God blesses us with love from so many sources. One source of unquestioned love comes from the pets with whom we share our lives. Our pets are a part of our family and a gift from our Father in heaven. They provide love and companionship asking little in return. Join your church family on October 5th at 10:00AM for a special time together on the Church Office front lawn (weather permitting) as Pastor David leads a special service of blessing and thanksgiving. Please bring pets, on leash or in carrier, to receive a special blessing from Pastor David. If your pet does not socialize well, you may receive a written prayer that you may use to bless your pet at home.
Outreach Archive
Blessing of the Animals
Posted September 30, 2024 By adminPastoral Devotion for October – A Place at the Table
Posted September 28, 2024 By adminRead: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10, Luke 16:19-31
As baptismal waters washed over his head, the stain of sin was erased forever, and he was made a new creation. At long last he became a child of God, refreshed and brought to new life. So it was for a homeless man walking the streets of Charleston who happened to become friends with this particular pastor. Truly, Greg became the best friend I ever had.
It seemed that at every turn, fortune never seemed to smile upon Greg. He was homeless, friendless, and trusted no one. Yet, tired of being alone, he entered the church. There he found compassion. In time, the compassion he discovered taught him to trust; his trust led him to love. Life remained difficult, but his newly gifted faith would begin to understand this earthly affliction would one day pass, and the kingdom would be his forever. That day came for Greg soon after I left Charleston to serve a congregation in North Carolina.
As Lazarus longed for food from the rich man’s table, not a crumb would fall within his reach. Making a distinction between himself and the needy, the rich man failed in God’s call to care for the poor, thus he lived contrary to God’s mandate to love his neighbor. Upon his death, the rich man was denied the mercy of God. In short, he received his reward for his selfishness and refusal to care for those in need. Many in this world continue to make such distinctions, only helping when they feel the recipient “deserves” to be helped. They make distinctions between people according to appearances. Thus, the lost and hungry often go ignored. But just as God smiled upon Lazarus, all who call upon the Lord will find compassion and take their place at the table of heaven.
Prayer: Father God, give us hearts for love alone, that we might love and serve our neighbor without distinction. Amen.
Flood Bucket Challenge
Posted September 24, 2024 By adminNALC Disaster Response warehouses are in need of restocking. Our St. Jacob’s disaster response shed is virtually empty as Gerald Lindler and Pastor David loaded a truck to respond to hurricane relief efforts in Beaufort and Charleston. In order to be prepared for future needs, the Carolinas Mission Region is hosting a flood bucket build at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Mountain on Saturday, October 12th. 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 for 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.
Congo Mission 2024
Posted September 10, 2024 By adminReport Even though I was not able to travel to Congo with Pastor Kalonji, my heart overflows with joy that our shared mission work continues to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. With the help of so many congregations across the NALC, and especially St. Jacob’s, Pastor Kalonji was able to engage in a longer than usual mission trip to Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, and the village of Merode.
Thank you to everyone here at St. Jacob’s who continue to contribute to the Congo Mission through your offerings and gifts. With help from your donations, forty-seven families welcomed home mothers and their newborn babies, fifty-six families and individuals who had no other access to the Scriptures received Bibles written in their local language, and over six hundred orphaned children enjoyed a healthy hot meal when they would not have otherwise had such a feast.
Of course, one of the projects that brings me much joy is the construction of the first Lutheran Church building in the province of Kasai-Oriental. Currently, all Lutheran Church worship and activity takes place outside, exposed to the weather. With grants from NALC Congregations, we have been able to purchase an acre of land and begin construction. The foundation is laid for the church. Soon, there will be a modest building rising up from the ground to serve as a school for children, education for women, and a house of worship for the surrounding community. We hope to provide for a well to be drilled since all water must be brought in from elsewhere. We trust that God will provide.
As this year’s trip is concluded, we leave behind funds for congregations that they may continue to feed orphans who remain in their care, eyeglasses for people who have such need, and the seeds of faith planted through the love of Christian brothers and sisters in Christ across the ocean. Thank you again for supporting this wonderful and exciting mission. I am so thankful we can all be a part of God’s work together for the sake of our fellow Christians in Congo.
