Most Needed
1. Peanut butter and jelly
2. Corn Muffin Mix
3. Spaghetti sauce
4. Boxed pasta
5. Instant Potatoes
6. Granola bars/snack crackers
7. Canned Meat(vienna, chicken, etc)
8. Oatmeal
9. Pork and Beans
10. Canned peas
We also ALWAYS need dish soap, laundry detergent!
As we all will remember, I was not able to make my mission trip to Congo last summer due to health reasons. Well, thanks be to God, I am finally able to resume my mission work with my partner Pastor Stephane Kalonji in Congo.
Our trip is scheduled to commence on Monday, June 30th. We will fly from Houston, TX to Kinshasa and arrive there on Tuesday evening, July 1st. Our mission work will include a visit with the Lutheran congregation in Mbuji Mayi where we will be able to see the progress of construction of the new parish building we are making possible through grants and donations. While in that province, we will again visit the village of Merode where, last summer, the children learned a song in English to serenade me with. I can’t wait to hear these children raise their voices to God in a language I can understand.
My portion of the mission trip will conclude on July 14th and I will return to Chapin on July 15th. As always, I will take your prayers with me and be surrounded by the love and support of so many who have supported the Congo Mission over the years.
It’s been a while since we crowned June Lindler St. Jacob’s Chili Cook-Off Champion. Now she has the opportunity to defend her title. On Sunday, February 23rd at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall, Pastor David and the St. Jacob’s Youth will host another Great Chili Cook-Off to raise funds for his upcoming mission trip to Congo. Everyone is invited to participate, the more the merrier. The winner will be determined by the number of “Congo Bucks” raised by that particular pot of chili. Everyone who would like to cast their vote may exchange their good old American greenbacks for a fist full of “Congo Bucks.” The winner of the challenge will receive the coveted Chili Champion trophy, a championship apron, and bragging rights as St. Jacob’s Chili Champion for 2025. Come join the fun and enjoy some wonderful fellowship and delicious chili.
Our youngest choristers are busy busy bees this month learning about Epiphany and the beatitudes. Or as we like to spell it the Bee-atitudes. They will be sharing Jesus’s message of blessings with the congregation in a couple of weeks. If you see one of our children’s choir members, ask them to tell you about the meaning of the words epiphany or beatitudes. I’m sure they can tell you. They are also beginning to ring handbells. It’s a favorite activity for everyone.
Just a reminder of our weekly schedule:
Several members of our congregation were not raised in the Lutheran Church and have asked questions regarding Lutheran tradition. Beginning on Monday, February 17th, Pastor David will offer an Adult Confirmation experience for anyone who is interested in growing their knowledge of Lutheran teaching and practice. We will meet in the church office classroom beginning at 6:45 PM for about an hour or so. Please contact Pastor David if you are interested in participating.
Happy New Year to you all. The Up and Going met on Thursday, January 9th for the annual Soup Pot Lunch and Bingo Party. Twelve members and guests attended. Helen, Team Leader, welcomed everyone. Get well cards were signed for Marie, Joan and Gary, Debbie and Mrs. Miriam.
Devotions Bible reading was 2nd Corinthians 5:17 and the reading “The Old Is Gone” from Portals of Prayer. Helen read a “Take Time” for a full life article and the Pastor’s Prayer for the New Year. Helen also read an article entitled “Don’t Waste It” from ICL magazine. Devotions ended with all praying together The Lord’s Prayer.
Business was conducted.
Everyone brought items for the soup pot and Ann Lindler turned them into a delicious pot of beef vegetable soup. There is absolutely nothing better on a cold day. Lunch was soup, miniature cornbread muffins, saltines, pimento cheese sandwiches, homemade pimento cheese and crackers, brownies and chocolate cake. Oh, so good.
Each person brought gifts for BINGO and our table of gifts filled quickly. After lunch, everyone quickly gathered to play BINGO. We played until all prizes were gone. Everyone won at least 3 times. Winning was fun but the laughter and fellowship was the best part. Thank you to everyone for everything you brought and for always helping to clean up and put everything back in order.
The February meeting will begin in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM with devotions and business. Afterwards we will travel by cars to have lunch at The Golden Bay Restaurant in Irmo. Then we will visit St. Andrews Plants and Ollie’s. Look forward to seeing you at our Valentine’s Day Lunch.
Helen
Team Leader for Up and Going
Consider Jesus
Read John 2:13-22, Hebrews 3:1-11
Everyone has at least one bad habit, one particular vice that keeps us from getting the proper amount of rest, nutrition, or exercise. Left unchecked, such habits can lead us along a path of poor health, sickness, even death. We know better, but we just can’t stop. On New Year’s Eve, many people made resolutions so that they may resolve some of these detrimental habits. But now here we are at the beginning of February, and I wonder, how many of these resolutions are still kept?
