Our next meeting is January 20th at 4:30 pm in the fellowship hall.
Up and Going Meeting for January
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminPlease make plans to attend our soup pot luncheon on Thursday, January 10th at 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Everyone is asked to bring 3 can goods per person for WE CARE.
New Communion ware and Assistant Training
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminIn November, the Altar Guild purchased two new pouring chalices and a new wine flagon for use during Holy Communion. With these new vessels, St. Jacob’s will be better stewards of the communion elements shared during our worship. All those who serve as communion assistants are asked to attend one of the scheduled training sessions in January. Holy Communion assistant training will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 6th and Sunday, January 13th.
Calling all St. Jacob’s Youth Members
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminIn January, we will begin meeting once again on the first and third Sundays each month. Our first meeting will be Sunday, January 6th at 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There are several things to begin planning for, including a spring Carolinas Mission District Youth Retreat in March and a summer mission trip. Pass the word and
plan on attending! See you then!
Church Council Retreat
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminThe Church Council will meet for their first annual Council Retreat during the second weekend of January. On Friday, January 11th, council members and their spouses will share a covered dish dinner in the fellowship hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. Ministry Team reports will be received that evening. Council members will then meet on Saturday, January 12th from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Information and a retreat agenda will be sent to all council members prior to the retreat.
Filed in Council Reports, Fellowship
Council Briefs
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminCouncil noted Good Things at St. Jacob’s this month included that the Thanksgiving Eve service was very good. The altar
arrangement was beautiful for the Thanksgiving Eve service. A special thank you to Robin & Gerald Lindler for preparing the
harvest arrangement. The Wednesday morning Bible study is continuing to be enjoyed by those attending. Others are
encouraged to come join this group on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. There was over 300 slices of cake collected for
the HUB. Another thank you to Angela and Laurie for your continuing success with the new Children’s Choir. Everyone is
enjoying hearing all these LITTLE people carry a BIG sound!
Pastor Report- Pastor David noted that he recently attended a meeting for the NALC in Hickory, NC.
Pastor David announced that December 2nd was his one year anniversary at St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church. Pastor said he has really enjoyed his last year with the church and looks forward to where we are headed as a congregation.
Pastor David also attended a PCAT Workshop at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. This meeting focused on restructuring the NALC. Pastor David feels that we need to get the message regarding the NALC to our local community. We are partners of these congregations.
Pastor David noted two important dates. Pastor will hold Service for the “Longest Night” on December 19th. Pastor David said that he enjoys doing this service every year and he will look at moving it to the traditional date of December 21st for the following year. We were unable to accommodate the traditional December 21st date for this service in 2018. There will also be a first time ever Christmas morning service on December 25th. Pastor David will continue this Christmas morning service every year at St. Jacob’s Church. He is very excited about bringing this special service into St. Jacob’s.
There were several members of Council whose term ended in December 2018. Pastor David gave each one of these Council members a thank you gift and thanked each Council member for their service and dedication to St. Jacob’s Church.
Staff Support– The Team is continuing to advertise the position for Director of Youth and Family Ministries. The first job candidate was interviewed by the Interview Committee on November 27, 2018. More interviews are being scheduled with additional candidates.
Spiritual Life- The Worship and Music Team have finalized the plans for the Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the December 30th services. The Worship and Music Team met to discuss and clarify the role of the team and the tasks ahead for 2019.
Short Term- The kitchen improvements will begin in January 2019. The cabinet alteration and kitchen flooring will most likely be the first project that takes place on the construction schedule. (THE KITCHEN WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BEGINNING JANUARY 14 UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY.)
The digital sign will take 6-8 weeks to be constructed off-site and then will be installed on the existing brick structure.
The stained glass windows covering project has been completed. Thanks to Chad Lindler for recommending that the gutters be cleaned out during this project!
Parish Life- The Up and Going Group enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal on November 15, 2018. A group of 23 members and guests enjoyed a meal at Shealy’s BBQ in Batesburg-Leesville. Helen Lindler provided the devotion. A very special thank you to Gerald Lindler for driving the bus!
Support of Ministries- Brandon Slice continues to work on getting pricing on the phone and internet service for St. Jacob’s Church. Brandon will install the video system for the church nursery in the next 2 weeks. Brandon is also continuing to research video recording opportunities for the church shut-ins.
