Holy Week this year begins as always on Palm Sunday and continues through Holy Saturday, the eve of the Resurrection of our Lord. Palm Sunday worship will commence on the sidewalk in front of the church (weather permitting) with the Blessing and Procession of Palms. It is Christian tradition that on Palm Sunday, the Passion narrative of Christ is read before the assembly. A brief sermon my precede the reading of the Passion, but preferably the preaching clergy allow the Passion of Christ to speak for itself.
Divine service will resume with the Great Triduum (Three Days) beginning on Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Christ’s giving “a new commandment” (Mandatum). Through his washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus gives the commandment to “love one another as I have loved you” which takes the form of selfless service to others. The service reaches its climax as God extends his table through the receiving of the Sacrament of the Altar. In remembrance of Jesus’s betrayal and arrest, the altar and church nave are stripped of their worship appointments as the cantor sings Psalm 22, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” The service includes no benediction (Good Words), and the congregation departs in silent reflection on Christ’s passion and his approaching crucifixion.
The Divine Service resumes on Good Friday with the traditional Tenebrae Service (Service of Shadows). Worshippers gather in silent reflection, pondering the sacrifice Christ made on their behalf. The service includes the confession of sin, solemn reproaches and seven readings concerning the crucifixion and death of Jesus. With each reading, light is diminished until the church is shrouded in darkness. Once more, at the conclusion of the service, the congregation departs in silence as it awaits the good news of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Fellowship Archive
Holy Week – April 13th-19th
Posted April 6, 2025 By adminMusic Notes
Posted April 5, 2025 By adminIt’s hard to believe that we are almost through our Lenten journey, but with all the pollen in the air, it must be time for Palm Sunday and Easter. Our younger choristers have been learning the history and words of the hymn “All Glory, Laud and Honor.” This beautiful hymn that we sing every Palm Sunday as we process into the church waving palm branches was written by St. Theodulph. Theodulph was a priest and writer and was appointed the bishop of Orleans, France by Charlemagne in 781. When Charlemagne died, his son, Louis the Pious, imprisoned many people in fear of rebellion including Theodulph who wrote this beloved hymn while in prison. Wrongly accused of treason, Theodulph clung to his faith and praised his redeemer. May we all show such faith in the challenges we face throughout our lives. Please talk to the children about Theodulph and what it means to you to know that Christ is your redeemer.
Choir rehearsals will return to Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM at the end of Lent.
The children’s choir is currently working on an anthem based on the Lord’s prayer and our making their own prayer book.
Youth News
Posted April 3, 2025 By adminGet ready for Stars and Strikes! Join us for laser tag, bumper cars and the video arcade on Sunday, April 27th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The fun begins right at 3:00 PM so be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before time. The cost is $22 per youth and includes pizza and a drink. Please let Angela Nuottila know if you will be attending.
The youth group met at the end of February to host the chili cook-off. It was a great success and of course June Lindler took home the award for best chili. We have also been busy planning worship for the end of March and taking part in the Cross Walk on the Palmetto Trail. Pictures of the Cross Walk will be included in next month’s newsletter.
Up and Going
Posted April 2, 2025 By adminEighteen members and guests gathered in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy the March Up and Going meeting. A delicious covered dish meal consisting of salads, meats, vegetables, sides and desserts was enjoyed by all. Everything was so tasty. Thank you to all of our cooks.
After the meal, Helen, Team Leader, gave the devotions from Our Daily Bread entitled “Seeing God In Creation.” The Bible reading was from Job 42: 1-6. She then read an article “The Signs of Spring” from Irmo Chapin Life magazine written by Keith Kneeshaw.
We then gathered at the work tables to write greeting cards and make beautiful bows which will be attached to the Hospice Easter Bags that we will make at the April meeting and deliver to Lutheran Hospice for distribution.
The April Up and Going meeting will be held on Thursday, April 10th at 11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch is a covered dish meal. After lunch, we will assemble Easter Bags for Hospice. Please bring Easter items to put in these bags.
Helen
Team Leader for Up and Going
2025 Congo Mission Trip
Posted February 15, 2025 By adminAs we all will remember, I was not able to make my mission trip to Congo last summer due to health reasons. Well, thanks be to God, I am finally able to resume my mission work with my partner Pastor Stephane Kalonji in Congo.
Our trip is scheduled to commence on Monday, June 30th. We will fly from Houston, TX to Kinshasa and arrive there on Tuesday evening, July 1st. Our mission work will include a visit with the Lutheran congregation in Mbuji Mayi where we will be able to see the progress of construction of the new parish building we are making possible through grants and donations. While in that province, we will again visit the village of Merode where, last summer, the children learned a song in English to serenade me with. I can’t wait to hear these children raise their voices to God in a language I can understand.
