SCHEDULE OF WORSHIP
Week of September 12, 2024 PRAYER LIST
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Sunday, September 15: The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
9:15 a.m. Nursery Opens
9:30 a.m. Adult Forum and Children's Sunday School in the Parish House
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist: BULLETIN
5:30 p.m. Neighborhood Parties
Wednesday, September 18
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing
12:30 p.m. Mid-Day Music
Livestreamed services can be found on the Christ Church YouTube channel.
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MESSAGE FROM THE REV. DEACON BERTICE BERRY
Who Is My Neighbor?![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/45e174dc-26ee-d21c-9bf9-a03c714da254.jpg)
I grew up in a house that had very few neighbors. Let me explain. My street, Gordon Street, was more of an alley than it was a street. Wedged between 22nd and 23rd just off from Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware, there were only two houses: number four and number six. We lived in number six but had moved up from number four, which was smaller and not as nice. The street was lined with green garages which were the first self-storage units in our town. At the end of our block was the headquarters of the city’s notorious motorcycle gang, The Thunder Guards, and yes, their bikes were as loud as their name, would rev their engines and fly past our house until late into the night.
We only ever had one true next-door neighbor, a family from the hills of Kentucky who somehow managed to be poorer than we were. From time to time, they would borrow money from my mother and because they were, as they said, “true to their word,” they’d always give my mother something to hold onto until they could “see their way clear.” They’d leave a piece of furniture, a hand tool, and once they even left their grandmother’s China.
Late one night, the father of the family knocked on our door to say that they would be moving on. They wanted to tell us thank you for being good neighbors and because they would need all the money they had, they couldn’t pay my mother back for her most recent loan. They informed her that she should keep the family China. But my mother refused to keep his “Granny’s China,” as the neighbor had called the beautiful set of dishes. “This is your children’s inheritance, and I am not going to keep it,” my mother said. She retrieved the box that still sat in the living room where it had been when she first received it and pushed it into the neighbor’s hand. Tears streamed down his face as my mother reached in her dress and pulled out the last of that week’s money to share with the family she called, “some good Hillbillies.” The man cried and thanked her profusely. He left and shortly afterwards, there was another knock on the door. This time, the man handed my mother his comic book collection. He said it wouldn’t be right to take that China without leaving something. “Your kids are always reading,” he said, I know these are just comics, but they are worth something to people who like to read.” My brother, a comic book nerd, was ecstatic. And my mother gratefully received the gift.
Since then, I have always associated the word neighbor with that good Hillbilly family. These were folks with whom we shared our station, our lot in life. They watched out for us, and we watched out for them. We were one of the few integrated streets in Wilmington, Delaware during that time and although they were white and we were Black, we were the same.
Here at Christ Church Episcopal, neighborhood gatherings began just before the pandemic. It was almost as if our beloved former rector, Rev. Michael White, could see the future and knew there would be a need. During that time, Christ Church neighbors looked after one another and shared prayers, information and chores like grocery shopping and other errands. We looked out for one another and made sure that no one felt alone. And just like back on Gordon Street, we shared our station, our condition and we knew we were not alone.
This Sunday, as we gather again as neighbors, a new neighborhood group will be joining us. The Institute for Story in conjunction with Hospice Savannah will be hosting its third annual Story Conference, or StoryCon. People from all over the U.S. will gather for a conference on Story Telling and Story sharing for work, at home and in their community. These folks and the Institute are an offshoot of my story sharing ministry. One of the roles of the deacon is to take the love of the church to the world and bring the needs of the world back to the church. People who have followed our church online will share a meal and a story and then, as our neighbors in the diaspora (a marvelous term from Rev. Samantha) they will join us in our neighbor prayers.
Our neighborhoods and neighbors go beyond the street or area where we live. Our neighbors include those we love and anyone we have ever shared God’s love with.
As you gather with your neighborhood, feel God’s love connecting us all with neighbors and stories from past to present.
