In this installment of our look into the liturgy of the church, we make the shift to the main purpose of Divine Service, that is to receive God’s good gifts for his people.
The Word
The initial act of God in service to his people is to share his saving Word with his people. Through the carefully selected readings of the church’s lectionary, the voice of our Good Shepherd comes to us through the reading and preaching of the Scriptures. The Lord speaks to his people through his Law and Gospel, calling sinners to repentance and assuring believers of God’s mercy and grace through Christ alone.
The Creed
The Lutheran Church confesses her faith using the three ecumenical creeds (statements of faith). With these three creeds, (Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian) fellow believers confess the truth of the Triune nature of God, and the truth of God’s creating, redeeming, and sanctifying love. This is the confession made throughout the generations of the one, holy catholic (universal) and apostolic church.
Into Liturgy, part 4
Posted December 21, 2024 By adminWe Care Center
Posted December 19, 2024 By adminMost Needed
1. Canned Meat/Tuna)
2. SpaghettiO’s
3. Grits
4. Oatmeal/Cereal
5. Pancake Mix/Syrup
6. Instant Potatoes/Gravy
7. Spaghetti Sauce
8. Baked Beans/Chili
9. Canned Collard Greens
10. Large Size Soups
We also ALWAYS need dish soap, laundry detergent!
Up and Going
Posted December 15, 2024 By adminThe 2nd Thursday in November, November 14th, was the scheduled day for the Up and Going Thanksgiving Lunch and Meeting. The day was windy and rainy but as soon as the group gathered in the Fellowship Hall, the smiles and laughter turned the atmosphere to happy and sunny. Twenty-four guests and members attended. Helen, Team Leader, welcomed everyone. The treasurer’s report was given by Gary. Helen gave the devotions. The Bible reading was Ephesians 6:18 – never stop praying, especially for others. The devotions encouraged us to pray and to call others by name in prayer. The next reading was an article from Irmo-Chapin Life magazine entitled “Mighty Big Footsteps” by David Clark. Mr. Clark wrote about the events as Hurricane Helene hit in Cochron, Ga. His article included references to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” song which Helen read. She concluded with prayer and our blessing for our meal.
Bobbie Clark gave us a wonderful presentation of her recent trip to Italy, with pictures and postcards for us to enjoy. Thank you, Bobbie, for sharing your good times with us. We all enjoyed hearing about your trip.
Time now for lunch. Extra tables were brought in to hold all of the food. We enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey, dressing, gravy, lots of veggies, salads and desserts. Everything
was SO good. We enjoyed our time together so very much. Our Thanksgiving Giving Project was socks and underwear for The Oliver Gospel Mission. Our members gave 103 pairs of socks and 51 underwear items. I am so proud of each of you and your willingness to give. Thank you!
The December meeting will be Thursday, December 12th, at 11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is asked to bring party foods for lunch and one or more days’ food for the Mercy Bags Project. Please put each day’s food in a bag with contents marked on the bag. The list is posted on the bulletin board. Tommy Faulk will lead us in a Christmas song fest. January is soup pot and BINGO meeting. Start gathering your prizes now.
Helen
Team Leader for
Up and Going
Christmas Worship Services
Posted December 10, 2024 By adminWe’ve all seen the signs, billboards and bumper stickers: “Keep Christ in Christmas!” The truth is, without Christ, it simply isn’t Christmas. Christians everywhere urge others to remember The “Reason for the Season.” But you know, even some churches find it difficult to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Just take a look at the many churches standing idle and empty on Christmas morning.
St. Jacob’s offers everyone an opportunity to “Keep Christ in Christmas” beginning December 24th at 5:00 PM with our annual candlelight service. The service will certainly be beautiful and inspiring. Then all are encouraged to “come as you are” on Christmas morning at 10:00 AM for an informal family Christmas celebration. Children are welcome to come in their pajamas and are invited to bring a gift they received for Christmas. Each child may share with all of us the joy this gift brings. Plan to attend these wonderful services of worship with your church family. Join us and “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
Pastoral Devotion for December – The Prince of Peace
Posted December 4, 2024 By adminRead Isaiah 9:2-7
It is difficult to imagine living in a world of peace. From the time Adam and Eve took a bite from the forbidden fruit, the world has been anything but peaceful. The struggle of human disobedience brought with it conflict between families, communities and nations. Everywhere we turn we see the result of sin and the powers that defy God. The only cure for this sickness is God’s divine mercy and grace. When the kingdom of God is fully revealed to believers, only then will we understand what it means to live in a world of peace. This does not mean, however, that God’s people cannot receive His peace while living in a fallen and broken world.
Long before the birth of Christ, the prophets of God announced the coming of the Messiah who would rule God’s kingdom with power and might, bringing justice and righteousness to those who believe. The prophet Isaiah says his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. When he comes in his fullness and glory, his kingdom will have no end. Yet, even as the people of God await the forever coming of their king, God entered our earthly realm born as a human child unto Mary and Joseph. This Prince of Peace would first take upon himself human flesh, live among his people and offer his life as sacrifice to atone for the sin of the world.
