Our Midweek Bible study is back in full swing with a study of Psalms. Each week we are taking a close look at a selected Psalm so the topic is new every time. The purpose of our study is threefold:
• To know God through the world he created, through his Word, and through our experiences with him.
• To gain assurance that God will sustain us throughout our life.
• To help us hear God’s message every time we read Scripture. It is possible to read without hearing.
Through this study, we want to learn to listen for God speaking very personally to us as we read the Psalms.
Please plan to attend and study the Psalms with members of your church family. There are no special materials required and there is always room for more at the table. Midweek Bible study meets each Wednesday morning at 9:30 in the church office conference room.
Bible Study Archive
Midweek Bible Study
Posted February 1, 2024 By adminUp And Going News
Posted February 1, 2024 By adminUp and Going’s January meeting was held on Thursday, January 11th with 21 members and guests present.
We had a short business meeting. Helen L. Lindler gave the devotions from the book “God’s Little Devotional Book for Women” on turning kindness into love. This was a very thought provoking devotion and ended by using John 3:16-17 for prayer.
BINGO was played until all had won several times. This is always one of our most fun activities. The Soup Pot had simmered and was enjoyed by all. Delicious Soup, sandwiches, cornbread and various desserts were enjoyed by all.
The February meeting will be held on the 2nd Thursday, February 8th at 11:00 AM in the fellowship hall.
Lunch will be a covered dish meal.
Helen,
Team Leader
Pastoral Devotion for February – Who Will Deliver Me?
Posted January 31, 2024 By adminRead Romans 7:7-25
Everyone has bad habits. Those things we do subconsciously and don’t realize it until it’s done. Then there are those bad habits that, as we strive to refrain from doing them, the temptation becomes too great, and we surrender. We all suffer from such inclinations. Everyone falls into the pit of their own personal bad habits because we are all sinners in need of redemption.
In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul puts it plainly for everyone to see. Because of sin, we continue to fall short of God’s expectation for us. We want to follow God’s commandments, but our sinful flesh is weak and so the evil deeds we do not want to do are all too often the exact thing we do. The desires of our flesh wage war against our desire to please God. So often is the case, the flesh wins, wretched people that we are.
Paul also makes it clear that, even as we are captive to sin, we have a champion. Christ has put sin to death once and for all.
Because Christ prevailed over sin, death, and the power of the devil, those who repent and turn to God for forgiveness will be saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: O God, give me strength to withstand temptation, forgive my sin, and keep me in your grace.
Amen.
New Congregational Bible Study
Posted January 15, 2024 By adminThroughout 2025, Pastor David is inviting the congregation to join him and Angela in a new Bible Study. This particular study is written by prominent Christian author Max Lucado. The study is called Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks. The study is meant for people to grow in their knowledge, understanding, and relationship of our Lord. Anyone who would like to participate can do so by first purchasing the book. It is available online from Amazon for less than $15. The plan will be for each person to participate in this study on their own, or with a friend. The group will meet with Pastor David once per month to simply discuss what they have discovered along the way. Again, all are invited. Youth members of our congregation are also encouraged to make the journey with us. Everyone who joins in should contact Pastor David to let him know they will be part of the group. Once the group is established, everyone will be contacted and alerted as to when to begin.
Christmas Morning Worship
Posted December 15, 2023 By adminWe’ve all seen the signs, billboards and bumper stickers: “Keep Christ in Christmas!” The truth is, without Christ, it simply isn’t Christmas. Christians everywhere urge others to remember The “Reason for the Season.” But you know, even some churches find it difficult to “Keep Christ in Christmas”. Just take a look at the many churches standing idle and empty on Christmas morning.
St. Jacob’s offers everyone an opportunity to “Keep Christ in Christmas” beginning December 24 at 5:00P.M. with our annual candlelight service. The service will certainly be beautiful and inspiring. Then all are encouraged to gather on Christmas morning at 10:00 for an informal family Christmas celebration. Children are welcome to come in their pajamas and are invited to bring a gift they received for Christmas. Each child may share with all of us the joy this gift brings. Adults may “come as you are” and enjoy time for family and fellowship. Plan to attend these wonderful services of worship with your church family. Join us and “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
Up and Going
Posted December 13, 2023 By adminThe Lord blessed us with a perfect Fall day for the Up and Going members and guests to enjoy our annual
Thanksgiving luncheon. Twenty people excitedly gathered in the Fellowship Hall carrying wonderfully tasty
Thanksgiving dishes for our Enjoyment; and Enjoyed we did! The food was delicious. Helen Lindler, Team Leader, gave the devotions from the booklet entitled “God’s Little Devotional Book For Women”. The Bible Reading was from Psalm 77 and we closed with prayer and the Blessing of Thankfulness for Our meal.
After Lunch, Lynn spoke to us about the “Mercy Bags” project. He graciously answered our Questions and Informed us about “WE CARE” and the urgent need the “Mercy Bags” provide.
Lynn spoke of the needs and benefits of “Mercy Bags”. Relating to neighboring communities. There is a big request for helpers to assemble bags and shop for needed items. Please check your schedule and see if you can help out. Let Lynn know if you can help.
Up and Going made a contribution to the “Mercy Bags” Project as our Thanksgiving Project. A Special Thank you to Lynn Shealy for graciously taking the time to inform us of this most worthwhile project.
The December meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec 14th at 11am in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be party foods so bring a favorite for sharing. As our Christmas gift, please bring paper goods, cleaning supplies, and/or Personal hygiene items for WE CARE. A sign-up sheet will be posted on our Bulletin board.
