Psalm 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.
Fellowship Archive
Music Notes
Posted November 2, 2024 By adminHomecoming 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.
All Saints Sunday
Posted October 25, 2024 By adminAll 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.
Lutheran 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.
