Just as the Carolinas Mission Region Convocation had an emphasis on Youth Ministry, this edition of our newsletter focuses on the activities of our St. Jacob’s Youth. Our youth are certainly a busy and active bunch. They enjoy providing music for our congregation, engaging in mission events, and leading worship on the last Sunday of those months with a fifth Sunday. Our Youth members will lead worship again on June 30th. Please support our youth members with your prayers and congratulate them by commenting on their dedication and love for the ministry here at St. Jacob’s.
Worship at Generations
Posted June 15, 2024 By adminOur worship services at Generations of Chapin continue to be a welcome time together with our neighbors down the road. St. Jacob’s has several members residing at Generations and several who are on the Generations staff. Residents include Lucy and Stanley Slice, Shirley Nuottila, and Ramonia Lindler and they enjoy having members of their church family present for this time together. Many of the long time residents have also made this a regular part of their faith life, and several of the newest residents have found it to be a welcome time of prayer and worship.
St. Jacob’s offers worship with Holy Communion at Generations every other Sunday. Thank you to regular helpers Tommy Faulk and Angela Nuottila for your ongoing support and participation. Our Youth Hand Bell Choir has also come along to provide music. Of course, we would always enjoy having more members of our church family join us. Please plan to attend and share some time with those who have adopted St. Jacob’s as “their church.” Our worship opportunities for June are on Sundays, June 9 and June 23 at 1:00P.M.
Congo Mission Update
Posted June 15, 2024 By adminWith the posting of this month’s newsletter, my annual mission trip to Congo is just a little more than a month away. My mission partner Pastor Stephane Kalonji and I are making plans for the Gospel ministry we will accomplish while we are in the country.
One of the projects we began last summer is the building of the first Lutheran Church Facility in the region of Kasai-Oriental. There are no Lutheran congregations in this region that have a church building or permanent structure in which to hold services or other gatherings.
Through the generosity of several congregations within the NALC and LCMC, we have been able to provide funding for this building project. Land has been purchased and the foundation has been laid for the construction of a multi-use building on the outskirts of Mbuji-Mayi.
There is still a long way to go in completing this building, but with God’s provision it will become a reality and a place where Christians can worship, families can gather, children can learn, and women can learn skills through which they may generate income and provide for their families.
Thank you to all who have supported the Congo Mission with your donations and your prayers. Thank you also to everyone who has adopted a Bible for us to distribute to church leaders and Pastors in Congo who do not have access to Bibles in their tribal languages. It is humbling to know that so many people throughout our congregation, Mission Region, and NALC are prayerfully active in this mission together.
This year’s mission trip commences immediately following worship on July 7 with my travel to Houston, Texas. From There, Pastor Kalonji and I will travel to Congo on July 8-9. My return to Chapin is scheduled for Sunday, July 21. In total, I will be away for 14 days.
Pastor Gary Blobaum will be our Supply Pastor on July 14 and 21. Pastor David Tholstrup will be on call for the congregation in case of emergency pastoral ministry needs. Please pray that we have safe travels and that we accomplish all God has called us to do.
St. Jacob’s Youth Hand Bells
Posted June 14, 2024 By adminOur Youth Hand Bell Choir was honored to play the prelude during the Communion service for the Carolinas Mission Region Convocation. Many attendees remarked on the talent of our young members and were very thankful for their participation. Hats off to Angela Nuottila and the Youth hand Bell Choir for their dedication and hours of practice. They truly have become ambassadors for the Gospel of Christ and for St. Jacob’s.
VBS is Coming
Posted June 13, 2024 By adminLet’s meet at Breaker Rock Beach! VBS begins on Monday, June 24. Dinner will be served at 5:45 and we will enjoy some VBS beach time starting at 6:30 PM.
There will be classes for all ages as we hear God say – “Truth comes from me. My plan for you is even better.
Everyone sins and needs a Savior. Jesus is the only way to get to heaven.” You don’t want to miss the fun and fellowship. Mark your calendars now and join us June 24-27!