Throughout our history, the Church has longed for the peace of God’s kingdom to be revealed in all its glory. Until such time when Jesus comes again, the Church has the assurance of God’s mercy and grace. We live with the peace of knowing that through Christ our sins are forgiven. As followers of our Lord and Savior, we strive to share the good news of the gospel with all whom we meet. We hear Jesus’ command to love one another, to feed the hungry, care for the sick, bring shelter to the poor and welcome the stranger into our midst. As we do these things, we ask our Father in heaven to continually strengthen us in faith and give us the will to do them, so that all people might one day live in the peace of Christ.
O Prince of Peace, come to your people and fill our hearts with gladness. Bring your peace to our world forever. Amen.
Music Notes
Posted December 4, 2024 By adminDecember 15th we will go Christmas caroling and take the joy of Christmas to all our members who are unable to attend worship. We will have a soup lunch in the parish hall immediately following worship and then go caroling. Mark your calendars and plan to join us. Contact Susan Shealy or Angela Nuottila to let them know that you will attend and if you are able to provide a pot of soup or a pan of cornbread.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted December 1, 2024 By adminThe people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2
Amazingly, there are a number of little things that go unnoticed until you can see them with new eyes. Small things, insignificant things. They surround us and cast off a beauty all their own. Until very recently, I have missed so many of these, but thanks be to God, I have been afforded “new eyes” with which to see. Not that I couldn’t see before, but that I simply didn’t notice the wonder of such insignificance.
As we begin the season of Advent, we do so with the opportunity to notice the insignificance of some of God’s smallest blessings, things we most often don’t think about, things we take for granted. The reminders of God’s sovereignty and majesty are all around us. They declare the glory of the One True God who chooses to save his people from sin, death, and the power of the devil. All it takes to see these simplistic icons of grace is to look with new vision, theological vision, having an awareness of God’s presence.
During my first night home following surgery, I was lying back in my recliner trying to fall asleep, but there was a brilliant light shining that just would not let my attention go. It was a small light, insignificant, as I said earlier. It was the little green LED power indicator on my laptop charger lighting up the room. In this instance, I saw this little light in a completely new way. The fact that it was shining meant there was power available. Even as I was weakened after a lengthy surgical procedure, the power of God’s love was lighting up the room.
Lying in that recliner, I could feel something that I had taken for granted for a long, long time. I could feel each beat of my surgically repaired heart. It is much stronger than I remember it ever being. The continued rhythmic thump, thump, thump, played a new song over and over again in thankful praise to our heavenly Father who has the power to save his people.
In Advent, we once again have the opportunity to look with “theological eyes” and see the wonder of God’s mercy and grace made manifest for all believers. It comes to us in a most insignificant way, through most humble means; a baby born into the poverty of a fallen and broken world. A Savior
born into a world in need of saving.
Like that little LED that lit up my room, this Babe of Bethlehem casts a light into the world that commands attention. People who walk in the darkness of this world, seemingly blind to the insignificance of this one child, would one day be gathered into his brilliance simply by seeing him with new eyes. Witnessing his compassion, his teaching, and his love for all that God created, for it was all created through him.
As we complete one more liturgical year exploring the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus, and prepare to embark on the journey once more, I would invite you to take notice of the humble means through which God gets your attention reminding you of his ever-present love. These “icons of grace” as I have called them are all around us. I invite you to enter into a deeper, closer, more intimate relationship with our Lord and God. His is a beauty and wonder that draws us into the brilliance of the light that shines through even the darkest moments of our lives.
This Advent, take time to slow down, pray, and notice the presence of Christ walking alongside as he fills your life with the blessing of his power and love. See the icons of God’s grace with new eyes and enter into the wonder and mystery of the God who takes upon himself human flesh and dwells with his people. He came to save us. He continues to come to love us. His power and glory are made manifest even in the most insignificant ways. He is there for us to notice with every heartbeat and breath we take. To God be the glory forever and ever.
Lutheran Men
Posted December 1, 2024 By adminThe Lutheran Men will be sponsoring a Christmas Meal on Sunday, December 8th immediately following our service of worship. Everyone is invited to attend, dinner will be provided. Please invite your family and friends to celebrate with us.
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church Council Meeting Briefs – November 5, 2024
Posted November 30, 2024 By adminGood Things at St. Jacob’s for October
• Homecoming Service and Lunch
• Recognition of Golden Agers
• Fall Festival
• Disaster Response: Donations and Volunteers
Pastor’s Report
• Pastor had bypass surgery Thursday, November 8th.
• There will be no Wednesday services for the remainder of 2024 with the exception of the Thanksgiving Eve Service on November 27th.
• Pastor plans to lead worship on Sunday, December 1st.
