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

everal of the poems we have been exploring in my

Lenten series, Waxing Poetic, have touched on
the events of Holy Week and Easter - which this year
happen to fall during the first week of April.
In this regard, one often thinks of Elizabeth Barrett Browning for her love poetry, especially those
wonderful outpourings of affection first written to her
husband Robert Browning and later published in Sonnets from the Portuguese (the best known is Sonnet 43:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . .).
Yet Barrett Browning grew up in a devout Christian family, and she herself was very much the Christian social activist, working in support of William
Wilberforces push for the abolition of slavery in the
British Empire and Lord Shaftsburys legislation restricting child labor.
She also wrote devotional poetry, including this
reflection on the look that Jesus gave Peter just after the cock crowed following his third denial (Luke
22:60):
The Meaning of the Look
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
I think that look of Christ might seem to say Thou Peter! art thou then a common stone
Which I at last must break my heart upon
For all Gods charge to his high angels may

APRIL 2015
Guard my foot better? Did I yesterday
Wash thy feet, my beloved, that they should run
Quick to deny me neath the morning sun?
And do thy kisses, like the rest, betray?
The cock crows coldly. - Go, and manifest
A late contrition, but no bootless fear!
For when thy final need is dreariest,
Thou shalt not be denied, as I am here;
My voice to God and angels shall attest,
Because I Know this man, let him be clear.
Two centuries earlier, a humble parish priest
named George Herbert was dying of tuberculosis.
From his small parish outside of Salisbury, he sent off
a collection of his
poems to a friend
with the instructions to either burn
them or to publish
them if he thought
they were of any
worth.
The friend did
indeed publish the
poems in a volume
entitled, The Temple.
It went on to become one of the
bestselling books of
the seventeenth century, largely due to the depth of
its spiritual insights and the innovation of its verse.
Continued on page 2

Page 2 April 2015

From the Rector: continued from page 1

One of these innovations was the use of pattern poetry, where the actual shape of the poem advances the
meaning of the words within (three hundred years
later, the modernist poet, e. e. cummings, would once
again popularize this type of poem).
Here is one of Herberts pattern poems dealing
with the theme of Christian renewal and resurrection:

Easter Wings
George Herbert
Lord, Who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With Thee
O let me rise,
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day Thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did beginne;
And still with sicknesses and shame
Thou didst so punish sinne,
That I became
Most thinne.
With Thee
Let me combine,
And feel this day Thy victorie;
For, if I imp my wing on Thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
By the time you will be reading these verses, we
will be in the midst of our Holy Week commemorations, leading up to Easter Sunday. It is my hope
that these poems, as well as the sacred liturgies of this
week, will be both sources of healing for any spiritual
wounds and occasions of renewal for our Christian
faith. More than that, I hope they will evoke within
all of us thankful hearts for that great sacrifice of love
made on our behalf by the Lord of All Life himself.

Pohick Episcopal Church

Christian Education

Frances Sessums, Director of Christian Education

The Flowering of the Cross and the collection

of the Mite Boxes will take place on April 5 at the
9:15 am Easter Sunday service. Students should
bring single stemmed flowers to insert into the
Cross. If someone should forget the mite box on
Easter Sunday, please bring it to the Education
office the following Sunday.
Pohick will also host the annual Easter Egg
Hunt directly following the 9:15 am service on
Easter Sunday. There will be two egg hunts occurring simultaneously. These will be for the Preschoolers through Fourth grade students. It is requested that each child be accompanied by at least
one parent during the Hunt. Egg Hunters and
their parents should gather in the following rooms
after church - Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
will meet in classroom F and the 1st through 4th
grade students will meet in classrooms C and D.
Please be on time so the number of Egg Hunters
will match the number of eggs!
Each student participating in the Easter Egg
Hunt should bring a dozen filled plastic eggs to
the kitchen by Easter morning before the 9:15 am
service. There will be a box marked Easter Eggs.
It is strongly encouraged that the eggs be filled
with non-candy items. Please contact Frances
Sessums with any questions.

Pohick Episcopal Church

From The Assistant Rector

The Reverend
Dr. Ruth E. Correll, Ed.D.
Christ Is Risen : Raison dtre

What in the world is happening? What am I doing here? I asked myself. The year was 1968, and I
was teaching Sunday School for sixth graders in the
church where I had grown up. The events of Holy
Week were nowhere to be found in the SS curriculum.
When I looked at the lesson for Easter Sunday, I was
dumbfounded. The lesson made no mention of the
resurrection of Jesus. The lesson featured spring and
blooming tulips (not Calvins TULIP, by the way!)
A thorough story behind that situation requires
more time and space than this article permits, but
heres the short version. The small denomination in
which I grew up merged with a large denomination
in 1968 and switched to the curriculum of the larger
body. During this period, rules of appropriate behavior and long held Christian beliefs were going up for
grabs.
Those of us who came of age in the turbulent 1960s
felt the foundations of our way of life rumble. We saw
the assassination of John F. Kennedy (11-22-63) and
the subsequent murders of Martin Luther King (44-68) and Robert Kennedy (6-6-68). We were scared
about nuclear war and wondered if our leaders could
hold the government steady. Often students were less
interested in their studies than in deciding what to
protest. But they definitely did not protest The Pill,
and experimenting with sex and drugs marked private recreational activities. At least they provided
temporary, if costly, relief from fears for the future.
The decade came to an end in an atmosphere of student unrest about Viet Nam (perfumed with 3.2 beer,
marijuana, and LSD). At the time of the infamous
May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University, my
father was teaching there, and I was awaiting word on
a graduate assistantship. This event in itself would tarnish the merit of my education at KSU for the foreseeable future. Few young people remained untouched
by the currents of the day. What were we to make of
these actions in the adult world?
Often leadership of the some mainline denominations waffled on foundational questions of belief and

April 2015 Page 3

caved in under political pressure on issues of practice.

