The congregational retreat to Camp St. Christopher in Charleston, SC, for January will be rescheduled to a later date. Watch your newsletter and worship folders for updated information.
Outreach Archive
Congregational Retreat Update
Posted November 26, 2019 By adminAdvent Vespers At St. Jacob’s
Posted November 26, 2019 By adminEveryone is invited and encouraged to come worship with us each Wednesday evening in December for Advent Vespers. The focus of our worship will be our Need for Redemption, God’s Promise of a Savior, and the Fulfilment of the Promise through Jesus Christ. In keeping with the worship time of our Wednesday Evening Light, Advent Vespers will begin at 6:30 PM.
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
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church Winter Retreat 2020
Posted November 5, 2019 By adminFriday January 10th – Sunday, January 12th Camp St. Christopher – Seabrook Island, SC
Living and Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ
Retreat: (noun) A place set apart, one of renewal, rejuvenation, rest; a period of time used to pray and study quietly, or to think carefully, away from normal activities and duties.
Members and friends of St. Jacob’s are invited to retreat to beautiful Camp St. Christopher and spend a weekend in thought, prayer, discussion and fellowship. Topics will include: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How family members share faith with one another. Take up the cross? Really?
Enjoy God’s wonderful Creation Beautiful private beach Watch the dolphins swim and play Hiking trails throughout the camp Saturday evening campfire and vespers
Winter Retreat 2020 Registration Friday January 10th – Sunday, January 12th Camp St. Christopher – Seabrook Island, SC
Living and Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ
Cost of registration is $150.00 per participant. The following is included with your registration: Weekend Lodging (Friday evening -Sunday morning) Saturday Breakfast and Supper – Sunday Breakfast (Friday supper and Saturday lunch are on your own)
Please make checks out to: St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church Memo line designate: Winter Retreat
Assistance is available to help cover costs of registration. Please contact Pastor David Nuottila if there is a need for such assistance. Strictly confidential.
Pastoral Devotion For November
Posted November 1, 2019 By adminCan You Drink the Cup?
Read Matthew 20:17-28
On his way to Jerusalem, the mother of James and John requested that her sons be given places of honor next to Jesus’ throne. Jesus looked at the two disciples and put forth his own question; “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” Jesus knew the cup he was given by his Father meant he would suffer and die for the sake of God’s people. The cup he is to drink is the cup of God’s salvation; a cup that comes at the cost of pouring out his life.
Jesus asks, “Can you drink the cup?” In Faith we answer “Yes, but how?” Jesus gives clear instructions; deny yourself and take up your cross. Drinking the cup of Christ means suffering with him, serving others, enduring hardship, and having faith that God will equip us to do these things. It means putting away our selfish ambitions and extending our hands to meet the needs of the poor, hungry, and lost. Drinking the cup means loving God and loving neighbor first, offering our lives to Christ in order to gain life in God’s kingdom.
Can you drink the cup? With God’s help, yes you can.
Prayer: O Lord, give us the strength and the will to drink your cup, that we may follow Jesus’ example of love and service for the sake of others. Amen.
Annual Congregational Christmas Luncheon
Posted October 31, 2019 By adminThe Lutheran Men’s and Lutheran Women’s Annual Christmas Luncheon will be held on Sunday, December 1st immediately following the church service. The cost is $5.00 per person. Those individuals under 3 years of age and over 80 years of age is free. Please plan to attend and enjoy the delicious meal and great fellowship.
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Posted October 31, 2019 By adminOur Thanksgiving Eve worship will take place on Wednesday, November 27th beginning at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to come give thanks to the Lord and share Holy Communion. Following worship, we will prepare pound cake slices for delivery to The Hub for the annual Thanksgiving meals delivery. We look forward to seeing you there.
Hub Request For The Congregation
Posted October 31, 2019 By adminThis year St. Jacob’s has been requested to support The HUB by supplying 225 slices of pound cake for Thanksgiving meals. Please drop your donated cakes or wrapped cake slices in the fellowship hall on Wednesday prior to the Thanksgiving Eve Service. Several individuals will get together following the service to complete wrapping and boxing the cake slices for delivery. The Hub is looking forward to providing Thanksgiving meals to 500 people in our community.
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
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted October 1, 2019 By adminOctober! It’s October already! It seems summer has simply flown by. Yet, even as I reflect upon all we shared the past few months, there is much to plan and prepare for during the months ahead. Our church calendar is filling up with activities, Christian learning opportunities and several other ministry events for everyone to consider being a part of. As you begin making room for the many opportunities for your church and family in October, let me ask a simple question: How do you plan to be a disciple of Jesus Christ each and every day?
Each morning, Christians wake up to the opportunity to show the love of Christ Jesus to others who may not realize God’s activity in their lives. As God’s people we also wake up to the Christian responsibility to thank God for the many blessings He showers upon us, and to offer Him the finest of what we can offer of ourselves.
When a child of God begins each new day with such emphasis, the life of discipleship begins to take hold and we live into the calling God has for each one of us. So again, this begs the question: How do you plan to be a disciple of Jesus Christ each and every day? In my asking this twice, I hope you are not simply waiting for my answer. I hope you are not expecting me to offer a directive for the church that challenges you to do your part as I see it, for such is not my intent.
I am asking this question because as followers of Jesus Christ, we each respond to His call to follow in different ways. Some are able to engage in the life of the congregation more regularly than others. Some have time enough to come to the church and serve on committees, provide services such as lawn care and cleaning, others may even show up every time the doors are open. Others among us have different responsibilities.
Within our church family, we have parents with small children, members who work not just one, but two jobs, and still others who may have health related issues that prevent them from participating as they once did. Yet, no matter where we may fall in this broad spectrum, as God’s people each one of us share the Christian responsibility to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We all share Jesus’s calling to go into the world and make disciples by sharing with them the good news of God’s salvation. So understanding this, I’ll ask one last time: How do you plan to be a disciple of Jesus Christ each and every day?
As Pastor, I will do my best to help you discern the answer to this question. I will do what I can to help you pray, study God’s Word and live among God’s people so that you might hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who is calling you to a life of discipleship. I will continue to pray for you and your family, preach to you the gospel of Christ Jesus, lead you in worship and teach you and your children the faith in which we baptize. In turn, I pray that you too will help me to further discern the answer to our question, for even pastors need to learn to take time to enjoy their relationship with our loving heavenly Father.
Yes, we have a busy month ahead of us; one filled with opportunities to worship God, love our neighbor and enjoy the fellowship of God’s people. Take a good look and identify those opportunities where you and your family can grow in faith and discern your answer to my question. Choose to take time each day to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ, seeking God’s kingdom first. Then be sure to share His blessings of grace, mercy and peace with those whom God places within your midst. Soon, you will realize you are living the life of discipleship, and the question will have its answer.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
