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August 30 - Hagar Jason Dyck Scripture: Genesis 16 & 21 Their story:  Abram was promised by God that he would be create a great nation. The only problem is that Abram’s wife Sarai was barren and unable to conceive. Enter plan b: Abram would try to secure the promise of God by laying with his handmaiden Hagar. Who was Hagar? Hagar was an Egyptian slave who is treated harshly by her Hebrew mistress. When she was no longer needed, she would be sent away. But God saw her. The children of Abraham and Sarah will share in their treatment of Hagar by being enslaved and treated harshly by their Egyptians masters. But God saw them. God doesn't see ethnicity or nationality as barriers. God sees suffering. God doesn't care about ethnicity or nationality. God cares about suffering. And so, Hagar the African, Hagar the slave, Hagar the Egyptian foreigner in the household of Abraham, received her own vision of God, apart from her mistress and her husband. She beheld God, and she dared to give God a name. Our story: In a world of suffering and unjust treatment of the lowly, God is not absent. God sees us. We like Hagar, can to call out to the God who sees us. And we like God must learn to see those whom the world has forgotten.  God’s Story: The God who sees the forsaken Hagar, has sent his son Jesus to seek out all who feel forsaken and forgotten and bring them home.

August 23- Abraham Don Rempel Boschman   Scripture: Genesis 11:27-12:9; Hebrews 11:8-10  Their Story:  Prior to Abraham what do we find in the story? Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise, Cain killing Abel and founding human civilization with bloody hands, a violent world under a flood of judgment, and finally Babylon rising in rebellion to God. It’s a world moving away from God. Enter Abraham: A man of faith. A friend of God. A patriarch of a new humanity. Abraham is called to follow God into an unknown country with the blessing to bless the peoples of the earth. Abraham leaves behind his former world to follow God into the unknown.This is what makes Abraham both great and the pattern for every believer thereafter. Our story: In a world moving away from God, we like Abraham, must in faith leave behind ‘the old country’ and move into the unknown future —- a future that is the promise of blessing and healing of this broken world.  God’s story: God is seeking to reconcile humanity through the faithfulness of the person of Abraham and the promise he will give him. God does this through sending his Son into the world. Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void to create a new people of God.

August 16- Cain & Abel Paul Walker Scripture: Genesis 4:1-17;  Hebrews 11:4 Their Story: Cain and Abel are sons of Eve and Adam. Cain is an agrarian man and Abel is a shepherd of flocks. One day they both offer a sacrifice to God. Cain offers “some of the fruits of the soil.” Abel’s sacrifice comes from “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” In a word, Cain offered the ordinary and Abel the best, and of course the quality of their offering reflects the condition of their hearts. Abel is enthusiastic in his worship, while Cain is basically disinterested. God favours Abel’s more heartfelt sacrifice, and this angers Cain. Cain is warned by God that “sin is crouching at [his] door”(v7). But Cain ignores this warning and re-imagines his brother as a rival and enemy. So Cain kills Abel. Then Cain lied to God (and himself ) about his actions, moves east of Eden, and founds the first city. Thus we have the story of the rise of human civilization that is built upon a foundation of making our brothers into enemies.  Our Story: Life is not a game where Cain has to outdo Abel. Life is a gift from God, understood by the grammar, not of competition, but love. And love tells us that we are our brother’s keeper.  God’s Story:  In a world founded upon the murder of our brothers, God is pleading with us to resist the power of sin in this world. And so God will send his son into the world to show us the better way of forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for our forgiveness.

August 9 - Adam & Eve Scripture: Genesis 1-3  Their Story: In the beginning, God speaks creation into existence. All of creation is God’s temple— and at the heart of creation God creates image bearers to be divine representatives in Creation. So Adam is formed from the dust of the Earth and given the breath of life. Adam is placed in the garden and given the priestly task of tending (עבד) and working (שמר) the garden, with instructions to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But all is not yet complete and thriving, as God declares, “It is not good that the man should be alone”. (2.18) So Eve is formed and the goodness of mutual relationship, completion, and harmonious thriving become true for humanity. That is until the serpent calls into question the goodness of God. The image bearers are deceived by the serpent and sent out from the garden. Creation is marred, but all is not lost. The Creator God will send the Seed to crush the head of the serpent. (3.15)  Our story: We are made in the image of God and called for thriving and relationship, and yet due to own rebellion, we are also broken and need of rescue.  God’s story: God is love. A love that is creative and desires humanity’s flourishing. A love that gives us the freedom to go our own way. When we do go our own way, God does not abandon us but goes with us out of the garden with the promise that the Seed will crush the head of the serpent. The Seed who is Jesus— is the true and better Adam & Eve, who passed the test in the garden and whose victory over sin, death, and the grave is won for us.