Events that failed to pass the test of natural causes
became uncomfortable to support, including the Resurrection.
Several good arguments present a case for the
Resurrection. No one could ever produce the body of
Jesus Christ even though his enemies had custody of
it. Despite the initial fear of the disciples following
the crucifixion, something must have happened to
change them into bold proclaimers of the risen Jesus
Christ as Lord. No disciple ever recanted belief in the
Resurrection despite death by torture. If Jesus simply
and finally died, there would be no reason for the fellowship of believers to have come into being in a little
over a month after the crucifixion. The sustained existence of the Church is perhaps the best evidence for
the Resurrection.
In my town, new independent churches that
taught the classic Christian beliefs but presented
them with contemporary styles of music and colloquial terms mushroomed. Before long, the attendance
at four such megachurches was larger than all the
Protestant churches combined.
Thanks be to God. Mainline denominational curricula has improved -- better late than never. Local
churches will wax and wane, but the proclamation,
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come
again, upholds the Church generation to generation.
Hold fast to this truth with faith and hope. It will
sustain us through turbulent times now and to come.
It is our reason for being.

Martha Guild
Wine Tasting Fundraiser

The Martha Guild will be hosting a Wine Tasting at the home of Carol and Reed Heddleston
on May 2 from 4:00 pm to 7:00
pm. Plan to join the fun while
supporting the Pohick Church
Kitchen renovation with a $30
per person donation. Please
make reservations by contacting
Helen Parker by phone at 703494-5927 or by email at helenandjeffp@verizon.net. Feel free
to bring neighbors and friends!

Page 4 April 2015

Senior Wardens Report

Reed Heddleston, Senior Warden

This year winter was a real reminder that spring does

not arrive until March 20. Everyone is certainly looking
forward to the first day of spring followed by Eastertide.
At the March Vestry meeting, the primary concern
was the inspection report on mold in the sanctuary. A significant concentration was measured at the first-floor level
near the center of the church in front of the pulpit. This is
the result of mold growing in the crawl space under the
floor, especially in an unventilated center section. The problem has likely arisen from steam leaks and ground-level
water accumulating beneath the floor.
The mold needs to be removed and the conditions
causing it corrected. The next step is to hire a contractor
to do both. Before removing the mold, the contractor will
develop a plan for corrective measures, i.e., improved ventilation, ensuring proper drainage away from the crawlspace,
having a vapor barrier properly installed that will preclude
mold recurring after remediation is performed.
Proper remediation protocol will include the following:
Run HEPA filtered air scrubbers and/or negative air machines in the church.
Remove the plastic sheathing and all debris from the
crawlspace.
Remove any porous materials with suspect mold growth,
i.e., insulation.
Clean and treat all semi-porous materials, i.e., wood,
foundation walls with visible suspect mold growth. This
should include HEPA vacuuming, possibly a light sanding
or wire brushing, and treating all of the semi-porous materials with visible suspect mold growth with an approved
disinfectant.
Clean and treat the underside of the stairs in the electrical closet with visible suspect mold growth. This should
include HEPA vacuuming, possibly a light sanding or wire
brushing, and treating all of the semi-porous materials with
visible suspect mold growth with an approved disinfectant.
HEPA vacuum all surfaces in the Sanctuary.
Once completed, inspect independently to ensure mold
remediation has been successful.
Other Vestry issues as reported by Don Brownlee:
Established a process for Parish organizations to apply
for one-time Let Your Light So Shine grants from the
Kilmarx/Tomley estate bequests, to help start or fund initiatives to help Pohick grow and better serve the community.

Pohick Episcopal Church

Reviewed its discussion and vote last month to allocate

the bulk of these estate bequests to capital repair and improvement needs, and confirmed that it did not at that
time approve any specific allocation of these funds for any
specific project.
Approved a new Facilities Policy that codifies practices and standardizes charges for outside groups that use
church buildings.
Approved the annual Parochial Report, which is required
by the national Church. The number of members of the
Parish declined slightly from last year; the number of
Communicants in Good Standing increased slightly, as
did Average Sunday Attendance.
Appointed John Pasour as the delegate to the Annual
Diocesan Council, and Carolyn Cockroft as the representative to Region Six. The Vestry seeks parishioners who
would be interested in serving as alternates in both cases.
Please contact a Vestry member if interested.
Approved the Treasurers Report. Alms and Commitment
income recovered from the low levels reported in January,
and are now within the historical range. Parishioners are
reminded of the need to keep their Commitments current,
and consider using the automated electronic payment system. Expenses were as expected with high costs for heating
and snow removal.
In order to better capture and understand the many offbudget outreach efforts, voted to require all Parish organizations to provide estimates of the dollar value of their
outreach efforts as part of their Annual Report at the end
of the year.
Was briefed on a new outreach initiative to put together
Manna Bags, small plastic bags filled with easily-consumable food to give to the homeless and needy. The guilds
are taking the lead on this project, and will involve the
youth groups as well.
In response to an appeal from Bp. Shannon for contributions to offset cuts in the diocesan outreach budget, approved sending $500 of the outreach budget to the diocese
for this purpose.
Heard a briefing from the Stewardship Commission on
turning visitors into newcomers, and newcomers into parishioners.
Received a report on mold in the Church. Environmental
testing has confirmed that we have a significant problem
with mold under the sanctuary floor. Airborne mold levels
around the pulpit area are very high, but levels in the choir
gallery are lower than in the outside air. Efforts to determine appropriate remediation steps are underway.
For more information see a Vestry member.

