Welcome to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for April

• He is risen!
• Seeing some new faces at church
• Decades day was enjoyable

Pastor’s Report:

• Scheduling Bible study has been very difficult with parking lot construction.
• Pastor would like all confirmands to be confirmed together. He plans to continue studies during Sunday school this summer and confirm on Reformation Sunday this year by the Bishop.
• Thank you to Brandon and Mark Slice for attending this year’s convocation and serving as delegates.

Treasurer’s Report:

• Offering is behind from last year by approximately $19,000.
• Overall expenditures slightly ahead of 2025 due to salary increases and annual payments of QuickBooks, Servant Keeper and insurance.
• Review of insurance policies are being completed.
• Hymnal fund has been established and added to Vanco.
• Congo mission trip is back to positive balance.
• Thrivent access has been set up so that we can manage funds easier.

Ministry Team Reports

• Christian Education
  • Women’s Bible Study will conclude this month and start back in the fall.
  • VBS will be Monday, July 13th – Thursday, July 16th
  • Meal starting at 5:45 PM and VBS from 6:30-8:00 PM.
  • T-shirts and crafts have been purchased using Thrivent dollars.
  • Will continue to submit background checks for Sunday School and VBS teachers and volunteers.
  • Will plan and host Luther League, LCY, Youth celebration on Sunday, June 7th as part of the 250th anniversary.
  • Prayers for our program and increasing attendance for Sunday School and volunteers for both Sunday School and nursery.
• Congregational Care
  • Plan to assist Lutheran Women with 250th anniversary meal on May 17th.
• Discipleship
  • Donated 17 Mercy Bags to We Care weighing 286 pounds.
• Property
  • Provided recommendations for plans for picnic shed. Will get quotes to present to council on the removal of picnic shed and renovating to become a covered playground.
  • Would like to add lighting to exterior of church.
  • Looking into getting city water hookup to church.
  • Office building septic needs to be repaired following the retention pond.
  • Sump pump will need to be installed in the basement of the office to replace existing gravity drain.
  • A wireless internet system has been installed from the office to the main church building while underground hard wire is out of service.
  • Property team will be securing bids for landscaping plan for the parking lot. Total funds may not cover this required step for completion due to Lexington County landscaping plan not being included in parking lot package funding. Council will need to address additional funds if/when needed.
• Safety
  • Safety team has begun monitoring exterior during service.
  • The AED batteries and pads have been received from Amazon. Saved $60 by changing our supplier.
• Staff Support
  • Julie Stuck and Susan Shealy met about a draft from Nancy Williamson for the new website. Will bring to the next council meeting.
• Worship and Music
  • Have received some money for new hymnals; need to encourage more donations.

Old Business:

• Proposed changes to the Child and Youth Policy were discussed.
• Request for approval of reduction in property and indemnity insurance premiums was made by the Finance Team. The motion to approve was made, seconded and passed.

** Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30 PM in the church office. **

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for March

• Start of retaining pond
• Lent
• Visit from Pastor Henry Pawluk
• Pastor teaching the Up and Going Sunday School class
• New member joined, Earl Bouknight

Pastor’s Report:

• Will be teaching the Children’s Sunday School class this week.
• Will be on vacation May 11th -16th .
• He and Angela became grandparents again and will be celebrating their grandson’s, Bennet David Gobble, baptism at St. Jacob’s on May 24th.

Treasurer’s Report:

• Offering is behind from last year by approximately $17,000.
• Overall expenditures slightly ahead of 2025 due to salary increases and annual payments of insurance, Quickbooks and Servant Keeper.
• Annual payment of Servant Keeper has been paid and is higher than in previous years. With savings in Quickbooks recommend moving $225 from Quickbooks to Servant Keeper.
• Endowment and invested funds – working with Thrivent to more easily manage church funds.

