St. Jacob’s congregation is invited to a free Christmas Concert that my mom and I are doing at St. Andrew’s Baptist Church in Irmo on December 10th at 3:00 p.m. Thanks!
Sarah
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Archive for November, 2023
Free Christmas Concert
Posted November 20, 2023 By adminChoirs Notes
Posted November 17, 2023 By adminOh come,
let us sing to the Lord;
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
King David’s words in Psalm 95 tell us how we are to come into the presence of God, with thanksgiving and making joyful noises to him with songs of praise! Each Sunday as you come in to the house of God, sing out boldly, making a joyful noise. This is a sacrifice and gift that is pleasing to God. Let us make this advent and Christmas season a time of true thanksgiving to our God. There is still time to join the cantata scheduled for December 17 during the service. We are rehearsing from 5:30-6:15 each Wednesday evening in the choir room. Every voice is needed. Please consider if this is a gift you are willing to give God this holiday season.
CHRISTMAS CONTATA
December 17th
10:00 am
Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service
Posted November 13, 2023 By adminOur church family, neighbors and friends are invited to attend our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of Worship on Wednesday, November 23, 2023. We will share the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Following our service, as is our custom, we will prepare cake slices for distribution at the annual community Thanksgiving meal provided by The Hub. Please contact Billy for more information concerning how you might help.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted November 11, 2023 By admin“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
As I write this installment, we are only a few days beyond our Homecoming celebration of October 15th. Yet, even after a few days, the warmth of the day continues to well up in my heart and mind. What a great day we had. It was good to see so many folks from our St. Jacob’s church family who took the opportunity to “come home.” The welcoming of Pastor Andy Eargle and his family was simply icing on the cake.
The many stories and conversations shared, and the smiles, hugs and well wishes extended to all our guests will live on in our hearts for quite some time. I know it will live on in mine. You see, a pastor’s congregation occupies a special room in their pastor’s heart. You may have noticed this as you greeted Pastor Andy and his reaction to being back among you. His smile is one that I immediately recognized as a pastor’s genuine heart-felt love and gratitude for the blessing God has bestowed upon him. Truly, I have experienced this emotion firsthand.
Later, in the week as I write this, I am preparing to officiate at the wedding of a former youth group member from my first call as pastor. It’s been over twelve years since I left St. Barnabas in Charleston, and I am delighted that Emily has asked me to be a part of her special day. The congregation is closed now, but I do anticipate seeing several members who will gather as friends of the bride’s family. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Angela and me as we are reunited with them.
I think I can speak for most pastors who have served in other places when I say, the love shared by pastor and people never fades. Former congregations and church family members continue to occupy that special room in their pastor’s heart. To see what this looks like, simply recall seeing Pastor Andy at our homecoming and picture his reaction to being among you. Simply put, in his heart, as well as in yours, he remains the shepherd who loved you for many years. Why? Because Jesus first loved him.
Each week, I am afforded the opportunity to share with you a message from God concerning his love that is poured out through his Son Jesus Christ. I am blessed to be called by our heavenly Father to stand among you as his disciple sharing with you the love Christ so deeply shared with us. When we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, I am afforded the opportunity to look upon everyone with the compassion of our Lord and place in your hands our Lord’s precious body and blood which he has given for you.
While Angela and I were away in September, the one thing that remained in my thoughts was how much I missed worshiping with you on Sunday. As I watched the live streams of our services, your faces and names were brought to the forefront of my heart and mind. Yes, I truly missed you. I truly missed being with you here in this place and sharing the love that Christ first shares with us.
Through Scripture, our Lord Jesus reminds us that his command for us is to love one another as he has loved us. This isn’t always easy, but it is essential. When the evidence of such love presents itself, we should always take the opportunity to remind one another of this love and its source. Love’s source is Christ Jesus in whom all loves exist.
The special room in my heart reserved for the church family members of three congregations and the many folks to whom I have ministered along the way is not yet full. There will be more, I’m sure. They will take their place among you as those whom I have been blessed to serve, just as I am blessed to love and serve you, my church family. This is what is on your pastor’s heart today and quite frankly, every day. God bless us all as we share this time and space together in Christ’s name.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Lutheran Women
Posted November 10, 2023 By adminThe Lutheran Women’s Group will meet on Sunday, November 19th at 4:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. This will be our last meeting for the year. All ladies of our congregation are welcomed.
Lutheran Men’s Fundraiser
Posted November 8, 2023 By adminThe Lutheran Men will be making Country Sausage on Monday, November 20, 2023. If you would like to purchase BULK sausage at $5.00 per pound, please place your order in advance. See a member of the LM or contact Gerald on or before Sunday, November 12th. The sausage can be picked up between 3:00 and 6:00 pm on Monday, November 20th in the Fellowship Hall.
Pastoral Devotion for November – God Is Love
Posted November 7, 2023 By adminRead 1 John 4:7-21
The tired old man was perched on the steps leading into the church. He sat there every day. He had no other place he needed to be. He had no place to go; no particular circumstance required his presence. He was homeless, jobless and for the most part, invisible. No one noticed him, except for the pastor who supplied breakfast and the newspaper a few times per week. The two were friends; brothers you could say. In the beginning, we would sit rather quietly, so obviously different, yet so much the same, but soon we became bound together in great friendship.
In the text before us, John has but one message; Jesus Christ came as the manifestation of God’s love. “For God so loved the world,” John would write in his gospel, “that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). God’s love is realized through Christ, so that humanity may be saved through him. God’s love is perfect, undeserved, and everlasting. It is the love shared by his people. Those who abide in his love, abide in him, and he in them. Such a friendship in Christ lasts forever.
As I sat with my friend there on the church steps each morning, we both recognized the love that united us; we spoke of it often. As we shared the news of the day, we+ shared something even more fulfilling – our friendship that had its roots deeply planted in the love of God through Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Holy God, fill us with your love, that together, we may abide in you and you in us. Amen.
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted November 7, 2023 By adminOur Mid-week Bible study has resumed with the topic of Scriptural Retirement. Join us as we explore what retirement means for life in the church. The study is adapted from a Bible study written by Pastor Brad Hales, Director of the NALC Aging Ministries. All are welcome. Mid-week Bible study meets at 9:30a.m. on Wednesdays in the church office.
Happy Thanksgiving St. Jacob’s
Posted November 6, 2023 By adminIt’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner. We all have so much to give thanks for, our families, our homes, and certainly our very lives and the life we share here in Chapin. Most of all, in the spirit of the Day, we express our thanks and praise to God who continues to supply for our every need. Please keep your church family in this prayer.
Almighty God our Father; your generous goodness comes to us new each and every day. By the work of your Holy Spirit, lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience. This we pray through the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
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For All the Saints
Posted November 6, 2023 By adminThe first Sunday in November brings with it the opportunity to give thanks to God for the faith, witness, life, and love we shared with all who have entered into glory before us. As is our custom, we will lift up the names of our dear brothers and sister in Christ, lighting a candle in prayer and ringing a bell as their name is read. This year we will include names of some who were not members, but were parents and children of St. Jacob’s members who have passed. White roses will be provided for each family in remembrance of their loved one. The list of those who will be remembered are Floriede Lindler, Virginia Peeples, Daniel Oneal Lindler, Helga Shobert, Philip Morris, and Bert Slice.
Filed in Other Happenings, Worship Service
