was a
dual American citizen). Sudan viewed her as a Muslim due to her father and thus declared her marriage
to a Christian to be nothing more than an adulterous relationship. She was sentenced to 100 lashes and
death by hanging. Under international pressure, Sudan subsequently freed her and dropped the charges,
eventually allowing her to leave the country with her
husband and children to the United States. While the
story has a happy ending for Meriam, it is evidence
of the continuing governmental harassment of the
Christian community.
While the Christians of Sudan are few, they need
our prayer. In the coming month Open Doors, a group
serving persecuted Christians worldwide, asks us to:
Pray for marginalized and persecuted Christians
to forgive, love and pray for their persecutors.
Pray for Sudans leaders, that their hearts would
be radically changed by the gospel.
Pray for Christians who could face the death
penalty if their conversion from Islam is discovered.
Hopefully during this month of Christmas, the
Sudanese Christians - living in one of the oldest lands
of Christianity - can truly enjoy the peace which Jesus
Christs birth has brought to the world.

Blue Christmas Service

During the past decade or so, churches, funeral homes,

and agencies of compassion have begun to offer a
service especially addressed to those who have been
bereaved. Pohick Church invites all who may fubd
the holidays difficult, and any grieving friends, to the
Blue Christmas service on Wednesday, December 7,
at 7:30 pm. This Eucharistic service of meditation,
music, candle lighting, and prayers of consolation and
healing calls to mind the comfort, hope, and encouragement provided by our Christian faith.

Page 6 December 2016

Pohick Episcopal Church

Stewardship Corner

I am Susan Rose Pehrsson, your Vestry Member

that oversees the Service and Fellowship Commission. The Stewardship committee asked me to share
what Pohick Church means to me and why I share
my time, talent and treasure with the church. It is difficult to point to one reason. I was born and raised in
this church. My roots are deep with many generations
of my family coming before me. My childhood home
that stood on Telegraph Road, within walking distance of here is gone, but Pohick is my church home
and as I look around I recall all the wonderful events
of a lifetime.
I was baptized in the center font, sang in the choir
loft, and was confirmed at this altar rail. My first
memories here are of Childrens Chapel with Miss
Mary and Miss Frances. I remember bible school
with Hawaiian Punch and cinnamon graham crackers
for snack with the smell of the magnolia trees coming through the open window. I remember helping my
grandmother with coffee hour and helping an aunt
with altar guild. Parish picnics and the Country Fair
were the highlights of the year. EYC not only helped
me grow spiritually, but it also was the center of my
social life in high school. I remember the seminary
students leading EYC, the retreats, and yes, pie fights
in the church yard. As I look around this church, I picture my relatives sitting in their pews, and my mother
always leading the little ones to Sunday School.
After going away for school, I returned to Pohick, where I married my husband and raised my four

daughters. Like me, each daughter was baptized in the

center font, confirmed at this altar rail, enjoyed the
youth group and sang in the youth choir and coffee
houses. As an adult member of our church, I realized
all the wonderful memories that I had as a child were
possible because we had a devoted Parish full of people that willingly shared their time, talent and treasure
to build this community. Each fun activity required a
host of people enabling it.
I have tried to give back as time and resources
permit. I taught Sunday school and led Childrens
Chapel after my mother stepped down from decades
of service. I led the youth group that meant so much
to me growing up. As a young mother, I enjoyed
the fellowship provided by the Guild of the Christ
Child. Pehr and I developed many church friendships
through Foyers. Recently, I joined Martha Guild and
the Flower Guild. Through these groups, I have met
the many wonderful volunteers that make this church
run. If you have ever looked at the church calendar
you will see, there is always something happening here
and there are many ways, both big and small, to get involved. I was fortunate to have Pohick Church in my
developmental years and I am happy now to share my
resources in hopes that the next generation will have
the same opportunities as I have had. It is said that it
takes a Village to Raise a Child. My daughters and I
were lucky to have Pohick as our village.
Yours in Christ,
Susan Rose Pehrsson and Your Stewardship Commission