Pohick Episcopal Church

April 2015 Page 5

POHICK CHURCH ANNUAL PARISH RETREAT

Shrine Mont

Shrine Mont, Virginia

CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER

Dates: June 26 - 28, 2015, from Friday dinner (5:30 pm) through Sunday lunch (12:30 pm)
Sign-up Deadline: Sunday, June 14, 2015
Shrine Mont Overview: It is that time again for fellowship, and physical, mental, and spiritual
renewal at Shrine Mont in the beautiful mountains of Virginia! Shrine Mont, located in Orkney
Springs, 13 miles west of Mt. Jackson, Virginia, is a conference center managed by the Episcopal
Diocese of Virginia. Shrine Mont consists of 1,100 acres of forest land featuring trails, lakes,
hills, and streams at the edge of George Washington National Forest, which is a stones throw
from the West Virginia state line. The centerpiece of Shrine Mont is an unusual open air stone
chapel, the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, from which Shrine Mont takes its name.
Campers, conferees, and guests worship at this beautiful shrine regularly.
Fees: The cost is $158 for adults (ages 13 and over), $53 for children (ages 4-12), and free for
children under four. If a crib is required, there is a $6 fee for the weekend. Babysitting during
adult sessions is available for an additional $10. Please note that these costs should not prohibit
anyone from attending the retreat. Anyone needing financial assistance should contact the Reverend Don Binder at 703-339-6572. Fees are firm for the weekend, even for late arrivals. If
arriving late, one can usually get dinner until 6:30 pm.

Pohick Church
Annual Retreat
June 26-28, 2015

Babysitting Service: For parents with children, there will be a super program for young people as well as a babysitting service ($10), so parents can attend activities. Babysitters will be available only during adult study sessions.
What to Bring: While breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, bring snacks and a favorite beverages for evening fellowship time together at the Gathering Place. Also, consider bringing a flashlight, Bible, jacket or sweater, fan, and other
personal items. There is no air conditioning in the cottages, however, most rooms have electric fans.
Study: There are three scheduled occasions to study, and Rev. Binder/Correll put together a new program each year. These
sessions provide a great opportunity to get to know the clergy and fellow parishioners. Please note that Shrine Mont expects
parents to be responsible for the actions of their children, especially during the periods between the three planned sessions.

2015 POHICK CHURCH RETREAT SHRINE MONT APPLICATION

Name(s)___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________
Email:______________________________________________________ Tel:___________________________________
_____ Adults ($158 each)
_____ Young Children (3 and under, free)

_____ Children (4-12, $53 each)

_____ Cribs required ($6 each)

_____ Babysitting ($10)

Total enclosed: $_____________

Enclose a check payable to Pohick Church, and mark Shrine Mont in the memo section. For more information, call the Parish Office at 703-339-6572.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015

Page 6 April 2015

Pohick Episcopal Church

2015 POHICK CHURCH PARISH RETREAT

Shrine Mont, Orkney Springs, Virginia
Friday, June 26
Afternoon arrival
5:30 pm
7:30 - 8:30 pm
8:30 pm
9:00 pm until

Dinner
Orientation in Art Hall
Compline
The Gathering Place

Saturday, June 27
7:30 am
8:00 am
9:00-10:30 am
10:30-12:30 pm
12:30 pm
1:00-4:30 pm
4:30-5:30 pm
5:30 pm
7:00-8:00 pm
8:00 pm
9:00 pm until

Morning Prayer in Art Hall

Breakfast
Session I, Group Photo at Shrine
Open/Activities
Lunch
Open/Activities
The Gathering Place
Dinner
Session II in Art Hall
Evening Prayer at the Shrine
The Gathering Place

Sunday, June 28
8:00 am
9:00-10:30 am
10:45 am
12:30 pm
1:30-4:00 pm

Breakfast
Session III in Art Hall
Holy Eucharist at the Shrine
Lunch
Open/Depart

Shrine
Mont
Retreat
Center

N
W

E
S

Shrine Mont is located 1 hour south of Winchester or 1

hour north of Harrisonburg, and approximately 2 1/2 hours
from the Washington, DC and Richmond metro areas. To
reach Shrine Mont follow I-81 to Mt. Jackson (Exit #273).
Turn left from DC or right from Richmond onto Rt. 703
(east), then right (south) on US 11, follow through town,
turn right on Rt. 263 and follow approximately 15 miles to
Orkney Springs.

Directions to Shrine Mont: From Pohick Church, take I-66 west to I-81 south. Exit 273 at Mt. Jackson. Turn
left on Mt. Jackson Road (Cty 292). Turn right on US 11 (traffic light). Turn right on to State Route 263 to
Orkney Springs and Shrine Mont. The trip takes about two hours from Pohick.

2015 POHICK CHURCH RETREAT SHRINE MONT APPLICATION

Activities and Options: Indicate particular activities of interest.

Tom or Susan Mayberry, 703-494-6108, will keep track of others expressing an interest in all options.
_____ Swimming

_____ Basketball

_____ Volleyball

_____ Shuffleboard

_____ Tennis

_____ Golf

_____ Sleeping

_____ Fishing

_____ Mountain Climbing

_____ Hiking

_____ Eating

_____ Bridge/other card games

_____ Horseshoes

_____ Shopping

_____ Antiquing

_____ Porching

_____ Other

Pohick Episcopal Church

Music Notes

Linda Egan, Minister of Music

Easter Day: the return of Alleluia after its absence in Lent, the celebration of Christs victory
over death and sin, the bursting from the tomb
just as all creation bursts forth after a long winter.
Each Easter, the opening hymn of the later two
services is #175, Hail thee, festival day! The texts
poet, Venantius Honorius Fortunatus (c. 530-c.
600/609) became a poet at the Merovingian court
in 566 and wrote many poems over the course of
his lifetime. He was ordained priest about 576
and became bishop of Poitiers in 599.
In the original poem, written just before 582,
the first 15 couplets are about spring, the next 20
are about the resurrection, and the last 10 are about
the blessedness of those baptized at this time of
year. It became very popular as a source for medieval processions, with couplets added that were
appropriate to local rites. Each version began with
the words, Salva festa dies (Hail thee, festival
day). The first mention of an English translation
comes in a letter by Archbishop Cranmer to Henry VIII in 1544. Today we sing versions of the text
on Easter and at Pentecost.
The tune is much newer, appearing first anonymously in The English Hymnal, 1906, and eventually attributed to Ralph Vaughan Williams, who
was one of the editors.
We sing this wonderful refrain twice at the
beginning, then once thereafter. The odd numbered stanzas are sung to one tune and the even
numbered stanzas to another. Stanzas 1 and 3 are
drawn from the couplets about spring; stanzas
2 and 4 link Jesus on the cross and rising from
the grave to the creation. Stanzas 5-7 devote one
stanza to each member of the Trinity, and stanza
8 describes the unity of God and Gods love.
Its amazing to think of singing this hymn on
Easter across time and throughout the world today. We are linked with the faithful in the timelessness of the story of the resurrection as we sing.

