John 12: 23-33, wherein Jesus predicts his own death, was the focus of Pastor Steve’s March 17 sermon. Pastor Steve asked the congregation: “Do we realize that Heaven is our true home and that Jesus sacrificed his life so that we wouldn’t have to forsake our lives?” The text of this Biblical passage reads:

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me”

27 Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.


Pastor Steve cites many scriptural passages from both the Old and New Testament in this sermon. Starting with verses from David’s Psalm 119, “The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.” 

Pastor asked the congregation to ponder the question, “Do our lives tell the story of the glory of God?”

Dating back to the Garden of Eden, Pastor Steve noted that God blessed men and women with free choice, and put a Divine seed in each individual with love as the guiding light. As written in Revelation 3:20, it is up to us if we choose God’s love:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

   In Mark 8: 31-38, Jesus tries to explain to his disciples what being the Messiah would require from the Son of Man and the Son of God--

   "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him."

   "But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'"

   In this passage, Peter expresses his dislike of the hard facts that Jesus shared. Peter did not like the Savior saying that he would have to greatly suffer in order to offer salvation to mankind.

   Pastor Steve noted that Christianity calls on us to totally give ourselves up to the directive of following Jesus' footsteps and to completely follow God’s commands. He further pointed out that self-sacrifice is often a difficult direction for disciples of Jesus. He gave examples of why it is hard for disciples to follow(with accepting hearts, minds, and souls) the original “recipe” we’ve been given for salvation without trying to changed the ingredients more to our liking.

   Christianity gives much but also demands much, Pastor reminded the congregation, citing Hebrews 11: 1  (NIV)—

    “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

   Pastor concluded  the sermon by quoting lines from the poem by Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken.”

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The February 18 sermon by Pastor Steve highlights Jesus' teachings and Biblical direction on the benefits of handing over our worries to God. “Changing Our Focus” is a message that reminds the listener about the importance of gratitude and the resulting peace of heart that follows sincere prayer to God and not worrying about tomorrow. Pastor remarked that focusing on the truth and being alert to God’s Word feeds our faith and starves our worries.  “Just a spoonful of gratitude with faith heals a host of fears and worries,” said Pastor Steve. As recorded in Matthew 6: 25-27:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?”  

This special message for the Valentines Service of February 11 focused on some of the history surrounding Valentine's Day, as well as the importance of love within the church body of believers. The scriptural focus was John 3 verse 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." And also Paul's letter to the church in Corinth as recorded in Corinthians 1: 1-8: "Paul, called to be an apostleof Christ Jesus by the will of God,and our brother Sosthenes,

2To the church of Godin Corinth,to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and calledto be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the nameof our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4I always thank my God for youbecause of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.5For in him you have been enrichedin every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—6God thus confirming our testimonyabout Christ among you.7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual giftas you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.8He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blamelesson the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In Mark 1: 17-18, it is written that Jesus called his first disciples:

"Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once the left their nets and followed him.

Pastor Steve's February 4 sermon focused on the idea that responding to Jesus' call is not a one-time process but an invitation to grow for a lifetime. Moses and Jonah also are referred to as examples of following God's call when it is heard in our hearts and minds. In this sermon, Pastor Steve asked the congregation to think about what they would do if God's voice came to us asking us to lead a different life.

The DCCC Candlelight Service included special songs, nativity for children, a sermon by Pastor Steve, and closing with all attendees singing Silent Night by candlelight. All guests received gifts of ornaments and cookies upon exiting. The children who helped with the Nativity received gifts as well. It was a beautiful night of honoring and remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Please listen to Pastor Steve's sermon below.

Luke 2, verses 1-20, was the focus of Pastor Steve's Christmas Eve sermon, recounting the birth of Jesus (NIV): 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.2(This was the first census that took place while[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3And everyone went to their own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehemthe town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to himand was expecting a child.6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9An angelof the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord.12This will be a signto you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peaceto those on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Godfor all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Harvest Night

October 28, 2023

Food, games, fun, and

fellowship!


October 8 was Pastor Appreciation Day and love was in the air at DCCC.  The congregation enjoyed special songs, readings, video and a wonderful sermon by Pastor Steve. After the service, an Italian lunch and fantastic desserts, along with lots of laughter and fellowship, were the perfect end to the day. Pastor delivered a message about the rich young man who asked Jesus about the way to get into heaven. The price was too high for the rich young man and Pastor reminded everyone in attendance that having a lot of money does not buy love, happiness, or a ticket into God's good graces.