As I write these words one week after the terrorist attack on our country, I continue to feel a sense of profound sorrow for the great loss experienced by so many families. I know I am not alone in this sentiment: the feeling so permeates the air that it is palpable.

Yesterday, on my day off, I rode my bike up the Mt. Vernon trail on a sort of pilgrimage to our nation's capital. The trail runs past National Airport, where I paused to listen to the eerie silence of the empty runways, and to stare in reverence at the large American flag draped from the lonely control tower. That silence continued as I peddled along the banks of the Potomac—the usual roar of descending airplanes was noticeably absent. Crossing Memorial Bridge, I came to the goal of my pilgrimage: the Lincoln Memorial, where I desired to sit at the feet of the likeness of a man who had witnessed our nation suffer through so many sorrows.

With Lincoln, I gazed out over the length of the mall, where, past the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument stood encircled by flags flown at half-mast. Seeing the Capitol still rising majestically in the background, I offered a prayer of thanksgiving for those heroic passengers who gave their lives in order to preserve that building—or the White House, or some other target—from being destroyed, and its inhabitants killed. I also offered prayers for those who were not so spared—as we all have over and over again since that fateful day.

With many of you, I was deeply moved at the coming together of over two-hundred persons at our memorial Eucharist on the evening of the day following the tragedy. The Scriptures, the prayers, the sharing of the Lord's Supper, the burning of candles in the twilight, and the mournful sound of "Taps" at the conclusion of the service all touched me profoundly.

I am likewise grateful that so many gave so generously for the relief of the victims and their families: two-thousand dollars in contributions were collected that evening, and another thousand has been donated since. A portion of those monies will be used to aid victims in our area, and a portion will be sent to fund the discretionary account of a former Assistant in the parish, the Reverend Milton Williams, who currently lives and ministers in the blast area in New York City.
Although (as I write these words, at least) there is a great deal of uncertainty as to the exact course our nation will pursue, we can nonetheless rest assured that God remains with us throughout the trials ahead, urging us to stand together with those who have suffered so greatly. And as we seek to bring to justice those who have perpetrated this terrible deed, our Lord would have us do so without a spirit of hatred, for if we give into hatred, our enemies have surely won the victory.

Along these lines, the words of Lincoln at the end of our nation's most devastating war serve as an important reminder to us at the start of what may prove to be our country's most ambitious one: "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations."

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Although the tragedy of September 11th will continue to weigh upon our hearts, there are other matters of concern within the parish about which I must write you. I have grouped these below under the specific categories they address:

Liturgy. Respecting the traditions of the parish, I have not instituted many changes in our common worship, only ones to bring us back into line with the rubrics of the Prayer Book or with some of the earlier customs of our parish. In the first of these respects, the celebrant alone now leads the Collect of the Day (BCP, pp. 325, 357), and the Wednesday evening healing service now follows the contours prescribed on BCP, pp. 453-457, where the laying on of hands and anointing with oil occurs just prior to the exchange of the Peace. In the second, we have restored the alternating of Rite I and Rite II at the 11:15 am Sunday service, with Rite I celebrated on odd-numbered Sundays of the month and Rite II on even. Likewise, we have reinstituted the former practice of using the Saints' Propers for the Wednesday evening service (see BCP, pp. 19-31 for the liturgical calendar).

Also in keeping with parish tradition, in commemoration of St. Francis Day (Oct. 4), we will have a Blessing of the Animals service again on Sunday, October 7 at 4pm at the outside chapel (note this location change from last year). In addition, please mark your calendars for Sunday, November 4 at 6pm, when Bishop Jones will celebrate my Institution as Rector of Pohick Church—a service I much look forward to.

Adult Education. In addition to our ongoing commitment to the Education for Ministry (EFM) series, this October we will be adding two new Adult education offerings. The first will begin on Wednesday, October 3rd, immediately following the 7:30 pm Eucharist. From 8-9 pm the celebrant of the preceding service will conduct in the Vestry House a study on the particular Saint who is being commemorated on that day (see above), including an examination of the Scriptures used in that service. A nursery will be available for children five or under; we only ask that interested participants call ahead to make reservations.

There is one exception to this pattern: on Wednesday, October 24, we will have visiting us Bishop Zebedee Masereka from Uganda, representing African Team Ministries. On that evening, we will have a potluck dinner at 6:30 pm, followed by a presentation from the Bishop at 7:05. The Eucharist that evening will be held at 8 pm, with no study afterwards.

The second new offering will commence on Sunday, October 7th between the two later services (10:15-11:05 am). At that time I will offer a seven-week series on Biblical Archaeology in the Parish House annex, where we will explore the fruits of recent archaeological research in connection with specific passages of Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. While the individual classes are self-contained, I hope many can join in the entire series, which will feature a great deal of visual, as well as verbal, instruction.

Again, there is one exception: on Sunday, October 14, we will host a reception between the two later services in honor of the approximately 38 newcomer families who have joined Pohick this past year. Consequently, no adult class will meet on that day.

Communications. Responding to the need for increased coordination and communication of the many parish events, I have spent the last month crafting an Internet calendar that will serve as the Master Calendar for the parish. It can be viewed either through our website or directly at: www.calsnet.com/pohick. Vonne Troknya will maintain the calendar, updating it daily, as meeting requests are booked and cleared through her in the main office. In this way, technology will allow us to bring the parish up-to-date information on Pohick activities, while at the same time serving as a tool for coordinating these same events.

In connection with this, our attempts to communicate with parishioners about the memorial Eucharist made us keenly aware that much of our information on work-numbers, cell-phone numbers and e-mail addresses is woefully out-of-date. Please submit any such changes as soon as possible to Vonne Troknya or Pat Osisek so that we can update our records.

Assistant Search. Susan Hazen has graciously agreed to continue her Interim ministry through the end of December (perhaps longer, if needed) while I seek to call a permanent Assistant to the Rector. I want to emphasize that the search for a new Assistant is a natural part of the transition process, where the Interim's role is to "prepare the way" for the successor to that position, much as Fr. Benjamin's ministry sought to prepare the way for the arrival of a new Rector. Susan continues to do an excellent job in this capacity, and we hope that she will be able to carry on her work in the Diocese of Virginia after she has completed her service to our parish.
Presently, I am working with the Personnel Committee and Vestry to define the parameters of the Assistant's Position Description. We do hope, however, to call a seasoned Assistant, one who can very quickly supervise a VTS seminarian, as I myself plan to do (with the Vestry's blessing) a year from now.

As we become immersed in the many activities and services that comprise the life of our parish, may we each be empowered by the grace of God's Holy Spirit to meet the challenges that are surely before us in the days ahead.

Faithfully,

Donald D. Binder+