Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
From the Rector: Historic Mt. Vernon, and of several organizations min-
continued from page 1 istering to veterans. Most recently, she worked with us
in the dedication of the Virginia DHR’s plaque honor-
this year’s Annual Report are replete with stories about ing Physician General William Brown.
Pohick’s scores of ministries in these areas. These range And so I hope that you will join me in welcoming
from the pastoral work of our Community Hope and Diane and her husband Jim as she begins her ministry
Agape Works, to our numerous programs for and with with us on Sunday, January 14th.
our young people, to our outreach and evangelism ef- Because Diane will mostly be assisting liturgically,
forts to the materially and spiritually needy. our Lay Chaplains from the Community of Hope will
I’d like to thank all of our congregation for your be helping me with the increased pastoral load, espe-
wonderful support of these and many other ministries cially on Mondays when I observe my sabbath. Also,
through the generous giving of your time, talent, and since Wesley Arning will be in his last semester with
treasure during the past year. And I’d particularly like us, and since he may well be serving as a Deacon-in-
to thank my partner in Christ, the Rev. Dr. Ruth Cor- Charge over a parish in Tennessee, as part of his train-
rell, who over the past seven years has been instrumen- ing, I have asked him during these coming months to
tal in providing hands-on leadership within many of serve liturgically in ways normally reserved to a deacon
these parish ministries. As she leaves her position at - reading the Gospel, announcing the Confession, set-
Pohick, we will miss her dedicated service, her prayer- ting the altar, and giving the dismissal.
ful presence, and her many words of wisdom and en- Otherwise, I will be teaching both the Adult In-
couragement. I hope that she will have both a relaxing quirers’ and Youth Confirmation classes this year, lead-
and fruitful retirement in the months and years ahead, ing up to Bp. Jones’ visitation with us on Sunday, June
joining us from time to time as the Holy Spirit leads 10th, and performing all funerals and weddings during
her. this period. Suffice it to say, please be patient with me
As you might imagine, it will be one of my chal- if I am a little slower in answering your emails or phone
lenges over the next six months to find someone of calls!
similar caliber to take on that vacant position. And so Despite these challenges, with everyone pitching
I will start advertising with the Diocese in early 2018 in, I know that God will bless our ministries in this
and begin forming a small advisory search committee coming year and will send us someone to capably as-
to assist me in that task. I hope to start interviewing sume the Assistant’s mantle. And so I look forward to
potential candidates by late winter, with the goal of an exciting 2018 as we continue serving Christ in these
having someone in place by early July. I ask for your many wonderful ways at Pohick Church!
prayers for discernment as that process unfolds.
In the meantime, I am happy to announce that New Hope Housing and LCAC
during the interim period we will have the services of The Outreach Committee would like to ex-
the Rev. Dr. Diane Murphy, who will be assisting in press its appreciation to the wonderful Pohick con-
Sunday and Wednesday services approximately twice gregation for all the Christmas gifts, food baskets,
a month. I worked with Bp. Lee in overseeing Diane’s and monetary contributions that were so gener-
ordinations back in 2003, just after her graduation ously donated for LCAC and New Hope Hous-
from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Prior to that, ing. Thanks for the food donations and volunteers
she had earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in American Stud- for the Christmas Party for New
ies from the University of Maryland. Hope Housing and Breakfast
While continuing to work in the secular world as with Santa for LCAC.
a real estate broker for Sotheby’s and DGM Proper- The volunteers made it pos-
ties, Diane has since served as Priest Associate at both sible for many families in the sur-
Christ Church and St. Paul’s, Alexandria, and at St. rounding community to enjoy the holidays. Thanks
John’s, Georgetown. She has also been a Chaplain at for sharing and putting joy into the lives of others.
the Washington Hospital Center. Over the years, Di- Pohick has a truly amazing congregation.
ane has been an active supporter of Life with Cancer, of
Pohick Episcopal Church January 2018 • Page 3
General George Washington cared for the troops. Sunday, January 14 • Second Sunday after the Epiphany
In his own words, “It has been determined in Con- 9:00 am Choir of Pohick, St. Francis Choir
gress, that the whole army raised for the defence of
11:15 am Kelsey Pehrsson, soprano
the American Cause shall be put under my care…”
His wife Martha played a key role in caring for the
troops under extremely trying circumstances. Sunday, January 21 • Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Remember the winter of 1777 to 1778. The Amer- 9:00 am Choir of Pohick, Pohick Pickers
ican Continental Army encamped that winter at Val- 11:15 am St. Cecelia St. Alban Choir
ley Forge. The military camp was 18 miles northwest
of Philadelphia. Starvation, disease, malnutrition, and Sunday, January 28 • Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
exposure took a terrible toll on the troops. Martha’s 9 am Choir of Pohick, Pohick Bell Choir
presence there encouraged George Washington and 11:15 am Pohick Bell Choir
boosted the morale of the entire camp. So essential
was her presence to the war effort that General Wash-
ington sought reimbursement from Congress for her Golden Dove Gift Shop
travel expenses. A big thanks to all who supported
The National Brotherhood of Saint Andrew has
an initiative to develop veteran friendly congregations. the Golden Dove Gift Shop throughout
This effort is particularly relevant to Pohick Church, the year and especially during the holiday season.
the church of General Washington.
The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is a world-
So many Christmas gift purchases
wide ministry founded in 1883 by a group of work- contributed to Pohick and toward outreach.
ing men at Saint James Episcopal Church in Chicago.
