We will have our monthly meeting on Sunday, August 21st at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Hope to see you all there.
End of Summer Lock-In
Posted August 10, 2022 By adminPastor David and Matt are planning a lock-in for our youth in grades 5-12. We will enjoy plenty of games and activities as well as evening and midnight worship by candlelight. Please contact Pastor David or Matt to let them know that your child(ren) will be attending. A list of items children should bring with them will be published at least one week before the lock-in takes place. One activity during our lock-in will be to engage the mission of the Church by assembling Flood Buckets for the NALC Disaster Response Warehouse. Anyone who would like to donate items for the Flood Buckets may do so. A list will be published in the Mid-August Grace Notes and also included in the worship bulletins prior to the lock-in.
Women’s Bible Study
Posted August 5, 2022 By adminThe Women’s Bible Study group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month. We will begin a new study using the book written by Shannon Bream, The Women of the Bible Speak. The book can be purchased online, Hobby Lobby, Costco and other retailers for $15.99. Please join us as we study this exciting topic beginning on Thursday, August 18th. The group meets from 9-10:30 AM at the home of Susan. At each meeting, we ask that people try to bring canned goods or an item to be donated to We Care. Please let Susan know if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.
Pastoral Devotion for August
Posted August 1, 2022 By adminShow Us Your Ways
Once while on vacation, my wife and I were enjoying the scenic back roads of North Carolina. We planned our day using the road atlas I had owned for several years. The plan was to get from point “A” to point “B” in time for dinner. Unwittingly, we ran into a problem. The paved road we were traveling, marked on the map as a state road, gradually became a gravel trail leading deep into the woods. I had confidence in my outdated map, but it wasn’t long before we were faced with a decision; follow the map or listen to the voice inside our heads encouraging us to turn around.
Paul reminds the people of God that once dead in our sinfulness, all have traveled the road of disobedience and selfishness. It is a familiar road, and if left to ourselves, we would choose this road most often. Along this road the “prince of power in the air” strives to lead humanity away from God. All too often those who follow such a road are confident in their decisions and become convinced it is the right path.
Paul is clear; God rescued us from earthly powers through Christ. Through the teaching of the apostles, Christians are afforded the example of Christ like living. Jesus himself provided the example for all to follow. Turning to Scripture, which is our unfailing guide and never outdated, we can recognize the path of righteousness. Even as we find it difficult to follow such a path, God promises to strengthen us and lead us by the power of his Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Show us your ways, O God, and lead us on the path to righteousness. Amen.
Up And Going
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminNineteen Up and Going members and guests gathered in the Fellowship Hall for the July meeting.
Welcome and announcements were given by Helen. Get Well cards were signed to send to Ola Mae and Miriam.
Treasurer’s report was given by Treasurer Gary. Devotions entitled “Thy Rod and Thy Staff” from the book Devotions by Martin Luther was given by Helen.
Pastor David gave a most interesting and encouraging program on the value of older and experienced Lutherans. We may be older but there is still ample opportunities for service in our Church and Faith Community. When asked to serve, please open yourself to new growth and learning. Matt gave the meal blessing and we all enjoyed a cool and delicious picnic meal.
The next Up and Going meeting will be The 4 Churches Meeting at Macedonia Lutheran Church, Prosperity on August 18th at 11 AM. If you have not signed up to attend, please contact Helen or Ann.
If you need a ride, please let us know and arrangements will be made. Everyone is asked to provide a covered dish or dessert to share. Meat and beverages will be provided.
Lutheran Women
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminThe Lutheran Women will host an “End of Summer” pizza party for St. Jacob’s Women on Sunday, August 14th at 4 PM at Zorba’s in Chapin. If you can join us, please let Judy know by Thursday, August 11th. We hope you will join us for food and fellowship!
From the Director Of Youth And Family Ministries
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminSt. Jacobs Congregation,
Grace to you and peace from our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I praise Him for all the blessing He has been in our Youth and Family Ministry over the past weeks. At the end of June, we had a wonderful VBS with our youth and the friends they invited! Over the week, we learned how much our Father loves us through His creation of each of us, the gracious work of the Son, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. I can’t express how grateful I am to all the volunteers who cared for the kids’ physical and spiritual needs! Truly a testament to the Holy Spirit’s inward workings in the congregation’s lives.
We also had our first bi-monthly evangelism social gathering where the families of St. Jacob’s gathered to enjoy each other’s fellowship, eat ice cream, and support Pastor David’s Congo Ministry through the making of cross bracelets and necklaces with specific Bible verses written on them for the encouragement and lifting of our brothers and sisters in the Congo.
As our weekly family gatherings continue, I praise God for the growth He caused and the plan He has for it! Thank you for supporting this ministry through your words of encouragement and continual prayers.
Please continue to pray for the family ministry at St. Jacob’s. Blessings,
Matthew
matt@st-jacobs.org
Council Briefs
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminGood Things at St. Jacob’s for June:
• Up & Going resumed regular meetings
• Lutheran Men BBQ
• Recognition of Graduates
• Vacation Bible School
Briefs for July 2022
• Pastor David will start his Mission Trip to the Congo on August 1st. He will be away from St. Jacobs from August 1st – August 19th, 2022. During this time, the Elders of the church will conduct Sunday Services.