April 2015 Page 7

A big thank you to all who give their time and

talent to the preparation and presentation of music for Holy Week and Easter. What a blessing to
make music with such a fine group who not only
love to make music, but deeply care about all that
we are singing, ringing and playing instruments
about: the walk through Holy Week on the path
to the cross, and the celebration of Christs glorious resurrection. And a big thank you to this fine
singing congregation. We really do sing joyful alleluias!

Music Schedule
April 2015

Sunday, April 5 Easter

9:00 am Choir of Pohick, St. Cecelia
St. Alban Choir, St. Francis Choir
11:15 am Choir of Pohick
Sunday, April 12 Second Sunday of Easter
9:00 am Choir of Pohick, St. Francis Choir
11:15 am Early Church Music Ensemble
Sunday, April 19 Third Sunday of Easter
9:00 am Choir of Pohick, Pohick Pickers
11:15 am St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
Sunday, April 26 Fourth Sunday of Easter
9:00 am Choir of Pohick,
Pohick Bell Choir
11:15 am Pohick Bell Choir

Donations for
Guest Musicians

This year, due to budget constraints, funding of guest musicians is through the music memorial fund, a fund normally
used for emergency organ and equipment repair. Please consider contributing to this fund
to support the continuance of this wonderful
music at festival times during the year.

Page 8 April 2015

Pohick Episcopal Church

Stewardship Corner

Neil Sunderland and Fuzzy Thurston, Stewardship Co-Chairs

Stewardship is about the use of the gifts, resources, if you will, entrusted to us by God for the time we
walk this earth. Typically these resources are thought
of in terms of time, talent, and treasure. The Bible is
clear that God calls us to use these gifts to further His
work here on earth. When we present those resources
to do His work it is called giving. Here at Pohick, we
call the promise we make to God regarding the level
of giving commitment. Heres a key point: commitment is about time and talent as well as treasure.
Your Pohick stewardship commission will be expanding its focus a bit this year. Certainly well focus
on treasure (money) when its time for that but we
want to increase our focus on time and talent. To do
that, we will try to assist you in finding new ways to
increase your commitment of time and talent as well
as treasure. The twice-a-year activities fairs are one
way of doing that but there will be others. We will
be working with the Communications Commission
to improve the existing Communications Center and
make it a source of information on opportunities for
becoming more involved. We will also work with the
Newcomer Committee.
I think it is safe to say that most of us have had
more than one church home in our lives. We feel that
there are three stages we went through in finding a
new church - visitor, newcomer, and parishioner. See
if you agree. You show up on a Sunday and you are a
visitor. Maybe you fill out a pew card and get a goodie
bag. Perhaps someone in your box welcomed you and
that made you feel good so you came down to Coffee Hour. Probably someone talked to you and helped
you understand who we were and how Pohick might
help fulfill your needs in a church home. Overall, we
are probably better at that than the average Episcopal
church. The next week, or perhaps a couple of weeks
later, you came back, having made the decision to
give Pohick a try for a couple of weeks. At that point,
you moved from being a visitor to being a newcomer.
Newcomer is a very tentative time. You havent committed and it could go either way. How did you make
the jump from newcomer to parishioner? Probably by
getting involved. I suspect we all remember the first
time someone asked us to get involved - to serve as an
usher, to attend Brotherhood, to sing in the choir, to

serve on a committee. Thats where your Stewardship

Commission hopes to increase emphasis - with the
help of every one of the current parishioners.
As part of the Stewardship plan for 2015, we will
be including frequent bulletin inserts we are calling
Stewardship Perspectives - something Jud and Tony
started that we will continue. They are not meant as
commandments, but as thought pieces. Please read
and think about them. In case you missed them, here
are the first two:
Perspective One:
STEWARDSHIP PERSPECTIVES
From a resolution adopted by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in 1988:
Stewardship is the main work of the church Stewardship is more than a duty; it is a thankful response
to Gods graciousness to us Stewardship is an adventure, an expedition into the kingdom where we
find our lives through losing them for the sake of the
gospel. It is an invitation to offer our gifts for the
purpose for which we were created the only purpose
that will fulfill us It offers us a way to begin breaking the bonds of consumption that involve us, often
unwittingly, in perpetuating injustice and oppression.
It is the intention of Pohicks Stewardship Commission to keep each of us mindful of our role in responding to Gods graciousness to us by offering you
frequent Stewardship Perspectives such as this one
and not just when were about to ask for money.
Well ask you to consider your commitment to Christ
not just on Stewardship Sunday, but every Sunday.
Christs work in the world never ceases. Our stewardship should keep pace.
Perspective Two:
STEWARDSHIP PERSPECTIVES
What Is Stewardship Anyway?
What is STEWARDSHIP anyway? Let me offer this perspective. When we were baptized and then
again when we were confirmed, we welcomed the
Holy Spirit into our bodies and our lives. Stewardship
is the process through which the Holy Spirit works
Continued on page 9

Pohick Episcopal Church

Stewardship Corner,
continued from page 8

through us to do Gods work in the world. You, me,

all of us are agents of the Holy Spirit. We give of our
TIME, our TALENT, and our TREASURE to further Gods work.
At Pohick, we have a Stewardship Campaign in
the fall and we ask you to commit your treasure to the
operation of this church. It may be tempting to say
that stewardship is something we think about once a
year in the fall when we sign our commitment card.
That would be like saying that Easter is something
that we think about only on the first Sunday after the
first full moon after the vernal equinox. We celebrate
Christs victory over death every day of our lives. Likewise, we practice stewardship every day of our lives.
One thing more, if weve inspired you and youd
like to become more involved, feel free to contact us
or any member of the Vestry, to include Fr. Don and
Ruth.