St. Jacob’s Youth
Posted June 12, 2024 By adminOur Youth Members enjoyed a day of fun and fellowship with the youth groups of neighboring NALC congregations. Youth from St. Peter’s in Chapin, Holy Trinity in Little Mountain, and St. Paul’s in Pomaria joined with St. Jacob’s Youth in a mission project collecting Peanut Butter and Jelly for We Care of Chapin. More than 550 pounds of PB&J was collected by the for youth groups. The afternoon was spent getting to know one another and making new friends through games and singing, and of course, food. A taco supper was enjoyed by all! We look forward to future gatherings of our Dutch Fork NALC youth groups.
Lutheran Men BBQ
Posted June 11, 2024 By adminThe St. Jacob’s Lutheran Men’s annual pork BBQ and Hash fundraiser will be June 28, 2024. The cost is $10.00 for a pound of BBQ and $10.00 for a Quart of Hash. You can pick up your order in the church Fellowship Hall on Friday, June 28th between 3:00 and 6:00 PM and on Saturday, June 29th between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Please see a member of the Lutheran Men or contact Gerald by Sunday, June 16th to place your order.
Filed in Lutheran Men, Other Happenings
Changes To Our Summer Weekly Schedule
Posted June 11, 2024 By adminWith the onset of summer and Vacation Bible School, there will be a couple changes to our regular weekly schedule. Our Midweek Bible study will be on a break until the second week of August. Everyone is encouraged to continue reading the scriptures with family and friends. Also, our choirs are on stand down for the summer.
With Pastor David being away for his daughter’s wedding and then his mission trip to Congo, midweek worship services will be postponed until mid-August.
Please make these notes on your calendars.
Filed in Other Happenings
Pastoral Devotion for June – Be Content
Posted June 11, 2024 By adminRead 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Songwriter Harry Chapin spun a tale of a man named Mr. Tanner, a dry cleaner who was very good at his work. He was content with his chosen profession and loved his customers. Tanner was also a baritone who loved singing. Chapin said of Tanner, “He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole.”
As the song goes, Tanner’s friends convinced him he should give up dry cleaning and pursue fame and glory. He would be able to leave the dry cleaning business, become famous and enjoy a life of great prosperity. Yet, it was not to be; his debut proved that, while talented, public performance was not his calling. Dejected, Tanner gave up singing and his life was never the same.
God blesses his people with many gifts and talents. Used for God’s purposes, our gifts and talents bring joy to others. Humbly sharing these for the sake of others glorifies our God through whom such gifts come. Of course, there is always the temptation to seek glory, fame and fortune for ourselves, especially when swayed by others.
Just as Jesus teaches there are people of the world who would lead us astray, so too Paul teaches us that we are to be content with all God’s provides. Worldly influences may tempt us to seek glory for ourselves, but loving God and using our gifts to his glory brings joy and makes us whole.
Prayer: Holy God, make us content with all you have provided, that it may be our joy to serve others. Amen.
Congo Mission Adopt a Bible
Posted May 24, 2024 By adminOne of the joys of my mission work in Congo is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with so many people who have not had the opportunity to worship or learn of God’s saving grace through reading the Scriptures. Bibles are hard to come by for most people living in the outlying and remote areas surrounding Mbuji-Mayi. For this reason, I am encouraging everyone at St. Jacob’s to participate in this year’s mission in a unique way. I invite you all to “adopt a Bible” that would be provided to church members in Mbuji-Mayi and Merode.
Bibles printed in the tribal languages in Congo are available in Kinshasa (the capitol city), but not in the remote areas in which we serve. Pastor Kalonji hope to fill a suitcase with Bibles to take to the Lutheran congregation in Mbuji-Mayi and have them distributed to families by local pastors. Each Bible printed in the local languages cost about $25 each. If you would like to provide one for a family in Congo, simply add that amount to your church offering and designate the amount given “Congo Mission Bibles” on your envelope where it says “other.”
Thank you so much for your consideration and generosity as we continue to minister to God’s people in such a far-off place. This year’s mission trip is scheduled for July 8-21.