Ministry Team Reports

• Christian Education
  • Refrigerator was ordered and installed in the nursery by the Property Team. Many thanks to Gerald and Danny for making this happen.
  • Staff support is submitting background checks for Sunday School and VBS teachers and volunteers.
  • VBS will be Monday, July 13th – Thursday, July 16^th
    • Meal starting at 5:45 PM and VBS from 6:30-8:00 PM.
    • Theme is Illumination Station by Lifeway.
    • Team will be reaching out to finalize teachers and to find two more volunteers.
    • Will decorate for VBS on Sunday, July 12th at 3:00 PM.
  • Will sponsor Luther League, LCY, Youth celebration on Sunday, June 7th as part of the 250th anniversary. Past group members when Pastor Wessinger and Pastor Eargle served will be invited to our service and lunch.
  • Will now have Sunday School Assistants (1 or 2 adults) downstairs in classrooms.
  • Provided Temple Talk on Sunday, March 22nd .
  • Need volunteers for Nursery, VBS and Sunday School.
• Congregational Care
  • Provided bereavement meal for Sharon Slice on Tuesday, March 24th .
  • Assisted with 250th anniversary meal on March 15th .
  • Helped set up Lutheran Men Easter breakfast.
• Discipleship
  • Donated 24 Mercy Bags to We Care weighing 445 pounds.
  • The Disaster Relief Shed inventory has remained the same
• Safety
  • Brief meeting held following the service to increase some security measures. This plan will place more attention on the parking area.
  • Batteries and pads for the AED have been ordered.
• Staff Support
  • Job was posted for Digital Media and Livestream Coordinator position on the St. Jacob’s Facebook page. Also emailed information to Spring Hill High School, CATE Center, and Chapin High School.
  • There is a volunteer who has offered their services pro bono to create and update the St. Jacob’s website. Research for ideas on other church websites has been done and committee members will meet with this volunteer in April to discuss.
  • Help is needed from the council and congregation to promote Digital Media position. Anyone interested, please contact the church office.
• Stewardship
  • Team Leader and Pastor are in the process of gathering team members.
  • Has received resources from the NALC.
  • Stewardship includes Time, Talent, Treasure and Testimonies.
• Worship and Music
  • Updated manual for Altar care, including communion preparations, banners and paraments.
  • Provided flowers for the funeral of Karen Sutphin.
  • Have received $550 toward new hymnals.

Old Business:

• Need two delegates for the Carolinas Mission Region meeting held in Salisbury, NC in May.

New Business:

• Need to replace dumpster with a larger size dumpster, due to trash overflow and church being charged extra for the overflow.

Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 5th at 6:30 PM in the church office.

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for February

• Blanket drive was successful
• The start of the new parking lot

Pastor’s Report:

• Attendance has been higher than in the past for lent services (average 40 in attendance).
• Pastor has been attending Sunday School class in the Fellowship Hall and hopes to rotate through each Sunday School class and teach.
• Pastor recommended combining the Passion service (Maundy Thursday/Good Friday) into evening worship on Sunday, April 29th. Council approved by unanimous vote.

Treasurer’s Report:

• We are behind $4,000 from two weeks without services.
• Review of new copier contract is complete; new copier has been installed. This should produce savings between $250-$300 a month. o We are waiting for a check from the new company to pay off the old copier.
• Review of policies for insurance are being completed with potential adjustments coming in early 2026. Insurance has been paid in full for the year, which is why expenditures thus far through March are higher.
• Annual payment for QuickBooks paid in January; $500 savings when paid annually.
• Annual payment of Servant Keeper paid and is higher than in previous years.
  • Recommend moving $225 from QuickBooks to Servant Keeper account with savings from QuickBooks annual payment.
• If digital media position is established, will set up payroll for the position.
• Dedicated and restricted funds:
  • Funds for the 250th Anniversary have been set up in a restricted fund with a budget of $15,000.
  • Parking lot account has approximately $117k in checking account. Working to transfer remaining funds for the project from Thrivent.
  • Hymnal restricted fund has been established and also added to Vanco for the hymnal replacement project.
  • Congo mission trip is slowly coming back to positive balance now that this is separated from the Congo benevolence funds.

Ministry Team Reports

• Safety
  • Generations agreed to allow use of their club house for CPR training and recertification.
  • With lots of activity on and around church grounds there is need for “roamers” during Sunday School and service.
• Christian Education
  • Meeting held on March 2nd . Team discussed the need for additional teachers in all classes. Looking for volunteers willing to help one Sunday a month (teaching or roaming).
  • VBS will be Monday, July 13th – Thursday, July 16th; meal starting at 5:45 PM and VBS from 6:30-8:00 PM.
  • Confirmation date will be determined as well as confirmands meeting the requirements. We will not have a First Communion class in 2026 unless there is more interest.
  • Will support youth retreat and summer camp as needed.
  • Plan for Luther League, LCY, Youth celebration for June as part of the 250th anniversary. Members of past groups will be invited to attend church service. Hamburger meal will be provided after service on Sunday, June 7th .
  • Prayers for our program and increasing attendance for Sunday School and for volunteers for both Sunday School and VBS.
  • IMPORTANT – Finding VBS leader to help with the purchasing, setting up, daily agenda and decorations.
• Congregational Care
  • Provided bereavement meal for Karen Sutphin family on February 5th .
  • Assisted in Shrove Tuesday meal preparations.
  • Will assist Discipleship Team with collection of blankets and Anniversary Team with meal for 250th anniversary celebration on March 15th .
• Discipleship
  • The church donated 215 blankets to the regional disaster warehouse. The final 115 blankets were transported to Kings Mountain on February 28th thanks to the LM, LW, and Up & Going.
  • Congregation also donated 12 mercy bags to We Care on February 16th .
• Property
  • Retention pond for parking lot is underway with the construction crews clearing land.
  • Looking for recommendations on what to do with the picnic shed.
• Stewardship
  • Pastor will speak with AJ regarding stewardship plans for 2026.
• Worship and Music
  • New hymnals have been approved, and council asks if we should start to advertise.
  • Possibly find a church in need of old hymnals to donate.
• Staff Support
  • Began advertising for the digital media position.
  • There is a volunteer to help pro-bono to create and update the website beginning in March.

** Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, April 7th at 6:30 PM in the church office. **

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for January

• Service with Pastor Dawn and meal
• Well attended dinner after service
• Snow for two days but without losing any power
• Parking lot approval

Pastor’s Report

• Pastor David commended the congregation on Jamie Amick’s funeral services.
• Pastor enjoyed having lunch at Generations of Chapin.
• Lenten services will be held on Sunday evening at 5:00 PM with no meal provided.
• Discussed upcoming Carolinas Mission Region youth trip in Murrells Inlet.

Treasurer’s Report

• New copier was installed and seems to be working well with no issues to report
• Currently reviewing old insurance policy to find out what insurance will be able/willing to cover for outside groups using our facilities. Will discuss after parking lot completion. Council is prayerfully considering what our next step will be if insurance does not cover the groups as we all agree that it is something important for our community.
• Parking lot is now underway
• Mandy has completed the audit. Council is reviewing the possibility of the need for a technology audit team. Finance asks that we maintain a paper trail of receipts and purchases after scanning to Mandy.

Ministry Teams

Safety: Robert

• Safety team is planning to go over the locks and video recording that we are currently using. There is a need for more video recording and possibly someone to monitor those more closely. Also need “roamers” to patrol the doors and who is coming and going during service.
• CPR certification is still being sought after.
• Fire extinguishers have been inspected and certified through January 2027.
• All remote issues for cameras have been resolved.

Christian Education: Sherrie

• Continuing with the two classes downstairs (5th grade and under/6th grade and above).
• Plans for upcoming month include:
  • Scheduling Christian Ed meeting and invite volunteers who signed up on the Time and Talent sheets.
  • 5 people have volunteered to help with the nursery. Will be setting up a schedule and adding it to the worship folder.
  • Need to determine VBS theme and dates.
  • Look at Time and Talent sheets for help with teaching children.
• IMPORTANT – Finding VBS leader to help with the purchasing, setting up, daily agenda and decorations.

Congregational Care: Billy

• Set up Fellowship Hall for the luncheon on January 18th .
• Assisted in the bereavement meal for Jamie Amick on Jan 31st .
• Will assist discipleship team with the collection of blankets for 250th anniversary project.
• Will provide bereavement meal for family of Karen Sutphin on February 5th .

Discipleship: Lynn

• Invited 18 volunteers to a team meeting.
• Delivered Mercy Bags following the 1st and 3rd Sundays for a total of 20 bags weighing 238 pounds. Received 112 hygiene kits from St. Stephen’s for the alternate disaster shed, bringing our total to 496 cleaning buckets, 597 hygiene kits, 90 elementary school kits, 47 kitchen kits, 123 Bibles.
• Team meeting scheduled for Sunday, February 1st .
• Expect to receive 350 empty cleaning buckets without lids from King’s Mountain. Plan to ship approximately 200 filled cleaning buckets and supply of hygiene kits to King’s Mountain.
• Discussed the possibility of an “in as much day.”

Property: Gerald / Danny

• Parking lot pre-construction meeting on Monday, January 12th with the county and construction company.

Stewardship: AJ

• Pastor will speak with AJ regarding stewardship plans for 2026.

Worship and Music: Julie

• Checking on better prices for communion cups and supplies.
• New Lexan was purchased and is on altar along with a new altar linen.
• Committee met and all agreed with Pastor that we needed to replace the green hymnals with new ones while they are still in print. Hymnals are $32.50 each and we would need approximately 150 copies. Discussed the need for a separate account that is strictly for the purpose of using new hymnals. Council recommended that we let the congregation donate money towards this fund.

