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We Care Center

Posted November 19, 2024 By admin

October 11, 2024
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church
We pray sincerely that this letter finds you and yours safe from the storm! Hurricane Helene packed quite a
punch to our community, and we have been working hard to meet the extensive needs of those least capable of
absorbing these losses. Fortunately we were able to maintain power in our building, so we had no losses, but as
stock in stores is depleted, our capacity for perishables like produce is particularly hampered. Many clients are
without power and water, and we are filling orders accordingly with ready-to-eat food that does not have to be
cooked, pop-top cans, manual can openers, bottled water, and many gas and propane vouchers for those with
access to a generator.

We are all doing all we can for as many as we can for as long as it takes! And that could be quite a while. The
majority of our clients reside in lower Newberry County, and we are finding that because of the widespread
outages of power and internet, the story is not being told widely. There are dire needs in this area,
demonstrated poignantly at our first mobile pantry after the storm in Prosperity. We normally serve 40 families
at that monthly distribution; that day we served 140, most of them new!

Despite the heaviness of this moment, there are many sources of hope, including your kind support! We so
appreciate your help as we help our clients. We are so very grateful. They are so very grateful!

Many of our volunteers served faithfully, even as they struggled themselves without power or water.
Donations of food and water have been pouring in from faithful local partners. And we are still kicking off the
holidays this month as we begin to receive Thanksgiving and Christmas applications from clients! We
anticipate serving 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and 500 children for Christmas! There is joy to be had and
we are determined to find it, for our clients above all else. Thank you again!

Alecia Klauk
Executive Director

Most Needed
1. Jelly/Jam (plastic jars)
2. Cereal
3. Peanut Butter
4. Tuna
5. Canned Meats
6. Grits
7. Snack bars/cookies
8. Spaghetti Sauce
9. SpaghettiO’s
10. Oatmeal

We also ALWAYS need dish soap, laundry detergent!

Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach

Mercy Bags for We Care

Posted November 15, 2024 By admin

Mercy bags are packed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Please come to the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship to help pack bags.

Filed in Fellowship, Missions, Other Happenings, Outreach

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Posted November 10, 2024 By admin

Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of worship will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 27th. Our church family, neighbors and friends are invited to attend as we worship and give thanks to our loving God for the many blessings he pours out upon us. Gather with your church family for this special evening.
Following our service, as is our custom, we will prepare 300 pound cake slices for distribution at the annual community Thanksgiving meal provided by The Hub. Please contact Billy McTeer for more information concerning how you might help.

Filed in Bible Study, Other Happenings, Outreach, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Responding to Disaster

Posted November 7, 2024 By admin

We all remember what happened when a Hurricane named Helene came to town. Our community endured heavy winds, rains, and many fallen trees, all which knocked out power for days within our surrounding area. Yet, by God’s grace, our normal routine has been restored. Folks in the mountains have not been so fortunate.
As we all know, Helene brought devastation to millions of people in the hills of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. In some instances, complete communities have been swept away by flash floods and mud slides. As a congregation in the North American Lutheran Church, we have been asked to assist in relief efforts, giving aid to people who have lost so much. It has been a tall order, but with God’s help we seem to be up to the task.
The response from our church family has been tremendous. Your generosity and willingness to share with your neighbors has been a blessing. From the beginning of October through October 11th, an avalanche of relief supplies fell upon our Fellowship Hall and Disaster Response Shed. Flood Buckets, Health Kits, clothing, food, hygiene products, and even pet foods were collected and sent to Western North Carolina.
Thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or simply prayed for our neighbors’ recovery. The recovery effort is not yet complete and won’t be for quite some time. The needs in the Mountain communities seem to change day by day. NALC Disaster Response is able to organize mission trips for groups or individuals who would like to volunteer in the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Anyone who is interested in participating in such efforts should contact the church office for further information.
Our Disaster Response Shed is in need of re-supply. You can help by putting together Health Kits or Flood Buckets. See the list included in this newsletter for packing directions for each kit. Your completed kits may be placed on the stage in the Fellowship Hall and will be moved into our Disaster Response Shed.

Flood Buckets

  • 1 five-gallon bucket with lid
  • 1 jug bleach (1/2 gal. or smaller)
  • 2 large trash bags (Contractor 3 mil)
  • 1 roll paper towels
  • 2 rags
  • Comet or scouring cleanser
  • Pine Sol or liquid cleaner
  • scrub brush
  • gloves, 1 pair each, size L preferred
    • rubber (reusable, i.e. Platex, dishwashing type)
    • leather
    • cotton

Health Care Kit (Pack in 2-gallon plastic storage bag or tote bag)

  • 1 bath towel
  • 1 wash cloth (optional)
  • 1 shampoo (2 if travel size)
  • 1 bar of soap (2 if travel size)
  • 1 toothbrush (individually sealed)
  • 1 pack of floss (optional)
  • 1 toothpaste (2 if travel size)
  • 1 comb
  • 1 deodorant
  • 1 nail clippers (optional)
Filed in Carolinas Mission Region, Fellowship, Missions, Other Happenings, Outreach

Youth Ministry Spotlight

Posted November 5, 2024 By admin

Members of St. Jacob’s Youth engaged God’s mission in a couple of significant ways during October. Several of our youth worked to assemble flood buckets in the fellowship hall to assist people in hurricane recovery. On another occasion, youth members went along with Lynn and Susan Shealy, shopping for Mercy Bag items. They learned about the Mercy Bag ministry and how it impacts people in need within our surrounding area. Thank you also to David Kibler and Susan Shealy for leading a Youth Bible study on Wednesday evenings in the church office conference room. Yes, our St. Jacob’s Youth really is “mission driven.”