Lutheran Women
Posted September 4, 2024 By adminThe Lutheran Women will have a spaghetti meal fundraiser on Sunday, September 22nd following worship. The meal will be salad, spaghetti, bread and dessert and may be eaten in or taken to go. Adult plates will be $10 and child plates will be $5. The funds raised will be used to assist those in our church and community in need of financial assistance for medical issues. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Worship folder on September 8th and September 15th, or you can call Sandra. Please let us know if you plan to join us no later than September 15th.
Up and Going
Posted July 23, 2024 By adminOn May 9th, seventeen members gathered in the fellowship hall for the regular Up and Going Meeting. It was a stormy, rainy morning, but the sunshine filled the fellowship hall as members gathered and filled the room with laughter and conversations.
Helen and Jean welcomed everyone. Joan gave the devotions with the reading of Psalm 1, the sharing from her Angel Book and prayer. Helen gave the blessing for our meal. The meal of many delicious salads and complimentary dishes and wonderful desserts were enjoyed by all. Comment was made, “that everyone should bring the same dish next month, everything was so good.”
Next came BINGO, always a fun time with lots of laughter and comments. Everyone won several times and chose prizes of their choice. Some prizes were then given to We Care and Mercy Boy Project and some prizes went home with us. We played and played until all prizes were gone. What a good time we had!!
June 13th, 2024, a beautiful summer day, the Up and Going gathered in the Fellowship Hall at 11 AM for the monthly meeting. Eighteen members and guests attended. Devotions were given by Team Leader, Helen. Devotions were from “Mornings with Jesus” booklet. Bible reading was from John 5:19 reminding us that “sons learn from their fathers” and we learn from our fathers and so we teach our sons. We shared special memories of our fathers. Business was conducted.
Mr. Travis Goodman, our Thrivent Representative, spoke to us about Thrivent, how the company operates and the many opportunities available to its clients. Travis is available to each of us should we desire additional information.
We all enjoyed a delicious covered dish meal and lots of great fellowship. The food was so good. We always have a wide variety of delicious dishes. Our next meeting will be held on July 11th at 11 AM in the fellowship hall. Bob will have the program. Lunch will be a covered dish meal. Hope to see you then.
Helen
Team Leader
Up and Going
Mercy Bags Ministry
Posted July 14, 2024 By adminYour continued support of the Mercy Bags Ministry is making a difference in our local community. In May, 45 meals were provided to rural communities. Cleaning supplies were also provided. Please continue to support this ministry through a designated monetary donation, shopping for meal items or helping to pack food for the Mercy Bags after worship on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. A list of meal items can be found in the Narthex.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted July 7, 2024 By adminGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
The time has finally come when Pastor Kalonji and I must begin packing bags, confirming reservations and making final preparations for our flight to Kinshasa. As usual, there have been several tense moments worrying about travel visas and working with embassies. At this writing, all the paperwork is finally in order. I have received the necessary visa to enter the country, flights have been arranged and I am ready for my visit with our good Christian friends in Congo.
Looking back on all the preparations that have to take place each time we travel to Congo, I am truly amazed at the goodness of God as he blesses Pastor Kalonji and I with the privilege to do his work in such a place. Before meeting Pastor Kalonji in 2014 and hearing his presentation to our Mission District Convocation, I would have never dreamed of traveling to such a place.
I was just a young boy, when in school I first heard of the Congo. We learned about jungles, rain forests and also the regions of the hills and plains. But the thing I was most fascinated with was the Congo River. Since that time as a child, I was intrigued with the thought of seeing the Congo River, but I never dreamed it would actually happen. Many years later, all of that changed; I saw the river I had learned about as a child. I ministered to people whose life and livelihood are closely intertwined with the river. They depend upon it for food and transport of basic supplies.
Now, God has blessed me with another opportunity to see this great river and to reconnect with friends I’ve made throughout my several missionary journeys. I remember the first time I traveled to Congo I was a bit apprehensive. The country is not one that is on the well-traveled path of tourists and commerce. I didn’t speak the language of its people back then, and I still don’t today. Back then I wondered how easily we would be able to find food to eat and water to drink. All these years later, I still struggle with this. Back then, for me, Congo was simply a great unknown in a place called the “Dark Continent.” But these days it’s not so unknown to me. I have friends there, people who are eager for my visits. I have fellow pastors whom I work alongside proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to men, women, and of course the many children we will encounter. From the time we are met at the airport to the first prayer that is said, it becomes quite evident that, even in such a far off place, I am not alone. God is with me…and so are all of you.