Staff Support: Susan

• Sign new employment agreements this month.
• Start looking for someone to help with live streaming and website management

New Business

• Find and hire someone to take over the website and live streaming.
• Need to find a lay representative for the Carolinas Mission Region in Salisbury, NC

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for December

• Christmas Eve Service, especially candlelight and singing the hymn Silent Night
• Congregational Christmas meal
• Christmas Cantata
• New visitors
• Youth led service

Pastor’s Report

• Pastor is scheduled to attend the NALC Clergy Conference in Virgina Beach from January 26th -29th . Pastor also is scheduled to preach at Macedonia Lutheran Church on January 25th .

Treasurer’s Report

• Final 2025 expenditures were slightly behind revenues by around $2,700.

Ministry Teams

Safety:

• Marion Baker with SLED has been contacted to come as a guest speaker but an exact date has not been determined.

Christian Education:

• Continuing with the two classes downstairs (5th grade and under/6th grade and above).
• Plans for upcoming month include:
  • Scheduling Christian Ed meeting and invite volunteers who signed up on the Time and Talent sheets
  • Need volunteers to keep the nursery
  • Look at Time and Talent sheets for help with teaching children
• IMPORTANT – Finding VBS leader to help with the purchasing, setting up, daily agenda and decorations.

Congregational Care:

• Assisted Lutheran Women to set up and decorate for Congregation Christmas Lunch and reset up Fellowship Hall afterwards.

Discipleship:

• Need additional volunteers for the shopping for Mercy Bags.

Property:

• Parking lot pre-construction meeting scheduled with the county and construction company on Monday, January 12, 2026. Construction begins on February 19, 2026.

Stewardship:

• New website has stalled and will need to gather more information.

Worship and Music:

• Decorated for Christmas and put up Angel Tree.
• Lexan has been ordered for the altar for the protection of the paraments.
• Julie Stuck has been named Chair and Brandon will be council liaison.

Staff Support:

• Sign new employment agreements this month to reflect salary increases approved by congregation in December.

** Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:45 PM in the church office. **

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for November

• Providing pound cakes for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner and for helping package
• Great turnout to decorate and put up Chrismon Trees
• Providing Christmas to all the children on the Angel Tree
• Sausage sales and making
• Sherrie and David leading worship services

Pastor’s Report

• Pastor highlighted activities for the month and significant upcoming dates. Also, reminded us of the Wreath Laying for Veterans at the cemetery on Saturday, December 13th at 1:30 PM. We have 65 veterans.
• Two more congregations applying to NALC – Macedonia and St. Paul’s Columbia.
• Peter Chapin is voting on their call for a Pastor on Sunday, December 14th.
• Pastor will supply at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 28th.
• John Riser will be replacing Carroll Lindler as an Elder.

Ministry Teams

Staff Support: Susan

• Staff will sign employee agreements for 2026 with the updated salaries.
• Many thanks to Kevin for communicating the needs and interests of our staff with Council.

Christian Education: Sherrie

• Christian education opportunities continue for everyone with Sunday School and various bible studies.
• Split the Sunday School Class into two classes – 5th grade and under and 6th grade an up. Looking for volunteers to teach on a regular basis.
• Waiting on book of 2026 VBS themes for us to select for next year.

Congregational Care: Billy

• Provided 300 slices of pound cake to the Community Thanksgiving Luncheon. Many thanks to our bakers and for those that stayed for our annual cake cutting and packaging after Thanksgiving Eve service.
• Served bereavement meal for family of Stanley Slice.
• Assisted with setting up and decorating Fellowship Hall for our December 7th Christmas Luncheon after service.

Discipleship: Lynn

• Angel Tree – Gifts for 40 children which included clothes, toys, and wish list items.
• Mercy Bag Donations:
  • Twenty-five mercy bags were delivered to We Care in November.

Property: Gerald Lindler / Danny Shealy

• Contract for HVAC and Ice Machine to perform bi-annual service maintenance on our HVAC units and Ice Machine is being coordinated with Wilson Refrigeration and Air.

Worship and Music: Marie Slice / Julie Stuck

• Chrismon Trees and Advent Wreaths were put up.
• Poinsettias have been ordered.
• Request to purchase a piece of Lexan to cover the altar to protect the fair linen and to provide a flat surface was received and approved by Council vote.
• Poinsettias will be placed in sanctuary. New Fair Linen will be placed on altar.

