2014 Rochester Arts, Crafts, and Music Festival

03/10/2024

05/29/2020

Power Post of the Day!! 🔥

05/13/2020

Pastor's Notes

One of the greatest gifts I ever received was my first music instrument. Most people that know me would think my first instrument was a piano or guitar. My first instrument was a drum set that mom bought from an Alden's catalog. I learned to play all the Creedence Clearwater Revival hits and that was about it, as far as my drumming career. But that Christmas gift was the gift of music that has been something I have treasured all my life.

Another gift that we often do not think about or appreciate is the forgiveness of the Lord. God’s forgiveness is a gift as, it says in John 3:16. We did not earn it nor did we deserve His gift of complete forgiveness. His gift, not like cloths that are given at Christmas time, is a perfect fit to our life and condition. No need to have it sized like a suit or a pair of pants. His forgiveness is tailor made for our life. There is no warranty that will expire. His forgiveness is eternal.

His gift is there for the taking. All we need to do is reach out and take it and believe in his mercy, grace, and eternal forgiveness.
Bro. Darryl

04/29/2020

Pastor's Notes
Paul, when writing to a young preacher said “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
When we study, we need to study the Bible in context. When we do this, the true meaning and intent of the authors speak to us about how to live, love and serve.
Jesus is called the Word of God and also proclaims that He is “The Way, The Truth, and The life.” The teachings of Christ should not be just words on a page but a way of life. It should show us how to love God and our neighbor. When we do this we are living the Word of truth that becomes our way of life.
Before a medical doctor begins practicing medicine, they take an oath that they will “Do no harm.” When we become a child of God, we should take the same pledge. We should never use God’s Word to harm another. Jesus used scripture to overcome temptation and prove the hypocrisy of those that meant Him and His followers harm. By His actions, Jesus proved He was the Son of God. His mercy and grace demonstrated the will of the Father.
The Pharisees turned the scriptures into empty words, using them to find fault in Him and His ministry. Using scripture to harm and belittle the lost is not what He did in His time on Earth. Jesus speaks to the lost today the same way He did then “I love you, and neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
Bro Darryl

04/23/2020

This is for someone
who’s reading this today! 🙏

04/23/2020

04/08/2020

Pastor's Notes
Growing up a preacher's kid, Easter was always an important time of year. What we did at church was different at Easter time. One thing, that I was not crazy about, was wearing new church cloths. Parents would dress their children in their Easter cloths. Maybe a new dress for the girls or a new shirt and pants for the boys. My dad, being the pastor, always wore a suit so it didn’t change much for him but mom would buy a new Easter frock for Sunday Service. It wasn’t much of a practice for our congregation, but other churches would have women dawning their Easter bonnets. Easter egg hunts was an event at churches that was something that the children looked forward to after services.
I remember one year we had a late snow that nearly cancelled church and we didn’t get to do our egg hunt. My family went home with one of my uncles and we hid eggs in the house. This was a BAD IDEA. One egg was hidden so well that my aunt didn’t find it until about mid-August and the smell was rather overpowering.
The thing I naturally enjoyed was the Easter meal. Sunday dinner was a little more grand than usual. A baked ham rather than fried chicken. More cakes and pies than what was the usual fare for the after church meal. Something was different about this Sunday than the rest.
It wasn’t until later that I realized that we are celebrating the holiest of events. We celebrate birthdays all the time. How many times this week have you posted a Facebook birthday wish to a friend? But how many Happy Resurrection have you wished lately to a friend? We are celebrating a special event. We are celebrating the event that proves that Jesus Christ is Lord. We put on our best cloths because it is a special day. We made our children smile because we want them to know that this is a special day. We had great feasts and fellowship because it is a special day. What made this a special day? One simple answer. THE TOMB IS EMPTY.
This year is different. We are not gathering together. Most of us will not have a big feast or dawn our Easter best. But He is still risen. The tomb is still empty and we must rejoice this weekend as we need to do every day. Many people in this world do not have this joy that we find in our Risen Savior. The world is in a state of uncertainty. But one thing is for certain. He is risen. Hold on to this truth and the Lord will bless you today and forever.
Bro. Darryl