Sunday, April 5, 2020

Pastor Jeff's sermon, Titled "I Have Become All Things" is available by clicking the following link: https://us04web.zoom.us/rec/share/otEpAY_dzFhOUqfKtmDdRf9xLrvFaaa81CQe-fMPzhndgTGsuYPbMq9Vm14dkBJn

It's a little on the longer side, so if you aren't ready to sit down for an hour, Pastor Jeff said you can break it into chunks:) ​

Praying for all of you!
Pastor Dan

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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Greetings Church,

Click the link to listen to or watch today's sermon.

https://us04web.zoom.us/rec/share/-OktC73K2WJJZoHdwmyOU7EhOr7JT6a8hncf8qIOxEpOV4r4rm5Qk-FGrQk0zf4p

Here is a brief outline to help you follow along:

"Prince-Ables" of Faith - Hebrews 11:23-28

Providence - Verse 23
God is sovereign, yet He incorporates the free-will decisions of faithful men and women to accomplish his will

Identity - 24-26
Mature faith values a godly life more than a “good life”

Conviction - 27
Fear and Faith do not occupy the same space
“What if” versus “Even if”

Commitment - 28
Being Faithful to God means joining with Him to accomplish His mission 

Also - here is the link for the article I mentioned - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-if-the-worst-happens 

Praying for all of you!
Pastor Dan

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Sunday, March 22, 2020​

Greetings Church,

What an odd occasion to be writing an email on a Sunday morning, rather than preaching from the pulpit, greeting you face to face, singing and serving with you. For many of us, “going to church” on Sunday is just what we do. It’s so engrained in us, that any departure just feels, well…weird. 

That being said, we do well to remember that the Church is not a building - it’s a people. And with an international crisis on our hands, that’s a truth that probably is beginning to feel more real. Unable to meet in our usual fashion, we are all scrambling to figure out how to adapt to these unique challenges. 

For our part, the Elders at Darby Grace were able to teleconference yesterday, and perhaps unsurprisingly, we have a lot of information to share with you.

I would encourage you start by clicking on the attached link. 

After listening to or viewing the linked message, refer back to this email for reference and reminder. Click to listen. Download to watch. 

Go ahead - click here:
  https://us04web.zoom.us/rec/share/65Nsf7qvp25OZ53x2hicC78AMau_X6a81Ccf8qUNyEk1moPwRkLJt9eBJV1rscPI

Now that you're back, here is a summary of the logistical information you may want to review….

Online Services

For the time being, we are using an app called “Zoom.” It’s a great tool that many schools, businesses and churches are using at this time. It’s primary function is for conducting meetings when in-person meetings are not possible. It also has an option to record a message and send the link to up to 100 people. This week is our first “trial” of this method of communication. We’ll see how it goes, and re-evaluate. 

In theory, all you have to do is click the link when you receive it via email. 

We are also considering other possibilities like YouTube or embedding audio/video messages on our church website if we are able. 

We will likely have more information on this later in the week. 

On-going Communications

Make sure you are signed up for updates via REMIND. If you do not get these updates, contact Sean Thompson, and he can help set you up. These simple text messages are the best way to get out important nuggets of information, especially at the last minute. 

You’ll also want to check your email, especially in the latter part of each week, and make sure that church wide communications aren’t going to your spam folder. 

As we all adjust to our new patterns, I will personally be sending out mid-week “devotional” messages offering some important reflections on how we can think biblically about these kinds of things. 

Staying Connected to One Another

This has to be one of the hardest things to get right at a time such as this. Let me start be simply encouraging you to be pro-active in considering ways that you personally can reach out to others at this time. Be the initiator. A simple text, email, phone call - maybe even some good old-fashioned snail mail - can go a long way. You don’t have to be a gifted writer to simply say, “I am praying for you,” but the gesture means a lot. 

The elders are making every effort to make sure no one “falls through the cracks” at a time like this. We will be reaching out to small groups and individuals on a regular basis, even if it is just to check in and ask for some prayer requests. 

Consider other ways that you can “congregate” in small groups or via technology. For example, you may want to try using the Zoom app to have a prayer meeting or check in on each other. 