My portion of the mission trip will conclude on July 14th and I will return to Chapin on July 15th. As always, I will take your prayers with me and be surrounded by the love and support of so many who have supported the Congo Mission over the years.
The Great Chili Cook-Off
Posted February 14, 2025 By adminIt’s been a while since we crowned June Lindler St. Jacob’s Chili Cook-Off Champion. Now she has the opportunity to defend her title. On Sunday, February 23rd at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall, Pastor David and the St. Jacob’s Youth will host another Great Chili Cook-Off to raise funds for his upcoming mission trip to Congo. Everyone is invited to participate, the more the merrier. The winner will be determined by the number of “Congo Bucks” raised by that particular pot of chili. Everyone who would like to cast their vote may exchange their good old American greenbacks for a fist full of “Congo Bucks.” The winner of the challenge will receive the coveted Chili Champion trophy, a championship apron, and bragging rights as St. Jacob’s Chili Champion for 2025. Come join the fun and enjoy some wonderful fellowship and delicious chili.
Music Notes
Posted February 10, 2025 By adminOur 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!
Adult Confirmation
Posted February 7, 2025 By adminSeveral members of our congregation were not raised in the Lutheran Church and have asked questions regarding Lutheran tradition. Beginning on Monday, February 17th, Pastor David will offer an Adult Confirmation experience for anyone who is interested in growing their knowledge of Lutheran teaching and practice. We will meet in the church office classroom beginning at 6:45 PM for about an hour or so. Please contact Pastor David if you are interested in participating.
Up and Going
Posted February 5, 2025 By adminHappy New Year to you all. The Up and Going met on Thursday, January 9th for the annual Soup Pot Lunch and Bingo Party. Twelve members and guests attended. Helen, Team Leader, welcomed everyone. Get well cards were signed for Marie, Joan and Gary, Debbie and Mrs. Miriam.
Devotions Bible reading was 2nd Corinthians 5:17 and the reading “The Old Is Gone” from Portals of Prayer. Helen read a “Take Time” for a full life article and the Pastor’s Prayer for the New Year. Helen also read an article entitled “Don’t Waste It” from ICL magazine. Devotions ended with all praying together The Lord’s Prayer.
Business was conducted.
Everyone brought items for the soup pot and Ann Lindler turned them into a delicious pot of beef vegetable soup. There is absolutely nothing better on a cold day. Lunch was soup, miniature cornbread muffins, saltines, pimento cheese sandwiches, homemade pimento cheese and crackers, brownies and chocolate cake. Oh, so good.
Each person brought gifts for BINGO and our table of gifts filled quickly. After lunch, everyone quickly gathered to play BINGO. We played until all prizes were gone. Everyone won at least 3 times. Winning was fun but the laughter and fellowship was the best part. Thank you to everyone for everything you brought and for always helping to clean up and put everything back in order.
The February meeting will begin in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM with devotions and business. Afterwards we will travel by cars to have lunch at The Golden Bay Restaurant in Irmo. Then we will visit St. Andrews Plants and Ollie’s. Look forward to seeing you at our Valentine’s Day Lunch.
Helen
Team Leader for Up and Going
Pastoral Devotion for February
Posted February 3, 2025 By adminConsider Jesus
Read John 2:13-22, Hebrews 3:1-11
Everyone has at least one bad habit, one particular vice that keeps us from getting the proper amount of rest, nutrition, or exercise. Left unchecked, such habits can lead us along a path of poor health, sickness, even death. We know better, but we just can’t stop. On New Year’s Eve, many people made resolutions so that they may resolve some of these detrimental habits. But now here we are at the beginning of February, and I wonder, how many of these resolutions are still kept?
The same can be said for the healthiness of our faith. As worldly powers pull and tug at God’s people, healthy habits of faith often succumb to unhealthy bad habits. Time for reading Holy Scripture is often replaced by work or play. Gathering with the faithful for worship often becomes less appealing than a social gathering with friends or the entertainment of some event. Soon, the people of God grow weak in their faith; it becomes difficult to articulate what it means that Jesus endured the tragedy of the cross for our sake.
The author of Hebrews calls Christians to spiritual revitalization. He encourages us to consider all that God has done and continues to do through Christ our Lord. John reminds us that even the temple needed cleansing. We may not need to turn over tables, but certainly there is room in each life for recommitment to faithful living. Through the power of prayer, it can be so.
Help us, O Lord, to overcome that which hinders our faith, that we might seek you always. Amen.