The focus is to bring men, boys and youth to Christ. The “giving back” by shopping at the
Envision a muscular form of Christianity, a source of Golden Dove is greatly appreciated.
strength for dealing with adversity. The Pohick Chap-
ter meets every Saturday morning at 8:00 am for a
hearty man’s breakfast, prayer, service, and study. New Please note the hours in weekly bulletins.
members are welcomed with open arms. Come visit the shop
By the way, the logo above is Saint Andrew’s cross.
As their patron saint, his cross comprises the flag of for new items coming in soon!
Scotland and is also part of the Episcopal flag.
Martha Guild
The Martha Guild will be “dining out” for their Janu-
ary meeting on Wednesday, January 10. The time and
place will be determined. All Women of the Church
are cordially invited to attend, so watch for all the de-
tails. Questions can be directed to Connie Myers at
703-455-4652, 703-201-2204 or jetskiing@hotmail.
com.
Page 6 • January 2018 Pohick Episcopal Church
Update on Issues in the Anglican Communion, Platform 9 and three quarters takes Harry Potter into a
continued from page 6 world of magic and purpose.
“Not so in the gospel stories, even those of Christ-
Canterbury. We are confessing Anglicans and historic mas. Yes, the shepherds see angels. Yes, Mary and Jo-
ties, however fruitful they have been in the past, can- seph have dreams and are chosen as special people.
not be allowed to compromise the truth of the gospel. “Yet after the moments of miracles life goes on al-
Consistent with this principle, we recognise AMiE as most as before - the shepherds return to their sheep,
fully part of the Anglican Communion. Joseph settles back as a carpenter, Mary raises children.
But Bp. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, general secretary They flee as refugees, like over 60 million people today.
of the Anglican Communion and a former bishop in Yet their story is the beginning of ours, it is an invita-
the Church of Nigeria, quickly took issue with that tion to lives of freedom, found through God’s freely
view: “The relationship with the See of Canterbury is offered love.
essential for Anglicans. You cannot be in the Anglican “In the manger is something completely different
Communion without it.” from all human strivings for freedom. The baby in the
He cited the 1930 Lambeth manger is a paradox from the first breath he draws in
Conference, the Constitution his mother’s arms to the last cry he utters on the cross.
of the Anglican Consultative He is power seen in humility, and He offers freedom
Council and a 2012 report from expressed in loving service.
the Inter-Anglican Standing “It is this Christly paradox of freedom springing
Commission on Unity, Faith from the overflowing of love that leads to salvation, to
and Order which said that the the common good and human flourishing. There is no
office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is integral to power in the universe stronger than God’s love and it is
the way the Anglican Communion is made up: “it is directed towards the liberation of human beings.
not possible for a Church to be a member of the Com- “This liberation begins with the risky, counter-in-
munion without being in communion with the arch- tuitive birth of God in the form of a baby of a teenage
bishop as bishop of the See of Canterbury”. single mother, in a poor family in a war-torn country
He concluded, “Of course individual member ruled by an infant slaughtering, family murdering psy-
churches and Provinces of the Anglican Communion chopath. Jesus’ life continues mostly in obscurity and
are free to enter into relationships of communion with appears to ends in betrayal, abandonment and humili-
non-Anglican churches. However this does not make ating execution.
those churches members of the Anglican Communion. “Even Jesus’ brief periods of
“We pray wholeheartedly for all churches and com- fame, of celebration and decisive
munities who are engaged in spreading the gospel, but action look like God’s apparent
it’s not correct to say that they are part of the Anglican mistakes. An host of angels ap-
Communion if they are not in communion with the pears to a bunch of shepherds.
See of Canterbury. This applies to Anglican Mission Shepherds were the low life in
in England (AMiE), the Anglican Church of North those days - the butt of many
America (ACNA), and other similar bodies. jokes. They were armed, used to
“In our Advent, as we wait for the coming of the fighting, lived rough and were often untrustworthy.
Prince of Peace, let us all pray for peace and unity Bethlehem is less than ten miles from Jerusalem, the
among all Christians, especially those who were once angels could have announced the Messiah to the im-
part of the Communion.” portant and influential just down the road. Instead a
*** bunch of shepherds confuse the sheep by leaving them,
Abp. Justin turned to popular culture to begin his frighten the town police by entering Bethlehem, sur-
Christmas sermon. prise a mother who was probably, having just given
“We are drawn to stories of freedom and purpose. birth, not entirely in the mood for entertaining, and
In Star Wars an abandoned orphan on a desert planet
turns into a knight leading the struggle for freedom. Continued on page 8
Page 8 • January 2018 Pohick Episcopal Church
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Epiphany 3b 7p EFM 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir Jr/Sr High Jr/Sr High Lock-In
7:45a HE I 6p St. Cecelia St. 7p Boy Scouts Lock-In 8a Brotherhood
9a HE II Alban Choir 7:30p Choir of of St. Andrew
10:15a Alpha Film 6p St. Francis Choir Pohick 9a Healthy Liv-
Series 7:30p Healing Service ing Seminar
11:15a HE I 10a SAR Exec Mtg
6:30p EYC 10a SR Mtg
10a Yoga
28 29 30 31 FEB 1 2 3
Epiphany 4b 7p EFM 9:30a Staff Mtg 2p HE, the Fairfax 6:15p Bell Choir 8a Brotherhood
7:45a HE I 6p COH 7p Boy Scouts of St. Andrew
9a HE II 6p St. Cecelia St. 7:30p Choir of 10a Yoga
10:15a Alpha Film Alban Choir Pohick 1p 1st Sat
Series 6p St. Francis Choir Docent Tour
11:15a HE II 5p Chili Cookoff
7:30p Healing Service
Contact the Parish Secretary, Susan Hayward-Costa, to list group meetings or events on the calendar, shcosta@pohick.org.
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