Helen, Team Leader
Life-to-Life Discipleship Experience
Posted December 11, 2023 By adminThe North American Lutheran Church Life to Life Discipleship Team has developed a resource for congregations to engage in life-to-life disciple making. All Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. To begin this experience at St. Jacob’s, an initial informational meeting will be scheduled for January. All who are interested in exploring a deeper faith are encouraged to contact Pastor David to make plans for participating in the Life-to-Life Discipleship Experience.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted December 10, 2023 By admin The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!” Mark 1:1-3
With the first Sunday of Advent behind us, the Church has begun a new year in her liturgical cycle. For the past twelve months we have heard the truth regarding Jesus Christ from Matthew’s perspective. This year we will primarily dwell in Mark’s gospel as he shares with us his account concerning God’s saving grace made available through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
On a personal note, the year we read Mark is perhaps my favorite within our lectionary cycle. Mark’s gospel is different, he does not begin his account like the other gospel writers; he skips over what we now call the birth narrative of Jesus, and gets straight to the heart of the matter, recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah concerning God’s promise of a Savior and Messiah who is Jesus of Nazareth.
I think that at least once every three years, this is an important step in our earthly journey. It allows Christians to avert so much attention from our worldly Christmas activities and busy-ness, and focus our hearts and minds on the Advent of our Lord, his coming at his nativity, yet also his coming again in glory. From the beginning of Mark’s first chapter and at the dawn of Advent, we hear the words from the prophet “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!” (Mark 1:3).
This exhortation, whether we hear it from the prophet Isaiah, or from Mark’s gospel as quoted by John the Baptist, calls God’s people to action. Israel’s prophets foretold of his coming. Then for centuries, the people of God waited for the fulfillment of his promise to send a savior, yet God seemed distant and quiet. Then as if from nowhere and following four hundred years of silence, a strange looking fellow wearing camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist prophetically shouted out what we now consider a familiar Advent refrain: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” John called God’s people to repent of their sins and ready themselves for the coming of God’s Messiah.
Now, two thousand years removed from this scene, we hear these same prophetic words: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!” The question becomes, “How do we do that?” What does it mean for Christians today to make the Lord’s paths straight? Traditionally, congregations begin the liturgical year making preparations for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord at Christmas. Our most visible preparations include hanging evergreens, setting up Christmas trees, lighting extra candles and singing a fair number of Christmas songs. Yet, listening to John the Baptist as he cries out in the wilderness, I’m not so sure this is what he is talking about. It seems that in order to prepare the way of the Lord, we are to be about preparing ourselves and actually doing the work of the Lord.
Our world and the non-believers who live in it are separated from God by the great chasm that is sin. No matter how much we try, we cannot escape the consequences of human disobedience without the grace provided by God through our Lord Jesus. Our Advent preparations, therefore, must include repentance, thankfully receiving the forgiveness made possible through Christ, and sharing the good news that is the Gospel of Jesus.
Our response to God’s gift of grace calls us to take Christ’s commandments seriously, to love God and love our neighbor. We offer our lives in service for the sake of others, exhorting others to prepare themselves to receive their Lord and King. This evangelical mission culminates with inviting others to join us in worship, take their place at God’s table of grace, and assist them in making their preparations for receiving the gift of Christ.
I invite you to make this Advent a time of preparation of self. Dwell in God’s Word, give thanks for His mercy and grace. Then, as we celebrate with one another, let us all join in worship and praise upon the Nativity of our Lord and the joy of heaven and earth at Christmas.
Grace to you and peace during this time of Advent preparation, and may you and your family have a very blessed Christmas!
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted December 8, 2023 By adminOur Mid-Week Bible Study has resumed with the topic of Scriptural Retirement. Join us as we explore what retirement means for life in the church. The Study is adapted from a Bible study written by Pastor Brad Hales, Director of the NALC Aging Ministries. All are welcome. Mid-week Bible study meets at 9:30 a.m. On Wednesdays in the Church Office.
December Pastoral Devotion – Let There Be Light
Posted December 4, 2023 By adminRead Genesis 1:1-3
Have you seen something wonderful today? Have you noticed the beauty of God’s creation all around you? The world we live in is filled with beautiful things, trees, lakes, rivers, animals; the list goes on. All of these and everything else is the result of the creating love of God. Sometimes I wonder if we can even imagine the conditions before God said “Let there be…” We humans cannot begin to understand the formlessness and void of creation in the beginning. Yet God said, “Let there be…” And it came to be. As Christians all over the world begin to observe the Advent of our Lord Jesus, we do so by recalling the history of our salvation through Christ, which begins of course, in the beginning. As we read Holy Scripture, we believe Christ was present in the creation of all there is. The opening verses of the Gospel according to John teach us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4). The Creation narrative teaches us that apart from God there is no life or light. Still, even today so many continue to discount God’s creating love in the beginning. Many also continue to deny the presence of God in the world or in their lives. Yet, the simple fact remains, without God there is nothing. Without God humans have no purpose. Without the love of God in Christ Jesus, the people of the world walk in the darkness of their sin and their reality is such that they have no hope for salvation.
Jesus is the light of the world; he is the one in whom we find hope. Through Christ, God’s Word incarnate, the people of God once again walk in the light of God’s mercy. Our lives are not formless, they are not void, rather, they are filled with the purpose of proclaiming the gospel and the vocation of love for our neighbor. Today we find ourselves at the beginning of Advent. We find ourselves as sinners awaiting the celebration of our Savior’s entrance into earthly life in order to rescue God’s people from sin and death. Today we find ourselves at the beginning, understanding Christ’s presence in the beginning of time and the creative nature of God’s love.
Prayer: Thank you God for this beautiful world in which we live. Thank you for each person you have created in your image. Most of all, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our light and our life. Amen.
