Snapshots of Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2025

DCCC members Sunshine Raines and Rick Freeman led a special prayer featuring the Indian flute and Ojibwa language at the July 26 service. Sunshine delivered the prayer in the native language of the Chippewa, with English translations on slides. She added explanations and words of recognition of her proud Chippewa heritage. Rick Freeman, know as Great Bald Eagle in the language of the Pawnee, played the flute. The prayer with the flute as background set the beautiful tone for the opening of the service.

Pastor Steve introduced his October 4 sermon by noting that, at the time that Jesus told “The Parable of the Tenants,” the pharisees were following Jesus and hoping he’d slip up and do something illegal so they could arrest him.  Pastor explained that, in the parable, one of the things that Jesus teaches is that God created us to use our gifts to help fulfill God’s plan for the world. Christ showed us the way to live-- by being willing to die for God’s glory.  Pastor reminded the congregation that Jesus intends us to be the people that tend the vineyard.  He said, “We celebrate today and every Sunday Christ’s coming to us… It’s our faith that reminds us of who God is, what he’s done and what he’s going to do.” Pastor quoted Philippians 3:13 (NIV) “But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…”

The final verses, 45-46,  in “The Parable of the Tenants” take note of the Pharisees’ reaction to Jesus telling of the parable:

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.  They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

“Who gave John the Baptist the authority to baptize and preach?” is a question asked by Jesus that becomes the focus of Pastor Steve’s September 27 sermon. In Matthew, Chapter 21, Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and performed several miracles, after which he tells "The Parable to the Two Sons" upon being questioned about authority by the chief priests and elders of the people. The parable is a round-about way in which Jesus infers that the chief priests and elders are hypocrites. Right before telling the parable, Jesus asks what is the origin of John the Baptist’s authority to preach and baptize?  He asks whether that power came from Heaven or was of human origin?

Matthew 21: 27-32 (NIV)--

They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”  Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Pastor Steve noted in his September 20 sermon that, probably dating back to childhood, most of us have mulled over the question of fairness in life. He jokingly observed that this tendency to want more or better dates back to the kid down the street who got a new bike when we didn’t. “It’s a hard lesson not to be resentful when others seem to get more than they deserve or when a situation seems unfair,” remarked Pastor Steve. Pastor then told a story from his own life and then related Jesus’ “Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard” to illustrate how God’s grace is granted and comes to us. The parable, related in Matthew 20 verses 1 to 16, is about a God who gives what is needed versus what is earned. Matthew 20, verses 8 to 16, is the conclusion of Jesus' story that shows how "the last will be first and the first will be last" and how God works on the basis of love more than what we deserve:

Matthew 20: 8-16 (NIV):

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Pastor Steve focused on Matthew 15, verses 21 to 28, for his September 13 sermon. He recounted the exchange between Jesus and a Canaanite woman and used imagined extra details to bring the situation to life for the congregation. Jesus had left a crowd and traveled to the region of Tryre and Sidon, ancient cities belonging largely to the ancestors of the Canaanites. Jesus and his disciples were interrupted by a Canaanite woman who approached Jesus to heal her daughter from a demon. The encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, who knelt humbling herself before Jesus, ultimately resulted in Jesus blessing the woman, healing her daughter, and commending the Canaanite woman's faith.

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

 “Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

The inspirational story about the life of Revolutionary War Drummer Boy Thomas Harrington, a character based on actual sacrifice and service, was told by Frank Gagliardi and Oliver Fox at the Independence Weekend Service. It was a good reminder of the many sacrifices made to maintain our freedoms. Both children and adults have given their all for the freedoms we enjoy today in America. 

Guest Speaker Jim Snodgrass spoke about the founding of American and the importance of George Washington in The Revolutionary War. President Washington was a devout Christian and Patriot who observed The Sabbath as a day of prayer, refused pay for his service to the country and paid for many needed items during the war out of his own pocket. The guest speaker delved into the background and history of George Washington as a Founding Father and went into some of the  reasons that this President is often call the "Father of the Country."  The guest speaker concluded with a warning about recent societal trends of scrubbing religion from state affairs and education in American schools. 

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service featured an uplifting message, voices raised in song in to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, a Nativity Felt Board activity for children, Holy Communion, and pews packed with attendees who sang "Silent Night" by candle light in celebration of our Savior's birth.  It was a beautiful evening service with small gifts passed out to all who attended. 

Pastor Steve's special Memorial Day sermon focused on John 14 and the assurance that Jesus gave the disciples, even before he was crucified, of his continued presence in their lives. Pastor highlighted Jesus' promise that he was going away but would still be present with them through the Spirit, which Jesus also referred to as his Advocate. Pastor Steve pointed out that Jesus wanted his disciples to know that they would not face the future alone after his crucifixion, and he makes the same promise to his followers today. "Peace be with you," Jesus said three times to his disciples after appearing following the resurrection, and Pastor highlighted the fact that Heaven's message is very clear: when everything changes God is constant. "Much has been sacrificed to make America great," said Pastor Steve as he shifted gears to a Memorial Day message. "We are a nation with a strong and invincible spirit and a determination to remain free... We must remember with Thanksgiving those who gave all that they have so that we may live in the land of the brave and that home of the free." Many other details about the founding of our nation on God and the sacrifices of our brave men and women in the military are included in this inspiring sermon. "May God bless America," concluded Pastor Steve.

Jennifer Johnson, Oliver Fox, Jim and Laurel Snodgrass, and Don Hasbrouck led the congregation in singing at the Thanksgiving Service.

Gary Hackbart and Frank Gagliardi opened the special Veterans Day Service on November 10, 2024.

Frank Gagliardi as the "First Veteran" presented colors at the special DCCC Veterans Day Service with Gary Hackbart leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Call to Worship. There was a special reading, songs, and prayer and Pastor Steve gave the sermon listed below.

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.