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Midweek Bible Studies

Posted October 5, 2026 By admin

Our midweek Bible studies continue in October on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Tuesday evening Bible study is currently meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday each month at 6:30 PM in the church nave. Our topic for study will be a close look at how the architecture of churches, and the symbolism inside our church nave shapes our identity as Christians who are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Our Wednesday morning Bible study meets in the church office conference room each Wednesday at 9:30 AM. Our current topic for study is centered upon several of the favorite Old Testament Bible stories. We will read each one in its fuller context and discuss the attributes that give them so much meaning for God’s people.

Please plan to attend one or both of these studies. There are no special materials needed. Friends and neighbors are also welcome to attend.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor

From Your Pastor’s Heart

Posted October 5, 2026 By admin

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

It’s finally upon us. The celebration of St. Jacob’s 250th anniversary is but a few short weeks away. As I consider this long journey for our congregation, and the anticipation of marking such a significant milestone, I can’t help but wonder what ministry must have been like for those of our predecessors long ago. As the Pastor, I believe I have a unique viewpoint for reflection as I occupy the same office of ministry established by our Lutheran Confessions as did those pastors who came before me. What were their challenges? How were they thrust into incidents of human history for which they felt ill prepared or quite frankly, inadequately gifted to address?

Think about it. In 250 plus years, the pastors of St. Jacob’s led our congregation through the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, South Carolina’s secession from the Union sparking the Civil War, the Great Depression of the 1930s, not to mention two World wars. In all of these, the pastors of St. Jacob’s were called by Christ to lead God’s people in faithfulness during times of immense uncertainty. Many of your descendants endured these events as they unfolded, and now so many of them rest peacefully within our church cemetery awaiting Christ’s call to rise in the glory of resurrection.

So why did I choose the verse from the book of Hebrews printed above for the prelude to this month’s pastor’s page? Well, quite simply, because it speaks volumes to our calling as disciples of Jesus. While St. Jacob’s has obviously changed many times throughout her 250 years of Gospel ministry, the mission of the Gospel has not. Gifted by the power of the Holy Spirit, our predecessors built up and maintained St. Jacob’s through all the historical events mentioned above. In an ever changing world, they did these things through faith in the One whose mercy, grace, and love never changes.

So now, at the dawning of our 251st year, we are to be grateful for the contributions of the many people who came before us. They didn’t simply maintain St. Jacob’s so we would have a beautiful place for worship. They worked as followers of Jesus so that St. Jacob’s would continue to be a vital ministry established by God for the sake of our neighbors. This continues to be our calling.

As we approach the day of our celebration, I encourage everyone to examine their role within our congregation. How do you honor the commitment of those who came before us? How do you share your giftedness in the participation of our collective ministry? These are important questions to ask. These are important questions to consider as we step into the latter half of our third century here in this place. With God’s help, we can faithfully pass along a healthy and vital church and ministry to future generations of disciples of our Lord Jesus.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, From the Pastor’s Heart, Other Happenings

Up and Going

Posted October 2, 2026 By admin

Thursday, September 10th, our annual apple run day finally arrived. The Up and Going members and guests assembled in the Fellowship Hall for devotions and meet and greet. Helen gave the devotions entitled “God Never Loses Us.” Bible reading was from Deuteronomy 31. Our devotions remind us that no matter where we are or what we are doing, God will never leave us nor forsake us. We closed with the group praying together our Lord’s Prayer.

The vans arrived, we loaded and off we went to Hendersonville, NC to enjoy a day of fellowship and fun. Our vans were filled with laughter and conversation.

The Golden Coral was our lunch stop and everyone was anxiously awaiting our arrival. We were welcomed and served with efficiency and grace. Our meal was delicious and enjoyed by all.

Time to get apples, so onward to Grandad’s Apples we went. Off we went to select apples, cabbage, apple cider, apple cookies, apple pie or some other goodies. Soon we found the big, white rocking chairs on the back patio. Oh such comfort and so cool. Such a refreshing place but soon time to head home. We loaded our goodies and apple fed bodies and headed back to St. Jacob’s. As we unloaded and claimed our items, with hugs and goodbyes, all 22 tired folks headed home. We all agreed that this was a great trip.

Special appreciation to Davis and Michael, our van drivers and wonderful helpers. You made our Apple Run a huge success.

