At Pohick, as with most churches, our primary focus is upon our present mission: our weekly worship, our outreach to the poor and needy, our witness to the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus.

            By virtue of our colonial founding, however, we occasionally are able to draw upon our church’s past for inspiration. This coming month is one such time, as it will see the release of an important new book by Mt. Vernon’s resident historian, Mary Thompson. Years in the making, "In the Hands of Good Providence" will explore the spiritual life of Pohick’s most prominent parishioner, George Washington, probing especially how his Christian faith sustained him during the trying years of the Revolutionary War and the equally demanding period of his presidency.

            While exploring fresh sources, the book will join a growing collection of recent historical works that have taken issue with previous characterizations of Washington as a religiously indifferent Deist, spiritually akin to his fellow revolutionaries Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. At the same time, the work will seek to move beyond that debate by examining the context of Washington’s religion, reminding readers that Christianity in colonial times was practiced quite differently than it is today.

            In conjunction with this book’s release, I am pleased to announce that the Vestry has approved the display at Mt. Vernon of several of Pohick’s historic artifacts in a new exhibition devoted to this topic. These include Pohick’s colonial Vestry Minutes, our Lectern edition of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and Bible, our colonial Chalice, and an original panel from Washington’s pew. These items have languished for years in our safe or in the closed stacks of the Library of Congress. Beginning this month, they will be on display for the approximately one million visitors who will pass through Mt. Vernon over the course of the twelve-month exhibition.

            I hope that during this period many of you will also avail yourselves of the opportunity to see these artifacts at Mt. Vernon, as well as to read through Ms. Thompson’s new book. George Washington’s faith bolstered him during the many trials he faced when seeking to forge a new nation. Reflecting upon his witness can inspire us to do the same when confronting the lesser challenges we each face in our day.

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            By now, many of you have had a chance to meet our new seminarian, Julia Messer. Julia is in her second or “Middler” year at Virginia Theological Seminary and is starting her first of two years at Pohick. A recent graduate of Mary Baldwin College, she has previously served as a lay chaplain at Camp Kanuga, NC, and has held internships at her home parish, Church of the Epiphany, Danville, VA, at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church, Toano, VA, and at Emmanuel Church, Staunton, VA.

            As a seminarian, Julia will regularly help lead Sunday worship, preach about once a month during the school year, teach, and work within various parish ministries as assigned.

When you see her, please extend a hearty Pohick welcome!