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Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted December 29, 2020 By admin

Last month, I was reading a blog and it sparked an idea within me. It really hit home as I was trying to think of a schedule and plan for the next year. With so much uncertainty, it almost seemed impossible to put anything on the calendar but after praying about it, something popped into my mind and I wanted to share that with you. It is the idea that smaller groups of people meeting together for fellowship and Bible study isn’t a new concept in churches. In fact, we see in Acts chapter two that the first-century church relied on it “every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house (Acts 2:46). Most churches today allow people to be a part of some version of a small group. Here at St. Jacob’s we have many options: discipleship groups, Sunday school, Wednesday morning Bible study, Lutheran men/women, Up + Going, KFC, etc. No matter what the group is called, the goal has primarily stayed the same from the early church: to disciple fellow believers to be more like Christ through Biblical community and the study of God’s Word. We’re now at a turning point in history where one major shift must happen for churches to be able to thrive in the “new normal.” As you know, churches can no longer offer large events or even in our case, one worship service due to capacity restrictions. Even as restrictions lift, we may never be the same as we once were- packing into the pews on a Sunday morning. One good thing to come of this is the fascinating idea that the church can be brought back to what she was designed to be. We can use this circumstance as an opportunity to disciple and equip people for ministry- more than ever before. I have a passion for small group ministry not only is it what I am used to but I really do believe that it is the history and the future of the Church! I believe that God has each of us in an auxiliary or on a ministry team for a reason and I feel like this is the time to utilize that group. This is the time to really press into that small group and invest your time, service, and heart. I promise it will not return void. I want to encourage you that as these small groups begin to meet again, if you’re comfortable, please attend. I believe that there is so much that can come of this “down time” whether it be joining Bible study for the first time (and maybe reading a book you’ve never gone through before), finally joining that ministry team that you feel God has gifted you to serve on, or finding a need and helping to meet it alongside a few others. There are so many ways to utilize this time and we can do so remembering the fact that, God wastes nothing.

Grace + Peace, + a Happy New Year!

Rachel

Filed in Bible Study, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Lutheran Men, Lutheran Women, Other Happenings, Up and Going, Worship and Music, Youth Director

Annual Children’s Christmas Program

Posted November 27, 2020 By admin

You’re invited! Please join us on December 13th at 6 PM for our annual Children’s Christmas program. As you know, our Children’s Choir has been learning to play the hand chimes and this will be our first performance. The program will be live streamed if you want to participate from home. Come listen to the scriptures, sing the hymns, and celebrate the birth of Jesus with our church youth! You won’t want to miss it!

Filed in LCY, Other Happenings, Sunday School, Youth Director

Online Sunday School

Posted September 30, 2020 By admin

In order to provide Christian education for our children and families during this time of pandemic, several of our church family members have begun producing recorded video lessons to be used as an online Sunday School. These lessons are uploaded to our church website weekly and are also shared on our St. Jacob’s Facebook page. The current list of lessons focuses on several familiar Bible stories of the Old Testament. Please enjoy these and other St. Jacob’s online offerings such as Bible studies and devotions as you are able.

Filed in Bible Study, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Outreach, Sunday School, Worship and Music, Worship Service

The Blessing Basket

Posted September 30, 2020 By admin

Before the COVID-19 virus caused us to suspend in person worship, children would come forward for a brief children’s sermon with me. As they came, they would bring their offerings and put them in what you have known as the “Pickle Jar.” The premise was that the monies collected could be used for people who find themselves “in a pickle.” During the past several months, I have thought about what we might be teaching our children concerning providing for those in need. To make this more memorable and to apply bible teaching for our children, I have retired the Pickle Jar and replaced it with the “Blessing Basket.”
You will recall that as Jesus fed the 5000 multiplying the loaves and fishes, twelve baskets full were collected after everyone had eaten their fill. These baskets teach us about the abundance God provides even through the smallest of gifts.
Our children’s offerings resemble those loaves and fish. They are modest offerings to be sure. To think such a small amount can make a difference in someone’s life just doesn’t add up. But you know what? God’s math never adds up…it multiplies!
On October 4th, we will resume children’s sermons during the 10:30 AM service. I will use the Blessing Basket to collect the children’s offering as they come forward. Each month there will be a specific ministry that the children’s offering will support. At the end of the month, we will add it all up and see just what God has multiplied. October’s ministry will be We Care. Together, we can teach our children how God provides loaves and fishes and how his disciples distribute them to those in need of God’s blessing.

