We will be kicking off our youth group for kids (ages 13 and under) with an ice cream party on February 2nd at 4 PM in the fellowship hall following Children’s Choir practice. You do not have to be a part of the children’s choir to attend. Everyone in this age group is encouraged to join!
LCY Archive
Youth Group Kickoff
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminYouth Breakfast
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminThe next Youth prayer breakfast will be February 12th at 8:30 AM. We will be joined by Melanie and her youth group from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church to talk about the upcoming Mission District Youth Retreat in March. Sandra and Davis have offered to cook breakfast that morning- See you there!
Youth Retreat
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminWe have been invited to join the Carolina’s Mission District on a Youth Retreat, March 13th-15th, at Camp St. Christopher. All students grades 6th-12th are invited to join and bring their friends as well. The cost for non-members is $120 and SJY members will attend for free. We will go Friday night and return home Sunday after Worship. The weekend will include worship on the beach, Bible study, campfires, games, and friends!
Youth Director and Family Ministries
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminIn 2020, I made it my goal to try to do new things, to get out of my comfort zone. I want to encourage you all to do that as well. One of my favorite things about St. Jacob’s is Sunday School. I love that we take the time to be together, study scripture, and prepare our hearts and minds for Worship. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage; then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:4-8
We all have different gifts, perspectives, and experiences to bring to the table. I would love to encourage you that if you are not in a Sunday School class, consider joining one. If your child does not regularly attend Sunday School, bring them, I guarantee they will benefit greatly from it. The first leap is always the toughest; but in the long run, you will thank yourself.
“Are you and your family involved in Sunday School classes? If not, why not give it a try? Sunday School provides a structure for teaching God’s Word to specific age groups. As a parent, you teach your children in your home and they learn not only from the Scriptures you teach them, but they learn from your actions. In a Sunday School class, they can hear the same teaching from others and that builds their trust in what you say and teach them and helps them to build trust in the teachers and pastor. And Sunday School classes give all of us, regardless of the age group, a time of fellowship with other believers, an opportunity to share our faith with each other, and we learn to pray with and for others. It helps us to become disciples of Jesus whether we are three or onehundred and three years old. If you will only give it a try, you might find that you get more from it than you ever imagined. Come and see.” Larry Shull
“Come join us as we JOURNEY together in FAITH and FELLOWSHIP. The Journey Class meets in the church office conference room each Sunday beginning at 9:15 AM for fellowship and our lesson begins at 9:30 AM. We are a group that enjoys lively discussion and a deep desire to understand God’s Word and its application to our lives. Our current study is focused on the Lessons and Gospel that are read as part of our worship each week. A strength of this class is the friendship and prayerful support that has developed among the members as we journey through life’s challenges and obstacles together. We welcome ALL to come and experience this JOURNEY with us!” Susan S. Shealy
“I like Sunday School because it’s not just one activity. We play games and crafts and learn about God.” Cora Wallace
Sunday School classes for children and teens is located downstairs starting at 9:15 AM. We look forward to seeing some new faces!
Grace & Peace,
Rachel
Special Thank You Children’s Program
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminThanks so much to the children and adults that participated in the Christmas Program this year. Peace on Earth. Each and every person did a wonderful job and made the season bright. Also, thanks to those that assisted with the reception following the program. We are blessed to have such a wonderful church family that enjoys sharing God’s love during this special occasion and celebrating the birth of our Savior. (Pictures are on the back cover.)
Filed in LCY, Other Happenings
Youth Breakfast
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminAll youth, remember we will start back meeting on Wednesday, January 8th for our prayer breakfast before school. Meet in the fellowship hall for breakfast and prayer. Bring a friend or two.
Youth Retreat
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminWe have been invited to join the Carolina’s Mission District on a Youth Retreat, March 13th-15th, at Camp St. Christopher. All students grades 6-12 are invited to join and bring their friends as well. The cost for non-members is $120 and SJY members will attend for free. We will go Friday night and return home Sunday after Worship. The weekend will include worship on the beach, Bible study, campfires, games, and friends! If you plan on attending, sign up on the SJY youth bulletin board as soon as possible so we can save your spot! It’s gonna be a great time.