In preparing for this trip, many of you have taken part in the ministry we are called to share. You have adopted Bibles to share with people who have none. You have made donations to help us free mothers and their babies from detention in hospitals and clinics. And you have provided funds to feed malnourished children who wake up each morning wondering if they might have a meal that day.
A central part of our ministry in Congo is showing compassion toward caring for children. In this same compassion, our children here at home have embraced those who are far away. Through noisy offerings and their children’s offerings on Sundays, they have raised money to purchase food for kids they will likely never meet. Last year, they made cross necklaces to remind the children of Congo that they indeed have a Savior in Jesus Christ, and they have children in the United States who pray for them. I am pleased with the relationship that has sprung up between our kids and those so far away. One day, in the kingdom of God, there will be a meeting of these children and all of heaven will sing in thanksgiving.
Thank you to everyone who has made contributions to this year’s mission trip. Thanks also to those in neighboring congregations who have offered funding and prayers. But most of all, thanks be to God for his grace that comes through Christ Jesus, and for the opportunity to share the Good News with the people in Congo. Even as I go, I do not go alone. God is with me, and so are you.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
VBS
Posted July 3, 2024 By adminBreaker Rock Beach
June 24-27
VBS began at Breaker Rock Beach on Monday, June 24th. Dinner was served nightly and there were classes for all ages! God’s voice was heard – “Truth comes from me. My plan for you is even better. Everyone sins and needs a Savior. Jesus is the only way to get to heaven.” Fun and fellowship was enjoyed by all.
Thanks to all our VBS 2024 volunteers! YOU make VBS happen! Many thanks from the Christian Education Team.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted June 21, 2024 By admin“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone needs to be loved. Sadly, not everyone feels they are loved. We hear so many stories these days about kids who have run away from home because they feel unloved or unwanted. We hear even more stories about people who, for one reason or another have fallen out of grace and become shunned for something they’ve done. The sad truth is, the world is filled with people who perceive themselves to be misfits, outcasts and undesirable. “If only I were good enough, someone would love me.”
Have you ever tried to convince someone who fits the above description that they truly are loved? Have you ever been faced with the difficulty of giving someone the assurance of God’s love? It isn’t as simple as it sounds. People who are convinced they are undesirable have built up walls surrounding them that are nearly impenetrable. Breaking down the barrier of doubt and low self-esteem is a dauntless task. Change is needed; transformation must take place for both, the unloved and the community that shuns them.
Several times in my reading this morning I have come across a commonly used sentence that always seems to give me trouble. “God loves you just the way you are.” This sentence gives the connotation that, even though I am not good enough for people, I am good enough for God. Now on the surface of this statement there is an element of truth, God does love us unconditionally. But simply telling someone that God loves them just as they are does not tell the whole story.
Ever since Adam and Eve bit the forbidden fruit, a barrier has existed between God and humanity. Sin is the great separation, the deeply driven wedge breaking the relationship between God and people. There can be no mistake, God hates sin and we are sinners. God does not love us just the way we are. God does not love us as sinners continually turning away from the relationship he established with creation in the beginning. This is a difficult message to hear and even more difficult to accept.
Certainly, God loves us. After all, we are people created by his hand in his image and likeness. But God does not love us just as we are. God does not love our sinful human condition. In order for God to love us just the way we are, change is needed. Transformation must take place. The deeply driven wedge between God and people must be removed and the wounds of sin healed forever. This is why God sent his Son into the world.
One of the aspects of the Lutheran Church I cling to is our emphasis and focus on the cross of Christ. Even as Jesus was fully human, subject to the same temptation, hunger, and pain we feel, he did not surrender unto sin. Jesus accomplished what humans cannot; he remained obedient to God even unto death. God loved Jesus just as he was; sinless, blameless, perfect.
As we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, change occurs, transformation takes place. God receives us into the one true body of Christ Jesus and forgives us all our sin. God sanctifies us with his Holy Spirit, claims us as his own and gives us the assurance of his love forever. It is in this truth that humans can rightfully say, “God loves us just the way we are.” In Christ, no longer lost, no longer broken, we sinners who are washed in the waters of Holy Baptism and redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus can honestly say God loves us just the way we are.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