Filed in LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Pastor, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted September 30, 2020 By admin

Welcome Sarah Masterson

I’m excited to announce our first fellowship event post COVID-19. As you all know, we will be welcoming our new Organist, Sarah, on October 4th. In order to welcome her to our Church family, please join us for a cookout following the 10:30 AM service. We will all have the opportunity to meet Sarah and fellowship with one another after being apart for so long. All food and drinks will be provided and social distancing will be observed. Thank you for joining me in welcoming Sarah to St. Jacob’s. I look forward to seeing you there!

Trunk Or Treat

Our new youth committee met together for the first time in September. Moving forward, we will work together to plan events and share ideas for the advancement of our youth and family ministries. While planning for the remainder of the year, we have decided that October would be a great time to start meeting again as a church family! I would love to invite you to join us on October 31st from 5—7 PM for TRUNK OR TREAT at ST. JACOB’S! Anyone participating needs to be at the bus shed parking lot between 4 and 4:30 PM. Come, decorate your car, and fill it with candy.

Grace & Peace,

Rachel

Filed in LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Outreach, Worship and Music, Worship Service, Youth Director

The Bud and Lottie Sites Scholarships

Posted August 30, 2020 By admin

The Bud and Lottie Sites Scholarships are for high school graduates and continuing higher education students who are members of St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church. There are two types of scholarships being offered – $1,000 and $250 for the Fall semester. Continuing higher education includes college, technical college, trade school, etc.

Please contact Sherrie McTeer or Sherry Floyd in the church office for the application and requirements! Applications are due by October 1, 2020. Don’t forget to apply!

Filed in LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted August 30, 2020 By admin

As a church, we are proud to support Chapin Middle School as they provide their students the best education possible. As the school year begins, we want to ensure that all students have the tools and resources they need in order to succeed, as well as anything they may need to remain safe and healthy in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The theme for the school year is “Shine Your Light” and what better way for us to show Jesus’ love in our community by shining our light and loving our neighbor. I am excited to announce SUPPLY SEPTEMBER, for the month of September. We will be collecting donations in the Fellowship Hall on Sundays or in the church office during the week from 9 AM-2 PM. All supplies will be delivered to CMS on September 27th. I have attached a list of supply items that students have been asked to bring this year. I am so excited to partner with you all in assisting students and their families, as we are able. Also, if you are unable to go make a purchase, we will have a box on the table for any monetary donations and we will gladly purchase more supplies.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
#2 Pencils
Composition Notebook (Not spiral)
Colored Pencils
2-Pocket Folders
Dry Erase Markers
8 ½ x 11 Spiral 3 Subject Notebook
Earbuds/Headphones
Tissues Hand Sanitizer
Glue Sticks
Lysol Spray
Pens
Disinfectant Wipes
Highlighters
Mini Deodorant
3×3 Post It Notes
Small Toiletry Kits
Calculators (Ti 30X & Ti 84 Plus)
Toothbrush Kits
Loose Leaf Paper
$5-$10 Gift Cards (Fast food, Walmart, etc.)
Graph Paper
1 inch Poly Binders
3-Ring Binder with Dividers
Five Notebook Divider with Pockets

On behalf of Chapin Middle School, we appreciate your continued support! Thank you for “Shining Your Light” on our students. -Lacey Hallman, CMS School Counselor

Grace and Peace, Rachel

Filed in LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Outreach, Youth Director

