It is with a grateful heart and sharing in the joy of Easter that I wish to say thank you to all the volunteers who assisted during Lent and Holy Week. From the food we shared, to the dramatic readings we heard, and the music that filled our sanctuary, our journey to the cross was reflective and faithful. God bless you all for sharing your gifts. And may God continue to bless the family of St. Jacob’s as we strive to do God’s work in this place.
In Christ, Pastor David Nuottila
THANK YOU FOR LENT AND HOLY WEEK
Posted April 30, 2019 By adminWORSHIP AND MUSIC
Posted April 30, 2019 By adminA huge thank you: to everyone who prepared & served meals during Lent; to everyone who assisted with worship services; to all the musicians who gave of their time and talents to enhance the music for the worship services. You are all true blessings to this congregation.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for May 19th to attend the children’s choir musical and spaghetti supper. This is a free-will donation event to support our children’s choir and to raise funds to purchase choir robes for them. These children have worked so hard this year and we hope that you will consider donating to the choir robe fund.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Laurie
LUTHERAN WOMEN CONGREGATIONAL MEAL FOR CONGO MISSIONS
Posted April 30, 2019 By adminPlease make plans to attend our congregational meal after the church service on Sunday, May 5th in the fellowship hall. All proceeds will go to Congo Missions. The meal will be grilled chicken, baked potato, salad, dessert and drink. The cost will be $8 a plate and children 3 and under are free.
Sign-up sheet is now available in the Narthex.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR MUSICAL FUNDRAISER
Posted April 30, 2019 By adminPrepare to set sail with the children’s choir on Sunday, May 19th. The children’s choir is ready for choir robes so we are holding a fundraiser spaghetti dinner on May 19th beginning at 5:30 PM. We are asking for donations at the door to cover the cost of the dinner but most especially to allow us to buy choir robes.
As entertainment for the dinner, our children have been working hard preparing to present the story of Noah, from a musical written by Tom Long and Allen Pote, The Sailor’s Bible.
Please come help us celebrate the end of our first choir season and help the children raise money to purchase their choir robes. It’s sure to be a great evening.
Blessings, Angela
Pastoral Devotion for April
Posted April 1, 2019 By adminDeuteronomy 7:12-13
Oh, that we would be obedient to the will of God. Oh, that we could keep his commandments and live a life free of sin. Yet, even as Adam and Eve gave into temptation and ate of the forbidden fruit, so too are we in bondage to original sin. Our sin is the same as theirs. We turn our attention away from God’s commandments, yes, even away from his love, only to chase after fulfillment of our own earthly desires. And to what end? A return to the dust from which we were made.
Yet, God continues to love those whom he has called his own. In great love for our fallen humanity, God gave his only Son so that we might live despite our sinfulness. Through the innocent suffering and death of his only Son Jesus Christ, God pours out mercy and grace upon those who call out to Christ as Lord and Savior. Through baptism, we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection and made inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.
The blessings and wonders spoken of in our text from Deuteronomy would seem well beyond our earthly reach. In fact, they are, for we do not keep God’s commands. But his love is steadfast and sure. Through Christ, the kingdom of God awaits those whom God saves. Blessed are those who call upon the name of the Lord, for his goodness and mercy endure forever.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace. Fill us with your goodness through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted March 31, 2019 By adminBoth of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
John 20:4
Recently while looking for some new Bible study material, I stumbled upon a video that made me pause for a while. It is a video of a skit portrayed by two men enacting the first Easter morning. In this skit, Peter and
John are running to the empty tomb. Their faces display the anticipation and perhaps even a bit of fear concerning what they might find. John reaches the tomb first, but he won’t look inside or enter. Peter then
arrives, huffing and puffing, but he enters the tomb without stopping to think. As I replay this video in my mind, this is the point where I had to hit the pause button.