Signature Tea

Hosted by Historic Pohick Churchs Docent Guild

The Signature Tea will be held on Saturday,
April 25, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm in the
Common Room. The new Childrens Tour will be
introduced. This tour features hands-on and interactive activities from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm in
the Church. In addition, the Golden Dove Gift
shop will be open from 12:30 pm until 2:00 pm.
Advance nonrefundable tickets will be sold during
the coffee hours.
Tickets are $25 per
adult and $15 per
child under 12.
There will also
be raffle tickets for
sale to win gift baskets. The winning
ticket will be drawn at the tea, but the winner
need not be present to win. This event promises
to be a unique and fun afternoon with all profits
going to Church outreach efforts.
Beginning April 4, Saturday afternoon docent
led guided tours will be given the first Saturday of
the month from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. Be sure to
tell neighbors and friends!

April 2015 Page 9

Pohick Church
Annual Parish Retreat
Shrine Mont, VA

Pohicks annual parish retreat ( June 26 - 28)

is fast approaching! All Pohickians are encouraged to participate in this weekend of renewal
and spiritual enrichment. For those new to Pohick, the parish
retreat is the third
weekend in June,
usually the weekend after kids get
out of school. The
focus this year will
be on getting as
many new people
as possible to really max-out on what the Pohick
family has to offer! Just a few reasons to go:
Its a great way to meet and get to know fellow parishioners.
Rev. Binders three sessions that will focus on
spiritual growth.
Cozy rooms in quaint cottages and houses
in a secluded resort community from yesteryear;
time stands still at Shrine Mont; no traffic, no TV,
no cell phones, no computers
The setting is as peaceful as it gets, take the
opportunity to curl up on a porch with a book.
Puzzles and cards
Music
Swimming, golf, and tennis
Scenic hiking and nature trails
Fellowship at the Gathering Place (bring favorite beverage and snack to share)
Book Store
Shopping in the Shenandoah Valley
Outdoor services at the Shrine
The fried chicken on Sunday
Please look for the flyer/application found in
this issue of the Pohick Post. Simply drop the application, preferably with payment, into the collection plate at any of the Sunday services, or drop
it by the Church Office.
Susan and Tom Mayberry
Shrine Mont Retreat Coordinators

Page 10 April 2015

Pohick Episcopal Church

Update on Issues in the Anglican Communion

Don Brownlee, Co-chair, 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, ordination of non-celibate homosexuals, interpretation of Scripture,
and breakdown of traditional boundary lines between Provinces.
Last months Update reported that a court in South Carolina had ruled that disputed church properties in that state
belong to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, which
broke away from The Episcopal Church (TEC) in 2012, and
not to the group which has remained part of TEC, and now
calls itself The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. That
left only one major property case remaining to be decided
(at least, at the lower court level), involving the Diocese of
Ft. Worth. That last case was decided in early March when
District Court Judge John Chupp issued a one-page ruling
in favor of the group which wants to leave TEC but retain
ownership of almost all property and bank accounts. The fate
of one individual parish is still to be decided.
As was the case in South Carolina, both sides in this dispute claim to be the legitimate Diocese of Ft. Worth. They
even continue to use exactly the same name.
Judge Chupp did not issue an opinion explaining the legal basis for his decision. He simply said that the departing
groups motion for a ruling in its favor was granted, and the
continuing groups motion for a ruling in its favor was denied.

Bp. Jack Iker, who led the Diocese of Ft. Worth out of TEC in 2008
and aligned it with the Province of the
Southern Cone, said We are grateful for
the ruling in our favor. Its clear that both
church laws and Texas laws have been
rightly applied to this dispute.
A statement from his diocese went
on to say, The laity and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of
Fort Worth rejoice with Bishop Iker and join him in giving
thanks to God for this ruling. We pray for a quick resolution to the remaining claims and disputes. We will continue
to carry out the mission given us by our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ: to win the world for Him.
Bp. Rutherford High, provisional bishop of the continuing diocese, said he was disappointed by the result but hopeful
for the future, and said legal efforts to regain control of the
properties would continue. This sacred property was built up
over 170 years in this part of Texas by generations of Episcopalians for the use of The Episcopal Church so it will be available for use by generations of Episcopalians to come as they
do the work of the ChurchThat remains our purpose in this
litigation, and we are confident going forward under the rul-

