2004 CHRISTMAS MART

It has happened again - another year has gone by and it is time to “GET SERIOUS” about the annual Pohick Church Christmas Mart! This spectacular event will take place on Thursday, November 18, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Parish House, the Vestry House, and the Church for tours. The funds raised from the Christmas Mart are divided among the Ann Mason Guild, the Martha Guild, and the Women of the Church. Proceeds are used by these groups for various outreach programs inside and outside the Church.

As usual, there are MANY opportunities for the congregation – women and men - to participate in making this another successful Mart. Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and share in hours of fun. There are many ways to volunteer time and talents.

• ATTIC TREASURES - clean out those closets and attics and donate the treasures;
  including books and videos.
• BAKED GOODS - donate homemade cakes, pies, cookies, candy, fudge, breads, etc.
• CHRISTMAS SHOPPE - donate handmade craft items.
• CONSIGNMENT & ART SHOW - consign fine china, glass, silver, and crafts to be sold.
• DECORATIONS - help with transforming the buildings to exhibit a beautiful Christmas atmosphere
• FROZEN CASSEROLES - donate homemade frozen main dishes, soups, sauces, casseroles, etc.
• JEWELRY - contribute old jewelry - both fine and costume.
• LUNCHEON - volunteer to help in the kitchen preparing the delicious lunch that is served on Mart day, or volunteer to be one of the lovely WAITRESSES that dress in Colonial costume to serve lunch to the guests.
• PANTRY SHELF & POHICKERY - help this popular attraction by donating homemade jams, jellies, preserves, relishes and vinegars, or donate handmade items depicting Pohick Church.
• EXTERNAL CRAFTERS - rent tables and add to the event as well as draw the crowds.

There are many hours of “behind the scene” work required to make this event successful. Two very important requirements are SET-UP and CLEAN-UP! This is where the MEN of the Church are encouraged to get involved as the assistance of “muscle-power” is needed.The main set-up,which is the moving of the heavy furniture,takes place on the Tuesday evening - Nov 16 - before the Mart. Clean up (putting things back to normal) begins immediately following the 2:00 pm closing time on Mart Day.

Volunteers make the Christmas Mart a success. Consider the various ways to volunteer time or talent to this worthy undertaking. For additional information, contact Connie Myers or Debbie Pasour.

KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CHRISTMAS MART

The delicious traditional luncheon served at the Christmas Mart is always a big hit. Preparing for 300 lunches requires a great deal of assistance. Lunch preparation begins on Saturday,
November 13 at 10:00 am with the chopping of the turkey. Everyone is welcome to help, please bring a sharp knife and meet in the kitchen on Saturday morning.

On Wednesday, November 17 at 9:00 am food preparation will continue. Feel free to stop by and volunteer for any length of available time. A lunch of turkey noodle soup is provided for all
the workers on Wednesday. Naturally, on Mart Day volunteers will also be needed for the “behind the scenes” work in the kitchen.

Please contact Connie Myers to volunteer for any of the work days. Come volunteer for an hour or for the day - all help is appreciated!

FROZEN CASSEROLES • CHRISTMAS MART 2004

Each year the Frozen Casserole concession is an area that sells out very quickly, and it always seems as if more casseroles could be sold. As a result, everyone that makes a casserole can be assured that the contribution will raise funds for Pohick Church.

People often ask what should be prepared. Many cookbooks offer recipes for a meal that is
complete as one dish. Most of these dishes can be prepared to the point of baking and then frozen. Some recipes have fully cooked ingredients put in the casserole dish and only need to be thawed and heated to enjoy. Be specific in cooking instructions. In 2004, the annual Christmas Mart will be held on Thursday, November 18. Ideally, frozen casseroles should be brought to the Church on Wednesday, November 17. The casserole must be frozen before it is brought to the Church. Any casseroles that must be dropped off prior to November 17 need to be clearly labeled “CHRISTMAS MART” so they are not accidentally discarded during set up. Please follow some simple directions to promote efficient set up.

Casseroles should be completely frozen in an aluminum baking dish and covered with foil. On
the foil, place a note with the name of the cook and the name of the dish so the casserole can be matched with the detailed label that will be prepared for it. It is preferred that the plastic covers that can be purchased with aluminum baking dishes NOT be used.

Insert the baking dish in a plastic zipper bag (two gallon sizes will be needed for larger casseroles). The bag does not need to be a freezer bag as the purpose of the bag is to prevent the foil from tearing and to present a nicer looking package.

For those interested in making soup, stew, or chili, please place the item in a plastic container - not a bag. There are some very inexpensive containers with lids available that would help the appearance of the item. Again, please provide information for labels and freeze the item before bringing it to the church.

Once the casserole is made and packaged, please provide Jan Buckius or Lori Buckius with the following information: 1) Name of Item, 2) Cooking Instructions, 3) All Ingredients. (Although the list of ingredients is needed for allergies and fussy shoppers, amounts and brand names are not necessary. The secret recipe is safe!)

Numbered Christmas labels displaying the name of the item, cooking instructions, and ingredients will be made for each casserole. Please forward the information on each donated casserole to raebuck@aol.com as soon as possible and no later than Monday, November 15 as time is needed to prepare the labels. It is usually better to provide the information after the casserole is actually made in case of last minute changes.

Feel free to contact Jan Buckiusor Lori Buckius at raebuck@aol.com with any questions

CONSIGNMENT ROOM • CHRISTMAS MART

The Consignment Room at the annual Christmas Mart returns a nice profit for the Women of Pohick. Consignors are welcome to bring a wide variety of large or small items - some suggestions include arts and craft items, flower arrangements, collectibles, and antiques. The Consignment Room is a great opportunity to sell excess craft inventory or test the popularity of a new craft. This year there are already three baby cribs and a few other large items. For every item sold, the church receives 25% of the purchase price and the consignor receives 75%. CLOTHES ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR CONSIGNMENT. To consign items, contact Edie Bartlett by phone at redsse@aol.com.