August 2- The House of the Lord Scripture: Psalm 23:6; John 14:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Speaker: Lorelle Perry  Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever. - Psalm 23:6 The last verse of the Psalm focuses on a big picture of where our Good Shepherd is leading us. The life with our Good Shepherd is a life where God is with us and we “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. God’s house is the place of refuge, blessing, and wholeness. God’s house is abiding in reconciliation and relationship with our Good Shepherd. It is not only a future reality but something we can encounter in our experience by faith today. Our challenge is to stay with our Good Shepherd in the increasing belief that God truly desires to be with us. This is why David tells us that goodness and mercy (or love) chase us down. Goodness and mercy pursue us like a predator might pursue prey! It’s not something we have to earn, but a gift we receive by grace. Jesus has promised us that his “Father’s house has many rooms”(Jn 14:1). There is room for all who respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow after him. The question we all must ask is will we surrender to the goodness and mercy that is chasing us down?  Desired Outcome: To share the good news that goodness and mercy are chasing us down to bring us into the house of the Lord.

July 26 - The Table Before Me  Scripture: Psalm 23:5; Luke7:36-50 Speaker: Ryan Murray A video recording of this sermon can be viewed at https://youtu.be/-k1S6ocjAFU You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. - Psalm 23:5 In the last section of the psalm, the basic metaphor changes to that of a banquet host. We are given three images: A table, anointing with oil, and an overflowing cup. All three images communicate a blessing given from the banquet host to the guests. The guests receive from the host blessings of abundance, satisfaction, joy, and everlasting love. The curious place of banquet blessing occurs in the presence of our enemies and not in the absence of them. This psalm imagines the enemies outside our camp able to see us within it, joyful and enjoying our meal, but they are unable to get access to us, like animals on the edge of a clearing unable to get to the sheepfold. In the same way, Jesus has prepared the Kingdom table that transforms enemies into friends (Mt 5:38). This Kingdom table also blesses us in the presence of the great enemies of sin, death, and the grave . As the Apostle Paul writes, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4-5)  Grace is the announcement of blessing in the presence of our enemies of sin, death, and the grave. This is the blessing God longs to pour out to all to all who would join him at his table.  Desired Outcome: To encourage our people that the Good Shepherd longs to bless us in the presence of our enemies

July 19- Valleys and Shadows   Scripture: Psalm 23:4; 1 Peter 2:21-25 Speaker: Paul Walker Even though I walk
  through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
  for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
 they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 From time to time, shepherds would need to take their flocks beyond the safe confines of familiar pasture and towards valleys and mountains in search of fresh food. This was a yearly practice done towards the end of the summer months to help the sheep prepare for winter. The shepherd would journey with his flock as they faced unfamiliar terrain. In this journey, the sheep would find their deepest security in their close relationship to the shepherd. The shepherd would be fully prepared to safeguard his flock and tend to them with skill under ever circumstance. Nothing would take the shepherd by surprise. Never would a shepherd take his flock where he had not already been before. In the same way, Jesus our Good Shepherd has gone before us into the valley of death and overcome it through resurrection. We do not serve a shepherd that is distant and removed from the valleys and shadows. No, our Good Shepherd joins us in the valley of the shadow of death so that “now [we] sheep who have gone astray, have returned to the Shepherd [1 Peter 2:25) This Good Shepherd is with us in the valleys and shadows and wants to guide us into his way of life. Desired Outcome: To proclaim the Good News that Jesus our Good Shepherd is with us in the valleys and shadows and wants to guide through them and into his way of life.

Sermon:July 12- Restoration and Repair  Scripture: Psalm 23:2-3; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:2 Speaker: Paul Walker   He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
 for his name’s sake.  - Psalm 23:2-3 Sheep are timid animals. The strangest thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup it is almost impossible for them to lie down unless they are free of fear, unrest, and hunger. As anxious creatures, sheep do not naturally want to lie down. Yet the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 is skilled at causing his sheep to experience peace, rest, and fulfillment. We know as Jesus followers that he is our Good Shepherd and we are “God’s flock”(1 Peter 5:2) Yet so many us today suffer from anxiety, worry, and fear. We live in an anxious age. We are hurried and rushed. We don’t know how to rest. Jesus invites us to “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.”(Mt 11:29) To take Jesus’ “yoke” is to pattern our lives after his life. It is to be people who sabbath. It is to be people who pray, fast, trust, worship, and love deeply. The Jesus way is the narrow path away from unrest and towards rest for our souls. What would it mean for us to follow our Good Shepherd towards restoration and repair? What would it mean for us to lie down in green pastures?  Desired Outcome: To encourage our people to allow Jesus the Good Shepherd to lead them into restoration and repair so that they can find rest for their souls.

