Welcome to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church

What follows is a copy of an essay shared with me by a friend who received it from one of his former students. I found this to be a powerful witness coming from one who felt he had to share his experience upon reading the narrative of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the first time. My friend edited some parts to preserve the student’s anonymity. Permission has been given for my sharing it with you.
Prior to attending this class, I had not been exposed to Christianity. I hadn’t read the Bible before. I knew a famous story about the Last Supper and I had seen paintings that depicted it. A few weeks ago, I went to a church for the first time. I felt a little amazed about it. The church was just like a big, warm family. Christians greeted others, gave hugs, prayed to Jesus by singing songs. They even prayed for people who were suffering diseases and disaster even though they were strangers to them. Then I saw some Christians holding out their arms and weeping when they were emotionally moved. They were so faithful when they were praying that I couldn’t believe how great was the power of their belief had I not seen it myself.
I was given a small piece of bread and a little cup of red wine which represented Jesus’ body and blood to eat. A Christian told me it was given according to Jesus’ promise to sinful human beings. But I didn’t understand that until I read Luke’s story today.
Jesus healed so many people who were sick and troubled by evil spirits before he went to Jerusalem, but he didn’t do anything for himself, even though he had anticipated his death many times. He kept calm in the face of death, comforted women who wept for him as he carried his cross. He even forgave one of the condemned criminals dying with him.
What a graceful man! Now I know why Christians are so faithful to him. A man who could devote himself to ease others’ sins should be honored and praised forever!
But still there is one thing that puzzles me. If Christians can be so moved by their faith in their Lord and Savior, why do so many take salvation for granted? Why do so many Christians refrain from attending church services on Sunday?
Being welcomed into this big warm family has brought me ever-closer to the God whom I did not know. But once I began reading the Bible and learning more about Jesus, I have become intrigued with his life, and especially his death. I have come to believe that Jesus truly is my Lord and Savior and that having been forgiven of my sins, I will one day enter the gates of his kingdom. If this is what Christians believe, why is it that an overwhelming number of them stay away?
I’ve heard some say it is because they don’t like the music. Others have said it’s because they don’t care for the pastor. I’ve even heard Christian parents complain that there are not enough things to keep their children busy. This is what I don’t understand. Are we supposed to come because we like the music? Are we supposed to come because we feel the pastor is a terrific preacher and perfect gentleman? And are we supposed to bring our children so they can participate in games and programs? No, what I have come to believe is that Christians are to come to church because living on our own terms is why Jesus went to the cross in the first place. He died because humans are stubborn in their thinking, because they only want life measured by the way they think it should be. Although I am sure few would admit this, not even to themselves, I have to admit this was me, at least until I took this class and was invited to church by one of my classmates.
I am so thankful that I have met Jesus. I am thankful that a church filled with sinners welcomed me into their warm family. I am thankful that the imperfect pastor of their church believes Jesus died for the sake of everyone, and that he is so willing to tell others how God saves us from our sin through the death of Jesus.
Not before I took this class, not before I read the Gospel of Luke, not before I went to church with my classmate, did I realize what I had been missing my whole life. And now, I want this for everyone. Thank you, Jesus, for opening my eyes.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

The page on the calendar indicates the month of April is finally upon us, and the highlight for the Church will certainly be the Easter celebration that comes on April 17th. Yet, as I prepared to write this column and offer an Easter message, I realized that at the time of this writing, we are but halfway through our Lenten journey. As the children of God, we long to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter, but in order to be faithful, we cannot look past the lessons of Lent and the events of Holy Week. Of course, there are plans underway for our traditional Easter breakfast and Easter egg hunt. Yet, in the midst of all these plans for celebration, if we fail to consider the journey of Christ to the cross, suddenly the story loses much of its meaning.
Since Ash Wednesday, Christians the world over have focused on our need for repentance and our reliance on God’s mercy and grace. Lent is a season of penitence, a time for spiritual renewal and a time of dedication to discipleship and following Christ. Each Wednesday, our congregation, along with four other congregations, have been engaged in a series based on the prophet Joel’s call to “Return to the Lord.” As we consider what Christ endured on our behalf, we hear God’s call to turn away from our betrayal, bearing false witness, and denial. We have also heard the message that God calls us to return to him in prayer, seeking his kingdom first above all else.
Each Wednesday, we continue to hear the call to return to the Lord from neighboring pastors who have prepared messages for us according to our theme. These voices of repentance provide us with very real examples of how we are to respond to God’s grace. God meets us where we are and in our every need. He provides that which we need to live and calls us to share these good gifts with others. Just as Christ loves us, God calls us to love our neighbors and be as Christ to them.
Finally, as we prepare for the week the Church calls Holy, we look to Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem where he was greeted as king and called blessed. The Bible study we have shared concerning the Passion of Christ has focused attention to those events of Holy Week that have
been leading up to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion. For me, it has been a particularly meaningful time of Bible study. I strongly encourage those who are able, come on Wednesday morning and join in. We will engage Scriptures as we read of Jesus before Caiaphas, Herod and ultimately Pilate. We will consider his passion as the ones whom he came to save. And finally, we will study and meditate on Christ words from the cross as he completes his earthly mission and wins the victory over the powers that defy God.
Many of you will come to the service of Palm Sunday and hear the passion narrative of our Lord Jesus. Many more of you will come to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and feel the power of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Still, I encourage you to attend the services of worship dur-ing Lent and especially Holy Week. This is the time to consider what God in Christ Jesus has done and continues to do for the sake of God’s people. This is the time to dedicate yourselves to deepening your relationship with God. This is the time to cast away those aspects of our lives that do us harm and give thanks to God for rebirth as children of God as we bathe in the waters of our baptism onto Christ.
The Easter celebration is not far off, but it is also not yet here. In order that we may fully and joyfully experience the wonders of Christ’s empty tomb, we must also hear and consider his journey to the cross. I look forward to seeing more and more of you as Easter approaches. I look forward to sharing the gospel story of Jesus with you and receiving the feast of Christ body and blood that God sets before us each week. And most certainly I look forward with great anticipation to sharing with you the Easter proclamation that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila