Tithing envelopes for 2022 will be available in the Narthex until February 13th . Please make plans to pick up your envelopes and those for any other family member, friend or neighbor who may be unable to get to the church. Following the February 13th service, the envelopes will be removed from the Narthex and you will need to contact Robin or the church office to schedule a time to pick up your envelopes.
Trouble with the Church
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12
It’s obvious; the world has trouble with the church. In virtually all aspects of human life, two messages prevail. The first message seems to be “Get what you can and keep it for yourself.” The second is like it, “Do what you want, when you want.” Of course, these messages are contrary to the gospel; therefore, the world has a problem with the church.
Sadly, it seems Christians also have trouble with the church. Often, someone will make the statement, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” Others say, “I experience God in my own way.” Such statements are contrary to scripture. It’s for this reason I say even Christians have trouble with the church.
A common reason people remain unchurched is because they don’t see any appreciable difference in the way Christians live their lives. Too often, Christians, especially those who go it alone, fall into the worldly pattern of living according to worldly expectations rather than God’s calling. We do what we want, when we want. We get as much as we can get and keep it for ourselves. We only give to those whom we deem “worthy.” It is no wonder the world has trouble with the church.
All people are sinners and face temptations. Even the most devout and spiritual Christians need to be encouraged in their faith. Thinking you can remain faithful on your own is perhaps Satan’s most potent weapon. Keeping our faith “private” and not gathering for worship with other Christians causes many to believe they are living according to a higher standard, when in reality, they are living according to a worldly standard. By ourselves, lone Christians become easy prey for the powers that defy God.
Peter exhorts Christians to live as people who are freed from sin in Christ Jesus, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, selfish attitudes, and behaviors, but living as true servants of God. The community of faith is a Christian’s sure defense against the powers of sin. The very nature of being Christian means we worship together, have fellowship with one another, and strengthen one another in faith. We study the Holy Scriptures together, learning more of the ways of God. Just think of what it might look like if the church was known for its faithfulness, love, and compassion, rather than having the world characterize it as a gathering of hypocrites. That’s the kind of trouble I would love for the world to have with the church.
How great would it be if the powers that defy God looked upon St. Jacob’s saying, “Look at those Christians and how they love their God and show mercy and compassion to their neighbor.” To have our community see St. Jacob’s as a living, breathing, example of the power of God’s love within our community and wanting to become a part of who we are is just the sort of trouble with the church that I would love to encounter.
Am I just dreaming? Perhaps, or perhaps not. I believe our congregation is quite a collection of God’s people blessed with many gifts and talents to become known as just such a place. All we need is prayer and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many who were here before us built St. Jacob’s while living in the face of similar doubts and challenges. My prayer going into this New Year is that we would become just the sort of congregation the world would have trouble with, trouble understanding how we can find such joy in serving our neighbor through the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus. Yes, that is the sort of trouble with the Church I believe the world needs to experience.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Tithing envelopes for 2022 will be available in the Narthex until February 13, 2022. Please make plans to pick up your envelopes and those for any other family member, friend or neighbor who may be unable to get to the church. Following the February 13th service, the envelopes will be removed from the Narthex and you will need to contact.
All Lutheran Women are requested to attend a brief meeting on Sunday, January 16th at 4:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
“Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God” Martin Luther.
Beginning on Christmas Eve, we are returning to singing hymns during the administration of communion. Although many think of the Rite of Communion as a very private, personal encounter with God, we actually need to look at the name of the rite itself, communion, to see that it is actually a time of community. It is the moment in our service when we join not just with the other members of our congregation but also with the saints of all times and in all places. We meet each other at the table as one body of Christ with our hands outstretched to receive our Lord’s body and blood which he so selflessly gave to us all. The purpose of singing during communion which starts with our singing of Lamb of God is to unite our spirits through the unity of our voices as we go forward to the table. We continue to sing throughout the distribution joining our voices with those gathered around the throne of heaven.
Luther tells us that “next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise…After all, the gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music.”
So please raise your voice during communion. Join the hymn and sing along with all your loved ones who have gone before you, all your friends and family scattered around the world giving praise to God for his gift of salvation.