New Hope Housing Christmas Gifts & Dinner Party

Pohick supports children in the New Hope Housing organization by providing them with holiday gifts. The tags for these children may be found on
the FABRIC Christmas Tree hanging on the partition between the Annex and
the Common Room. These tags have the childs age and the particular item
they are hoping Santa will bring them. Please take the chosen tag(s), buy the
designated item, and return UNWRAPPED with the gift tag taped to the gift
or bag. These items must be returned to Church by Sunday, December 4.
On Monday, December 5 at 6:00 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, please find a poster
listing all the food needed for the evening - please sign-up to contribute.
Volunteers are needed on Monday afternoon to set-up the room, decorate,
and prepare food for the evening. Help is also needed during the party with the
food, conversing with the guests, and with clean-up. Contacts are Edwardene
Pitcock, [email protected], or Connie Myers, [email protected].

Need Some
Chores Done?

Call the Boy Scouts from Troop

899 - chartered at Pohick
Church to help with chores.
Weeding, raking leaves, yard
work, moving furniture - the
troop can (almost) do it all!
The rate is $25 per hour for
3-4 scouts with
adult supervision.
Contact Jennifer
Gilley, 757-5537823, to schedule
the chores!

Pohick Episcopal Church

Music Notes

Linda Egan, Minister of Music

Lots of music is coming in this season of rejoicing

at Christs birth! Here is a preview.
Our Service of Lessons and Carols is Sunday,
December 18, at 10:00 am. The service calls us to hear
the story of Gods loving purpose from the time of
our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption brought to us by his holy Child Jesus, and to
make this place glad with our carols and praise.
We will all sing Advent and Christmas carols and
hymns; the bell choir will ring as we sing the opening
and closing carols, and ring a carol of their own; the
Choir of Pohick will sing a new anthem I wrote for
the occasion, As the dark awaits the dawn. Based on
a hymn text, it is actually an anthem of waiting and
expectation, of longing for the dawn and the rising of
the Morning Star.
Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm the St. Francis and the
St. Cecelia St. Alban Choirs will lead a service filled
with familiar carols, joyous prayers, and anthems by
the two choirs: Alepun, a Spanish carol whose title
mimics the bells on the harness of the donkey Mary
rode, and Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus, which relates
to the childrens sermon that evening.
The 10:30 pm Carol Service and 11:00 pm
Christmas Eve Eucharist will be led by the Choir of
Pohick, the Early Church Music Ensemble, bell ringers from the Pohick Bell Choir, and members of the
brass quartet which accompanies the carols we sing
and plays many of its own. All the brass players are
members of the Presidents Own, the Marine Band.
During the Carol Service, the anthem will be the
early American Shepherds Carol, by Billings and
soprano Gloria Jackson will sing a special Christmas
Eve solo.
During the Christ Mass at 11:00 pm, the offertory anthem will be Sweelincks Hodie Christus Natus
Est. Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was a Dutch organist, teacher, and composer whose compositions show
elements of both the end of the Renaissance, when he
was born, and the beginning of the Baroque. When he
was 15, in 1577, he began his career as an organist in
Amsterdam, and remained at the same church for 44
years until he died and was buried in the church yard
in 1621.

December 2016 Page 7

This piece, which in English is Today Christ is

born, is one joyous romp of harmony, carefully crafted counterpoint and celebration of the birth of Christ,
the appearance of the Savior, and the remarkable rejoicing of angels, archangels and the just on earth. All
sing Glory to God in the highest.
During the Eucharist the Early Church Music
Ensemble will sing Personent hodie, a 14th century carol arranged by Andrew Carter. We will all sing
Christmas carols throughout the services.
Christmas Day at 10:00 am there will be carol
singing by the congregation.
Thanks to all who make music in this season of
wonder and beauty.

Martha Guild News

Connie Myers

The Martha Guild will NOT meet in December. The

new year will begin with a dinner (place to be determined) on Wednesday, January 11. Keep watch for
the details and all Women of the Church are invited!

