Snapshots of Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2024

The words of Jesus to his disciples as recorded in John 17: 24-26 (NIV) read:

““Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Pastor discussed that Jesus' disciples were fishermen and basic regular backwoods folks who followed his directive in teaching the Good Word after his Ascension. He encouraged those in attendance at this day's service to remember that we at DCCC also are called to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, regardless of our humble circumstances or beginnings. Speaking of the disciples, Pastor highlighted the simplicity of their message, "Christ was their model and their message. They preached Jesus Christ and Jesus crucified. Pastor highlighted the longevity of the disciples' preaching through the centuries. "It's amazing that their work is alive today!" exclaimed Pastor Steve. He concluded the sermon by cautioning the congregation to remain steadfast in their Christian faith and to remain watchful because evil does exist in the world and we can see it in the efforts to push Christianity out of American governance and schools. He further called out the truth that we can see evil in the acts being perpetrated on innocent people around us today. Pastor emphasized the fact that it is important and okay to recognize evil when we are faced with it. He cited Chronicles in closing, "If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves...then I will heal their land." He concluded with the observation that, "When there is no hope in a higher power, it creates a laundry list of problems."

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.

Pastor Steve said to the congregation that when Jesus said, “In the same way I have loved you, love others,” our Savior meant not a syrupy kind of love, but rather every kind of love he had shown for lepers, for misdirected rich men, for suffering women, sinful men and women, and even for his enemies. Our Savior's greatest act of love on the cross at Calvary was yet to come at the time he said these words to his disciples recorded in John 13, verses 31 to 35:

 “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.  A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Pastor Steve cited various scriptures in this sermon focused on both Fatherly and Motherly love, noting that God provided both mothers and fathers to exemplify, glorify, and be role models demonstrating His love on earth. Pastor added that God knew we'd need special people to support and love us through life's twists and turns, so He made moms. This Mother's Day message expands on God's unalterable love and the reassurance that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.

Guest speaker Pastor Rick Ellis, a youth and high school pastor from Friends Community Church Brea, California, visited DCCC to deliver a message on Jesus Christ's directive to his disciples to become fishers of men (Matthew 4: 19 NIV). Pastor Rick expanded on this directive, after introducing himself, and focused on John 21, verses 1-14: Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish:

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.  It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. ”When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have  just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast. ”None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

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.