Outreach Archive

We Care Center

Posted November 19, 2024 By admin

October 11, 2024
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church
We pray sincerely that this letter finds you and yours safe from the storm! Hurricane Helene packed quite a
punch to our community, and we have been working hard to meet the extensive needs of those least capable of
absorbing these losses. Fortunately we were able to maintain power in our building, so we had no losses, but as
stock in stores is depleted, our capacity for perishables like produce is particularly hampered. Many clients are
without power and water, and we are filling orders accordingly with ready-to-eat food that does not have to be
cooked, pop-top cans, manual can openers, bottled water, and many gas and propane vouchers for those with
access to a generator.

We are all doing all we can for as many as we can for as long as it takes! And that could be quite a while. The
majority of our clients reside in lower Newberry County, and we are finding that because of the widespread
outages of power and internet, the story is not being told widely. There are dire needs in this area,
demonstrated poignantly at our first mobile pantry after the storm in Prosperity. We normally serve 40 families
at that monthly distribution; that day we served 140, most of them new!

Despite the heaviness of this moment, there are many sources of hope, including your kind support! We so
appreciate your help as we help our clients. We are so very grateful. They are so very grateful!

Many of our volunteers served faithfully, even as they struggled themselves without power or water.
Donations of food and water have been pouring in from faithful local partners. And we are still kicking off the
holidays this month as we begin to receive Thanksgiving and Christmas applications from clients! We
anticipate serving 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and 500 children for Christmas! There is joy to be had and
we are determined to find it, for our clients above all else. Thank you again!

Alecia Klauk
Executive Director

Most Needed
1. Jelly/Jam (plastic jars)
2. Cereal
3. Peanut Butter
4. Tuna
5. Canned Meats
6. Grits
7. Snack bars/cookies
8. Spaghetti Sauce
9. SpaghettiO’s
10. Oatmeal

We also ALWAYS need dish soap, laundry detergent!

Mercy Bags for We Care

Posted November 15, 2024 By admin

Mercy bags are packed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Please come to the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship to help pack bags.

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Posted November 10, 2024 By admin

Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of worship will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 27th. Our church family, neighbors and friends are invited to attend as we worship and give thanks to our loving God for the many blessings he pours out upon us. Gather with your church family for this special evening.
Following our service, as is our custom, we will prepare 300 pound cake slices for distribution at the annual community Thanksgiving meal provided by The Hub. Please contact Billy McTeer for more information concerning how you might help.

Responding to Disaster

Posted November 7, 2024 By admin

We all remember what happened when a Hurricane named Helene came to town. Our community endured heavy winds, rains, and many fallen trees, all which knocked out power for days within our surrounding area. Yet, by God’s grace, our normal routine has been restored. Folks in the mountains have not been so fortunate.
As we all know, Helene brought devastation to millions of people in the hills of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. In some instances, complete communities have been swept away by flash floods and mud slides. As a congregation in the North American Lutheran Church, we have been asked to assist in relief efforts, giving aid to people who have lost so much. It has been a tall order, but with God’s help we seem to be up to the task.
The response from our church family has been tremendous. Your generosity and willingness to share with your neighbors has been a blessing. From the beginning of October through October 11th, an avalanche of relief supplies fell upon our Fellowship Hall and Disaster Response Shed. Flood Buckets, Health Kits, clothing, food, hygiene products, and even pet foods were collected and sent to Western North Carolina.
Thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or simply prayed for our neighbors’ recovery. The recovery effort is not yet complete and won’t be for quite some time. The needs in the Mountain communities seem to change day by day. NALC Disaster Response is able to organize mission trips for groups or individuals who would like to volunteer in the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Anyone who is interested in participating in such efforts should contact the church office for further information.
Our Disaster Response Shed is in need of re-supply. You can help by putting together Health Kits or Flood Buckets. See the list included in this newsletter for packing directions for each kit. Your completed kits may be placed on the stage in the Fellowship Hall and will be moved into our Disaster Response Shed.

Flood Buckets

  • 1 five-gallon bucket with lid
  • 1 jug bleach (1/2 gal. or smaller)
  • 2 large trash bags (Contractor 3 mil)
  • 1 roll paper towels
  • 2 rags
  • Comet or scouring cleanser
  • Pine Sol or liquid cleaner
  • scrub brush
  • gloves, 1 pair each, size L preferred
    • rubber (reusable, i.e. Platex, dishwashing type)
    • leather
    • cotton

Health Care Kit (Pack in 2-gallon plastic storage bag or tote bag)

  • 1 bath towel
  • 1 wash cloth (optional)
  • 1 shampoo (2 if travel size)
  • 1 bar of soap (2 if travel size)
  • 1 toothbrush (individually sealed)
  • 1 pack of floss (optional)
  • 1 toothpaste (2 if travel size)
  • 1 comb
  • 1 deodorant
  • 1 nail clippers (optional)