Christmas Mart

The 2016 Christmas Mart was another successful event thanks to ALL the wonderful ladies who
worked tirelessly on preparations (some throughout
the year) before the Mart and for the many hours
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 supported the Christmas Mart with moving furniture to various rooms
and buildings, a heartfelt THANK YOU! A special
thanks to Dan Derbes for the use of his trailer for
storing furniture from the
Vestry House.
The profits from the
Christmas Mart will allow
the Ann Mason Guild,
the Martha Guild, and the
Women of the Church to
continue various outreach
missions as well as needs
within the Church. A sincere Thank You to everyone!

Page 8 December 2016

LCAC Christmas
Gifts & Food Baskets

Pohick is continuing 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, please find gift
tags for children with the desired item. Take the tag(s)
of choice, buy the designated item, and return UNWRAPPED with the gift tag taped to the gift or bag.
To ensure these families have food for the holidays, the following is a list of the items needed for the
Holiday Food Baskets:
2 cans each: green beans, peas, corn (low sodium
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 (if possible) to Shoppers or Food Lion
Gifts and the food baskets must be brought to
the Common Room by Saturday, December 17 at
11:00 am. At that time, these items will be delivered
to LCAC. If for some reason the 11:00 am deadline at
Pohick is missed, please deliver the gifts and/or food
to the Moose Lodge, 9612 Fernedge Lane, Lorton, off
Route 1 after the Lorton Library but before Gunston
Road, between the hours of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Thanks for the continued support of Pohicks
Outreach programs. Contact Edwardene Pitcock,
[email protected], or Connie Myers, [email protected], with questions.
Gift cards for either the gifts or the food may be
given to Edwardene or Connie.

Send News for the New Year!

Articles for the January 2017 Pohick Post
are due no later than December 15!
Forward input by email in Word compatible
format to Lori Buckius, [email protected].
Design concerns & items for the Sunday
Service Volunteers page should be addressed
to Carmel Hodge, [email protected].

Pohick Episcopal Church

Gifts for Jackson-Feild Homes

For more than two decades, the Ann Mason

Guild has supplied Christmas gifts for the young
people at Jackson-Feild Homes thanks to generous
help from the Pohick congregation. Jackson-Field
opened in1855 in Jarrett, Virginia as a residential
home for young people who have suffered severe
emotional trauma. For some of these residents,
these are the only Christmas gifts they will receive.
Last year, 15 children were supported and with
additional help, it would be nice to make it 16 children this year. Please consider helping by writing a
check to Ann Mason Guild
with Jackson-Feild on the
memo line. Contributions
can be put in the alms bag
or in the Ann Mason box in
the office.

Warm Coat Outreach Project

For some it may be hard to imagine, but when

the temperature gets colder, some families need to
make a choice between paying their utility bill and
purchasing a warm coat for their child. Help keep
families warm this winter by donating clean, used
coats to help families here in southeastern Fairfax
County! It is estimated that over 500 coats will be
needed to meet their needs.
To help those in need in the local area, Pohick
Church is having a Coat Drive to assist LCAC
with providing clean, gently used coats (or new
ones) for the upcoming cold weather. Coats of all
sizes - especially children and larger-sized adult
coats - are needed. Gloves, mittens, scarves, or
hats are also welcomed. When cleaning out closets, consider donating outgrown coats for LCAC.
The Martha Guild will be collecting coats,
gloves, mittens, scarves, and hats through Sunday,
December 4. Please bring donations to the Common Room and place them on the table in the
back corner near the closets.
Thanks in advance for the continued support
of all the Outreach projects.
Any questions, please contact Edwardene Pitcock, [email protected], or Connie Myers, [email protected].

December 2016 Page 9

Pohick Episcopal Church

Sunday

Pohick Church Activities December 2016

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

NOV 27

28

29

30

DEC 1

Advent 1a
7:45a HE I
9a HE II
10:10a Pageant
Rehearsal
11:15a HE II

6p Marriage
Course
7p EFM

9:30a Staff Mtg

6:15p Bell Choir

7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Choir of
Pohick
8:30p AA

2p HE, the Fairfax

6p St. Cecelia St.
Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir
7p Shepherd Hills
7:30p Healing Service
2p HE, the Fairfax
6p St. Cecelia St.
Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Healing Service

