Snapshots of Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2024

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.

Pastor Steve's April 27 sermon focused on John 20:19-31, especially the reaction of "Doubting Thomas" when Jesus appears to his disciples after the crucifixion. 

Jesus Appears to His Disciples (NIV)

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b]that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Pastor Steve's Easter message focused on the great love of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, emphasizing the good news that God provided a way for our salvation through His Son. Pastor noted that God's deep and abiding love for his children is why Jesus went to the cross. Pastor quoted the lyrics to Psalm 118, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever."  Pastor Steve walked the congregation through the days leading up to the crucifixion and the days after. Certainly no one struggled more than Jesus but Christ's resurrection should give us strength, hope, and faith in knowing that God does not leave us alone in trials, concluded Pastor.

"We are Easter people. Let's remember the significance and the value that this week holds for us," said Pastor Steve at the start of the Palm Sunday sermon. Pastor Steve's message brought to life the scenes on the streets and in the Temple Square as Jesus visits Jerusalem. Pastor also discussed the details of Jesus loving reception as he rode into the city on a donkey, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the angry mob yelling "crucify him" a few days later. Despite all that Jesus endured in Jerusalem, Pastor focused on the fact that Jesus didn't give up on a single one of his followers, just as he doesn't give up on us today. Pastor concluded the message by noting that, "Jesus entered our world so that we could enter his."  This message is filled with many interesting facts and a lot of historical context that gives the listener much food for thought and opportunity for spiritual growth. 

Pastor Steve asked the congregation on April 6, “How does one accuse and convict someone for being loving and compassionate?”  Pastor’s question put the spotlight on the motivations of the Pharisees and teachers of the law who sought to condemn Jesus and accuse him of breaking religious laws for his teachings, miracles, and healings. The condemning attitude of these religious leaders placed judgement above mercy and inspired Jesus to tell three parables to the crowd that stood around him. The three stories illustrated that God is a merciful God:

• like a shepherd who wanders around all night looking for the lost sheep
• like a woman who sweeps to find a lost coin
• like a father who stares down the road looking for a glimpse of his lost son

Jesus wanted to create the understanding that God is like a loving parent who welcomes us home and does not want to lose any child. 

Pastor expanded on Prodigal Son parable to “… illustrate that God’s great eternal plan is to reach us, his children.” Pastor concluded that we God’s prized possessions and this fact is illustrated in the joy and celebration with which the lost son is greeted upon coming home.  

Luke 15, verses 20 to 32 (NIV), tells of the homecoming and rejoicing:

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

…The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

 My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

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.