You are invited to St. Jacob’s second annual Fall Festival/Oktoberfest on Saturday October 19th, at 2:00 PM. It will be an afternoon full of German food, games, and fellowship celebrating the fall season together. Some of the activities include hayrides, painting pumpkins, cornhole, and more! There will be activities for all ages—We look forward to having you here and always feel free to extend the invitation to others!
Archive for September, 2019
Fall Festival / Octoberfest
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminCongregational Retreat at St. Christopher
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminOur next congregational retreat is scheduled for the weekend of January 10th-12th at beautiful Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island, SC. Last year several of our church family members enjoyed a time away for study, fellowship and refreshment as we shared our faith with one another. The theme of our retreat will be Living and Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ. The cost per person is $150.00, the same as last year. There will be discussion concerning discipleship within families, discipleship of our children and being disciples for the sake of others. We will even enjoy a session around the campfire on the beach!
For those who may need assistance in meeting the cost, please contact Pastor David. Money should never be the issue for people to miss an opportunity to grow in faith and their relationship with Christ. Registration forms are available in the narthex and also through email. Just contact the church office.
Council Briefs September 2019
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminGood Things at St. Jacob’s for August:
- Homecoming service was excellent; really enjoyed Pastor Brad Hales
- Fireflies baseball game was well attended and a great time
- Start of the Wednesday morning breakfast for Youth
- Youth Lock-in
Important Notes and Dates:
- The new flagpole has been purchased and installed in the cemetery
- Building Team has met with SCDOT for parameters and scope of parking lot project; is currently working to identify the number of handicap spaces afforded in design and proper ingress and egress to property that is in line with current DOT specifications. Updates to follow when available
- All team budget requests for FY2020 are due no later than September 29th
- The Council has a called meeting to discuss the Constitution on September 15th
- Next regularly scheduled Council meeting is October 1st at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew
Secretary,
St. Jacob’s Church Council
Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminI have been learning a lot this month about identity. I have heard that word over and over in sermons and Bible studies, but it never really resonated with me until recently. During a time of major change in my life, I want to remain rooted in who I am regardless of my changing surroundings and circumstances. I know this is the case for most of us when we have a lot going on. We often push ourselves to the backburner because we simply don’t have the time. But what we don’t realize is that from who we are comes everything else.
Since our identity comes from God, we can only find it in Him. Jesus says in Matthew, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.” Sometimes we let life speak louder than truth by letting our circumstances define who we are and how we’re doing. It’s a form of idolatry to let things matter more than what matters most, our relationship with Him and who He says we are.
We hear the words “die to self” and it seems intimidating, but it really is a gift. There is nothing greater than fullness of union with Christ: when we are fully surrendered and a walking sacrifice. His joy becomes our joy; His love, our love; His peace, our peace; His strength, our strength. From this place of identity, we no longer chase after the desires of the flesh but rather, seek to glorify God in all areas of our life. From this place, we no longer fear the future or provision. Lastly, we don’t have to suffer without confidence that our circumstances will produce things of eternal value. Just as Jesus’ sufferings were not wasted, neither will ours be. Praise God that He loves us enough to take us from brokenness and rebellion to a new identity in Christ because of the sacrifice of His Son. There is no life apart from Him and we can experience this fullness of life when we lay down ourselves, our schedules, and our control in order to step into who He says we are and who He calls us to be.
Our youth will meet at 5 PM on Sunday, October 6th in the fellowship hall. Due to the fall festival, we will not have a meeting on Sunday, October 20th. Grace and peace, Rachel
Worship and Music
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminOctober is upon us. Cooler fall temperatures, leaves changing colors, high school and college football games, the State Fair – all serve as reminders that the year 2019 is rapidly nearing its end. But just because all the anthems have been chosen through the Christmas season doesn’t mean that I, or the singers, can rest on our laurels.
Church music isn’t like any other kind of performance. When you go to a concert, the band, orchestra, or choir have been rehearsing for months and the concert is the culmination of those months of practice. Once the concert is over, they move on to the next concert.
The foremost difference between church music and other vocal or instrumental groups is that church music is NOT a performance. It is, in its purest form, our prayer, our praise, our expression of gratitude to our Lord and Savior for His unconditional love, mercy and grace. For me, it is an ongoing, constant looking ahead to the next season, and the one following; always working ahead so that the musicians have ample time to develop the musicality of each piece that we sing or play. It is a challenge to look so far ahead and choose hymns and anthems that will not only compliment but enhance the Scriptures, and sometimes, I do miss the boat. But it’s those other times, the times when everything fits together like a giant puzzle; I know that the Holy Spirit was guiding my choices.