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Neighborhood Parties this Sunday, September 15, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Today is the final day to RSVP
A party is coming to your neighborhood! On Sunday, September 15, neighborhood parties will be held wherever Christ Church members are found. These casual gatherings are a great way to connect with your literal Christ Church neighbors in a fun and relaxed setting. To RSVP, please visit the Christ Church website.
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Adult Forum Series
From There to Here: Flourishing in Times of Transition
Parish House, Second Floor, 9:30 a.m.
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All are invited to take part in a special adult forum series each Sunday this fall in the Parish House, led by Interim Rector, the Rev. Cathy Zappa, and other Christ Church clergy. Together we will ask, What does it mean to be in an interim period? What might we expect during this time? Join us as we discuss the hope and promise of living into a season of transition. The nursery will open at 9:15 for those in need of childcare, with Sunday School offered for children in pre-K and up.
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Children's Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. in Parish House
Parish House, Second Floor, 9:30 a.m.![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/fa42592f-36cc-846a-5aae-fa5f23f91050.png)
While the grown-ups are in Adult Forum, kids will be engaged in their own spiritual formation! We will have a fun, enriching bible study for children ages 4 to 5th grade while parents attend the adult forum. It will be held in the Parish House in the room across the hall from the nursery, and will be led by Stephen and Claire Rilee.
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Fall Children's Chapel Program for 3rd–5th Graders
September 8–November 17, during the10:30 a.m. service
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Baptisms at Christ Church
October 6, November 3, and January 12
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Many will recall the joyful torrent of baptisms we experienced throughout this past spring and into the summer! We've had eleven baptisms so far in the year 2024, a powerful testimony to the work of new life that God is doing in our midst.
In response to the growing numbers of baptisms taking place at Christ Church, we are moving to what is actually the more traditional model for baptisms recommended by the Book of Common Prayer: instead of scheduling individual days for baptism throughout the year, Christ Church will offer specific days of baptism that are especially fitting for the occasion. All who are interested in receiving the sacrament of baptism are invited to take part on these days.
The next baptisms at Christ Church will take place on October 6 (transferred Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), November 3 (Sunday after All Saints’ Day), and January 12 (the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord). If you are interested in baptism for yourself or your child on one of these days, please contact the the Rev. Cathy Zappa or the Rev. Samantha McKean.
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Go Purple Team!
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/b4f55cc1-be0c-768f-7b19-34a193287598.jpg)
On Sunday, we wrapped up six weeks of acolyte training sessions! Sunday welcomed the Purple Team, pictured above. (Each team is named for a different liturgical color.) The Purple Team is lead by Mary Duvall, and welcomes new acolytes Grant, Isabella, and Alayna.
Christ Church is served by a total of 67 acolytes this year, ranging from grades 3–12. Teams are led by Acolyte Captains, who played a vital role in helping lead these training sessions and will continue to support and guide their teams throughout the year.
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Next Week at Christ Church
Sunday, September 15: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 a.m. Adult Forum and Children's Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
5:30 p.m. Neighborhood parties
Monday through Friday, September 16–20
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Docent Tours
Wednesday, September 18
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing
12:30 p.m. Mid-Day Music. If Music Be the Food of Love
7:00 p.m. Choir rehearsal
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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/19691f1a-a561-72e1-a426-2f0136f89e76.jpg)
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/76fd9150-ae1e-3850-d437-07ccc4cb657b.jpg) ![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/7e76f781-1c3e-d301-06fa-f23938de8ec2.jpg)
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![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/339a04e7-c1d9-1fb2-5799-b9210753d9bb.jpg) ![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/7adc0863-d061-c6fd-788e-1212bbbe755e.jpg)
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/602fd6d6-fb25-a9af-fb23-10cfec4ac769.jpg)
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/078ddc67-4e1f-3858-5479-4c2b75f219c8.jpg) ![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/1e32da60-258b-22bb-6b3d-94bc4ba5a1ae.jpg)
![](https://mcusercontent.com/5da6420af0ce411d2ce23d0bd/images/25358def-115c-d40c-6503-005146807279.jpg)
Thanks to Mills Fleming for the photographs.
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Centered in Worship
All are Welcome
Joyful Living
Servant Leadership
We invite you to worship with us at Historic Christ Church.
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