ings of the Fort Worth Court of Appeals and Texas Supreme

Court that are already in place in our case.
Judge Chupp had ruled in favor of the continuing diocese in January, 2011. But the departing diocese appealed to
the Texas Supreme Court, which sent the case back to Judge
Chupp in August 2013 with orders to re-consider it using different legal principles.
In general, courts have ruled in favor of the Episcopal diocese and national church when individual parishes sought to
leave their diocese, as was the case in the Diocese of Virginia.
But they have generally sided with dioceses that wanted to
leave the national church altogether, as was the case in South
Carolina, Fort Worth and Quincy, Illinois. The one significant
exception was the Diocese of Pittsburgh. There, a pre-existing
legal settlement stipulated that control of property and bank
accounts would remain with those who wished to remain part
of TEC.
The Ft. Worth case did differ from the South Carolina
case in one notable respect. The Diocese of South Carolina
could claim that it in fact predated formation of The Episcopal Church in 1785. It had left TEC during the Civil War,
then rejoined it. The Diocese of Ft. Worth was created by the
General Convention of The Episcopal Church in the early
1980s, separating it from what is now the Diocese of Dallas.
At the time it left TEC in 2008, it was the last diocese which
did not ordain women to the priesthood. It is now part of the
Anglican Church in North America, or ACNA.
Late in March, continuing diocese in South Carolina formally filed notice of its intent to appeal its property case to the
state supreme court.
***
The Episcopal Churchs Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has proposed that this summers General
Convention authorize four new liturgies dealing with marriage and blessing of same-sex couples:
A revised version of the current liturgy The Witnessing and
Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant; which was authorized for
use on a trial basis to bless same-sex unions in 2012;
A new liturgy called The Witnessing and Blessing of a
Marriage, designed to be used by any couple who can be
married according to civil law;
What is described as a a gender-neutral adaptation of the
current marriage rite in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP);
and
A similar gender-neutral adaptation of the marriage rite
from the 1928 BCP. (The 1979 BCP gives couples the option
of using the 1928 language; this proposal extends that option
to same-sex couples).
Continued on page 11

Pohick Episcopal Church

Update on Issues in the Anglican Communion,

continued from page 10

The liturgies would be authorized for use starting in

December, subject to the approval of the diocesan bishop.
The resolution approving their use includes two conscience
clauses reiterating current policy that It shall be within the
discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to preside at any rite contained herein, and the General
Convention continues to honor the theological diversity of
this Church in regard to matters of human, sexuality; and
no bishop, priest, deacon or lay person should be coerced or
penalized in any manner, nor suffer any canonical disabilities,
as a result of his or her theological objection to or support for
the continuing trend toward approval of same-sex unions.
In its report to the General Convention, the commission said the trial liturgy authorized three years ago has been
well received and widely used within the church. It added,

Rapid changes in civil law concerning marriage in the United
Statesindicate a need for equivalent proper liturgies in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legaland a pastoral
need for equivalent marriage rites that could be used by any
couple.
***
The case of Bp. Heather Cook of the diocese of Maryland, who is accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist while she
was driving while intoxicated, has received considerable attention in the secular news media. It also has raised questions
within the diocese and elsewhere about the vetting process for
candidates for the episcopacy, and about the way our Church
deals with alcohol and alcoholics.
The House of Bishops, at its annual spring meeting in
March, approved a resolution asking the Presiding Bishop to
set up an independent commission to explore the canonical,
environment, behavioral and procedural dimensions of matters involving the serious impairment of individuals serving
as leaders in the church, with special attention to issues of
addiction and substance abuse. It wants the commission to
include individuals with professional or personal experience
with varieties of impairment, and hopes the it will come up
with recommendations for both action and further review
to clarify lines of authority, to ensure mutual accountability,
and to promote justice, well-being, and safety within both the
Church and the world.
The president of the House of Deputies, the Rev. Gay
Jennings, issued a letter acknowledging that since the accident, many people in the church have struggled to understand better how our systemic denial about alcohol and other
drug abuse in the church may have contributed to Bishop
Cooks election and confirmation as a bishop even as she
seemed to be struggling with addiction. Many Episcopalians
are asking what people in positions of authority in the church
knew about her history of addiction and driving while under

April 2015 Page 11

the influence of alcohol. They are also asking why the electors
in Maryland and the bishops and standing committees who
consented to her election were not made aware of this information, some of which is a matter of public record.
She said the ongoing disciplinary action against Bp. Cook
does not relieve those of us who help lead the church of our
obligation to acknowledge that the credibility of the process
by which we elect bishops is in question. She said was naming a special legislative committee to review the General
Conventions 1985 policy on alcohol and drug abuse and propose possible new resolutions or policies in the area of alcohol,
substance abuse and addiction.
Elsewhere:
The Episcopal Church of Cuba voted to rejoin The Episcopal
Church. The church in Cuba was part of TEC until the 1959
revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. Since then,
it has been under the oversight of a special Metropolitan
Council of Cuba, which
includes the heads of
the Anglican Church of
Canada, Anglican Province of the West Indies
and TEC.
The synod was presented with two resolutions, one calling for
rejoining TEC, and
another calling for studying the options available. The first
passed by a narrow margin.
The Cuban church was founded by missionaries from the
U.S. in the late 19th century. It then became a missionary district of TEC and later an autonomous diocese.
The Anglican Consultative Council currently recognizes
Cuba as member church, and therefore an independent province. Additional steps by both the General Convention and
ACC will be necessary before the reunification can take effect.
The Church of England continues to move swiftly to bring
women into the episcopacy. The Rev. Libby Lane was consecrated as the churchs first female bishop late in January; now
the Queen has appointed the Revd Canon Alison White as
suffragan bishop in the diocese of Hull,and approved the election of the Venerable Rachel Treweek as bishop of Gloucester, making her the first woman to be a diocesan bishop, and
member of the House of Lords.

It is important to remember that despite all these controversies,

the work of the Church - globally, nationally, and locally - goes on.
The Stewardship Commission continues to remind us of the
ways Pohick carries out that work, and spread the good News. Pohick
continues to be the only Bible some people will ever read. Through
youth mission trips, donations of school supplies, backpacks, Christmas meals to LCAC, Santas annual visit to New Hope Housing,
and the Community of Hope, Pohick continues to leak the love of
God to those in need.

Page 12 April 2015

Pohick Episcopal Church

Golden Dove Gift Shop

The Martha Guild

Spring Has Sprung!

Connie Myers

The Martha Guild will meet on Wednesday, April

8, in Classroom A at 7:30 pm. Please note the meeting
is a week later due to Holy Week. Discussion topics
will include details of the upcoming Wine Tasting as
well as other projects. All Women of the Church are
cordially invited to attend the meeting. Any questions,
please contact Connie Myers by phone at 703-4554652 or by email at jetskiing@hotmail.com.

