This Week at Darrtown

07.09.2026
Greetings Church Family,
This Sunday our focus goes to Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 where Jesus tells the “Parable of the Sower” to show that people respond to God’s word in different ways. The seed represents God’s message, and the soils represent human hearts: some reject it, some receive it briefly, some are distracted by worries and wealth, and some accept it and produce spiritual fruit. Jesus is teaching that the way people receive God’s word depends on the condition of their hearts. The same seed is scattered everywhere, which shows that God’s message is given to many people. However, not everyone responds the same way. Some people do not understand or accept it, some believe for a short time but give up when life becomes hard, and others let worries, distractions, or the desire for wealth keep them from growing spiritually. The “good soil” represents people who truly listen, understand, and live according to God’s word. These people allow the message to take root in their lives, and because of that, they produce spiritual fruit. The main lesson is that we should prepare our hearts to receive God’s word by being open, patient, faithful, and willing to grow.
My message title is  “Parable of the Sower”.
What a wonderful time we experienced last Sunday with our patriotic worship as we celebrated our country’s 250th birthday along with our church being 216 years old as well. I have had several tell me they appreciated me tying in the fact that our church began not very long after our country was formed. It is humbling to remember that generations before us planted seeds of faith, service, prayer, and community that are still bearing fruit today. As we continue celebrating this special anniversary year, may we also ask God to continue to help us be good soil—ready to receive His word, grow deeper in faith, and share His love with those around us, the very thing our scripture asks of us this week. The men who fought for freedom in 1776 were men of faith, courage, and conviction. They understood that freedom was not simply something to be enjoyed, but something to be protected, cherished, and used responsibly. In much the same way, our church has been blessed by generations of faithful people who gave, served, prayed, taught, sang, and worshiped so that the message of Jesus Christ would continue to be shared in this community and beyond. Their lives remind us again that faithfulness in one generation can become a blessing in the next. As we give thanks for our nation’s history and our church’s history, let us also consider what seeds we are planting today, seeds of faith, service, prayer, healing, and community. May the Lord find our hearts ready, our hands willing, and our lives fruitful for His kingdom. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Our new picnic shelter has finally been completed. We wish to thank Shawn, Kent, and TJ for all their perseverance in completing all the red tape that was needed to make this a reality. It has been a dream for many including many who have gone before us and now it is finished. We will have a blessing over the new area soon.  
 
Thought of the Week: Trust God for the journey: Just as God saves for eternity, He will also guide you through life’s journey. 
 
Blessings,
Pastor Chris
Next Update 07.16.2026.