Being prepared each and every moment to meet our Savior and The Parable of the Ten Virgins were the focus of Pastor Steve's sermon at the DCCC Holy Communion Service. Matthew 25, verses 1-13, uses the theme of a wedding to teach a lesson about the importance of living each day as a true follower of Jesus Christ. Pastor expanded on the teachings in this chapter of Matthew that conclude with these lines of warning and advice to those who are late and arrive unprepared for the marriage ceremony:

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

.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.

Hebrews 11 was the focus of the November 10 service: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Pastor Steve's sermon highlighted how God is at work in each of us and he discussed the emergence of discipleship as a journey that disciples today set out on. Like the religious leaders we learn about in the Old and New Testament, including Paul, Sarah, and Abraham, boldness of faith and a truly loving relationship with God ultimately blesses us with a Christian faith that is wonderful and unstoppable.

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)    Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. ”Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Pastor Steve reminded the congregation to trust in God and to remember Jesus' promise that he will give rest and lighten the burdens of all who come to him. Pastor elaborated that the Pharisees often distorted God's Word in the Torah; using old traditional rules and laws of religious beliefs to control the people. Jesus' message of the New Gospel was to tell his followers that our God was a loving God and to lay their worries at His feet. 

Matthew 11:25-30 (NIV) The Father Revealed in the Son

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

On the occasion of Pastor Appreciation Day, Pastor Steve reminisced about the first time he walked through the doors of Duck Creek Community Church with his wife Roddie. That was in July 2017 and the first words out of their mouths, simultaneously, were, "We're home."

Pastor's sermon focused on being joyful and grateful as we come together to worship God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Pastor quoted 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Pastor Steve told the congregation, "God tells us change comes from the Lord who is Spirit. My prayer is that we all become more like Him."

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.