Pastoral Devotion for November – Welcoming All

Posted November 2, 2024 By admin

Read: Matthew 9:9-17
Once, I met a man named Greg. Greg was homeless. He was someone whom society overlooked or mostly avoided. None the less, Greg was a member of our community, a person created by God, a sinner in need of redemption. Who would have thought that such a man would one day become my best friend?
People like Greg are not new to society; the world has been busy ignoring them for thousands of years. When we read the gospels, we meet Greg many times over. We meet Greg the leper, Greg the blind beggar, Greg the lost and forgotten. The world shuns such people, yet Jesus meets Greg and invites him to follow.
Jesus came to heal the sick and forgive the sins of many. His mission often led him to associate with the dregs of society. The Pharisees were always quick to point out Jesus’s “misdeeds.” Heal on the Sabbath? Associate with prostitutes and sinners? Dine with a tax collector? The Pharisees weren’t willing to do such things, the stakes were too high. They had reputations to protect and laws to follow.
Jesus overcomes all this. He loves those whom society deems unlovable, opens his arms, and invites the sinner to follow. Our Lord Jesus welcomes all into his divine presence. He lifts up the lowly and invites even the most unworthy or insignificant among us to partake in the richness of God’s eternal Kingdom. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ; your love is unmeasurable and your grace sufficient. Keep us close forever. Amen.

Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat

Posted October 29, 2024 By admin

The Lutheran Women would like to thank all volunteers that came out to support our fall festival. A great time was had by all!

Lutheran Women

Posted October 20, 2024 By admin

The Women’s Group will be sponsoring a Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 27th from 4:00-6:00 PM. There will be games, cake walk, fishing pond, corn hole, face painting and hay rides. Prizes will be given. Everyone (adults too) is invited to wear your Halloween costume. There will also be a costume contest.
Halloweenies (hot dogs), chips and drinks will be served. Invite a friend and come on out for lots of fun and fellowship.
We need more volunteers for the Trunk or Treat. If you are interested, please let Phyllis or Sandra know by Sunday, October 20th.

Flood Bucket Build

Posted October 7, 2024 By admin

The Carolinas Mission Region is hosting a flood bucket build at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Mountain on Saturday, October 12th at 11 AM. St. Jacob’s is asked to supply fifty cans of scouring powder (Ajax, Comet, etc.) and fifty 1 quart bottles of Pine-Sol cleaning liquid. We are also asked to supply thirty buckets and lids (5 gallons each). Volunteers from all around the NALC Carolinas will gather to assemble the flood buckets and arrangements will be made to transport them to the warehouse in Kings Mountain, NC, or to our shed here in Chapin. We need volunteers to help in this project. Please plan on attending and helping to build flood buckets. This is always a fun filled event with plenty of good fellowship among our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex for this event.

We Care Christmas 2024

Posted October 5, 2024 By admin

We need your help! So many caring people are looking for ways to give to those less fortunate at Christmas. We Care provides gifts for our clients’ children every year, with the gifts received from sponsors likely to be the only Christmas these little ones will get!
The last few years we have averaged providing Christmas for over 500 children each year. This year, we are serving even more people and anticipate more children. Regardless of the final numbers and how extensive the need, as we have always done, we will not turn any child away.
Please help us make sure every child has a blessed Christmas by participating yourself and sharing this opportunity with others. Thank you!
What does a sponsor do?
1. Buys gifts for assigned individual children, using info that will be provided to purchase clothing and a few items off the child’s wish list.
2. Purchases $25 gift cards from Walmart or Target, including an individual receipt for each card gift cards work great for teens!
3. Provides both gifts and gift cards for a child and/or family.
How do I get involved?
1. Fill out form on-line https://forms.gle/XQTjXmMvsfFwyNYHA
2. Email chapinwecarechristmas@gmail.com
3. Mail a sponsorship form to We Care, PO Box 491, Chapin, 29036
SPONSOR EARLY! We need to hear from you by November 1!
What else can I give?
1. Hats, gloves, scarves and mittens
2. New blankets, books and toys
3. Additional small gifts for infant through teens
4. Christmas stockings and fillers, candy
5. Wrapping paper and bows
Help our local children and their families experience the wonder of Christmas by being Jesus’ hands and feet to meet them in their need in tangible ways. If you have any additional questions or ideas for how you or your organization can help, please email us at chapinwecarechristmas@gmail.com

Men’s Bible Study

Posted September 30, 2024 By admin

Our Men’s Bible study will continue with its new time and day. All St. Jacob’s men are invited to participate in Bible study on Monday, October 7th at 6:30 PM in the church office. Please bring your Bible. If you do not have one to bring, then one will be provided for you.