7a Southgate
Woods
6:15p Bell Choir
7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Choir of Pohick
8:30p AA

11

12

18

19

Advent 2a
7:45a HE I
9a HE II
10:10a Pageant
Rehearsal
11:15a HE I
6p EYC Dinner
Advent 3a
8a HE I
10a HE II
11:15a Christmas
Pageant
5p EYC Christmas
Party
Advent 4a
8a HE I
8a-12p Golden
Dove Display
10a Lessons &
Carols

25

Christmas Day
10a HE II

8p Sheffield
Rec HOA

6:30p New
Hope Housing Dinner
7p EFM

7p EFM

7p EFM

10

13

14

15

16

17

20

21

22

23

24

9:30a Staff Mtg

12p Staff Luncheon

27

8p Sheffield
Rec HOA

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew
1p 1st Sat Docent Tour
5p Advent Dinner/Fairfax

9:30a Staff Mtg

7p Southgate
Woods

26

Saturday

9:30a Staff Mtg

9:30a Ann Mason Guild Mtg
7:30p Vestry
Mtg

7p EFM

Friday

9:30a Staff Mtg

2p HE, the Fairfax

6p St. Cecelia St.
Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Healing Service

2p HE, the Fairfax

6p St. Cecelia St.
Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Healing Service

28

2p HE, the Fairfax

6p St. Cecelia St.
Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Healing Service

6:15p Bell Choir

7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Choir of
Pohick
8:30p AA
Pohick Post
Deadline
6:15p Bell Choir
7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Choir of
Pohick
8:30p AA

29

6:15p Bell Choir

7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Choir of
Pohick
8:30p AA

8a Brotherhood of
St. Andrew
9a Pageant Rehearsal
10a Breakfast with
Santa

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew
2p Southpointe
HOA

Office Closed 8a Brotherhood

30

of St. Andrew
6p Christmas Eve
Service
10:30p Caroling
11p Christmas
Eve Service

31

New Years Eve

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew

Contact the Parish Secretary, Susan Hayward-Costa, to list group meetings or events on the calendar, [email protected].

Join The Celebration At Pohick

Sunday, December 11 8:00 am and 10:00 am: Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 18 8:00 am: Holy Eucharist 10:00 am: Lessons and Carols
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 6:00 pm: Family Holy Eucharist 10:30 pm: Carol Service
11:00 pm: Festival Holy Eucharist
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 10:00 am: Holy Eucharist
New Years Day, January 1 8:00 am and 10:00 am: Holy Eucharist

Page 10 December 2016

Pohick Episcopal Church

SUNDAY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

4 DECEMBER
7:45
9:00

Stew Remaly
Mike Vaughn
Tom Bland
Beth Altman
Ron Schow
Greg Wilson

11:15 Dave Billingsley

11 DECEMBER
8a Tony Marsico
Mike Zane

18 DECEMBER

USHERS

10a Edwardene Pitcock

Grant Hodges
Ed McGovern
Pehr Pehrsson

Mike Wooten

7:00

E. Thorson

S. Pehrsson

1:00

C. Cockroft

F. Thurston

8a Alan Mayberry
Becky Wagner
10a Chris Brown
Sandra Caesar
Rick Nelson
John Pasour

OPEN - UP

25 DECEMBER
TBD
TBD

1 JANUARY
8a Rodger Jones
Stew Remaly

10a Dan Derbes

Don Cooke
Bill Patton
Paul Walden

D. Derbes

E. Thorson

F. Thurston

H. Parker

D. Smith

A. Choi

Pasour/Remaly

M/M Thurston

M/M Brown

LOCK - UP
TELLERS

12:15 M/M Brown

Faber/Kirkland

AM

J. Wells
N. Sage
C. Foster
J. Geschickter
J. Mullins
H. Parker
R. Stankwitz

BJ McPherson
A. Powell, J. Schmid
M. Tonkin
S. Caesar
E. Pitcock
A. Marsico
M. Yezek

BJ McPherson
A. Powell, J. Schmid
M. Tonkin
S. Caesar
E. Pitcock
A. Marsico
M. Yezek