July 5-  Who Is My Shepherd? Paul Walker Scripture: Psalm 23:1, John 10:11-18 “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing”  We might imagine a shepherd only as a sentimental caretaker of sheep. We might picture a Precious Moments bible story where all that shepherds seem to do is lovingly cradle their sheep. The image of a shepherd in the bible, however, is far more encompassing and demanding. A shepherd is “a manager, an owner, a protector, and a provider.” In other words, to say that the LORD is my shepherd is to say that we are in the care of someone else. We are not the ones in charge. We have taken our small kingdoms and surrendered it to the Kingdom of God. It is only when the LORD is our shepherd that we can truly say, I shall not be in want or lack anything. There are, however, false shepherds and hired hands who do not seek our good, but seek to “abandon the sheep” (Jn 10:12) into trouble. So it really matters who or what we are entrusting the care of our lives too. Do we know who our shepherd is? Is it money? Is it fame? Is it our material possessions? Is it ourselves? Many of us go through life experiencing the disappointments of false shepherds who leave us wanting. It is to a people who have gone astray that Jesus says that he alone is “the good shepherd”(Jn 10:11). He alone is the shepherd that can provide a life without lack. What would it mean to follow this Good Shepherd today?  Desired Outcome: To challenge folks to evaluate who or what is their Shepherd — and to proclaim the good news that Jesus alone is the Good Shepherd who can provide a life without lack.

June 28: Weekly  Scripture: Acts 2:42–47, Hebrews 10:19–25 From the very beginning, the church was shaped by shared rhythms and consistent gathering. In Acts of the Apostles 2, we see the early believers devoting themselves to teaching, prayer, fellowship, breaking bread, and life together. They gathered regularly in homes and in worship, sharing meals, encouraging one another, and making space for the presence of God among them. Their faith was not lived out in isolation, but through a consistent life together. This same encouragement continues in Hebrews 10, where believers are urged not to give up meeting together, but to continually encourage and strengthen one another in love and faithfulness. Scripture reminds us that gathering together is not merely a religious habit; it is one of the primary ways God forms us into the people of Jesus. At DMC, we believe there is something deeply formative about showing up week after week. In a culture shaped by hurry, distraction, and individualism, consistent gathering roots us in a different story. When we worship together, pray together, sing together, hear Scripture together, share meals together, and serve together, the Holy Spirit shapes us together. Weekly rhythms of worship and community become sacred practices that anchor our lives in the presence of God and in relationship with one another. Practicing “Weekly” is not about obligation or attendance for attendance’s sake. It is about presence. We gather because we need God, and we need one another. We come carrying burdens, questions, hopes, and joys, and together we are reminded who God is and who we are becoming. Over time, these ordinary rhythms become the very means through which God grows resilience, unity, joy, and faith within us. The early church in Acts devoted themselves to life together, and through those shared practices, people encountered the presence of God in powerful ways. We believe the same is still true today. Desired Outcome:
To cultivate a church culture that prioritizes consistent gathering and shared rhythms of worship, prayer, fellowship, and encouragement, becoming a community that is deeply formed by the presence of God and life together in Christ.

June 21: Wonder  Scripture: Psalm 8, Ephesians 5:18-21 Speaker: Pastor Paul Wonder begins with paying attention to the presence of God. In Psalm 8, David pauses to behold the beauty and majesty of God revealed in creation: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers…” Wonder is born when we slow down long enough to notice that the world is filled with the glory and presence of God. In a culture shaped by distraction, noise, and hurry, we can easily lose our capacity for awe. We become numb to beauty, inattentive to the Spirit, and disconnected from the presence of God in our everyday lives. But Scripture calls us to another way. In Ephesians 5:18–21, Paul invites the church to “be filled with the Spirit,” describing a community marked by worship, gratitude, attentiveness, singing, and mutual encouragement. Wonder is not merely an emotional experience; it is a posture of openness to the Holy Spirit. It is creating space in our lives and in our community to encounter God, respond to his presence, and be continually formed by him together. At DMC, we want to cultivate a practice of wonder. We want to become people who slow down enough to worship deeply, pray attentively, listen expectantly, and recognize the activity of God among us. Wonder reminds us that following Jesus is not simply about gaining more information, but about awakening to the reality that God is with us and actively at work in our midst through the Holy Spirit. As we practice wonder together, our hearts are softened, our worship deepens, and our lives become marked by gratitude, joy, expectancy, and attentiveness to the presence of God. Desired Outcome:
To cultivate a church culture that makes space for the presence of the Holy Spirit through worship, gratitude, attentiveness, and awe, becoming people who regularly notice and respond to the activity of God among us.