African Team Ministries

Jewelry and Craft Sale

The African Team Ministries Jewelry and Craft

Sale will be held on Sunday, April 12 and Sunday,
April 19 during all three Coffee Hours. African Team
Ministries has been serving the Churches of East Africa for more than 20 years. The proceeds from the
handcrafted items will make it possible to supply Drip
Irrigation Kits for the families in the drought and
famine areas that have also received emergency food
relief. This will enable them to grow food all year instead of only when it rains. More than 250,000 people
died during the recent drought and famine.
African Team Ministries also resettled displaced
people, supported orphans, presented AIDS education and prevention, and provided literacy training.
There will be many wonderful handcrafted items to
choose from, so please stop by for wonderful ideas
for Mothers Day gifts! Any questions, please contact
Connie Myers by phone at 703-455-4652 or by email
at jetskiing@hotmail.com.

I Was Hungry and You Fed Me.

What is in a manna bag? A manna bag is a nonperishable food kit to keep in the car to be given to
the less fortunate encountered during daily travels. The Ann Mason Guild will have kits available
on Sunday, April 19, during coffee hour.

New items are on display, including special gifts

for Easter, baptisms, and Mothers Day. Come take
a look at both handmade applewood and beautiful
pewter baptismal baby bowls and cups, cross bookmarks, and Episcopal rosaries. Other special items include unique handmade Easter and all occasion cards,
specially designed pearl necklaces and earrngs, and
Honey House Naturals lotions and lipgloss.
Also available are special Pohick themed items,
including beautiful photographs, hand painted porcelain coffee mugs, tea canisters, apple butter, Pohick
cookbook, and Rev. Don Binder CDs.
The shop also now has a Clearance Corner - come
find some deals and help support the Church and local charities! Hours: Sundays 8:15 am - 9:00 am and
10:15 am -11:15 am in the north end of the Vestry
House.
Volunteers to work at the shop are always welcome. If interested, please contact Pamela Nelson at
pjsn28@aol.com or 703-932-2378 or email Charlotte
Knipling at c.knipling@gmail.com.

Hodge Podge

It is time again to donate TREASURES to

Hodge Podge for the big sale on May 16. The collection drive is now in full swing. Clean out that
closet, garage, attic, or storage shed. Place gently used, clean, functioning
items in the northwest corner of the Common Room.
Look for Hodge Podge updates in the bulletin. Hodge
Podge needs volunteers to
help! To volunteer, please contact Helen and Jeff
Parker at 703-497-5927.
Books are also being collected for the book
sale. Contact Jane Thurston, 703-339-1301 for
book donations. Contact Jim From at 703-4926450 for any Hodge Podge questions.

POHICK YOUTH RETREAT

Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19 $35 per person

Depart from Pohick Church at 5:00 pm Return 3:30 pm
Watch for more details in the Sunday bulletin!

April 2015 Page 13

Pohick Episcopal Church

Pohick Church Activities April 2015

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

30

31

APRIL 1

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Easter
5:30a Easter Vigil
7:45a HE I
9:15a HE II
10:15a Easter Egg
Hunt
11:15a HE I

7p EFM

6p Marriage
Course
7p EFM

Easter 2b
7p EFM
7:45a HE I
9a HE II
10:15a Christian Ed
11:15a HE II
5p Confirmation Class
6:30p EYC Dinner
Night (All)

19

Youth Retreat

20

7p EFM

Easter 3b
7p Docent
7:45a HE I
General Mtg
9a HE II
10:15a Christian Ed
11:15a HE I

26

27

Easter 4b
7p EFM
7:45a HE I
9a HE II
10:15a Christian Ed
11:15a HE I
6:30p EYC ( Jr&Sr)

9:30a Staff Mtg

7p Tutoring

9:30a Staff Mtg

7p Tutoring

9:30a Ann Mason Guild

9:30a Staff Mtg
7p Tutoring
7:30p Vestry

2p HE, the Fairfax Maundy Thursday 12p Good

6p St. Cecelia St. Alban 6:15p Bell Choir Friday &
6p St. Francis Choir 7p Boy Scouts Stations
7p Prayer Shawl
7:30p Choir of
Ministry
Pohick
7:30p Healing Service 7:30p Service
7:30p Martha Guild & Vigil
8:30p AA
2p HE, the Fairfax
6p St. Cecelia St. Alban
6p St. Francis Choir
7:30p Healing
Service

6:15p Bell Choir

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

Saturday

MARCH 29

Palm Sunday
7:45a HE I
9a HE II
10:15a Christian
Ed, Fairfax Visit
11:15a HE I

Friday

Holy Saturday
8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew
9:15a Baptism
rehearsal
4p Holy Baptism

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew

2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir Youth Retreat

Youth Retreat
6p St. Cecelia St. Alban 7p Boy Scouts
8a Brotherhood
6p St. Francis Choir 7:30p Choir of
of St. Andrew
7:30p Healing
Pohick
Service
8:30p AA
Deadline for Pohick Post

21

22

23

24

25

28

29

30

MAY 1

9:30a Staff Mtg

7p Tutoring

9:30a Staff Mtg

7p Tutoring

2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell

6p St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
6p St. Francis Choir 7p Boy Scouts
7:30p Healing
7:30p Choir of
Service
Pohick
8:30p AA
2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir
6p COH
7p Boy Scouts
6p St. Cecelia St. Alban 7:30p Choir of
6p St. Francis Choir Pohick
7:30p Healing Service 8:30p AA