Filed in Council Reports
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted January 9, 2019 By admin“Arise and shine, your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
For centuries, astronomers have plotted the courses of the stars in order to keep track of time and the passing of the seasons. Navigators of ships used the stars to help guide them to their destination. And long ago, ancient cultures shared stories of mythical characters whose constellations may be seen as people gazed at the night time sky. Much has been learned by tracking the many points of light that pierce the darkness of night.
Following the birth of our Lord Jesus, there were others who also looked to the stars, one star in particular. The Magi from the East followed this star which led them to Bethlehem. By marking the exact time when they first saw the star and following its light westward, the wise men were led on a journey upon which they encountered Christ. Once they reached their destination, God revealed to the them the one born as his own redeeming light. It is in this epiphany that Jesus is revealed to the world as God’s ultimate outpouring of love.
The celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord is the proclamation that long before we could have ever stumbled our way out of darkness, God’s light has come to us. Through our Baptism, God makes us children of the light. In our thankful response to God’s grace, we carry the light of Christ into the world so that others can experience the fulfillment and wonder of God’s promise of a Savior. It is through loving God above all else and serving our neighbor in the name of Christ, that we let our light shine. Our Lord calls each and every one of us to serve as a beacon leading others to the truth of the gospel, just as that single star led the Magi so many years ago.
As we begin a new year in ministry, I would invite all of our church family members to consider the ways in which you proclaim the gospel and share God’s love. We have the opportunity to engage is so many missions of the NALC and within our mission district. Here in Chapin, we can feed the hungry, give aid to the poor, provide shelter and welcome those who have no place for worship. St. Jacob’s is uniquely positioned to serve our neighbors in town, and the many who live in developing communities all around us.
We also have the opportunity to serve Christ through our service to others around our country and world. I am so pleased that many of our church family members have embraced the mission work of Pastor Stephane Kalonji and I in the Congo. Several other congregation have also joined St. Jacob’s in supporting this important mission. Through your efforts and generosity, pastors have Bibles from which to teach and preach, many hungry children are fed, and a community of God’s people have a relationship of faith and love with a congregation who will pray for them and minister to them in times of trial. Jesus calls us all to follow his example of love and service for the sake of the least among us. I would also invite those who have not considered attending Sunday school and one of our weekly Bible studies to give it a try. As Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ, daily reading of Holy Scripture is essential and weekly gathering for worship and learning is most beneficial for those growing in faith and hope. There is no better time to begin such practice than during Epiphany, the season of light.
Since the birth of Christ, the time of our lives is no longer marked by plotting stars and our destination is no longer found by tracking celestial bodies. Our time and our destination are caught up in Jesus Christ. To use a metaphor, the books of Holy Scripture serve as the stars of our celestial journey and Christ our compass. Led by God’s Holy Spirit, we travel through life’s journey always remembering to let our light shine before others, so that all may see that in Christ the light of the world has come.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Worship and Music News
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminOn December 2nd, the Children’s Choir sang “O Promised One, O Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Messiah, come. May we see your Light and walk your way.” The adult choir followed by singing “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”, “Waiting for a King”, and “Waiting for the Promise” on the Sundays of Advent and “The Birthday of a King” on Christmas Eve.
The ancient prophesies that we read in the season of Advent tell us that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. That great light, the light of the world, was born as a helpless baby in a lowly cattle stall in the tiny village of Bethlehem. No one knew the significance of that birth, except a few shepherds to whom the angels appeared. It wasn’t until later, 12 days later according to the calendar, that a visit from three men, who had studied the ancient prophesies and followed the guiding of a strangely bright star, revealed that this child Jesus was indeed the promised one … Emmanuel … the King of kings … the light for whom the dark world had been waiting.
On January 6th, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the arrival of the Magi and the giving of their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the holy child. The combined choirs of St. Jacob’s and New Hope Lutheran Churches will present a mini-cantata at 9 a.m. at New Hope and 10:30 a.m. at St. Jacob’s. Following each of the scripture readings, a special anthem will be sung to tell the story … from ancient prophesy … to the birth of Jesus … to the Epiphany, which is the revealing of the Christ child as God incarnate, the light and salvation of the world.
Advent – waiting for the light and preparing for the second coming of Christ
Christmas – the birth of the light as a humble baby who would walk with us in this world
Epiphany – the revelation to the world that Jesus IS the light for whom we have waited
Soli Deo Gloria!