The October meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th. Please meet at the Lizards Thicket in Irmo at 11:30 AM for lunch in the meeting room and shopping afterwards for those who are interested.

Helen

Team Leader for Up and Going

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

Devotion for October – The Voice

Posted October 1, 2026 By admin

Read: 1 Kings 19:9-21, Luke 9:28-36
The Voice; it’s a popular television show, a contest to find the newest singing star. Many have seen it. Four “coaches” listen to anonymous auditions and pick contestants for their team. All they have to go on is the singer’s voice. In the end, the coach hopes that voice will lead them to victory.

Throughout scripture, there is another voice that calls people to follow. The prophet Elijah heard this voice; he listened and obeyed. His continued journey led him to anoint kings and also the prophet Isaiah to carry on after him. Isaiah’s prophecy serves as a voice in the wilderness, later echoed by John the Baptizer, calling people to prepare the way of the Lord. Jesus himself hears the voice of the Father proclaiming him to be his “beloved Son.”

Today, the people of God continue to hear the voice of God through God’s Word in Holy Scripture. God’s voice rings loud and clear within our service of worship through liturgy, prayer, reading and preaching. God’s voice calls and guides, teaches and instructs, calms and reassures. His voice is that which brings us hope for forgiveness and salvation, especially as we obey the voice of our Father in heaven commanding us to listen to his beloved Son. Even in the quietest times, Christians hear the voice of God. His is the voice calling us to use our voice to share the good news of Christ, that all who believe in him will be saved by his grace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, speak to your children, for your servants are listening. Amen.

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

St. Jacob’s 250th Anniversary Year-long Celebration

Posted September 14, 2026 By admin

In August we welcomed our final special guest preacher when we hosted Pastor Dave Tholstrup and his wife Janice. Throughout the year it has been a joy to welcome several of the shepherds from our recent past and we look forward to the culmination of our celebration in October when we welcome our NALC Bishop Dan Selbo.

Before that happens, we have one more opportunity to celebrate. This month we will have a congregational outreach event distributing St. Jacob’s 250th Anniversary blankets to several of our friends and shut in members. We are so thankful for God’s blessing our congregation with a long history and loving church family throughout the many generations of worshipers who have called this place home. Below is a list of our remaining planned events.

  • September 20th – Congregational Outreach Event; blankets for residents at Generations.
  • October 25th – Homecoming and Anniversary Sunday, guest preacher NALC Presiding Bishop Dan Selbo; special catered congregational dinner following worship.
  • November TBD – Golden Agers Recognition and Celebration.
Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Outreach, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Pastor’s Classes for New Members and Everyone

Posted September 7, 2026 By admin

During September, Pastor David will host Sunday morning classes for our newest members, visitors, and anyone who would like to know more about St. Jacob’s, the South Carolina Mission District, and the North American Lutheran Church. Classes will meet in one of the Sunday school rooms in the Christian Education Hall downstairs from the church sanctuary. Dates for our classes will be September 13th , 20th, and 27th. Please let Pastor David know if you are interested.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Pastor

Midweek Bible Studies Return

Posted September 4, 2026 By admin

Our midweek Bible studies will resume according to our regular schedule for September and the months following. Wednesday morning Bible study will meet in the church office Conference Room beginning on September 2nd at 9:30 AM each week. The topic for our study will be centered upon your favorite Bible stories, Bible verses, and traditional hymns. We will read each one in its fuller context and discuss the attributes that give them so much meaning for God’s people.

On September 8th, our Tuesday evening Bible study will begin meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday each month at 6:30 PM in the church office conference room. Our topic for study will be a close look at how the architecture of churches and the symbolism inside our church nave shapes our identity as Christians who are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Please plan to attend one or both of these studies. There are no special materials needed. Friends and neighbors are also welcome to attend.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Pastor

Devotion for September – Enough Faith

Posted September 1, 2026 By admin

Read Mark 7:24-30

Do you have enough faith? Do you have enough faith to pray even when it seems God is not listening? It is not always easy to maintain faithfulness, especially when it seems God is silent to our pleas for help. Just as the Psalmist wrote; “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest…” (Psalm 22:2). Many people feel they sometimes experience silence from God. On the night he was handed over, Jesus himself prayed that the cup of suffering might be removed from him, yet he remained faithful. The fact remains that Jesus’s crucifixion was God’s greatest silence.