Team Leaders for 2026:

• Christian Education – Sherrie
  • Lynn volunteered to help recruit teachers. We would still like a team to work on VBS for 2026.
• Congregational Care – Billy
• Discipleship – Don
• Finance – Judy
• Property – Gerald and Danny
• Safety – Robert
• Staff Support – Susan
• Stewardship – AJ
• Worship and Music – Julie

Council Officers for 2026:

• Vice President – Tracy
• Secretary – Nicki

Council Ministry Team Assignments for 2026:

• Contact Team Leader for monthly report prior to Council Meeting and provide updates/approvals back to Team Leader
• Christian Education – Marlene
• Congregational Care – Ann
• Discipleship – Judy
• Property – Adrian
• Safety – Eddie
• Staff Support – Tina
• Stewardship – Nicki
• Worship and Music – Brandon

** Next scheduled meeting is Saturday, January 10th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the church office. **

**We are looking for nursery helpers – please contact Sherrie or Laurie.**

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for October

• Trunk or Treat
• Homecoming – Golden Agers Sunday
• Sanctuary Renovations

Pastor’s Report

• Pastor highlighted activities for the month and significant upcoming dates.
  • American Legion Wreaths Across America – Goal of 63 for our cemetery. 16 have been purchased.
  • Pastor will be on vacation November 25th -30th. The November 26th and 30th services will be Lay led.
  • Open registration for the Continental Youth Gathering to be held July 7th -10th in Roanoke Virginia. Registration fee is $275 per youth. Plans are being made for fundraisers to cover transportation and lodging. We have 7 youth and 2 chaperones that could go.

Ministry Teams

Staff Support: Susan

• Request made to provide a worship schedule of services through May to include Advent and Lent. (Pastor shared that he would provide.)

Safety: Robert

• No report.

Christian Education: Sherrie

• Christian education opportunities continue for everyone with Sunday School and various bible studies.
• Waiting on book of 2026 VBS themes for us to select for next year.

Congregational Care: Billy

• Celebrated our thirty-nine (39) Golden Agers and Homecoming Service.
• Community Thanksgiving Committee has requested that we provide 300 slices of pound cake. We will have our annual cake cutting and packaging after Thanksgiving Eve service.
• Will set up Fellowship Hall for our December 7th Christmas Luncheon.

Discipleship: Lynn

• Mercy Bag Donations:
  • Twelve mercy bags plus additional cleaning supplies and paper products were delivered to We Care in October.
• Disaster Shed inventory as of October 31st:
  • 496 Storm Buckets o 532 Hygiene Kits
  • 90 Elementary School Kits
  • 47 Kitchen Kits
  • 123 Bibles
• There will be a worship folder announcement around Thanksgiving requesting donations since We Care will be closed after December 15th for the holidays.

New Business:

• December Congregational Meeting – Sunday, December 7th:
  • Approve 2026 Budget
  • Election of Council
  • Ratification of Amendments

**Next scheduled meeting is December 9th , 2025, at 6:45 PM in the church office with newly elected council members.**

Good Things at St. Jacob’s for July

• Ramonia’s 90th birthday
• Comfortable pew cushions
• Received more flood buckets and had lots of volunteers to unload

Ministry Teams

Staff Support: Susan

• Recognized Laurie Shacker on her birthday, July 26th.
• Bryan reported that he has repeatedly cleaned up the centipedes that enter the basement each summer. He wants the congregation to know that he is aware of their presence and that he cleans, but they come right back. This will end by September – they are seeking water and cool temperatures inside the building.
• Planning for annual staff reviews in August.

Safety: Robert

• Fire extinguishers have been checked and are good through 2025.
• Will check first aid and medical equipment for expired dates.

Christian Education: Sherrie

• Will plan for Promotion Sunday in September with breakfast. Date to be determined with Pastor.

Congregational Care: Billy

• The team provided a meal for the family of Lorene Cannon.

Discipleship: Lynn

• Mercy Bag Donations:
  • July 7th – 17 bags weighing 286 pounds.
  • 21st – 7 bags weighing 129 pounds.
• Also delivered some paper products and other pantry items.
• Disaster Shed:
  • Received shipments of supplies from Lexington and Mayor Memorial in Newberry. Inventory
    • 389 Storm Buckets
    • 482 Hygiene Kits
    • 91 Elementary School Kits
    • 24 Kitchen Kits
    • 112 Bibles

Property: Gerald / Danny

• Mike Outlaw installed 4 Hunter outdoor rated 52” ceiling fans and 2 LD 4’ light fixtures in the bus/ disaster shed.
• Parking lot permits/application forms have been received by Lexington County and are in the review stages.
• Sanctuary Renovations ο Beadboard being installed and working on ceilings in Narthex and Sacristy. Update choir loft to be one level.

New Business:

• Time for 2026 budget requests, which will be due in September. Next scheduled meeting is September 2, 2025 at 6:45 PM in the church office.