Choir Notes Archive

Music Notes

Posted August 10, 2026 By admin

Ecclesiastes 3

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.3.1-8.ESV

Solomon tells us that life is full of many seasons. There are seasons of plenty and seasons of need. As we begin this choir season, the St. Jacob’s choir is in a time of need. As our choir has aged, we have lost many wonderful members who added to our worship and praise to God. We are now down to just a few members and when a couple are away on vacation or ill, we are unable to bring our offering of song to God. During this year you may notice weeks without a choir. We need your help. You may think you do not have a strong voice, or you are too busy to commit to weekly practice. This is the time for you to join us not every week, but when you can. We need every voice raised in praise to God, strong and weak.

It is indeed a time to seek and a time to build up. If our worship and praise is important to St. Jacob’s, and if having a choir to lead worship is important, then it will take volunteers.

Be assured that we will lead worship with God’s help as we are able. We will sing hymns that are well known to us for anthems, and we will now practice on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM. You need not commit to every Sunday, but you can join us at 9:30 AM as you are able.

 

God is with us through all these times and seasons of life. I know that he will provide.

Music Notes

Posted February 5, 2026 By admin

February is a time of change liturgically. We begin the month in the season of Epiphany when Christ is revealed to us as the light of the world. The Magi saw this light and were drawn to the child, Jesus. We see the Morning Star, fair and bright, who teaches us how to shine the light of God’s love in the world. But by the middle of February, we will change to the season of Lent. We will put away the alleluias from our worship and in our music, we will reflect on our need for a savior and precious gift we have been given.
My song is love unknown,
My savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown
That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die.
February will also be a time of change for our congregation as the physical work on our parking lot begins. Because of lack of access to the building during the weekdays for safety reasons, we will have our normal midweek Lenten worship on Sunday evenings. Sundays will be a busy day. After Ash Wednesday, choir practice will change to Sunday evenings immediately following the Lenten worship service. We invite you to come join us as we prepare music for our Easter Sunday worship. Children’s choir and bell choir will remain at the same time on Sunday afternoons.

Parking Lot Update (Provided by Danny Shealy)

  • Danny provided updated drawing of parking lot.
  • Continue to work through the east drive across from Martin Road. Currently right in and right out but want to provide a left in.
  • Providing more concrete in front of church for after service fellowship.
  • The playground will be removed.
  • Danny needs to make a few more changes to this drawing before finalizing.
  • Next drawing will be the grading and drainage plans. Biggest issue is the size and placement of one, possibly two drainage ponds. Move back as far into the woods as possible.
  • There will be a concrete pad for the dumpster with a solid fence around it.
  • There will be wheel stops for parking in front of the church, which are 20 feet off the edge of the road.
  • Painted crosswalk with signage and flashing lights.
  • Hoping to have permits by May.

Thrivent Update (Provided by Danny Shealy)

  • Larry and Danny met with Thrivent representative.
  • The Thrivent representative is preparing an investment strategies proposal for church funds.

Church Sanctuary Renovation Update (including moving altar)

  • Continue to work with designer to finalize plans.
  • Renovations Team meeting next week.

Pastor’s Report

  • Pastor shared activities from February and upcoming events in March.
  • Pastor shared that he appreciated all the volunteers that helped with both funeral services. Formed a Youth Council to include Isabelle Peeples, Daniel Covalt, Pastor, Angelia, David, and Susan. Excited about the Council and the discipleship direction that they are taking.
  • Pastor is hosting the SCMD Pastors at St. Jacob’s March 20th.
  • March 30th – Youth and family Cross Walk at Palmetto Trail
  • Looking at the possibility of a NALC mission trip this summer in the Western NC area. Will hold an interest meeting on April 3rd.

Ministry Teams Safety: Robert Wessinger

  • Seven Security Cameras have been installed and are working well. It is being used as planned during church services.

Discipleship: Lynn Shealy / Julie Stuck

  • Don Dease continues to organize and accept supplies in the Disaster Preparedness Shed.
    • February 18th, 9 volunteers assisted in unloading a large shipment of supplies from St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church.
    • Inventory: 243 Cleaning Buckets, 129 hygiene kits, and 90 elementary school kits.
    • Anticipate delivery from Holy Trinity of 50 cleaning buckets.

Property: Gerald Lindler / Danny Shealy

  • Reviewed and installed LED bulbs in existing 4 light fixtures in bus shed.
  • Awaiting quote on ventilation recommendation and adding 2 additional LED light fixtures.
  • Fellowship Hall floor cleaned and waxed.
  • Communicated with engineer on fine tuning parking lot plans and permitting.

Christian Education: Sherrie McTeer

  • Plans for VBS curriculum is being researched and will schedule meeting to choose the curriculum and VBS dates.

Delegates Needed for Convocations

  • Carolina Mission Region Convocation (May 2-3 in NC)
  • NALC Convocation (August 4-8 in Pittsburgh)

March News Letter

Posted February 27, 2025 By admin

Music Notes

Posted February 10, 2025 By admin

Our youngest choristers are busy busy bees this month learning about Epiphany and the beatitudes. Or as we like to spell it the Bee-atitudes. They will be sharing Jesus’s message of blessings with the congregation in a couple of weeks. If you see one of our children’s choir members, ask them to tell you about the meaning of the words epiphany or beatitudes. I’m sure they can tell you. They are also beginning to ring handbells. It’s a favorite activity for everyone.

 

Just a reminder of our weekly schedule:

  • Chancel choir – Wednesdays 6:00-7:00PM
  • Children’s choir – Sundays 3:00-3:45 PM
  • Handbell rehearsals – Sundays 4:00-5:00 PM
  • Youth choir – Sundays 5:00-5:30 PM Please come and join us!

St. Jacob’s Youth

Posted February 1, 2025 By admin

We kicked off a new year of youth activities in January with a campfire, games, and most especially smores. We had a great turn out with 14 kids participating. We celebrated Jesus as the light of the world. We roasted hotdogs over the fire, held an epiphany themed scavenger hunt by flashlight, shared devotions around the fire and finished up making smores.

Youth group will be the last Sunday of each month. In February, we will celebrate the month of love by sharing the love of Christ throughout the world. Along with Pastor David, we will host the chili cook-off on February 23rd at 5:00 PM to raise money for Congo International to allow our pastor and Pastor Kalonji to take the Word of God to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Come out and support our youth and this important ministry of our church.

Isabelle and Daniel will represent our youth members this year on the Youth Council. The Youth Council will meet on Wednesday, February 12th at 7:00 PM in the church office to plan activities for the upcoming year.

Youth Retreat

Posted February 1, 2025 By admin

Youth Retreat

Posted December 28, 2024 By admin

Youth Christmas Party

Posted December 27, 2024 By admin

On December 8th the youth had a Christmas party. In addition to lots of pizza, snacks and Christmas movies, they baked cookies and made treat bags for Christmas caroling.

Music Notes

Posted December 27, 2024 By admin

Christmas Caroling

Christmas caroling was lots of fun this year. We had 26 carolers! We filled J.L. and Janet’s house. What fun. The youth baked cookies and made treat bags to take to each person we visited. We gathered for a soup lunch after church on Sunday and set out to sing to 9 people. We were all a little hoarse by the time we arrived at Todd and Joanie’s house to sing to Papa Joe and enjoy a delicious spread of Christmas treats and fellowship. Maybe next year we can have 36 carolers!