We have all experienced this silence of God. We pray for something and the opposite seems to happen. We pray for healing yet still suffer. We pray for companionship, yet we remain lonely. This is where faith enters. Having faith means understanding and believing that Christ was, is, and always will be Emmanuel, God with us. Even as we do not understand God’s ways, through faith we are enabled to believe that God’s mercy endures. Even as we don’t always seem to get what we want, the Holy Spirit leads us through faith to realize God gives us what we need.

In this month’s text, the Syrophoenician woman pleads for her daughter’s healing; she believes the crumbs from the Master’s table have the power to save. It is all she needs. Even as we plead, “Lord have mercy,” Christ reaches out and fills our empty hands with this same bread from heaven. Christ is the only source for forgiveness of our sin and the promise of eternal life. Through faith in him we are saved.

Do you have enough faith? What do you think? Do you believe that God’s blessings are for you even if you might have times of doubt? Having enough faith is not hoping we will get what we want; it is knowing Jesus is Lord. Having enough faith is believing that no matter what chaos threatens us, we are not alone in a storm. Having enough faith means knowing Christ is our Lord and our God, and through him only is the way to eternal life.

Prayer: O Lord God, keep us in faith. Amen.

Filed in Bible Study, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor

From Your Pastor’s Heart

Posted September 1, 2026 By admin

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The month of September brings with it a bittersweet feeling for me, for the first time in many years I will not have a class of youth members setting out on the course for Confirmation instruction. It is truly a pastor’s joy, especially for this pastor, to spend time with our younger members and learn from them as they spend time learning from me.

Over the years, I have learned so much from the many bright and energetic kids I have taught. I’ve learned that they truly do care about the things going on in our world. They care about the needs of our community and the wellbeing of the members of our congregation. Mostly, I have learned that, though they may be sometimes quiet on the subject, they truly love their Lord Jesus and are thankful for all God has done in their lives.

I remember those long-ago days when I sat in the classroom with my pastor. He was just as hopeful for me and my classmates as I have always been for those whom I have had the pleasure of instructing. Conversations around the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments tend to open up the minds of our youth. Reading the Great Bible Stories of the Old and New Testaments capture their attention and shed light on the mercy and love God has for His people. It’s truly a wonder to see the connections that are made as our kids grow in faith.

Yet, in all the marvel of my experiences with the youth of the Lutheran Church, one thing sticks out for me. Most children when they embark on Catechetical instruction do not know much about the Bible or the basics of the Christian faith. For a pastor, it’s a lot to pass on in one hour per week for sixteen months. I can’t help but wonder, how much faith formation is truly happening in the home? Do parents take the above passage from Proverbs at face value and act upon it?

Some of the children whom I’ve taught over the years now have children of their own. Some still keep in touch; I’ve officiated at some of their weddings; and I encourage them (and their parents) however I can; but I’m no longer their pastor. I handed that relationship over years ago, but truly, God has never released me from the promises I made to them when they were baptized. That same truth is for all of us to consider as we baptize the children of St. Jacob’s and celebrate with them as they become confirmed in their faith.

My prayer for Bryleigh, Copeland, MacKenzie, and Samantha is that they are thankful for the instruction they have received in Sunday school and Catechetical classes and continue to grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus. I’m sure they will, because as members of their church family, we will continue to encourage them as they continue to grow in years. That’s the promise we made to them on the day they were baptized, and God has not released us from that promise.

As an ordained pastor of the Church of Christ, it is my vow to continue to teach and instruct the children of God so they too may grow in faith and relationship with Christ. That’s all of you. I promise that I will continue to train up the children of God in the way they should go and pray that none will depart from it. God bless us all as we grow in faith and love together. That is what is on your pastor’s heart as we begin this new month together.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, From the Pastor’s Heart, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor, Worship Service, Youth and Family Ministries

Confirmed in Christ

Posted August 28, 2026 By admin

Congratulations to this year’s catechetical class upon their confirmation. Samantha, Copeland, Bryleigh, and MacKenzie completed the two-year course of instruction with Pastor David and were confirmed on Sunday, August 30th during our worship service. A reception following worship was held in their honor. Well done Bryleigh, Copeland, MacKenzie, and Samantha.

Filed in Bible Study, LCY, Other Happenings, Pastor, Worship Service, Youth and Family Ministries
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