God bless you,
Angela
Good Things at St. Jacob’s for November:
• Don & Leon took the water and flood-bucket supplies to Disaster Center in Kings Mountain, NC.
• Gerald & Robert (Lindler Plumbing) repaired the water lines for the church and office and supplied a much-needed cut-off valve.
• Received three new members this month, Ken and Linda Mostiler by transfer, and
• Tessa Monts by Holy Baptism.
• Thanksgiving celebration.
• New Advent Wreath made by Danny Shealy.
Council Briefs:
• Lutheran Women and Lutheran Men are resuming regular meetings.
• The Discipleship Team is working on the “Mercy Buckets” program – watch for coming news.
• Council approved re-opening the position for Choir Director.
• Worship & Music to purchase new Chrismon trees.
• Pastor will hold two training sessions in December for the Elders.
• New Finance Procedures approved for Policy and Procedures Manual.
• There will be a special called Meeting of the Congregation on January 9, 2022 to ratify the NALC Constitution changes.
• Council Retreat to be held on January 14th & 15th, 2022 at St. Jacob’s.
There will be a called congregational meeting prior to worship on Sunday, January 9th for the purposes of ratification of an amendment to the NALC Constitution. Any such action approved by the NALC Convocation must receive a ratifying vote of two thirds of the congregation in the North American Lutheran Church. Voting members who were eligible to vote at our December 5th congregational meeting are eligible to vote on January 9th. The vote to ratify only requires a simple majority to pass. Information regarding the amendments will be supplied to the congregation by way of email prior to the called meeting.
At a recent meeting, several Mission District pastors lamented about the unavailability of NALC supply pastors within the Carolinas. Currently, there are few retired NALC pastors available for supply. During August you will recall that when I was quarantined due to Covid-19, we did not have Holy Communion at worship on the two Sundays I was away. That was because there were no pastors available for pulpit supply. The issue came again in October for several of our South Carolina NALC pastors who hoped to take some much-needed vacation time. Again, there were not enough supply pastors to fill in.
The answer to this problem was for pastors to identify lay members who are gifted to serve as Elders to lead worship in the pastor’s absence when no supply pastor is available. An Elder is a lay person authorized to distribute consecrated elements of bread and wine for Holy Communion. Elders are trained by the pastor and act under his direction.
Being an Elder is an extraordinary ministry which does not take the place of the ministry of ordained clergy but serves as a means to distribute Holy Communion during a time of unavoidable pastoral absence. Here at St. Jacob’s, I have identified four persons who I believe are gifted to serve in such capacity. David, Carroll, Sherrie, and A.J. have all completed brief training with me to serve as Elders for St. Jacob’s. They will be authorized by me to distribute the Sacrament if I am not able, and no supply pastor is available. These four Elders will be publicly recognized on January 2nd.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
Read – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10, Luke 16:19-31
As baptismal waters washed over his head, the stain of sin was erased forever, and he was made a new creation. At long last he became a child of God, refreshed, and brought to new life. So it was for a homeless man living on the streets of Charleston who happened to become friends with this particular pastor. Truly, Greg became the best friend I ever had.
It seemed that at every turn, fortune never seemed to smile upon Greg. He was homeless, friendless, and trusted no one. Yet, tired of being alone, he entered the church. There he found compassion. In time, the compassion he discovered taught him to trust; his trust led him to love. Life remained difficult, but through his newly gifted faith, Greg would begin to understand this earthly affliction would one day pass, and the kingdom would be his forever. That day came for Greg soon after I left Charleston to serve a congregation in North Carolina.
As Lazarus longed for food from the rich man’s table, not a crumb would fall within his reach. Making a distinction between rich and poor, the rich man failed in his calling to feed the hungry, thus he lived contrary to God’s mandate to love his neighbor. Upon his death, the rich man was denied the mercy of God. In short, he received his reward for his selfishness and refusal to care for those in need. Many in this world continue make such distinctions, only helping when they feel the recipient “deserves” to be helped. They make distinctions between people according to appearances. Thus, the lost and hungry often go ignored. But just as God smiled upon Lazarus, all who call upon the Lord will find compassion and take their place at the table of heaven.
Father God, give us hearts for love alone, that we might love and serve our neighbor without distinction. Amen.