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted July 29, 2020 By admin

To be completely honest, I am not always the most patient person. I have a tendency to rush things, to get stressed out, to take on more than I can handle in order to get something done. I have never felt the excitement of waiting, only the anxiety. I am noticing it more and more within our world today. What I have noticed is that our perspective on waiting does not necessarily align with the biblical view. Waiting has never been easy. All of those centuries waiting for a Messiah to come, it wasn’t easy for those who have gone before us, but they seemed to be more at peace with it, welcoming the wait with goodness and potential. Even after Jesus had come, the waiting was far from over. We wait as much as ever, called to live in the shadow of His return; and when He does, He will “save those who are eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28). In the Old Testament, the psalmist celebrates waiting patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1), and Isaiah promises that those “who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). In these times of waiting, it is important to make sure we check our focus. We have to take the focus off of ourselves and remember that even though we may feel a delay or a pause, God is still working. Waiting is never a waste in God’s economy. So what should we do in the meantime? Well, how do we take the focus off of ourselves and realign our hearts with God? We all know this. We worship, we wait, and we worship. I was listening to an interview the other day and they were talking about how ‘waiting on the Lord’ looks different for everybody. One guy explained it as “the sustained adoration that is filled with subjection waiting for a directive from the Lord” and went on to say that the key to this is remembering that even though we wait, we wait IN His presence; we don’t have to wait FOR His presence. When we worship, we remove ourselves and we are satisfied, fulfilled, blessed with peace, with the joy of His presence. It is unlike anything else. In this time of waiting right now, it doesn’t matter if you are waiting for something, someone, direction, provision, or simply waiting for time to pass. Nothing is wasted. Take the time to collect yourself and realign your heart in worship. I know for me personally, I cannot fully surrender if my mind is elsewhere. If I am worried, doubtful, fearful, scared then it’s just not possible. It is human nature to try to do it ourselves; and we know that no matter how hard we try, we cannot. It’s okay to want something. It’s okay to dream. It’s okay to long. Sure, you’ll get frustrated, anxious, eager; but you’ll continue to be patient. Keep waiting. Keep praying. We can trust God, knowing He is in control of all things and that is more than enough for me.
Grace and Peace,
Rachel

Filed in LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

Look up the scriptures below that are about freedom. Find the missing words. Input (first word is the answer; the rest of the line is the clue)

[Pick from these words: Slavery, Flesh, Freedom, Evil, Truth, Indeed, Spacious, Mastered]

1. Psalm 118:5 – When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a _________________ place.

2. 1 Peter 2:16 – Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for _________;

3. 2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is __________.

4. Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let your-selves be burdened again by a yoke of _____________.

5. Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the _________;

6. 1 Corinthians 6:12 – I have the right to do anything—but I will not be _____________ by anything.

7. John 8:32 – Then you will know the ___________, and the truth will set you free.

8. John 8:36 – So if the Son sets you free, you will be free _____________.

In Christ love,

Rachel

Filed in Bible Study, LCY, Other Happenings, Youth Director

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted April 30, 2020 By admin

Many of you know the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.” It has always been one of my favorites as I was listening to it the other day, the story behind it came up and I would love to share it with you. The song was written by a successful Christian lawyer, Heratio Spafford. His only son died at age 4 in 1871. In 1872, the great Chicago fire wiped out his vast estate, made from a successful legal career. In 1873, he sent his wife & four daughters over to Europe on a summer trip on the ill-fated SS Ville du Havre. Since he had a lot of work to do, he planned to follow them later. The Ship sank and he lost his 4 daughters with the wife being the only survivor. She sent him a famous telegram which simply read, “SAVED ALONE….” On his return home, his law firm was burned down and the insurance company refused to pay him. He had no money to pay for his house and no work, so he lost his home. Then one day while sitting peacefully and thinking about what’s happening to him, he wrote a song – “Whatever, my Lord, You have taught me to say – It is well, it is well with my soul.”

My dear friends, a good attitude will determine your attitude. When you look at your soul, your life, career, family life, what do you say? Do you praise God? Do you feel the need to blame someone when things go wrong? I want to challenge you to sit down today and say, “Today, God, it is well with my soul. I am thankful I had a peaceful sleep. I am thankful I am alive with possibilities. I am thankful I have a roof over me. I am thankful I have a job. I am thankful that I have family and friends. Above all, I am thankful that I have the Lord Jesus Christ on my side.” Thank God for what you have. Thank God when you have little and when you have an abundance. I know we are all in a season of uncertainty and maybe feeling a little negativity because of it. We long for this season to be over and to return to our ‘normal lives’ but we can use this period for good, for purpose. I have a sign in my office that says ‘Today is a good day to have a good day” and that’s what I have chosen to preach to myself lately. Just like Heratio did when things were rocky, we too should praise God in the midst. We have the eternal hope of Jesus. That doesn’t make every day easy or stop tribulations from coming. We know that He is good, He is on our side, and we have so much to be thankful for even on our worst days. “What, then, shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Little is much when God is in it.
It Is Well With My Soul!
Rachel

Filed in Fellowship, LCY, Youth Director
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