Giving

The church still has financial responsibilities such as mortgage, utility and insurance payments to make.  Please continue to support your church through prayer and your financial gifts during this difficult time apart from one another.  Give online at www.darbygrace/give or TEXT to 84321 & follow on screen instructions.  Also consider using your bank’s online BillPay service and set Darby Grace as a Payee.   You can also send a check payable to Darby Grace church to our mail address, which is Darby Grace Church, 11672 Lafayette Plain City Road, Plain City, OH 43064.  Pastor Rick will check our mailbox at least once weekly during our "church face-to-face furlough" and make deposits to the bank.  

We recognize that financial hardship may soon be a reality for many people. I and the elders want you to know that we are very sensitive to this, and remind you that the New Testament model for giving is not a compulsory, guilt-driven one. Rather, we would ask, in light of Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians (and elsewhere) that you consider supporting Darby Grace as you are able to do so, and as long as you can give joyfully to support the work that God has for us to carry out. 

Children’s Ministry

Hopefully you all received an email from Erica Warren earlier in the week. She and Brian Tonti are working on some ways to offer some instructional material that is both biblical and enjoyable. Stay tuned for more updates. 

Youth Ministry

Pastor Jeff is already communicating regularly with the youth. He is sharing devotionals and discussion questions. 

Fundraising efforts for the Momentum Youth conference are temporarily suspended, as it, frankly, remains to be seen if the event will still even be held. However, the summer conference is an important spiritual investment into our youth that we as Elders really cherish, and depending how the situation progresses, we may have to rally as a church come late spring or early summer to help make this a reality for our youth. Again - stay tuned for more developments on this. 

Other Items

In compliance with the CDC guidelines of restricting gatherings to a maximum of 10 people, the church building will not be open for regular meetings and/or events. How long this will last remains to be seen. 

This means that the Easter Egg hunt is officially cancelled, as well as our Good Friday communion service. 

Remember to Pray! Pray as a family. Pray in groups. Pray alone. Pray aloud. Pray silently, or even write out your prayers. Just don’t neglect to pray! As Christians, we are privileged to have access to a Heavenly Father, that because of the work of Christ, has provided a way for us to boldly approach the throne of grace to find mercy and help in our time of need. Hebrews 7 describes Jesus as one who “always lives” to receive our prayers, and Romans 8 reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us on our behalf with groans that words cannot express. 

It is also absolutely critical that you fill your heart and mind with biblical truth. Catch up on some reading. Find a good devotional, but most importantly, read your Bible. It is the very Word of God, “warm with the dew of God’s breath,” as one pastor put it. 

We may not be able to physically stand as one united body, but spiritually speaking, may we “lift holy hands” with one another, having adoring hearts, as a people who are united in Christ, that we may lift up the name of Jesus, that His glory may be revealed. 

Let us not lose our passion for the Glory of God and the proclamation of the good news! In a time such as this, people will be looking for answers. Be ready to give yours! 

Grace and Peace to you!

Pastor Dan 

Current Sermon Series**
The Book of Hebrews


“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
​Galations 4:4-5

**​See past notes and announcements in our Sermon/Bulletin Archive.


BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible by Michael S. Heiser

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Bible Study Hour

Cancelled until further notice.
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Christmas...All Year Long!​
​​This past year's Operation Christmas Child was very successful across Central Ohio, but why stop there? In 2019, Darby Grace will be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child ALL YEAR LONG! Each month we'll focus on a different item, with the goal that we'll have plenty to pack into shoeboxes in November. Here's the list of monthly donation items for 2019 (changes made when necessary):
January ----- flashlights & batteries
February ----- small toys, cards, puzzles
March ----- toothbrushes, toothbrush holders/covers
April ----- washcloths, bars of soap
May ----- hair combs, brushes, hair bands/clips
June ----- socks, plain t-shirts
July ----- flip flops, hats, sunglasses
August ----- school supplies (pencil sharpeners/scissors)
September ----- coloring books, crayons
October ----- monetary donations for shipping or misc items

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​Online Giving
Consider taking advantage of the option to tithe online through Darby Grace's secure online giving page. Click HERE to get started!

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