Ministry Teams
Staff Support: Susan Shealy
• Susan Shealy, Larry Shull and Bob Ziemer attended a meeting called HR Bootcamp. This was very informative and covered topics such as: Employee Manual/Child Safety/Facilities Use Agreement.
Safety: Robert Wessinger / Kevin Pharis
• The Safety Team will meet in November to review safety rules and procedures.
• Emergency phone numbers and the church address will be posted in the narthex.
Christian Education: Sherrie McTeer
• Women’s Bible Study meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM.
• Men’s Bible Study meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM.
• The Youth Bible Study will now meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM.
Congregational Care: Billy McTeer / David Kibler
• Assisted with Disaster Relief deliveries to NC.
• Homecoming and Golden Agers Sunday, October 6th:
• Gifts for 39 Golden Agers.
• Provided meal for Homecoming.
• Will provide 300 slices of pound cake for the Hub for Thanksgiving.
Discipleship: Lynn Shealy / Julie Stuck
• A trailer load of food and supplies was delivered on October 11th to Glenwood Baptist Church in Marion, NC. Food, clothes, sleeping bags, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies were included.
• Delivered 13 Mercy Bags to We Care and 220 pounds of other cleaning supplies.
Property: Barry Rice
• Replacing two exit doors: one in the kitchen hallway and one in the fellowship hall.
Stewardship: Doug Sullivan
• Brandon Slice has agreed to work with Doug Sullivan on updating the St. Jacob’s website.
Worship and Music: Marie Slice
• Meeting with the Worship and Music committee to order purple paraments.
Old Business
• Parking Lot Update: Barry Rice
Danny Shealy has to get a certified engineered and bonded drawing for Lexington County. He should have this within a few weeks.
• Church Sanctuary: Susan Shealy / Julie Stuck
Initial plans are being made to determine flooring, wall color, and upholstery fabrics.
• 2025 Budget accepted.
New Business
December Congregational Meeting:
• Approve 2025 Budget.
• Elect Council Members.
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church Council Meeting Briefs – October 8, 2024
Posted November 29, 2024 By adminGood Things at St. Jacob’s for September
- Rally Day and Sunday School Breakfast. Thank you to all who helped with this event.
- Two baptisms.
- Women’s Spaghetti fundraiser dinner.
- Lutheran Men’s Sunday and David Kibler’s sermon.
- Catechism classes are going well.
Pastor’s Report
- We exist for the world around us—give them Jesus.
- Pastor David will be out of the pulpit for at least three Sundays in November due to heart bypass surgery.
Ministry Teams Safety: Robert Wessinger / Kevin Pharis
- Has requested funds in the 2025 budget for security cameras to be purchased and installed around the church facility and also for CPR and AED training for new Safety Team members.
Christian Education: Sherrie McTeer
- Sherrie and Kayla are in need of teachers to tag-team these classes with them or to be substitutes as needed.
- Women’s Bible Study meets monthly, usually on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM.
Congregational Care: Billy McTeer / David Kibler
- Lay Communion Ministry teams visited and administered communion.
- Assisted family with various travel needs.
- Assisted Christian Education with Sunday School Breakfast and Rally Day.
- November – plan to provide 250 slices of pound cake for the Hub for Thanksgiving.
Discipleship: Lynn Shealy / Julie Stuck
- Mercy Bags and miscellaneous foods and cleaning products were donated to We Care. The need in our local community is great and St. Jacob’s continued support of this ministry is greatly appreciated!
- Flood buckets and hygiene kits were sent to NC – the Disaster Relief Shed is empty!
- Discipleship will set up an Angel Tree on November 3rd with gift tags of requested items for children in our local community as identified by We Care. The congregation will be informed and invited to participate in this ministry.
Property: Barry Rice
- The exterior doors in the fellowship hall will be replaced soon.
- Parking lot: still working on county permits.
Stewardship: Doug Sullivan
- Doug will place information in the bulletin again asking for people to assist with website development for St. Jacob’s.
- The Finance Committee sent a note of thanks to Council members for submitting budget requests in a timely manner to assist them in preparing a budget proposal/spending plan proposal for year 2025.
Worship and Music: Marie Slice
- Marie Slice and Tommy Faulk have completed an inventory of items in the sacristy.
- Worship and Music will meet to select and order new purple paraments.
- There is only one remaining set of paraments to purchase: blue. The goal is to purchase those in 2025 so that we have all new paraments by St. Jacob’s 250th Anniversary in 2026.
Old Business Church Sanctuary: Susan Shealy
- Julie Stuck and Susan Shealy plan to move forward with an Interior Designer to provide guidance for the church sanctuary renovation.
New Business
- 2025 Budget Proposal Sherrie reviewed the 2025 budget line-by-line to Council. The proposed budget has an increase in spending in the amount of $19,680.00 over the current 2024 budget. To date, our offerings are $10,000 less than the 2024 budget. Council to review and finalize at November meeting.