The same can be said for the healthiness of our faith. As worldly powers pull and tug at God’s people, healthy habits of faith often succumb to unhealthy bad habits. Time for reading Holy Scripture is often replaced by work or play. Gathering with the faithful for worship often becomes less appealing than a social gathering with friends or the entertainment of some event. Soon, the people of God grow weak in their faith; it becomes difficult to articulate what it means that Jesus endured the tragedy of the cross for our sake.
The author of Hebrews calls Christians to spiritual revitalization. He encourages us to consider all that God has done and continues to do through Christ our Lord. John reminds us that even the temple needed cleansing. We may not need to turn over tables, but certainly there is room in each life for recommitment to faithful living. Through the power of prayer, it can be so.
Help us, O Lord, to overcome that which hinders our faith, that we might seek you always. Amen.
We kicked off a new year of youth activities in January with a campfire, games, and most especially smores. We had a great turn out with 14 kids participating. We celebrated Jesus as the light of the world. We roasted hotdogs over the fire, held an epiphany themed scavenger hunt by flashlight, shared devotions around the fire and finished up making smores.
Youth group will be the last Sunday of each month. In February, we will celebrate the month of love by sharing the love of Christ throughout the world. Along with Pastor David, we will host the chili cook-off on February 23rd at 5:00 PM to raise money for Congo International to allow our pastor and Pastor Kalonji to take the Word of God to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Come out and support our youth and this important ministry of our church.
Isabelle and Daniel will represent our youth members this year on the Youth Council. The Youth Council will meet on Wednesday, February 12th at 7:00 PM in the church office to plan activities for the upcoming year.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Each and every one of us has been there at some point. We have all experienced moments of disillusionment at one time or another. Sometimes we are just plain weary or feel disappointed and we cannot put our finger on the reason why. It’s at times such as these when your relationship with God might even feel cold or distant. You try to pray but you just can’t find the right time or the words. Sometimes your love for God’s Word might give way to doubt. So, you don’t read it as much as you used to if at all.
So many Christians simply go through the motions of spiritual activity, hoping to rekindle their passion for faith, yet much like the long cold winter months, this dreary season hangs on until you wonder if you’ll ever feel close to God again, to feel the awe of the burning bush or to yearn for the sound of God’s still small voice.
Because we live in a world fallen into sin, there are so many things that might contribute to such feelings, all of which can slow down a Christians drive to greater faith and desire for Christ. The weight of the world is more than enough for us to bear, in fact, it is too much! God knows this and that is why he sent his only begotten Son into the world to bear the burden of our sin.
As we come to worship, fresh on the heels of the Christmas and Epiphany celebrations, Christians find themselves immersed in the early stages of Jesus’s earthly ministry. This month we will read of Jesus’s calling his first disciples. We will hear of his first miracle and the beginning of his teaching on the Kingdom of God. Yet, as Christ’s fame grows, so too does his opposition. Why? That’s simple. The devil doesn’t want the world to know about God’s plan for salvation made possible through the presence and faithfulness of the long awaited Christ.
Instead, the devil would rather we focus on the flaws in our churches, or perhaps the failures of civil leaders who were once admired. It might even be the infighting and arguing between family members whom God would rather they be known for the love they share instead of the jealousy and envy so frequently displayed. Then there is the devil’s favorite trick, attacking you personally. “No, you don’t measure up. You aren’t good enough. No one really likes you.”
No, in all of these there is but one remedy, one cure for the sin-sick soul. Pray. Even if you cannot find the words, pray. Even if you feel that it won’t help, pray. It doesn’t matter if the words don’t come, the Holy Spirit will intercede for you, as scripture says, “with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26). God loves you so much that he will certainly hear your prayer.
Rekindling the flame of faith is as easy as that. Like the slogan for Nike points out, “Just do it.” If you want words to say but can’t recall any, turn to the old spiritual hymn found in our WOV hymnal #777 and pray the title: “Give me Jesus.” Surely there is no better prayer. God, I feel down today. Give me Jesus. Father, I feel lonely today. Give me Jesus. Lord, I feel like I let you down. Give me Jesus.
As the month of February gives way to March, the season of Lent will quickly follow. No time is the perfect time to rekindle the flame of faith that was started within you at the time of your baptism. Look to God’s Word for reassurance. Gather with the congregation for worship. Feel the closeness and love of God as we give Him thanks and praise for all He has accomplished for us through Christ. Come join your church family as we pray with one voice of faith. “O God, give me Jesus.”
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