J. Sunderland
N. Bireley
J. MacDonald
R. Teale
B. Wagner

J. Sunderland
N. Bireley
J. MacDonald
R. Teale
B. Wagner

S. Pehrsson

J. Wells

TBD

Flower Guild

Flower Guild

M/M Biddlecomb

No Coffee Hour

M. Wagner

No Coffee Hour

No Coffee Hour

No Coffee Hour

AM

7:45 M/M Bryant

9:00 Schow/Hayward
11:15 TBD

M/M Pasour

7:45 D. Smith
9:00 M/M Myers
11:15 M/M Poad

8a Becky Wagner

9:00 J. Wells
11:15 M/M Costa

H. Parker

7:45

8a Thorson (R)
Sunderland (P)

9:00

Marsico (P)
Wagner (R)
Pasour (P)
Faber (R)

11:15 Sage (R)

Cockroft (P)

ALTAR GUILD

FLOWER GUILD

TBD

No Coffee Hour

10a M/M Heintze

No Service

D. Hamly

10a Choi (P)

Arning (R)
N/A

COFFEE HOUR
M/M Myers

GREETERS

No Coffee Hour

M/M Ayorinde

8a M/M Rodger Jones Becky Wagner

8a Pagan/Wallace

No Service

No Service

No Service

J. Bartholomew

TBD

TBD

8a Marsico (R)
Thorson (P)

N/A

8a Marsico (P)
Sunderland (R)

N/A

N/A

10a B. Altman

DOCENTS
TBD

LAY READERS
10a TBD

TBD

10a Gastrell (P)

Wagner (R)

10a W. Patton

TBD

10a Pasour (R)

Egan (P)
N/A

The Sunday Service Volunteers Schedule is also available at Pohick Churchs website, www.pohick.org, under Ministries.

December 2016 Page 11

Pohick Episcopal Church

Christmas is Coming!

Why not give back while buying Christmas gifts?

All proceeds from the GOLDEN DOVE
gift shop go toward outreach and church needs.

Visit the Golden Dove between Sunday services,

the 1st Saturday of the month after docent tours,
and during special events.

The special Pohick section has framed sketches,

tea canisters, photographs, mugs, tote bags,
Reverend Dons CDs, porcelain ornaments and more!
VISIT THE SPECIAL
GOLDEN DOVE DISPLAY
in the Common Room on Sunday, December 18
to satisfy the desires of those special people
on the Christmas gift list!

Christmas is Coming!
Visit the Golden Dove for
special Christmas shopping!

Open Sundays
from 8:15 am - 9:00 am & 10:15 am - 11:15 am
North end of the Vestry House - follow the signs!

"

Christmas Flowers

I would like to make a donation towards the poinsettias and greens that decorate the Church at Christmas time.

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 $12.00 The deadline is Sunday, December 18
This form with check may be returned to the desk of the Church Secretary or dropped in the alms basket.

Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 2
Lorton, VA

Pohick Church

9301 Richmond Highway

Lorton, Virginia 22079-1519
Return Service Requested

The Purpose of Pohick Church is to be a nourishing community where Christs love is experienced and taken beyond its walls.

VESTRY GRAM

Date: _____________________ Subject: _____________________

To: The Vestry

From:

Helen Parker
Fred Crawford
Dan Derbes
Susan Pehrsson
Amanda Choi,
Caroline Cockroft,
Isabel Hogg, Kathy Kirkland,
Edwardene Pitcock,
Doug Smith, Eric Thorson,
Fuzzy Thurston

Pohick Church Vestry

The Revd Donald

Sr. Warden:
Binder, PhD
Jr. Warden:
The Revd Dr. Ruth Treasurer:
E. Correll, Ed.D.
Register:
Wesley Arning
Members:
Linda Egan


Frances Sessums

Rusty Booth

Susan Hayward-Costa
Mike Morgan

John Sessums

Pohick Church Staff

Rector:

Assistant:

Seminarian:
Minister of Music:
Director of
Christian Ed:
Youth Minister:
Parish Secretary:
Finance Admin:
Sexton:

Telephone: 703-339-6572 Fax: 703-339-9884

Church Office Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.pohick.org