June 14: Word  Scripture: John 1:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:10-17, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-8 Speaker: Jason Dyck At DMC, we want to be a people shaped by the Word of God in every sense of the phrase: the Word in person, the Word in print, and the Word proclaimed. The Word of God is not just a book we study, but ultimately a person we follow. John tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh (John1 ), the living revelation of God. To know the Word is first to know Jesus himself: his character, his voice, his way of life, and his invitation to follow him. We also believe God speaks through the written Word of Scripture. The Bible forms, corrects, grounds, and nourishes us as a community. In a noisy and distracted world, we want to become people who regularly open the Scriptures, meditate on them, wrestle with them together, and allow them to shape our imagination and our lives. As the Apostle Paul puts it, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. (2 Tim. 3:16)  
And finally, we believe the Word is proclaimed. Through preaching, testimony, encouragement, prayer, discernment, and Spirit-led conversation, God continues to speak to his church today. The Holy Spirit takes the truth of Jesus and the witness of Scripture and brings them alive in our hearts and in our community. To practice the Word at DMC is to become a community that listens attentively to God together: knowing the Word in person through Jesus, in print through Scripture, and proclaimed through the Spirit at work among us. Desired Outcome:
To foster a church culture that knows, loves, and lives the Word of God in person, print, and proclaimed, becoming people who not only hear the voice of Jesus, but embody his way together.

You Are Special Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18; James 2:1-4 Speaker: Pastor Paul  This Sunday, we'll explore what it means to find our worth in God's love rather than the judgments of others. Through the beloved children's book You Are Special by Max Lucado, we'll reflect on how easily we assign value based on appearance, ability, or success—and how God sees something deeper. Join us as we discover the good news that every person is fearfully and wonderfully made and worthy of love.

May 31 : Welcome  Scripture: Romans 12:1-13 (with an emphasis on v13)  Speaker: Paul Walker Welcome is more than being friendly at the door or exchanging conversation over coffee. In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul describes a community transformed by the mercy of God, a people whose lives have become living sacrifices shaped by love, humility, generosity, and mutual care. At the heart of this vision is a simple but powerful invitation in verse 13: “Practice hospitality.” (διώκω ὁ φιλοξενία)  The word Paul uses (φιλοξενία) carries the idea of pursuing welcome with intentionality. Hospitality is not an optional personality trait for a few outgoing people; it is a practice that shapes the entire church. Biblical welcome makes room for others before they have earned it. It opens tables, homes, schedules, conversations, and hearts. It reflects the very heart of God, who in Christ welcomed us while we were still strangers. At DMC, we want to become a church where people are not merely greeted but genuinely received. A community where newcomers, longtime attenders, neighbours, doubters, children, seniors, and those carrying burdens all encounter the love and presence of Jesus through the way we make space for one another. Welcome is how we embody the gospel together. Practicing welcome also challenges the individualism of our culture. In a world marked by loneliness, suspicion, and division, the church is called to become a different kind of people: attentive, generous, open, and present. As we offer welcome to others, we discover that God is continually welcoming and transforming us as well. Desired Outcome:
To cultivate a church culture that practices welcome & hospitality that makes room for others with the same grace and generosity that Christ has shown to us.

May 24- Given  (Day of Pentecost) - Paul Walker  Scripture: Acts 2:1–4; John 14:15–28 As the disciples wait together in the upper room, the silence is suddenly broken by “a sound like a violent rushing wind,” and what seems like tongues of fire rest on each of them (Acts 2:2–3). This is no ordinary moment. What was promised by Jesus is now given—the Holy Spirit, not as an abstract force, but as the living presence of God filling his people. The room that was marked by waiting becomes a place of overflow, where prayer turns into proclamation and fear gives way to boldness. What they could not produce on their own is now freely received. The Spirit gives them what they need to participate in what God is doing. They are empowered to speak, to witness, to carry the good news beyond themselves. The miracle is not just in the tongues of fire, but in the reality that God equips ordinary people for extraordinary participation. The Spirit does not come as a reward for worthiness, but as a gift of grace. As Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you… do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:27). The same Spirit who teaches, reminds, and leads is the Spirit who meets us in our weakness and gives what we lack. Pentecost reminds us that the life of faith is not something we manufacture—it is something we receive. The disciples did not strive their way into power; they opened themselves to gift. And so it is with us. The Spirit still comes, still surprises, still provides. What we are called into, we are also given the grace to live out. Desired Outcome: To cultivate trust that the Holy Spirit is given freely—and that we will receive everything needed to participate in the Risen One’s life and mission.