The Lutheran Men will meet on February 17th at 6 PM in the fellowship hall. Billy has the devotions. Cooks for the meeting will be John, Billy, and A.J.
Also, be looking for information regarding a sausage sale around Shrove Tuesday. (Information will be provided in upcoming worship folders for the date and how to place your order.)
In November, the Altar Guild purchased two new pouring chalices and a new wine flagon for use during Holy Communion. We have also received a gift of four new individual cup serving trays with two lids. With these new vessels, St. Jacob’s will become better stewards of the communion elements shared during our worship. With these new items will come a couple of small changes in how we serve the wine. The chalices that were purchased have a pouring lip and will be used to pour wine during the distribution. After receiving the bread, the communion assistant will pour an individual cup of wine for each person. Many of our communion assistants have been trained and found this to be a simple way to serve. The chalices are also much wider at the brim so communion by way of intinction will be much better as well.
One other change will be the frequency by which we receive communion in individual cups. Several have indicated their preference for individual cups rather than intinction. Beginning in February, we will have wine poured on the odd numbered Sundays of the month, and communion by intinction on the even numbered Sundays.
Thank you to all who have attended communion assistant training. Thank you also the members of our Altar Guild who continually work to ensure the preparation of our worship space and altar each week.
The Carolinas Mission District Youth will meet for a Spring Retreat at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island in March. All St. Jacob’s youth members in grades 6-12 are invited. Bring your friends too! Cost for the retreat is $100.00 per person and includes Saturday, meals, Sunday breakfast, lodging in cabins and a t-shirt. Registration forms are available in the narthex, the church office or from Pastor David.
At the next convocation of the North American Lutheran Church, clergy and congregational delegates will elect a new bishop. Bishop John Bradosky is set to complete his final term as the leader of our denomination. The NALC will soon be receiving nominations in order to elect his successor. In the coming months, nominations for this office will be made by NALC congregations. St. Jacob’s will, therefore, observe a month of prayer
asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, that we might make an informed decision as to whom we would nominate to the office of Bishop.
Prayers for the NALC and the nomination process will be published each day in February on St. Jacob’s Facebook page. There will also be a prayer booklet available in the church narthex for those who do not use Facebook or the internet. In March, the congregation will have an opportunity to gather for a meal and discuss nominations. Please continue to watch the weekly worship bulletin for more information.
St. Jacob’s Youth will lead the congregation in worship on Sunday, February 24th at 10:30 a.m. Please be sure to come support our youth members as they lead us in prayer and song.
Get set for some fun! In February St. Jacob’s Youth will head to the mountains of North Carolina to go snow tubing. Sign up information is in the Narthex and also available by email. Please contact Pastor David or the church office to save your place.
The Giving Statements for 2018 have been prepared and are ready for pickup. Please be sure and pick yours up from the Narthex as you exit the service.
February 17,2019
The church will discuss and vote on the Annual Reports, Schedules and the Financials Booklets on Sunday, February 17th.
Please be sure and pick up your copy in the Narthex. This year no names will be placed on the copies so please only take one per family so everyone will get one.
Report Booklets can be picked up in the Narthex on February 3, 2019.
The St. Jacob’s Church Council met in January for a two day council retreat. Friday January 11th, we met for a potluck supper with spouses and had an informative discussion about who/what the NALC is and does; focusing on the four core values of Christ Centered, Mission Driven, Traditionally Grounded and Congregationally Focused.
Three good things recognized from 2018 were 1) Stain Glass Window Restoration; 2) The Children’s Christmas Program; 3) Attendance at Christmas Eve Service.
Saturday Jan.12th Council returned for a 6 hour work day that set the tone for the upcoming year. Sherry was elected Vice-President and A.J. was elected Recording Secretary. Council discussed their favorite Bible passages and how they can mold us for service. Council assessed Discipleship on a personal and congregational level and began to work on how we can foster a culture of Discipleship in and around our congregation.
Council was asked to set three attainable goals for 2019 and they are 1)Review Ministry Team Organization;
2) Repair Parking Lot and Upgrade Exterior Presence;
3) Increase ministry to our surrounding community.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew
Secretary, St. Jacob’s Council
The
“To those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:2-3
If you want to know what a person is really passionate about, just listen to them as they speak. It doesn’t take very long to figure out what makes them tick; it’s that one thing they continue to bring up repeatedly. If there is any doubt as to what makes the apostle Paul tick, all we need to do is read the introduction and opening salutations of his first letter to the Church at Corinth. In particular, notice whose name continues to be lifted up.
Paul was zealous for his faith in Christ and eager to share the good news of God’s salvation throughout his known world. Being among God’s people and rejoicing in the promise of life in God’s kingdom is most certainly what fueled Paul’s fire. Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul endured hardship, imprisonment and even shipwrecks, yet nothing seemed to dampen his excitement for telling others about the power of God’s love made manifest in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
The gospel is a message of God’s perfect and unconditional love for his people. The news that sin no longer has the power to condemn those who have faith in Christ Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves. As people
redeemed by Christ, we too are possessors of this good news. We have a wonderful gift to share with a world in need of God’s saving grace. Being among God’s people, in fellowship with the faithful and gathering for worship adds fuel for our fire just as it did for Paul. But once the fire is lit,
we cannot sustain it by ourselves.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul teaches the Church that we need to remain steadfast in the hearing of the gospel. We need to share in the supper that is Christ’s body and blood and we need to live in faithful fellowship with all who share the gift of God’s grace and peace. As a family of faith gathered at St. Jacob’s Lutheran church, we must pay attention to the time we spend together as a church family.
Yes, we are busy people with busy lives, but the burden of such a life is one we place upon ourselves. In the lives of Christian people, all too often, time with the church is sacrificed in order to engage in worldly activities. For instance, when is the last time you heard someone say, “I have to leave the football game early so I can make it to our church’s fellowship event”? No, it is usually the church that sees people leaving worship early, or skipping
it entirely, in order to keep their habits or participate in worldly functions. Before we know it, personal habits and worldly agendas take precedent and time spent in worship and fellowship begin to fade. As Paul points out, when we live for ourselves, the fire burning within will certainly diminish. Some will fall away.
Even faithful Christians (especially) need to be on guard. Those who would be seen as examples must be diligent in their faith and practice. If one is faithful 90% of their time, it is the 10% others will see. Christians need to
know and understand that no matter what may happen in this world, God’s grace and peace given through Christ Jesus cannot be overcome. In those times when we fall short of God’s expectation for us, we need to be reminded that our sins are forgiven and as such, God calls us all to be saints together in every time and place, living together in the unity of Christ.
And so, we too gather as did the Church in Paul’s time, in the name of Jesus in order to hear the message of the gospel. We too come to confess our sins, receive God’s grace, partake in the supper and at the close of the meal, hear the words of God’s blessing as they are pronounced over the entire assembly. It cannot be emphasized enough; there is no better place to be than in the presence of God and among his people. With that, I greet you as Paul greets those whom he writes to throughout the ages: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen!
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