(To God alone the glory!)
Laurie
Filed in Worship and Music, Worship Service
Pastoral Devotion for January
Posted January 9, 2019 By adminLight for the World
Isaiah 60:1-9, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12
It wasn’t through loud trumpet blasts, nor were messengers dispatched from far off lands. The magi received the good news through simple means; by the light of a star. They followed the light in order to worship the newborn King of kings.
Each year we hear this story and quickly focus on the wise men and their gifts, perhaps missing the central part of the story. Jesus was born that man no longer should die. Through Christ, salvation has come into the world. As the angel told the shepherds, this is good news for all people.
The Magi were foreigners, Gentiles, yet God got their attention in a simple way, by the light of a star, and led them to the savior of the world. Who are the outsiders today? What signs will God use in order to speak to them? It’s probably fair to say that wise men bearing gifts of gold won’t be passing through their town, and it’s not likely that a star will lead people to any particular church building.
The truth is, God calls his people to be light for the world revealing that which was made known so long ago. Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, is the Messiah, the Lord. Through him, God has brought salvation to our fallen world. People of God, arise, share the good news. Light has scattered our darkness forever.
Prayer: Shine your light upon me, O Lord, that I may share the good news of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Filed in Bible Study, Pastor
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted December 1, 2018 By adminRecognizing newsletter deadlines, once again, I have the peculiar task of writing a Christmas message even before I’ve worked up an appetite for Thanksgiving turkey. So, to get in the mood for the season I’m playing Christmas music on the computer as I write. Most of us have our favorite Christmas song and I am no different. My favorite is O Holy Night. I love this song and it never gets old.
Many of my favorite artists have recorded O Holy Night. There are dozens of renditions that will literally bring a tear to my eye. Like so many, I get caught up in the emotional response to beautiful music played by amazing musicians or sung by gifted vocalists. Throughout my years as pastor, members of previous congregations have given their renditions of this beloved song, only to reduce their pastor to tears of joy as they offered their gift. You may wonder what it is about this song that solicits such a reaction for me. Truly, beautiful as it is, it is not the melody. O Holy Night captivates me so because of its message. The words speak so strongly to the power of God’s love.
In 1847, a priest commissioned Frenchman Placide Cappeau to write a poem for the Christmas mass. He knew this poem would be central to the priest’s proclamation so it must be scriptural and reverent. The poem would have to speak to the struggle of our human condition and at the same time declare the hope of God’s people fulfilled through the birth of the Christ child. Turning to Luke’s gospel, Cappeau imagined what it might have been like to witness the birth of Christ on the holiest of nights. Cappeau’s poem speaks of a night extraordinarily different than most. The sky was so clear that the stars seemed to shine brighter than ever before. The opening of the song leads us into this same vision:
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
this is the night, of our dear Savior’s birth!
We’ve all witnessed Christmas nights such as this. Yet, we realize that even at Christmas, the world is still filled with difficulties and challenges . There is a reason God came to earth in human form. Our world is one bent on disobedience, selfishness, and anger. Each week, as we confess our sins we admit our part in the world’s calamity.
We cannot pretend that God is not privy to the instances where we have not kept his commandments. We cannot live as though he has not seen the wrongs we’ve done toward one another. Even the most faithful among us has sinned against God and against a neighbor. Yet, there is hope, and this is where O Holy Night gets my full and complete attention. Cappeau writes:
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining;
Till he appeared and the soul felt his worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices;
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
God has kept his promise to save his people; he has sent his Son, the child of Mary to be Savior and Lord. Cappeau offered his congregation a declaration of God’s grace and forgiveness made possible through the life, death and resurrection of a single child born on that holy night. Just as he was born in humility, Jesus would also humbly endure the burden of shame brought about the world’s sin. The message of O Holy Night proclaims the powerful truth of God’s salvation made known as the King of Glory makes his entrance into the world for the sake of all humanity. This is no ordinary child. This is no ordinary night. This Christmas, as I have and always will, I invite you all to worship with me and the rest of your church family on the holiest of nights. Come hear the message of God’s grace as we remember how our Savior and Lord breaks into our time a space yet once more. Hear the words of the gospel and realize the thrill of God’ssaving grace.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night; O night divine!
Grace to you and peace, this Christmas,
Pastor David Nuottila
From the Pastor’s Heart
Filed in From the Pastor’s Heart
