St. Jacob’s Families and Youth are invited to a night of fellowship to watch the Columbia Fireflies take on the Georgia Rome Braves Sunday August 18th at 5:05 PM. Tickets are $9 per person/child (children 2 and under are granted free admission.) We will announce a meeting time at a later date to coordinate ticket pickup at Segra Park, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia SC, and parking is an additional $4 cash per car. There will be a sign-up sheet on the Youth Bulletin Board in the hallway next to the Fellowship Hall if you would like to attend this event.
Fellowship Archive
Come Watch the Fireflies
Posted June 26, 2019 By adminUp and Going
Posted June 26, 2019 By adminFourteen members and guests gathered on Thursday, June 13th in the Fellowship Hall for the monthly Up and Going Meeting. Devotions were given by Helen Lindler on Pentecost. An interesting note from the devotions was information on the Holy Ghost Hole. In the Middle Ages, many Catholic churches had what was called a “Holy Ghost Hole”. This was an opening in the ceiling, which allowed a dove and red rose petals to be dramatically released on Pentecost Sunday, during the Gospel about the first Pentecost. We enjoyed a bountiful and delicious meal of salads and such. Thank you to all that provided such tasty food. The program was provided by Mrs. Amanda. She and her husband have a small farm in Prosperity with an emerging goat farm business. They have 5 Nubriun milk goats. From the milk gathered each day, Amanda is making goat milk soap, cheeses, yogurt and other products. She brought cinnamon, lavender and black raspberry soaps for us to admire and purchase. We enjoyed hearing about her farm and the many facts about her goats and the many process steps and facts about cheese and soap making. We sincerely appreciate Amanda sharing with us. We came away knowing more than we did before and that is always a good thing. The July Meeting will be a trip to the SC State Farmers Market on July 11th (2nd Thursday). Gerald will drive the bus and a car will also go for those who can’t ride the bus. We will leave St. Jacob’s at 9 AM and return between 2-3 PM. Hope to see you then.
Church Council
Posted June 26, 2019 By adminThe St. Jacob’s Church Council met June 4th for its regular meeting.
Good things noted for the month of May:
- Congo Meal went very well
- Children’s Choir musical was fantastic and raised over $1,500 for new choir robes and music
- Start of Wednesday evening services
- Hiring of Rachel Shelton to fill position of Youth & Family Services Director
- Thanks to Walt Shealy for volunteering to be Church Treasurer
- Thanks to all the volunteers for the upcoming VBS for your eagerness and willingness to serve
- Wrap-up of Pastor’s first Confirmation; Public exam was well received
Important Notes and Dates:
- Vision Workshop and info meeting for election of new bishop to be held June 30th @ 4pm
- Pastor to be in Congo from July 8th – 24th for mission work
- New pictorial picture days are July 29th & 30th, keep a look out for sign up sheet
- TV in Nursery is operational for viewing of service
- Next council meeting is scheduled for July 2, 2019 @ 6:30 PM in the Church Office
Ongoing Project Updates:
- DIGITAL SIGN: Pending arrival, has been delayed to the end of June for completion of electrical work and scope of parking lot discussions
- PARKING LOT: Building Team has made recommendations for implementation of a new parking lot with an added covered Portico and elimination of roadside parking to address safety concerns. Council has approved for funds earmarked for the Parking Lot Restoration given by SCE&G to be used to have a Topographical Improvement Survey, Construction Renderings and Civil Engineering Scope completed to comply with all county, DHEC and DOT guidelines and regulations.
Development of construction plans and estimates to be made as they become available. Expected expenditures of initial document process are well below current level of earmarked funds. - DIRECTOR OF YOUTH/FAMILY SVCS: Position has been filled by the hiring of Rachel Shelton. Rachel started officially on June 3rd.
Respectfully submitted, Andrew, Secretary, St. Jacob’s Church Council
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted June 26, 2019 By adminAs my first few weeks have come to an end, I am overwhelmed with joy because of how great it has been to meet everyone and start getting to know the families of St. Jacob’s. I am grateful for your opening arms that already make me feel like family too. Thanks be to God. I look forward to rebooting the youth program and strengthening cross generational relationships within the congregation.
For the summer, the Youth and I are hosting a Commissioning for Congo Celebration to rally around Pastor David’s Congo Mission and send him out in prayer. I would love to invite the congregation to join us immediately following the service on Sunday, July 7th for fellowship and a meal including bread, rice, and beans. We will create our own version of the country.
The youth (grades 7th and above) will continue to meet the first and third Sunday of each month, as they have done in the past. Therefore, on the 21st of July we will be spending the afternoon at Frankie’s Fun Park in Columbia. We will meet there at 5:00 PM and leave at 6:30 PM. I look forward to a fun afternoon getting to know you all and spending time together becoming empowered as a community of Christ while growing together as a group.
In Christ,
Rachel Shelton
Worship and Music News
Posted June 26, 2019 By adminThe first half of 2019 sure has flown by. We’ve had a busy year so far in the music department.
