Matthew 11: 28-30 recounts that Jesus called to us, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Pastor Steve opened his Sunday sermon noting that we all need to heed this verse and let Grace happen and be able, now and then, to say the word "No" to the never-ending performance expectations of work and the hectic demands of life. Pastor further highlighted the materialistic nature of the modern world, noting that society today says that the only cure is to gather more stuff and it’s all constantly displayed on TV ads. These needs that the world says are important don’t leave much time except for work, explained Pastor Steve.  “Somewhere along the way in life we will come to realize that the greatest things in life are not the material things,” he cautioned in his message.  He encouraged the congregation to turn to Jesus every day, to slow down and consult with God. These all are things that are part of the church designating August 14 as a day of fasting and prayer for all DCCC attendees who are willing to participate. Pastor emphasized that everyone needs to tune in to God and tune out life’s distractions by following Jesus' example in Mark 1, verse 35:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Pastor encouraged everyone at church to answer Jesus' standing invitation for us to come to him and find rest.

Doesn’t the world’s standard often contradict our religious side?," asked Pastor Steve. Pastor noted that today’s scripture reads like a soap opera of Herod’s wife pressuring Herod to do something she wanted, and her daughter scheming with her mother to do this thing that went against King Herod’s wishes: take the head of John the Baptist.  Pastor noted that the story illustrates how important it is to set our “plumb line” to God’s will and not to temptation.

Mark 6: 17-24:  For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,  because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled^[b]; yet he liked to listen to him.  Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of^[c] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”  And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?" The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

The sermon title, “Shaking off the Dust,” has a much broader meaning of, not only shaking the dust from our feet and bodies as we seek a new life in Christ, but also clearing the dust from the air around us in order that we might see God and our Savior more clearly. This message offers new insight into the redemption in rejection. Pastor Steve noted to the congregation that we all deal with rejection. And Jesus dealt with rejection as well. Pastor’s message focused on Jesus’ homecoming described in Mark 6, verses 1 to 13, and the reaction of the town where he grew up, where the residents could not recognize him as the Son of God. Excerpts of Mark 6: 1-13 are as follows: 

“Jesus went to his hometown accompanied by his disciples…many people who heard him were amazed… Isn’t this the carpenter? And they took offense.”

The people in his hometown did not see him or recognize him for what he was—the Messiah. Pastor Steve went on to cite scripture showing that Jesus tried but found he could not be a successful preacher in his hometown, the people of Nazareth rejected him. Pastor explained that perhaps the people who Jesus grew up with had expected him to stay in Nazareth and assume the responsibility of taking of the family because he was the oldest boy and this was the custom of the time, with his father Joseph being dead. Pastor further expanded on the thought of whether God is disappointed in our lack of faith and acceptance of His presence in our lives, basically closing our eyes to His teachings and blessings. Pastor cautioned the congregation on getting so focused on the "mess" of daily living and trials that we miss the miracles occurring in the midst of the messiness of life. Do we need to shake off the dust around us? There is much food for thought in this sermon.

At the June 23 sermon, Pastor Steve pointed out that Mark 5 verses 21 to 43 is like a detailed eyewitness account of the many who people came to see Jesus, curious about the wild stories spreading across the land about Jesus’ teachings and miracles. Verses 21 to 43 recount the woman healed, through her faith, from 12 years of bleeding; and also the miracle of bringing a 12 year old girl back to life.  Pastor questioned the congregation:  Are our eyes open to the presence of Jesus and the miracles around us? He expanded on the biblical passage by noting that Christians are called upon today to heal others and share their faith. The Pastor concluded the Independence Day Service with a prayer that God be manifest in our lives, that we be able to spark in others a personal and national reverence for our Savior , “May we acknowledge the hand of almighty God in all we do…and may we fervently pray for God’s healing touch on a nation that we love so much…May God bless America.”

Pastor Steve’s sermon focused on Matthew 9: 37-38, where it is reported that Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Go on your way. See, I’m sending you out like lambs among the wolves.”  To share the good news of The Gospel, Jesus sent out seventy of his most faithful followers, in pairs, to various geographical regions. Jesus knew the task he was laying before the disciples was not an easy one, so he gave them very specific instructions on how to live a life on the road. We all are presented with options in life and choices in how we live our lives.  Pastor Steve elaborated on the critical nature of steadfastly following our Christian moral compass. He also emphasized that listening to that still small voice of God within us is the key to making the right choices in following God in today’s world. Pastor Steve concluded that, as we walk the many paths presented to us along life’s road, taking time out to pray is of the utmost importance.  Pastor Steve noted the many realities of a modern world to contend with and difficulties of living in a time when there are so many pressures working to undermine God’s direction and Holy Word.

Hebrews 12:9-10 (NIV) was the focus of Pastor Steve's sermon on Father's Day: "Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness."

Pastor elaborates on the importance of fathers in the lives of children and highlights the importance of helping children to realize the lives God intended them to live. 

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.

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.