All Saints Day 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. All Saints Day is November 1st and traditionally observed on the first Sunday in November.
Fellowship Archive
All Saints Sunday
Posted October 25, 2024 By adminLutheran Women
Posted October 20, 2024 By adminThe Women’s Group will be sponsoring a Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 27th from 4:00-6:00 PM. There will be games, cake walk, fishing pond, corn hole, face painting and hay rides. Prizes will be given. Everyone (adults too) is invited to wear your Halloween costume. There will also be a costume contest.
Halloweenies (hot dogs), chips and drinks will be served. Invite a friend and come on out for lots of fun and fellowship.
We need more volunteers for the Trunk or Treat. If you are interested, please let Phyllis or Sandra know by Sunday, October 20th.
Into Liturgy, part 2
Posted October 20, 2024 By adminWe continue to explore the components of our Sunday liturgical worship (the Divine Service) from start to finish in the order which they appear. This month, we examine the Invocation along with the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness.
Invocation
For Lutherans, the invocation is the opening prayerful act through which we humbly, yet confidently acknowledge God’s divine presence during worship. Baptized into his name – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we seek God’s blessing as we come to hear his Word and receive his grace. As we are gathered in God’s name, we remember that in baptism, we are sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Thus, it is proper to make the sign of the cross over your body, beginning at the forehead (Father), then moving to the abdomen (Son), then left to right across your heart (Holy Spirit).
Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness
(Absolution)
After the Invocation, the Brief Order for Confession and Absolution in divine service prepares us to enter the place where heaven and earth are united in God’s name. Sins are confessed, and through the office of the keys, are absolved by the one called under the authority of Christ himself to absolve (forgive) sins. The congregation receives absolution from the Pastor as from God himself. The Pastor’s act of absolving is God’s forgiveness conveyed upon repentant sinners. Here, the Office of the Keys, the special authority Christ has given to his church to loosen or bind sins (John 20:21-23) is used publicly by the Pastor as a called and ordained servant of God’s Word.
Confirmands Working Hard
Posted October 15, 2024 By adminOur current confirmation class is currently studying the Old Testament Scriptures with Pastor David on Sunday afternoons. This is the largest class we have had in quite a while, and the kids are learning how to read the Bible and use the many tools it provides for discerning the Good News of God’s Word. Please continue to pray for our confirmands as they grow in faith together.
Flood Bucket Build
Posted October 7, 2024 By adminThe Carolinas Mission Region is hosting a flood bucket build at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Mountain on Saturday, October 12th at 11 AM. St. Jacob’s is asked to supply fifty cans of scouring powder (Ajax, Comet, etc.) and fifty 1 quart bottles of Pine-Sol cleaning liquid. We are also asked to supply thirty buckets and lids (5 gallons each). Volunteers from all around the NALC Carolinas will gather to assemble the flood buckets and arrangements will be made to transport them to the warehouse in Kings Mountain, NC, or to our shed here in Chapin. We need volunteers to help in this project. Please plan on attending and helping to build flood buckets. This is always a fun filled event with plenty of good fellowship among our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex for this event.
Up and Going
Posted October 5, 2024 By adminThe Up and Going gathered in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, September 12th for a short business meeting and devotional. Helen, Team Leader gave the devotional. The topic was prayer and waiting for God to talk to you. Joan provided an interesting Biblical quote referencing apples. Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings”. All prayed together the Lord’s Prayer.
Nineteen members and guests boarded 2 vans and headed to Hendersonville, NC for lunch at Harry’s BBQ and Miss Piggy’s Ice Cream Parlor. Everyone chose lunch and enjoyed a delicious meal and ice cream if desired. We were honored to have Pastor’s daughter, Katie, and husband join us for lunch.
Then over to Grandad’s Apples for apples and delicious apple goodies. Fried apple pies and caramel apple oatmeal cookies were the favorites. We all chose bags and bags of apples to bring home plus apple pastries to enjoy on site or to bring home.
Special thanks to Davis and Michael for driving the vans and everything involved with them. We do appreciate Davis and Michael for being so kind and patient. Special thanks to Jerry and Debbie, friends of Up and Going, for driving their truck to bring back our purchases. We had a great time on our Apple Run.
Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 10th. We will gather at the Fellowship hall at 9:30 AM to travel by cars to have lunch at Shealy’s in Batesburg. After lunch we will shop on Main Street. There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board.
Helen
Team Leader for
Up and Going
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted October 4, 2024 By adminOur Mid-week Bible study is in full swing, meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM in the church office conference room. Our topic is an especially interesting look into the “Spiritual Realms.” All are welcome to join the group, there is plenty of room for everyone. The only necessary materials are your Bible and a desire for conversation and learning more about God’s Word for His people.
The October 9th meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 8th at 9:30 AM.
Homecoming Celebration 2024
Posted October 2, 2024 By adminOur annual Homecoming celebration is scheduled for Sunday, October 6th. We will also be honoring our “Golden Agers” as a part of the celebration. A special presentation will be made to our most senior church family members, and we will again honor them with a congregational meal following worship. We will welcome our Homecoming guest preacher, Pastor Mark Metze, and his family. Please invite your friends and neighbors, and plan to attend as we celebrate another year of ministry at St. Jacob’s.
Music Notes
Posted October 2, 2024 By adminPsalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He put a new song in my mouth,
A hymn of praise to our God.
It is hard to believe that we are already into October. I have so many reasons to be thankful and sing praises to our God. The musical groups at the church are very busy. The chancel choir began the new music season with a covered dish dinner and now is busy working on all the music for the remainder of the year. The cantata is scheduled for the last Sunday in Advent and rehearsals will begin soon. Our youth are working on duets and new music for the Advent and Christmas season. God has in deed put a new song in our mouths, our bells and our instruments. One of my greatest joys is working with the children’s choir. Though small in number, they are indeed singing praises to God.
Please join us from your pew and sing out your praises to God. Please join us for the cantata and share again the story of the greatest gift we could be given.
I will be away for the first three weeks of October as I accompany my mom to England. The following is the schedule for the choirs.
October 6, 13, and 20 – No children’s choir or handbell rehearsal
October 9 – No chancel choir rehearsal; chancel choir will rehearse as usual on Wednesdays
October 27 – Children’s choir 3 PM, no handbells due to fall festival
November 3 – Handbell choir practice resumes
Men’s Bible Study
Posted September 30, 2024 By adminOur Men’s Bible study will continue with its new time and day. All St. Jacob’s men are invited to participate in Bible study on Monday, October 7th at 6:30 PM in the church office. Please bring your Bible. If you do not have one to bring, then one will be provided for you.
