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Looking With Fresh Eyes

Posted April 7, 2023 By admin

Our Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit with Pastor David Wendel was a great success. Everyone who attended seemed to enjoy discussing our current reality and prayerfully discerning a vision for our future here at St. Jacob’s. We came up with four vision points that will be shared with the congregation as soon as time allows. In order that we do not lose momentum, Susan and Sherrie were chosen to serve as “Trail Bosses” to keep us on the pathway toward renewal of our mission. Thank you to everyone who participated and thank you to Pastor Wendel for his visit and leadership through the summit. Below are a few pics of our time together.

Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach

Up And Going

Posted April 5, 2023 By admin

The March 9th meeting of the Up and Going was held in the Fellowship Hall at 11 am. Devotions with prayer was given by Team Leader, Helen. Devotions were on The Purim Holiday from the book of Esther, also a reading, Be Open to Giving and Receiving Grace, with verses from Ephesians.
A covered dish meal was enjoyed by all. Members gathered at the worktables to assemble Hospice Easter Bags for area Hospice patients. We might be older but not slower workers.
In about one hour, our 14 members and guests assembled 100 Easter bags consisting of a pretty cello bag with a layer of Easter grass, then filled with wrapped candies, nuts, cookies, etc. then tied with a beautiful multi-colored ribbons and bows holding a handwritten Easter Blessing.
They were so pretty. Gary and Joan Marco will deliver the bags to the appropriate distribution facilities for delivery by hospice workers before Easter. Thank you all for a job well done.
The April Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13th at 10am (NOTE TIME CHANGE) in the Fellowship Hall. We will have an hour chair yoga class for our information and enjoyment. Lunch will follow. Please bring a salad, side item or dessert for sharing. Please plan to attend and enjoy this class. Dress is comfortable pants and shirts so you will be comfortable.

Filed in Fellowship, Other Happenings, Outreach, Up and Going

The Easter Cross

Posted April 4, 2023 By admin

The Easter Cross will be placed standing outside of the Narthex. We encourage everyone to bring some cut flowers to place on the cross on Easter.

Filed in Other Happenings, Worship Service

St. Jacob’s Lutheran Women

Posted March 31, 2023 By admin

On Saturday, April 1 from 10:00-12:30, we will be sponsoring our annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt for children ages infants to 12 years of age. Please bring your baskets or lots of eggs to hunt, crafts, and a light lunch will be served. You are also asked to bring a friend (s). Come and enjoy the fun.
On Saturday April 22, we will be sponsoring a Mother-Daughter/Friend Brunch at 11:00. The theme this year is “3 BLESSINGS OF LIFE”. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Glen Ward, Professional, Humorist, and Inspirational Speaker and prizes. Tickets go on sale beginning today, March 26 in the Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $10.00 for ages 4 and up and children 3 and under are free.

Filed in Fellowship, Lutheran Women, Other Happenings

Council Briefs for March Meeting

Posted March 31, 2023 By admin

Good Things at St. Jacobs:
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
• Copeland Peeples Solo
• Lutheran Men Sausage Sale
Treasurer’s Report: Because of the volatile stock market, Council approved a Finance Committee recommendation to move the Sites Endowment Fund into a money market account for the short term. Council also approved moving the remaining funds in the Thrivent Account to a money market account.
Report of Ministry Teams:
• Safety Team is preparing medical emergency guidelines.
• Christian Education – Multi-Generational Sunday School Class has been discontinued.
• Property Team – A tankless water heater is being installed in the church office. A floor joist is also being repaired in the church office.
Old Business:
• Plans continue for the Fresh Eyes Mission Summit.
• Improvements to church property: Council discussed several items regarding improvements to church property. This includes improvements to the church office, Sanctuary, and parking lot. A plan to renovate the church office is complete. Plans for the Sanctuary and parking lot are continuing. Council voted to approve the plans for the church office. This plan will be presented to the congregation in the near future.
New Business:
• Council voted to add a monthly calendar to the newsletter.

Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings

Join Us for The Celebration of Easter

Posted March 31, 2023 By admin

Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday April 9 – 10:00AM
Maundy Thursday April 6 – 7:00PM
Good Friday April 7 – 7:00PM

Easter At St. Jacob’s
Sunrise Service April 9 – 7:00AM
Easter Breakfast Following Sunrise Service
Resurrection Festival Service April 9 – 10:00AM

Filed in Bible Study, Other Happenings, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Pastoral Devotion for April – Receive the Lord

Posted March 31, 2023 By admin

Read Luke 22:14-23 In the hours before Jesus was lifted up upon the cross, he gathered his closest friends around the table and poured out the Spirit of God’s love. In the meal they shared, Christ made himself truly available to them, filling them with the hope of God’s kingdom.
The disciples could not yet understand, but Christ’s assurance was there; “This is my body which is given for you.” On the eve of Christ’s victory over sin and the grave, finally, reconciliation between God and man was at hand.
Today, we live as God’s redeemed people; through Christ, sin no longer has power over us. Nowhere is this made more visible than as we share the meal of our faith. The same assurance, the same spirit of love, the same Lord Jesus is present with us as he was present with the twelve.
As we approach God’s table of grace, we bring only that which we can truly call our own. With extended hands, the nakedness and shame of our sin is laid to bear at the foot of Christ’s cross. Yet, our Lord welcomes us to the feast. Our sin stained hands are extended – seeking refreshment, fulfillment, forgiveness. And like the disciples, we receive our Lord as we hear the words of Christ, “This is my body given for you.”
Prayer: Thank you Lord, for this bread and this cup, through which you fill us with your grace. Amen.

Filed in Bible Study, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor

Community Service

Posted March 14, 2023 By admin

As a service to our neighbors, St. Jacob’s offers the use of our Fellowship Hall, and occasionally the church office building to civic groups in our community. Currently we have two groups devoted to the care of those who struggle against addiction.
The Chapin area AA group meets in the Fellow ship Hall every week on Monday and Friday at 7:30PM. They are very grateful for the use of St. Jacob’s facilities and have been a wonderful addition to our outreach into the community.
The Courage Center meets in our Fellowship Hall each week on Thursday evening at 7:00PM. The Courage Center supports families whose lives have been disrupted by substance misuse or addiction.
Please remember to consult the church calendar when scheduling events held in the Fellowship Hall. We want to be accommodating to our neighbors in need, just as our Lord is compassionate and accommodating in our need.

Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach

Mercy Bags Ministry for We Care

Posted March 13, 2023 By admin

What an amazing impact our congregation has made in helping families in need by providing meals to be delivered by We Care. Since we began this ministry less than a year ago, we have donated over 300 meals!! The Discipleship Team has organized volunteers into two groups that will meet only once a month (on the 1st or 3rd Sundays) to pack and distribute the meals to We Care on Monday morning.
There is room for more people to help with this! Do you have time to donate ONE hour of your time once a month to help shop for food, pack the bags with meals or deliver the bags on a Monday morning? Call or talk to Lynn and let him know!

Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach

Congo Mission Update

Posted March 11, 2023 By admin

My mission trip to the Congo is scheduled for July 3-21. Pastor Kalonji and I have a very ambitious schedule for these 18 days. The mission work we have planned includes the staples of our ministry; preaching and leading worship, providing seminars for Christian education, providing continuing education for pastors and church leaders; feeding orphaned children, freeing babies, and providing Bibles to those who have no access to them. Ministering together in a new area, I have no idea what to expect as far as amenities. All I know is that transportation within Congo will be difficult, and lodging extremely modest. I still have the many pairs of eyeglasses collected from last year so I will not be collecting these again this time around. Please do not bring used glasses for a donation as I do not have room to take them.
As always, the cost of this mission trip is significant. I am ever thankful for your donations and fund raising efforts to support the mission work we do. Truly, even though you will not be with me in Africa, your efforts are central to the ongoing mission and ministry. The people of Congo are always very grateful for the support from their brothers and sisters in Christ in the United States.
God bless you all as we accomplish this important work together.

Filed in Missions, NALC, Pastor
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