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew

8a Brotherhood
of St. Andrew
5p Martha
Guild Fundraiser

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

Page 14 April 2014

5 APRIL
7:45
9:00

Pohick Episcopal Church

SUNDAY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

Becky Wagner
Mike Zane

Chris Brown, Dan

Derbes, Jim Foster, Grant
Hodges, Jan Hoffheins,
Kathy Kirkland

12 APRIL

19 APRIL

USHERS

Ken Evans
Mike Vaughn

Mo Faber
Jim Heller
Pehr Pehrsson
Edwardene Pitcock

ley, B. Patton, F. Thurston

Mike Wooten

7:00

Cockroft

Derbes

1:00

Pasour

Herbert

AM

J. Sunderland
N. Bireley
A. Cannon
C. Heddleston
J. MacDonald
M. Hartig
R. Teale, B. Wagner

M/M Jones

7:45

Foresman (R)
Wagner (P)

Elston (P)
Rickenbaker (R)

11:15 Gastrell (P)

Choi (R)

9:00 C. Knipling
11:15 Tom & Susan Costa

Rick Nelson
Bill Bland

Rita Smith
Bill Hosp

M/M Armstrong
M/M Haufe

S. Harding (R)
M. Harding (P)
Pasour (R)
Nelson (P)
H. Parker

H. Foresman

Dru Hodges
Tom Bland
Dennis Myers
Greg Wilson

Chris Brown
John Godley
Hal Yarwood
Susan Yarwood

Wyllie

Thurston

TBD

Brownlee

Crawford

TBD

M/M Brown

Pitcock/Schmid

TBD

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

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

BJ McPherson
A. Powell
J. Schmid, E. Pitcock
A. Marsico
M. Tonkin
D. Trussell
M. Yezek

M/M Ken Evans

M/M Ken Evans

TBD

C. Darling

M/M Ted Yezek

TBD

ALTAR GUILD

COFFEE HOUR

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

9:00

Steve Edgemon
Angela Edgemon

TELLERS

M/M John Pasour

7:45 M/M John Pasour
9:00 Easter Sunday (Vestry) M/M Stew Remaly
M/M Fuzzy Thurston
11:15 Kathy Kirkland

Marsico (P)
Wrona (R)

Mike Zane
Becky Wagner

LOCK - UP

Kirkland/Hoffheins

J. Sunderland
N. Bireley
A. Cannon
C. Heddleston
J. MacDonald
M. Hartig
R. Teale, B. Wagner

Tony Marsico
Rodger Jones

OPEN - UP

12:15 Pasour/Remaly

3 MAY

Alan Mayberry
Stew Remaly
Matt Gurrola
Beth Altman
Don Cooke
John Pasour

11:15 H. Foresman, D. Billings- Paul Walden

26 APRIL

Schmid/Pitcock

GREETERS

M/M Tom Bland

TBD

Stew Remaly

E. Bartlett

R. Stankwitz

C. Hodge

L. Aqueron

L. Jonas

M/M Brown

LAY READERS

Bland/Girten

M/M Bland

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

R. Heddleston

TBD

DOCENTS

M. Bartholomew
R. Stankwitz

N. Sage

TBD

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

Pohick Episcopal Church

Kids Korner!
Bunny Pretzels

Source: http://blog.lundsandbyerlys.com/post/87124142675/easter-treats-to-make-with-your-kids

Yield: approximately 24 pretzels

Ingredients:
Mini marshmallows
Pink sugar dcor sprinkles
1 (16 oz.) package Vanilla CandiQuik Coating
Black edible marker or cake writing icing
Directions:
1. Cut each marshmallow in half diagonally. These
will form the bunny ears. Sprinkle with pink dcors
onto the sticky side of the marshmallow (for best results, press the sticky side of the marshmallow into the
sprinkles).
2. Melt Vanilla CandiQuik in the Melt and Make
Microwaveable Tray according to the directions on
the package.
3. Dip about of each pretzel rod in the CandiQuik
and place on wax paper.
4. Before CandiQuik has set, press the marshmallow
ears on the top of the pretzel, holding in place until set, and press one heart-shaped sprinkle on as the
nose.
5. Once dry, draw two dots for eyes with black edible
marker or cake writing icing.

April 2015 Page 15

Bulletin Announcements

Please email bulletin announcements to

shcosta@pohick.org. The bulletin is printed
on Thursdays so announcements should be
received by Wednesday.

Send News!
Articles for the May Pohick Post are due no later than
April 15. Forward input by email in Word compatible format to Lori Buckius, raebuck@aol.com.
Design concerns & items for the
Sunday Service Volunteers page should be
addressed to Carmel Hodge, cchodge@aol.com.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Please remember any parishioner may request a

prayer shawl. It does not matter whether it is for
a fellow parishioner, a relative, or a friend. Shawls
are stored in either Rev. Binder or Rev. Corrells
offices. For instructions on how to knit or crochet
a prayer shawl, please contact Kathy Kirkland at
waykirk@verizon.net or call 703-550-9194. The
next Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting will be on
April 1 at 7:00 pm in classroom A.

Vacation Bible School

Mark the calendars! Pohicks Vacation Bible

School will be July 13 - 17, 9:00 am - 12 noon.
All three year olds through 5th grade students
are welcome. The 6th - 12th grade students are
welcome to come and be assistants and aides!
If an adult has a 2 year old and can stay to
help in the program, a class will be available
for the child. Please speak with Frances Sessums. Anyone who is interested in teaching,
assistant teaching, being an aide, snacks, nursery attendant, art
assistant or helping in any way,
please call Frances Sessums, 703425-2857.

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:

Reed Heddleston
Clint Herbert
John Pasour
Don Brownlee
Amanda Choi,
Caroline Cockroft,
Fred Crawford,
Dan Derbes, Helen Parker,
Edwardene Pitcock,
Fuzzy Thurston,
Emma Wallace, Russ Wyllie

Pohick Church Vestry

The Revd Donald

Sr. Warden:
Binder, PhD
Jr. Warden:
The Revd Dr. Ruth Treasurer:
E. Correll, Ed.D.
Register:
James Rickenbaker
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: shcosta@pohick.org Web Site: www.pohick.org