Where community happens

"I was also unconsciously influenced by the three days a week of chapel. It is delightful to hear stories from a variety of different people and perspectives. I gained a strong sense of community and strength of faith."

— Rebecca Qu, '17

April 24, 2020

Breaking and re-forming

There are many times in the Bible where a 40-day period of trial and testing results in personal transformation. Why 40 days? Because that's how long it takes us to break—to come to the end of ourselves so that God can re-form and re-shape us.

February 26, 2020

Are we willing to "kiss it all goodbye"?

Dimas Pezzato, Pastor to High School Youth and Young Adults at Souderton Mennonite Church, challenged students to be willing to "kiss goodbye" anything that gets in the way of serving, obeying and knowing Jesus Christ.

September 23, 2019

Spiritual Life Emphasis Week: The Curvy Road

God calls us to be a blessing to others, no matter where we are on our journey. That was the message shared by our chapel speaker today, former teacher and Pennridge football coach Jeff Hollenbach. Whether our path is straight or filled with curves and bumps, God has a plan and wants us to trust in His leading.

September 13, 2019

Valuing diversity, and learn from our differences

Today's chapel explored another of Dock's four core values: Value diversity, and learn from our differences. Speakers were Nathan Good, pastor of Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown, and Hendy Stevan, pastor of Indonesian Light Church in South Philadelphia.

September 11, 2019

Striving to love as Jesus loved

Today's theme was another one of Dock's four core values: Striving daily to love as Jesus loved. Sophomore Shayne Farmer led off by sharing about a time when he was shown Christ-like love: when his parents adopted him from a Russian orphanage. Students also heard other examples of Christ-like love shared by their classmates, along with two examples from the gospels of Jesus showing love to others. Speakers included Carissa Derstine, Mrs. Kellena Smith, Olivia Mercure, Delaney Frankenfield, and Madelyn Bergin.

September 9, 2019

Pursuing peace and justice for all

In this morning's chapel, Josh Meyer, pastor of Franconia Mennonite Church, helped students think about another of Dock's four core values: Pursue peace and justice for all. 

August 28, 2019

Dock Talk: Respecting Others

As part of Dock's Pioneer Day all-school orientation, students gathered for a "Dock Talk" on the subject of respecting others. Faculty and student speakers focused on how to have a civil discourse on controversial issues—how we can agree and disagree in and with love.

August 28, 2019

What is Dock all about?

What tradition are we part of? Today we continued to explore what it means to be a diverse but connected community. Chapel ended with a visual representation of this, as students passed different colored rolls of yarn across the rows of the chapel, then lifted them overhead to show a web of interconnectedness among a diverse student body.

August 26, 2019

Why chapel is important

What are the benefits of being together in God's presence? This chapel helped students understand what chapel is all about, and how they can get the most out of this time together.

We sang together—Mr. Derstine and a mixed chorus of students and faculty led in singing "What is this place?"—and three members of the Dock community, seniors Micah Kratz and Cedar Smith, and faculty member Mrs. Darla Bergey, shared about their chapel experiences. Chapel ended with a skit about some "Do's" and "Don'ts" for getting the most out of chapel time, in the hopes that students will come to see chapel as a unique gift to our community.

August 23, 2019

Diverse but interconnected

Our first chapel of the 2019-20 school year featured welcomes from both Principal Martin Wiens and Superintendent Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber, as well as an outline of chapel themes by faculty member (and chapel coordinator) Caleb Benner. 

"Among us there is a great diversity of faith perspective, ethnic background, lifestyle, personality, values, and life experience," said Mr. Benner. "All of you are welcome and valued at Dock, and we encourage you to respectfully take part in a community that seeks the best for each other as we learn and grow together."

Dr. Swartzentruber also shared about Jesus' words in John 15: 
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." What is our vine? To what are we most closely connected?