Youth Director and Family Ministries
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminIt’s that time of year again. The time for New Year’s Resolutions. And the top resolutions, for most people, tend to revolve around the same three poles: money, health and family. We set goals to bring change, to improve our lives, and to obtain new habits and maybe even try to break some old ones. But what would a set of New Year’s resolutions look like for us and our church, your role as a leader, or simply as someone who wants to live a life of Kingdom investment? I want to offer some suggestions of things I have committed to in the past, and usually continue to grow each New Year:
- Spending more time in prayer
- Being more intentional about Evangelism
- Reading more books (There are so many great Christian books out there, and I would love to recommend some.)
- Seek out people in Church that you may have never spoken to and get to know something about them
- Find a need in the Church and try to meet it, whether it involves one person or the entire congregation, there are always things that can be done!
I always find it interesting to see what people declare as their New Year change, not as a test to see how long we can stick with something but to cheer each other on while learning about areas where people feel as though they fall short. So whether it’s eating healthier, serving the Church in a new way, or being a better friend; I would love to know. On my bulletin board in the hallway next to the fellowship hall, feel free to share what your New Year’s goal is. Once you have shared, join me in praying for each resolution to be brought to completion. Thank you, Lord for giving us a New Year ahead. Help us live the way we should in each new day we tread. Give us gentle wisdom, give us strength and courage as a shoulder we might lend. The year ahead is empty, help us fill it with good things. Each new day filled with joy and happiness it brings. Amen.
May all the blessings of the Lord be yours in abundance in the New Year, Isaiah 43:19.
Rachel
Children’s Choir
Posted November 26, 2019 By adminAs I’m sure you’ve noticed, our children have been hard at work this fall in children’s choir. In addition to learning anthems, the children have been learning the liturgy and taken on the task of leading the kyrie. We are also learning about other parts of the liturgy to be able to bring praises to God with the rest of the St. Jacob’s church family.
We are beginning work on our Christmas program. Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 15th at 6 PM. You won’t want to miss our Christmas program as we ask, “Is there any peace left on earth,” adapted from a program written by The Reverend David Wendel, assistant to the bishop. With so much conflict around us today between nations, politicians as well as in day to day life, it is easy to believe there is little peace left on earth. Come explore the true peace of Christmas. We hope that you all have a blessed Christmas season. The children’s choir’s prayer for you this December is “Dona nobis pacem.” Ask any children’s choir member what that means. They can all tell you.
Filed in LCY, Worship and Music
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted November 26, 2019 By adminChristmas has always been my favorite holiday, as I assume it is for many of you. Maybe because of the time we get with family and friends, the music, Hallmark movies, endless shopping, and of course eating too much. All of these things are so easy to enjoy but often overshadow the real Christmas celebration—the baby in a manger, shepherds, wise men, angels, and the prophecies fulfilled. The first Christmas is a story that has endured. It’s a story about hope, peace, and family. An often overlooked perspective of this season is the humility of the birth of Jesus. Even though it is right to shout out with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!” it is also important to quietly worship God for the humility of the Christmas story. Paul used the incarnation of Jesus as the model for our attitude of humility. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Although Jesus never laid aside his deity, he exhibited profound humility in becoming a man. The very fact that God would become a man should stagger our pride. We should adore the humble Christmas baby. Humility, service, meekness and love marked Jesus’ life. Ultimately, he sacrificed His life as a substitute for all who would believe in Him. All of the glorious humility of Christmas leads us forward to the beginning of the new year, the Cross, and the Resurrection. The greatest of Kings being born in the most humble of places shows us how to live our lives in the way God intended. This season allows us to serve, to love, to worship and to celebrate Immanuel: God with us. “For unto us a child is born, His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” The sweetest gift will always be the one our Savior gave us, Himself.
Grace & Peace, and a Merry Christmas!
Rachel