For that, I can only say …Soli Deo Gloria (to God Alone the Glory),
Laurie
Filed in Other Happenings, Worship and Music
Blessing Of The Animals
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminOur pets are a part of our family and a gift from our Father in heaven. They provide love and companionship asking little in return. Join your church family on Saturday, October 5th at 10:00 AM for a special time together on the lawn in front of the Church Office. Pastor David will lead a service of blessing and thanksgiving for the loving animals God has entrusted to us.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted September 1, 2019 By adminThe reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:4-6
Within the Rite of Holy Baptism, parents of small children, sponsors and congregations promise that we will lead the child into a healthy life of faith in Christ Jesus. We promise that we will bring the child to God’s house for worship, teach them the Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments and the Creed. We promise to place the Holy Scriptures in their hands and help them learn from them by reading the Bible together. We promise to provide for their instruction in the Christian faith so that they would live in the covenant of their baptism and in communion with God’s people. Parents of the newly baptized children especially bear responsibility for these promises; promises their parents first made on their behalf years ago.
The Proverb above speaks to the importance of such promise keeping. Usually, when the Proverb is spoken of, it is verse six that stands alone; “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” But when we read this verse in its fuller context, we soon realize the importance of a young life being provided a strong foundation of faith. The world is filled with powers that defy God, temptations that are overwhelming and so many of the devil’s false promises. We all want our children to have a good life, a full life, one that brings pleasure to their selves and to others. But as we read in Scripture, and know through our experience, the devil and his minions set thorns and snares along the pathways of God’s people. On our own, we are no match for them. Left to fend for ourselves, we will fall deeper into sin without even realizing it.
For several decades now, there has been a worsening condition permeating the Christian Church, one by which we have seen ever increasing numbers of our younger members fall away from faith. I believe it is so important to address this condition that I have devoted my doctoral studies to develop resources for pastors, congregations and families to bring about faith formation for our children and children’s children.
I think we can all agree that we would love to see more of our young people in worship and Sunday school. The trouble is that so often we don’t know how to encourage them. Instead, we sometimes inadvertently enable them in their staying away. Truth being told, children, especially teens, earnestly desire to have a healthy relationship with church families, one centered upon Jesus Christ and one that shares a desire to grow in relationship with God and his people.
Over the years, I have ministered to parents whose children have fallen away from the church. I have ministered to grandparents who faithfully bring their grandchildren to worship often (and that’s a good thing). I have also heard questions from such children that ask, “If mommy and daddy don’t have to go to church, why do I have to go?” This is a heartbreaking question because at the root of it lies a deeper and more central question, “Why don’t mommy and daddy WANT to go?”
Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16). The riches, honor and life the Proverb speaks of is a life lived eternally in the presence of God. When we fail to keep our baptismal promises, we hinder our children; we keep them from growing in a life of faith in Christ. And not only that, first and foremost, we break the promise we initially made before God and one another.
People of God, I know this is a sensitive issue. I myself have had to face this truth in my own life. I know first-hand the difficulties of keeping such promises, especially when children grow older and become more independent. That is precisely the time when parents should strive to keep the promise they made to their child. Train them up in the way they should go. Encourage them when they are older, and faithfully come to God’s house together and enjoy a life lived among God and his people. Doing so will bring us to the reward God has in mind for all his people; life in his kingdom forever.
Grace to you and peace, Pastor David Nuottila
Pastoral Devotion For September
Posted September 1, 2019 By adminThe Will of the Father
Matthew 21:23-32
In the parable, Jesus said “A man had two sons.” Both of these sons were given direction to work in their father’s vineyard. One said no, but later went. The other said yes, but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? According to the Pharisees, it was the son who said no, but changed his mind.
Have you ever noticed in this parable, Jesus doesn’t tell them that they are correct? Did the Pharisees get it right? The truth is that both sons at one point fell short of the father’s expectations. Both sons needed a change of heart.
How often have you heard God’s Word and said “No, I will not go” but later went? How many other times have you said, “Yes, I will go” but failed to do so? In each case we fall short of God’s glory and need a change of heart. Thankfully, through Christ we are afforded God’s mercy and grace. All we need to do is ask, and God will provide the will and means necessary to do that which he calls us to do. For the will of the Father is that we believe in his Son. Today, as in all days, God calls you to faith through Christ and to work in his vineyard. How will you respond?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, strengthen me in faith, that when you call, I may do your will. Amen.
