Our next meeting will be Sunday, January 19th at 4:30 PM in the fellowship hall.
Outreach Archive
Lutheran Women News
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminSpring Retreat
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminRetreat: (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.
St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church Spring Retreat is scheduled for April 24th-26th at beautiful Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island, SC. Our theme is “Living and Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ.” Members and friends of St. Jacob’s are invited to study together, strengthening their faith while enjoying a time of rest and rejuvenation.
Camp St. Christopher offers participants a place where they can enjoy a private beach, watch dolphins swim and play, hike along wilderness trails, and enjoy a Friday night campfire.
Retreat topics will include: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How do I share my faith? And “What does it mean to take up the cross?
The cost for the retreat is $150.00 per person. Further details are included on the registration form which is located in the narthex. You may also send an email to Pastor David or to the Church office requesting a registration form. Deadline for registration is February 2nd.
Read The Bible In One Year
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminWith the New Year comes an opportunity to once again read through the Bible in one year. Several members of our church family have taken up this reading plan already. If you have not yet done so, you may pick up a reading plan brochure in the narthex. If you have done this already, well, why not read the Bible again?
Beginning on February 2, Pastor David will lead an afternoon discussion and take questions on the first Sunday of each month from those members who are participating or anyone else who would like to attend. Come join the group. Encourage one another to deepen your knowledge of the scriptures. Read the Bible in one year. You will certainly be glad you did.
St. Jacob’s Church Facebook
Posted December 23, 2019 By adminEntering the new year, we wanted to remind everyone who uses Facebook, that St. Jacob’s has a page. We are becoming more active with photos, devotions, and reminders of events!
It is a great way to connect with our church family online. We post Pastor David’s Sunday sermons on there as well. You can search @StJacobs.Chapin to find us!
Youth 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
Congregational Retreat Update
Posted November 26, 2019 By adminThe 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.
Advent 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.
