As we continue to return to pre-pandemic activities, one of the final steps for our worship services is to restore the choir to singing each Sunday. Angela Nuottila has volunteered to serve as our interim Choir Director until the congregation finds someone who will assume this position permanently. Choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday evenings following our mid-week worship service. We have certainly missed having an adult choir during worship. Our children’s choir has done a marvelous job of providing music for our worship services, and we are very thankful for their talent. If you have not ever considered being a part of the choir, please consider this to be your invitation. You don’t need to have the most splendid singing voice. All you need is a desire for enhancing the worship of our congregation as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord on Sunday morning. Anyone who is interested should contact Angela for more information.
Fellowship Archive
St. Jacob’s Chancel Choir
Posted August 30, 2021 By admin90 Day Bible Fitness Challenge
Posted August 30, 2021 By adminBy the time this newsletter makes it to the congregation, those who are engaged in the 90 Day Bible Fitness Challenge will find themselves in the midst of the final third of their reading plan. The halfway point came on Tuesday, August 24th. As several have discussed in our small group sessions, reading chronologically has been a blessing. It has allowed for a greater understanding of the entire story of God’s people Israel and the promise of a Savior.
We will do this exercise again sometime in the future. But until we do, St, Jacob’s church family members can look forward to more studies that will pique the interest of those who would like to gain further understanding concerning the whole story of God’s love according to the Scriptures.
Keep reading your Bibles. For as John wrote in the book of Revelation: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it” Rev. 1:3.
Pastoral Devotion for August
Posted August 1, 2021 By adminFriendship
Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
We all have friends with whom we have lost contact. Friendship is not just a relationship between people; it is also something that takes time and great effort to maintain. Quality friendships endure because those in such relationships have a genuine interest in the life of the other.
The apostle Paul formed many friendships throughout his journeys. These relationships were important to Paul, so he was sure to strengthen them through daily prayer. Rooting his caring and close relationships between God’s people.
Christians are not unlike others in the world in that we often become nostalgic thinking of distant friends. Many of our friends are those we have lost touch with through the years. Sometimes we feel reluctant to reconnect, seemingly embarrassed by our lack of communication. Maybe they’ve forgotten us? Perhaps they too have moved on? Sadly, rationalizing distant friendships in this way leads to even further separation. So, do we simply forget those friends from our past? Certainly not!
The memories of our friends are their memories as well. Not only do we reminisce about past friendships, but the friends from our past most likely remember us fondly too. Praying and thanking God for the gift of friendship helps keep those relationships alive. Through prayer, we can offer thanks to God and once again feel the joy of being a friend to someone whom we love.
Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the friendships we share with others, for they truly are a blessing from you. Amen.
Youth Group Visit
Posted July 29, 2021 By adminOn Saturday, July 17th, St. Jacob’s welcomed Pastor Mathew Magera, his wife Lane and the youth members of Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA. These fine young church members were on their way to Charleston for their annual summer mission trip and needed a place to rest. Our guests were so appreciative of the “Southern Hospitality” they encountered. Thank you to Billy, Davis, Sandra, Gerald and Frances for preparing breakfast for our guests. To show their appreciation, Pastor Mathew assisted with the distribution of Holy Communion and the youth group sang a wonderful anthem during our worship service.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Posted July 29, 2021 By adminAll are invited to join in the Bible study on Wednesday mornings beginning at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. We are currently reading the Book of Revelation. If you have ever tried to read Revelation but had difficulty understanding all the symbolism, then this study is for you. We will learn more about the letters to the seven churches, and address some of the more confusing aspects of John’s vision and letter to the Church of Jesus Christ. There are no special materials needed. Just bring your Bible and a desire to join in on the discussion.
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted July 29, 2021 By adminMusical Mondays has been such a huge success for our church and especially our kids. There was such a wonderful response when we first announced it to the congregation. Over the past five weeks, we have sang, danced, made tambourines and lyres, and played numerous games together. Yes, we have fun. Of course we do. But the real growth of these children has been in all that they have learned. We start our morning out with a time of devotion and a lesson for the day. Our main objective is to learn that no matter what situation you are in, no matter how you do it, and no matter what anyone else says – you are called to worship God. Worship is our joyful response for all that God has done for us. Throughout each week, we learn different ways that we can praise God – by doing crafts, by being silent before the Lord, by reading Psalms, or by being in God’s house with each other. It truly has been a wonderful experience, and we still have a few weeks left. Watch your worship folders for a MUSICAL MONDAY SHOWCASE to be held. We would love to see you there.
In Christ,
Rachel
The Congo Mission
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminOn July 6th, my mission partner to the Congo will depart on this year’s Congo Mission trip. Pastor Stephan Kalonji, whom several of you have met, will leave his family and congregation and fly to Kinshasa, arriving there on July 7th. This will be a very important trip as he and I resume our missional efforts to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of such humble means.
Of course, last year we did not make a mission trip to the Congo due to COVID-19. Normally, this would have been the year I would travel with Pastor Kalonji and serve with him. With this year’s trip, the countdown for my next mission trip commences. Plans are already in the works for our 2022 Mission trip next July. In the coming weeks and months, I will highlight the work we do in the name of Jesus. The Congo Mission is a very important part of my overall ministry and I am so grateful to God and to those who offer their prayers and support. Please keep Pastor Kalonji and his family in your prayers while he is serving in Africa.
Welcome Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminSunday July 18th is going to be a very special day here at St. Jacob’s. Not only will we welcome the President of the NALC’s seminary, but we will also play host to Pastor David’s friend Pastor Mathew Magera and the Youth of Zion Lutheran Church from
Pittsburg. Pastor Magera and Zion’s youth group will be making their way to Charleston for their summer mission trip and will make a pit stop at St. Jacob’s on Saturday, July 17th to rest from their travels. Members of Zion will spend the night, lock-in style in our Sunday school wing. Volunteers from our Men’s group will provide breakfast for our guests, and they will be joining us for worship Sunday morning. Please welcome our guests warmly as they travel to Charleston to do the work of the Gospel.
Return To One Worship Service
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminWith the lifting of pandemic restrictions and practices, St. Jacob’s will return to hosting a single worship service on Sunday mornings. As we return to one service, we will do so while observing a new worship time. Beginning July 4, 2021, worship on Sunday morning will begin at 10:00 AM with Sunday school beginning at 9:00 AM.
Also, the return to one service means that we will have our worship assistants return to their pre-pandemic routines. Ushers will once again greet worshipers at the door and hand out bulletins. They will also pass the offering plates through the congregation at the appropriate point in our service. Communion assistants will resume pouring the wine from our pouring chalices. Acolytes will wear robes and remain in the chancel to assist the pastor when needed. And those who served as crucifer will resume that duty as well. Currently the plan is to have the choir re-convene on the first Sunday of August (August 1st).
It will be good to return to the worship practices that we have been missing for so long. Anyone who desires to volunteer as a worship assistant should contact the church office to have their name added to the appropriate list of volunteers.
Vacation Bible School
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminThank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who volunteered with VBS (Concrete and Cranes). To all of the teachers, those who provided food & drink, or helped out in any way: THANK YOU. We could not have done it without all of you.
In Christ’s love,
Rachel