We started the year by presenting an Epiphany mini-cantata with the combined choirs of St. Jacob’s and New Hope. Angela and I have continued working with the Children’s Choir to develop not only their musical abilities, but also to foster their desire to serve the Lord with their gifts and talents. We have had illnesses and surgeries within the Handbell Choir membership and have had to make adjustments to cover the vacancies. We began a Wednesday evening service to offer another opportunity for worship; a time in the middle of the week to take a deep breath and remember that God has us in the palm of His hand.
As we enter into the Sundays after Pentecost (affectionately known by some as ‘the long green season’), we are looking ahead to the fall and exploring possibilities that will enhance our worship. For the immediate future, our summer anthems will be some of the favorite hymns that were submitted last summer (we ran out of summer Sundays before we ran out of favorite hymns!) and the Handbell 101 class will continue through the month of August for anyone interested in the history of handbells, anyone who would like to learn to play handbells or anyone who would like to refresh their ringing skills.
As always, many thanks to the congregation for your amazing support of the music ministry.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Laurie Lackey
Lutheran Men’s Annual Pork BBQ
Posted May 30, 2019 By adminThe Lutheran Men are planning for their annual pork BBQ and Hash fundraiser. The cost is $8.00 for a pound of BBQ and $8.00 for a quart of hash. As in the past, orders can be picked up in the church Fellowship Hall on Friday, June 28th between 3:00 and 6:00 PM or Saturday, June 29th between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Please see a member of the Lutheran Men to place an order or contact Robert by Sunday, June 23rd.
In the Wild Vacation Bible School
Posted May 30, 2019 By adminOur 2019 VBS is “In the Wild!” Come join our adventure in God’s creation on this wilderness ride and experience amazing encounters with Jesus! It will be Monday, June 17th thru Thursday, June 20th. A meal will be served at 5:45 PM. Class rotation will start at 6:30 PM and end at 8:00 PM. Class rotations include lesson, crafts, music and games. Classes for all ages! Join the wild side and share the Good News! Come and see Wally!!!
Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, LCY, Lutheran Men, Lutheran Women, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor, Worship Service
Up and Going News
Posted May 30, 2019 By adminMay 9th was a gloriously beautiful day, just right for the Up and Going meeting. Twenty members and guests gathered in the Fellowship Hall for a covered dish lunch and a painting party.
Devotions were led by Helen and based on springtime gardening which reminded us of how dirt from our gardening is similar to sin and the need for cleansing. The business portion of the meeting followed with the Treasurer’s report and plans for the June meeting were discussed.
Our resident artist, Nicki, provided the pro-gram. She taught us about art, and we got to try our hands at painting a picture. After getting setup with our aprons, canvases, paints, and brushes, Nicki revealed that we would be painting a picture of a bumble bee. She instructed us on mixing colors and different brush strokes. She demonstrated each brush stroke, and we attempted to follow her instructions. Somehow, our bumble bees did not look anything like hers. Our bumble bees were quite interesting and had unique personalities. We laughed and had a great time. Nicki suggested that our art work could possibly become the next white elephant Christmas gift. We all have a new appreciation for art and Nicki’s talent and patience in art. Thank you Nicki for making this such a fun meeting. We really enjoyed painting and spending time with you.
The June meeting will be held on June 13th (2nd Thursday) at 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone attending is asked to bring a salad or such that you wish to share. The program will be presented by Mrs. Amanda. She owns and operates an emerging goat farm and goat products business. Helen will provide devotions. Hope to see you there.
Worship and Music
Posted May 30, 2019 By adminDid you know that handbells have been around since the late 1600s? Did you know their original purpose was as practice instruments for tower bell ringers in England? Did you know that handbells were brought to the United States in 1902 by Margaret Shurcliff? Did you know that you don’t have to know how to read music to be able to play handbells and that it is, in fact, an excellent way to learn to read music?
If you’d like to know more about the history of handbells, how they became part of church worship services and how they can be used effectively to enhance worship, join me this summer for Handbells 101. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Monday evenings from 6:45 to 7:30 PM, beginning Monday, June 3rd and continuing through August 26th (excluding June 17th for VBS). This is an opportunity for anyone who has an interest in handbells or learning to ring handbells to come check out the instrument (yes, handbells are considered a single instrument!).
Handbells 101 is open to all ages and all musical ability levels. For those interested in learning to ring, this is an opportunity to try it out. For current (or past) ringers, this is an opportunity to refresh/relearn/improve your handbell ringing technique and knowledge during the low-stress summer months while the handbell choir is not actively playing each month.
Some of you may know that I work part-time at Jeffers Handbell Supply, a handbell supply company based in Irmo, and that handbells are near and dear to my heart. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and love of bells with you this summer.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Laurie Lackey
Evening Light Wednesday Service
Posted May 30, 2019 By adminExtending Christ’s mission of the gospel. St. Jacob’s now invites our community and those who are not able to worship on Sunday morning to worship each Wednesday evening in a relaxed atmosphere. Even members of our church family who were in attendance on Sunday will find this service to be a nice addition to our worship schedule. Wednesday evening services begin at 6:30 PM. Please plan to attend as you are able and invite your friends and neighbors to join us. Share this information freely with those whom you meet so that we may share the treasure entrusted to us, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
