Church guide

VBS wrap up at the 10 AM Service tomorrow. Children please arrive at 9:45 directly to church. Anyone who cannot attend can watch live by accessing our live stream webcam at www.christchurchdover.org

Bob Reese stopped over this morning to see Bob and Phyllis Bruce. Bob loved his gifts. The Bruces say "A huge thank you and hugs to VBS for this wonderful surprise."

VBS Class of 2019

Everybody dances here. #coolsummer #ccdvbs19

Practicing one last time!

Practicing their moves #ccdvbs19

This banner.was created by out VBS children with help.from our AWESOME arts and crafts teacher Miss Nancy Quinn. It will hang in our church hall all summer! #ccdvbs19

The Parable of The Good Shepherd as told by Fr. Chuck and some helpers from VBS. #ccdvbs19

Last night! #ccdvbs19

YEsterday's visit from Bible Bob #ccdvbs19

Craft time! #ccdvbs19

This song never gets old, lol. #ccdvbs19

Pancakes! #ccdvbs19

The following is a message from our Rector Fr. Chuck Weiss, which was sent out via email to all our contacts earlier today: Loving our Refugee Neighbors as Ourselves Dear Christ Church Family, As Episcopal followers of Jesus Christ, we have a unique way of looking at the world. Our history is one of balance, using our “Three-Legged Stool” of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason to understand and answer God’s call that we love our neighbors as ourselves. As your Rector, I am compelled by my faith, and my calling here, to share my despair at what is happening to our refugee neighbors even as I write these words. We know, through astonishingly calm and clear reporting, that refugees, people fleeing violence, are being treated in cruel and unusual ways in our country. Most shockingly, we have learned of the despicable conditions young children and infants are living under in the care of our government. These are documented facts, even if we might wish they were not. What does our call to love our neighbors as ourselves mean for us today, right now? As your priest, I offer these thoughts: Scripture The least of these: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40) Remember you were a foreigner: “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34; see Deuteronomy 10:19, Exodus 22:21.) Let the little children come to me: People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16) Tradition Christ in all persons: Q: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? A: I will, with God’s help. (Holy Baptism, The Book of Common Prayer, page 305) Justice and Dignity: Q: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? A: I will, with God’s help. (Holy Baptism, The Book of Common Prayer, page 305) Things done and left undone: “Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (The Confession, The Book of Common Prayer, page 393.) Reason What Would Jesus Do? Simply put, if Jesus were standing right here and we asked him, “What should we do with human beings fleeing for their lives into our country?” It’s a question those of us who seek to follow Jesus, and call him our Lord, need to ask. What if it were me? Jesus spoke frequently of compassion, meaning literally to “suffer with” another. Can we imagine being in the shoes of the refugee? What would we want others to do for us? How can I help? There are a multitude of organizations caring for refugees coming to, and presently in, our nation. I encourage you to do your own research. I commend to you Episcopal Migration Ministries. You can learn more here: https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/. Along with you on the journey of faith, Fr. Chuck Weiss

Making a mushroom! A snippet from last night's VBS #ccdvbs19

Getting ready for day two of #ccdvbs19 Making “Dirt”!

#ccdvbs19 is crafts, stories, games and songs!

And VBS is underway! #ccdvbs19

Be merciful, just as your Father in Heaven is merciful. --The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6

Practicing one last time!

Practicing their moves #ccdvbs19

YEsterday's visit from Bible Bob #ccdvbs19

This song never gets old, lol. #ccdvbs19

Making a mushroom! A snippet from last night's VBS #ccdvbs19

Getting ready for day two of #ccdvbs19 Making “Dirt”!

Our own Matt Spong and Robert Marston shred it on “Oye Como Va” at the Pentecost Picnic.

Two Baptisms today!