Mercy bags are packed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Please come to the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship to help pack bags.
Fellowship Archive
Mercy Bags for We Care
Posted November 15, 2024 By adminLutheran Men
Posted November 10, 2024 By adminThe Lutheran Men will be making Country Sausage on Monday, November 25, 2024. If you would like to purchase BULK sausage at $5.00 per pound, please place your order in advance. See a member of the LM or contact Gerald on or before Sunday, November 17th. The sausage can be picked up between 3:00 and 6:00 PM on Monday, November 25th in the Fellowship Hall.
The Lutheran Men will be sponsoring a Christmas Meal on Sunday, December 8th immediately following our service of worship. Every one is invited to attend, dinner will be provided. Please invite your family and friends to celebrate with us.
Responding to Disaster
Posted November 7, 2024 By adminWe all remember what happened when a Hurricane named Helene came to town. Our community endured heavy winds, rains, and many fallen trees, all which knocked out power for days within our surrounding area. Yet, by God’s grace, our normal routine has been restored. Folks in the mountains have not been so fortunate.
As we all know, Helene brought devastation to millions of people in the hills of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. In some instances, complete communities have been swept away by flash floods and mud slides. As a congregation in the North American Lutheran Church, we have been asked to assist in relief efforts, giving aid to people who have lost so much. It has been a tall order, but with God’s help we seem to be up to the task.
The response from our church family has been tremendous. Your generosity and willingness to share with your neighbors has been a blessing. From the beginning of October through October 11th, an avalanche of relief supplies fell upon our Fellowship Hall and Disaster Response Shed. Flood Buckets, Health Kits, clothing, food, hygiene products, and even pet foods were collected and sent to Western North Carolina.
Thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or simply prayed for our neighbors’ recovery. The recovery effort is not yet complete and won’t be for quite some time. The needs in the Mountain communities seem to change day by day. NALC Disaster Response is able to organize mission trips for groups or individuals who would like to volunteer in the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Anyone who is interested in participating in such efforts should contact the church office for further information.
Our Disaster Response Shed is in need of re-supply. You can help by putting together Health Kits or Flood Buckets. See the list included in this newsletter for packing directions for each kit. Your completed kits may be placed on the stage in the Fellowship Hall and will be moved into our Disaster Response Shed.
Flood Buckets
- 1 five-gallon bucket with lid
- 1 jug bleach (1/2 gal. or smaller)
- 2 large trash bags (Contractor 3 mil)
- 1 roll paper towels
- 2 rags
- Comet or scouring cleanser
- Pine Sol or liquid cleaner
- scrub brush
- gloves, 1 pair each, size L preferred
- rubber (reusable, i.e. Platex, dishwashing type)
- leather
- cotton
Health Care Kit (Pack in 2-gallon plastic storage bag or tote bag)
- 1 bath towel
- 1 wash cloth (optional)
- 1 shampoo (2 if travel size)
- 1 bar of soap (2 if travel size)
- 1 toothbrush (individually sealed)
- 1 pack of floss (optional)
- 1 toothpaste (2 if travel size)
- 1 comb
- 1 deodorant
- 1 nail clippers (optional)
Youth Ministry Spotlight
Posted November 5, 2024 By adminMembers of St. Jacob’s Youth engaged God’s mission in a couple of significant ways during October. Several of our youth worked to assemble flood buckets in the fellowship hall to assist people in hurricane recovery. On another occasion, youth members went along with Lynn and Susan Shealy, shopping for Mercy Bag items. They learned about the Mercy Bag ministry and how it impacts people in need within our surrounding area. Thank you also to David Kibler and Susan Shealy for leading a Youth Bible study on Wednesday evenings in the church office conference room. Yes, our St. Jacob’s Youth really is “mission driven.”
Music Notes
Posted November 2, 2024 By adminPsalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Like all of you, I have so much to be thankful for, “how can I keep from singing?” I thank you all for your support as David and I walk through this difficult time. Thank you to Sarah, our incredible organist, for carrying on with choir practice in my absence. Our choirs are having to adjust practice times and music schedules, and I thank them for all their support and love. I also thank and praise God for this church family and please know that your prayers and love bring both David and I much comfort and support.
We will not have our cantata as planned this advent season. We will instead have a service of lessons and carols on the last Sunday of advent which will include some special music.
Please note the change of times for choir practice, 6:00 PM during November and children’s choir, 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. Happy thanksgiving to you all.
Homecoming 2024
Posted October 30, 2024 By adminOur Homecoming and Golden Agers Celebration was a day filled with fellowship and plenty of good food and stories shared by many. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day such a wonderful event. We were pleased to welcome home Pastor Mark Metze, who served as our guest preacher. Accompanying Pastor Mark was his wife Rebecca (Eargle) Metze, along with their sons Henry and Eli. Several long-time members and guests also joined us for worship and a delicious meal afterward. Thanks be to God for the time we shared together.
Mission Youth Reformation Party
Posted October 29, 2024 By adminThe Carolinas Mission Region will hold its annual Youth Reformation Party on Sunday, November 3rd beginning at 3:00 PM. The location for the gathering will be Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Gastonia, NC. All St. Jacob’s youth and their friends in grades 6-12 are invited. Please let Pastor David or Angela Nuottila know if you are planning on participating. Parents, we will need volunteers to provide transportation. Holy Trinity is located along HWY 321 about two hours away. We should return to St. Jacob’s around 8:00 PM.
Up and Going
Posted October 29, 2024 By adminThe Up and Going met at 9:45 AM in the Fellowship Hall for devotions and a short business session before our trip to Batesburg to enjoy lunch at Shealy’s BBQ. Team leader Helen gave the devotion based on the reading that we are children of God and made in His image and so we bear His traits. We closed with praying together The Lord’s Prayer.
Fourteen members and guests traveled by car. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and enjoyable fellowship together. Thursday is liver-nip day and for those that like them, this was a special treat. For the rest of us, there were lots of other delicious foods available. Every dish is always a delicious treat and then there is the dessert bar. Oh…so good!!
November is our Thanksgiving meal at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 14th. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board. Please sign up if you plan to attend and list what you will bring for our meal. This year we will gift The Oliver Gospel Mission with men’s socks and underwear. Everybody is asked to bring a pack of socks AND a pack of men’s underwear to fill our giving box.
Helen
Team Leader for Up and Going
Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
Posted October 29, 2024 By adminThe Lutheran Women would like to thank all volunteers that came out to support our fall festival. A great time was had by all!
All Saints Sunday
Posted October 29, 2024 By adminThis year, All Saints Sunday falls on November 3rd. It is a time of remembrance and a time of thanksgiving. With the traditional candle lighting and prayer, we remember those who have entered the Church Triumphant and now rest peacefully in Christ. We also give thanks for the newest saints of Christ who are welcomed into the Church Militant through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Since our Previous All Saints celebration, several of our church family members have grieved the passing of parents. We have also welcomed three children into God’s family of faith through the waters of Holy Baptism. We give thanks to God for the Baptisms of Chloe Meetze, Tate Bise, and Samuel Dugan. We also acknowledge the St. Jacob’s members who joined the Church Triumphant, Kenneth Mostiler and Richard Shealy. We remember, as well, parents of several of our church family members who have passed during the last year. These include, Vera (Tina’s mother), Gerald (Tina’s father), Elizabeth (Joanie’s mother), Howard (Melissa’s father), Heyward (Jeff’s father), Beverly (Michael’s mother), and Nolan Berton (Bert) (John’s father). May God grant us peace and consolation as we commend our loved ones to his almighty and eternal care.