I wondered to myself, if I had been the first disciple to receive the reports from the women, would I be bold enough to charge into Christ’s tomb? Even as I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was beaten, whipped and crucified, would I have the where with all to enter the tomb where they laid his body? Thinking about that, I finally decided yes, I would. Having walked with Jesus for three years as a disciple, witnessing so many miraculous events, and having come to expect that Jesus is who he says he is; I would have to go into the tomb.
I suppose the question I have for you is much the same. If someone came to you all excited and out of breath telling you they had seen Jesus and he is very much alive, you would run to the tomb to see for yourself? Would this amazing news of Christ’s resurrection stir your emotions so deeply that you would have to personally witness it? I suspect that it would. I suspect that given such extraordinary news, you too would run to the tomb of Jesus, probably because of the same reason Peter and John did, as disciples of Christ, our hope rests entirely in his death and resurrection.
Through Holy Scripture, worship and prayer, we are witnesses to the many amazing miracles of Jesus. Following Jesus throughout his mission and ministry, we too have come to know Jesus as Messiah and Lord, through whom we have forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life. Throughout the past twelve months, since Easter of last year, I pray that in my preaching, you have heard this gospel truth that is for all who believe in Christ.
At the conclusion of the video I mentioned, Peter finally emerges from the tomb to meet John who is still standing outside. As he holds the burial
garments of Christ in his hands, Peter can only look at John with a stare of complete amazement. As the two disciples take in the meaning of what they have witnessed, they both burst into laughter while shedding tears of joy. Jesus is alive! He is risen! It happened just as he said it would!
People of God, I invite you to hear the good news of Jesus’ resurrection once more. I invite you to run to the tomb, charge right in and behold the glory of God in the resurrection of our Lord. It happened just the way Jesus said it would. Come be a part of the Easter story. Share the good news of Christ Jesus. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Children’s Choir Musical Fundraiser
Posted March 31, 2019 By adminMark your calendars.
Prepare to set sail with the children’s choir on Sunday, May 19th.
The children’s choir is ready for choir robes so we are holding a fundraiser spaghetti dinner on May 19th beginning at 5:30 PM. We are asking for donations at the door to cover the cost of the dinner but most especially to allow us to buy choir robes.
As entertainment for the dinner our children are working hard to present the story of Noah, from a musical written by Tom Long and Allen Pote, The Sailor’s Bible. The children will be working hard for the next two months to learn the music and present the story.
Please come help us celebrate the end of our first choir season and help the children raise money to purchase their choir robes. It’s sure to be a great evening.
Blessings,
Angela
VBS
Posted March 28, 2019 By adminAre you making Summer plans? All of us need time away from our routine to refresh and recharge! It is the same for our faith life! Doing more than the routine can really ignite our spiritual walk with the Lord, especially with the young Christians.
Plans for Vacation Bible School at St. Jacob’s will soon be underway.
Please do the following in preparation of this year’s event:
1) Pray for the attendees and leaders
2) Prayfully consider serving as part of this year’s VBS team
3) Go ahead and mark your calendars for June 17th—June 20th
4) Watch upcoming worship folders for more detailed information.
Up & Going News
Posted March 28, 2019 By adminOur group had an awesome time on March 14th making bows for the hospice bags. It took awhile but we thoroughly enjoyed our sandwich luncheon and fellowship time with each other. Go ahead and mark your calendar for the next meeting on April 11th at 11 AM in the fellowship hall with a surprise luncheon. Please remember to bring candies and goodies for the hospice bags as we will be putting them together to be taken to the patients.
Anyone that would like to participate is welcome to come.
Congo Missions Congregational Meal
Posted March 28, 2019 By adminMake plans to attend our congregational meal after church services on Sunday, May 5th.
All proceeds will go to Congo Missions.
Meal: Grilled Chicken, Baked Potato, Salad, Dessert and Drink
Cost: $8 a plate (Children 3 and under eat free)
Watch the worship folder for more details and when to sign up.