Filed in Carolinas Mission Region, Fellowship, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Missions, Other Happenings

Pastoral Devotion for November – Welcoming All

Posted November 2, 2024 By admin

Read: Matthew 9:9-17
Once, I met a man named Greg. Greg was homeless. He was someone whom society overlooked or mostly avoided. None the less, Greg was a member of our community, a person created by God, a sinner in need of redemption. Who would have thought that such a man would one day become my best friend?
People like Greg are not new to society; the world has been busy ignoring them for thousands of years. When we read the gospels, we meet Greg many times over. We meet Greg the leper, Greg the blind beggar, Greg the lost and forgotten. The world shuns such people, yet Jesus meets Greg and invites him to follow.
Jesus came to heal the sick and forgive the sins of many. His mission often led him to associate with the dregs of society. The Pharisees were always quick to point out Jesus’s “misdeeds.” Heal on the Sabbath? Associate with prostitutes and sinners? Dine with a tax collector? The Pharisees weren’t willing to do such things, the stakes were too high. They had reputations to protect and laws to follow.
Jesus overcomes all this. He loves those whom society deems unlovable, opens his arms, and invites the sinner to follow. Our Lord Jesus welcomes all into his divine presence. He lifts up the lowly and invites even the most unworthy or insignificant among us to partake in the richness of God’s eternal Kingdom. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ; your love is unmeasurable and your grace sufficient. Keep us close forever. Amen.

Filed in Bible Study, Missions, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor

Music Notes

Posted November 2, 2024 By admin

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Like all of you, I have so much to be thankful for, “how can I keep from singing?” I thank you all for your support as David and I walk through this difficult time. Thank you to Sarah, our incredible organist, for carrying on with choir practice in my absence. Our choirs are having to adjust practice times and music schedules, and I thank them for all their support and love. I also thank and praise God for this church family and please know that your prayers and love bring both David and I much comfort and support.
We will not have our cantata as planned this advent season. We will instead have a service of lessons and carols on the last Sunday of advent which will include some special music.
Please note the change of times for choir practice, 6:00 PM during November and children’s choir, 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. Happy thanksgiving to you all.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Worship and Music, Worship Service, Youth and Family Ministries, Youth Director

Men’s Bible Study

Posted November 1, 2024 By admin

Our Men’s Bible Study will continue with its new time and day. All St. Jacob’s men are invited to participate in Bible Study on Monday, November 4th at 6:30 PM in the church office. Please bring your Bible. If you do not have one to bring, then one will be provided for you.

Filed in Bible Study, Lutheran Men, Other Happenings

Homecoming 2024

Posted October 30, 2024 By admin

Our Homecoming and Golden Agers Celebration was a day filled with fellowship and plenty of good food and stories shared by many. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day such a wonderful event. We were pleased to welcome home Pastor Mark Metze, who served as our guest preacher. Accompanying Pastor Mark was his wife Rebecca (Eargle) Metze, along with their sons Henry and Eli. Several long-time members and guests also joined us for worship and a delicious meal afterward. Thanks be to God for the time we shared together.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Worship and Music, Worship Service

From Your Pastor’s Heart

Posted October 29, 2024 By admin

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22
As you all know, I have been dealing with a serious health issue for quite a while. It was serious enough that I had to cancel my annual trip to Congo. It hasn’t been a secret that I have been diagnosed with blockages in my heart. When the news was first delivered to Angela and me, we didn’t really know what to do. The doctors who were tending to me were not comfortable in making a definitive treatment plan. After a few tense days, I decided to get a second opinion. Not that the doctors who saw me weren’t good doctors, I don’t believe that for a second. I’m sure they are quite capable. But this being the first time I have had to deal with such an issue, I prayed for guidance and comfort. The answer to my prayers came in the form of a complete stranger suggesting I see a doctor in Charlotte whom he had been treated by. One or two calls later and I was in the loop.
In Charlotte, I met a team of doctors who truly give Angela and me confidence and assurance that the prescribed remedy will be my best option for future good health. Thus, I have agreed to undergo bypass surgery where it is likely two main arteries will be repaired. I truly appreciate the care I am receiving through the doctors and nurses in Charlotte. Angela and I are completely comfortable with the decision to proceed with surgery.
We also take comfort in knowing that God is the one who enables medical personnel to do the work of healing. Truly, only God could provide the wisdom and skillset to accomplish such miracles. As Solomon said in the Proverbs, God’s Word is “life to those who find [it] and health to one’s whole body.”
My surgery is scheduled for November 7th and I will be away from the church for about three weeks after that. On Sunday, November 10th, our elders will lead worship and distribute Holy Communion with bread and wine consecrated the week prior. I have arranged for Pastor Leon Rawl to supply on November 17th and 24th so there will be no interruption in the celebration of the Sacrament.
I hope to return to St. Jacob’s (albeit in a reduced capacity) on Sunday, December 1st with some restrictions on driving and lifting. My doctor supports this line of thought and sees no reason not to expect a favorable outcome to this procedure and complete recovery. I am thankful for the prayers many of you have offered on my behalf and look forward to improved health following recovery from surgery. This has not been an easy article to write. I’m not used to sharing such news about my personal health. But through the years so many have shared their health concerns that God has convinced me, now is the time to do the same, share with the ones whom you love, for this is truly what is on your pastor’s heart, figuratively and realistically.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

Filed in Bible Study, From the Pastor’s Heart, Other Happenings
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