We 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.
LCY Archive
Youth Retreat
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminYouth 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
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted October 31, 2019 By adminThe second annual Oktoberfest Fall Festival is in the books! Despite the rain, which moved a few activities indoors, it was a great day spent with our church family. I wanted to especially thank everyone who helped out, I couldn’t have done it without you! While reflecting on the week, I was reminded just how lucky I am to have a home at St. Jacob’s. I have shared with a number of you the many life transitions that I am currently going through and love getting to hear about the times when many of you were where I am. The thing I have learned the most over the past couple of months is that change can be a good thing. God is continuously changing us and molding us to ultimately be like Him. Even though this may not always be comfortable or line up with where we think our lives are going, we can rest in the fact that He has a plan.
The good thing is that He gives us each other to walk through these things with. We can bear one another’s burdens, overlook faults, let offenses go quickly, react out of love, show support, and be there to help or maybe just hold. During these times, we are being molded by God Himself and the Word says He will return for a Church without spot or wrinkle, therefore we need to go through the fire, of refinement, we need to press in and through times of change. I want to encourage you with this: if you’re going through a transition season, do not let your heart be troubled, see the good, hold fast to the truth of the Word and the promises of God, and press into your family at St. Jacob’s. Let’s enter this next season like never before. If you have a need, allow someone to meet it. If you want to bless someone, absolutely go for it. If you have an unsolved issue with a brother or sister, take it to the cross and then to that person for forgiveness. It’s refining season and I believe we will begin to see the fruit of accepting these changes in and around us.
Grace & Peace,
Rachel Shelton
Children’s Choir
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminThe Children’s Choir will practice each Sunday afternoon at 3 PM in the Sanctuary. We are looking forward to having so much fun learning new songs and lifting our little voices to the Lord.
Sunday School Teachers Needed
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminWe are in need of Sunday School teachers for our Pre-K Class and Elementary Grade Class. Please see the schedule on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up if you are able to use your talents and gifts to help train up our children.
Youth Director & Family Ministries
Posted September 27, 2019 By adminI have been learning a lot this month about identity. I have heard that word over and over in sermons and Bible studies, but it never really resonated with me until recently. During a time of major change in my life, I want to remain rooted in who I am regardless of my changing surroundings and circumstances. I know this is the case for most of us when we have a lot going on. We often push ourselves to the backburner because we simply don’t have the time. But what we don’t realize is that from who we are comes everything else.
Since our identity comes from God, we can only find it in Him. Jesus says in Matthew, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.” Sometimes we let life speak louder than truth by letting our circumstances define who we are and how we’re doing. It’s a form of idolatry to let things matter more than what matters most, our relationship with Him and who He says we are.
We hear the words “die to self” and it seems intimidating, but it really is a gift. There is nothing greater than fullness of union with Christ: when we are fully surrendered and a walking sacrifice. His joy becomes our joy; His love, our love; His peace, our peace; His strength, our strength. From this place of identity, we no longer chase after the desires of the flesh but rather, seek to glorify God in all areas of our life. From this place, we no longer fear the future or provision. Lastly, we don’t have to suffer without confidence that our circumstances will produce things of eternal value. Just as Jesus’ sufferings were not wasted, neither will ours be. Praise God that He loves us enough to take us from brokenness and rebellion to a new identity in Christ because of the sacrifice of His Son. There is no life apart from Him and we can experience this fullness of life when we lay down ourselves, our schedules, and our control in order to step into who He says we are and who He calls us to be.
Our youth will meet at 5 PM on Sunday, October 6th in the fellowship hall. Due to the fall festival, we will not have a meeting on Sunday, October 20th. Grace and peace, Rachel
Upcoming Youth Event
Posted August 28, 2019 By adminPrayer Breakfast—We will have a prayer breakfast for students (7th —12th Grades) every Wednesday morning for the rest of the year at 8:30 AM in the fellowship hall. See you on Wednesdays.
Youth Lock-In — All 7th—12th graders, please make plans to enjoy a lock-in with Rachel. Bring a pillow, toothbrush, toothpaste, sleeping bag, a change of clothes and your Bible. You are welcome to invite your friends.
Youth Group Meeting—We will be meeting on Sunday, September 15th at 5 PM in the Sanctuary
Columbia Fireflies
Posted August 28, 2019 By adminThe St. Jacob’s Youth and their Families enjoyed watching the Fireflies play ball on Sunday, August 18th. Our very own Jack Wallace was requested to throw out the first pitch. Many of our youth were able to participate in some of the activities they had on the field as well. In all it was a perfect day for a ballgame. We are so excited about all the wonderful things we are going to be doing in the coming months so continue to watch your worship folders and newsletters.