• Pastor David will be starting First Communion classes beginning July 10, 2022. First Communion will be July 31, 2022 for those who complete the class.
• Treasurer’s Report: The Church has spent 45.47% of the annual budget.
• Discipleship: The Church has delivered 20 Mercy Boxes to We Care.
• Stewardship: The Council approved September 24, 2022 as the date for the Church Yard Sale.
• Worship & Music: The Worship & Music Committee will be meeting to plan the annual Church Homecoming event.
• The Council approved the sale of the Church bus. If anyone is interested in purchasing the bus, please contact Michael Corley at mcorley0814@icloud.com for additional information or to make an offer.
• The problems that had been reported with the sound system in the church seem to be resolved at this time. The reported issues were related to Radio Frequency (RF), not the microphones.
• Matt has provided a spending plan for the Youth & Family Ministry to the Council, which was approved at the July Council Meeting. He will be given a debit card to use for the approved expenses from the youth account.
• The Council is planning to meet with the Staff Support Committee to update job descriptions.
• The Council approved to relocate the Music Director’s office from the Choir Room to the Church Office Building.
Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings
Worship While Pastor David Is In The Congo
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminDue to the current shortage of available supply pastors, worship on the Sundays of August 7th and 14th will be led by our St. Jacob’s Church Elders. They will lead us in liturgy and distribution of Holy Communion. On August 7th, David will be preaching a sermon written by Pastor David prior to his leaving for the Congo. On Sunday, August 14th Sherrie will be doing the same. We are blessed by the service of our Elders while our pastor is away.
From the Pastor’s Heart by Pastor David Nuottila
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminThe time is upon me when I am preparing for my mission trip to the Congo with my friend and mission partner Pastor Stéphane Kalonji. There are so many things racing through my mind at the moment that it is difficult just to simply sleep at night. This being my fourth trip to the Congo, I have a good idea what to expect in my travels. It’s the not knowing what to expect when I get there that seems to be the issue, for we will be traveling to a part of the Congo where I have never been before.
Our first several days in the Congo will be spent in the capitol city of Kinshasa where I will have a phone, electricity, and plenty of hot running water. There will be plenty of good food, prepared by Pastor Kalonji’s sister-in-law, Yevette. But then we will be going off to the province of Kasai-Oriental. He tells me that life in Kasai (in the central part of the country) is much different than what I have experienced in Boma or Matadi (in the western part). We will fly from Kinshasa to the city of Mbuji-Mayi and remain there for about three days, then travel to the village of Badibaswa where we will serve a small mission congregation. I’m told that in Kasai, water is not something that is plentiful. As a part of the daily amenities, the hotel we will stay in for about 9 days provides each guest with one free bucket of water. Bucket? Yep, no running water to be had. Once on the ground in Kasai, the first order of business will be to purchase plenty of bottled purified water.
Another difference will be that the churches we will visit and work in have no buildings or shelters. Everything they do is outside exposed to the weather. If it rains during worship, they get wet. If the sun beats down in the heat of the day, they sweat. Truly, there is nothing like a mission trip to the Congo to make one appreciate all that God blesses us with here at home. There is one thing; however, that I do know what to expect in Kasai. The people will be overjoyed that we have come to visit them, bringing them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In Mbuji-Mayi, Pastor Kalonji and I will be leading three separate seminars. There will be a gathering for the women of the church, then the pastors and lay leaders, and finally, we will have a day with the youth and young adults. Our focus for teaching will be a seminar we have written together concerning the Holiness of God and Living as God’s Holy People. As usual, there will be time for the people to ask plenty of questions regarding faith and life in the Church in America. In Badibaswa, I would anticipate much of the same, although I expect there will be many more questions about life as a Christian and Pastor in the United States. The women will want to know about my wife and children, our home and what a typical day is like.
The people of the Congo are always amazed to find out that Christians in America face many of the same difficulties as they do in Africa. Truly, sin and evil know no boundaries. Thankfully, God’s mercy and grace transcend all boundaries and obstacles the devil attempts to place between God and his people.
While I am away, I would ask that you keep Pastor Kalonij and I in your prayers. Pray that God would use us in mighty ways and that our proclamation of his Word will be bold and well received. Finally, pray for all to whom we will minister, for it is through your generosity that we are able to make this trip. God has blessed us in this mission, and through your prayerful support, hungry children will be fed and mothers and their babies will be welcomed home from detention in hospitals. Pastors and other church leaders will have Bibles to read, learn, and teach from. Those with impaired vision will have eyeglasses to help them see, and children will have beautiful multi-colored bracelets to wear as a reminder of the love we all share in Christ Jesus.
I will be departing from Columbia on Monday, August 1st and returning on Friday, August 20th. As always, I will do my best to keep everyone updated while I am away. I hope to be able to send Angela daily text messages with news of our activities that she can pass along to the church. But again, I don’t know if that will be a possibility when I am in Kasai. Thanks be to God for all who have supported our mission to the Congo. I look forward to sharing stories of St. Jacob’s with the people there and I’m sure I will have plenty of stories to share with you upon my return. Until then, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Pastor David Nuottila
