All youth are invited to lunch and a trip to Riverbanks Zoo on Sunday, April 8th. Lunch will be in the fellowship hall immediately following the worship service before we head to the zoo. Please RSVP to Ms. Tracy or Ms. Kathleen by April 7th so advanced tickets can be purchased.
Thank you to all who purchased BBQ and to all the hands that helped make it happen!
A special “Thank You” to Gerald and Robin for all their BBQ expertise!
Are you making Summer plans? All of us need time away from our routine to refresh and recharge! It is the same for our faith life! Doing more than the routine can really ignite our spiritual walk with the Lord, especially with the young Christians. Plans for Vacation Bible School at St. Jacob’s will soon be underway.
Please:
1) Pray for the attendees and the leaders,
2) Prayerfully consider serving as part of the VBS team,
3) Mark your calendars for July 15-19 for VBS, and
4) Watch your worship folder for more details.
On April 29, We will be going bowling for our Family Fun Fellowship. Everyone meet at Anchor Lanes at 2 PM to join us for fun & fellowship.
[The LORD said] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the
seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” Exodus 20:8-10
The world is a busy, noisy place filled with people at work and play. Our culture is one in which we try to fill every moment with the sights and sounds of modern day life. There is so much to choose from, so much to do, and so little time. The “other” gods of the world demand our precious time and we have to work longer and harder to make enough money to appease them.
The rhythm and pace of life today drives us to unhealthy habits of eating fast food (The defendant will rise), neglecting our families, (Guilty as charged), and not getting the rest needed to rejuvenate our bodies. (Bailiff, take him away!)
The world is so busy and distracted, that the voices of competition, success, selfishness, pride and pleasure deafen our ears while filling our hearts and minds with earthly troubles. But as God’s people grow quiet and still, we hear yet another voice. We hear that whispering voice that calls out to us. As we listen even closer, we hear the voice of God.
If we can only break out of the fast paced cycle of life set by “other gods” we will soon find that it is the one true God who truly establishes the rhythm of life. God blesses his people with all we need. He allows six days for work and gives the seventh for rest, worship, and prayer.
According to Luther’s Small Catechism, we are to fear, love, and trust in God, so that we may be rested and refreshed; not only by our taking time away from unnecessary work, but especially by gathering with the people of God to worship, pray, to hear God’s Word as it is preached and to receive the Sacrament of the Altar which is Holy Communion. Remembering the Sabbath begins with God’s people gathering as a community. We celebrate the love that God so freely gives to the world. Remembering the Sabbath day means we acknowledge God is the source of our very lives and livelihood. Keeping it holy means we gather with the saints for worship and thanksgiving.
As we consider this commandment, remember to pray for those who are under stress from overwork, sleepless nights, and driven by the urgency of a fallen and broken world. Pray for those who continually choose earthly pleasure over giving
thanks to the one who makes them possible. Pray for the ones who feel lost and have no one to turn to and for anyone who might feel abandoned, neglected or afraid. Pray for our church family, that we might continue to listen to God’s call for us as a community of believers who are working and living together in the peace of Christ. And finally, pray that for one day in seven, all may find peace and rest, so that we may also hear the whispering voice of God calling all people unto himself, that we may refresh ourselves by drinking from the living water of Christ Jesus, abiding in his Word and sharing the gospel wherever they may go.
Here in the midst of our Lenten journey, we have the opportunity to renew our commitment to striving toward keeping God’s Ten Commandments, especially toward our commitment to weekly worship and keeping the Sabbath holy. Let this be our prayer throughout these forty days.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Attention St. Jacob’s! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 17 for the Annual Chicken BBQ Youth Fundraiser! Tickets are available from any SJY Member. The last day to purchase tickets is Sunday, March 11. You can pick your BBQ orders up on Saturday, March 17 from 4-6 PM
in the fellowship hall.
Join us on Sunday, March 4th at 5pm in the Fellowship Hall as we grow our faith through devotion, make final plans for the March 17th BBQ and determine upcoming SJY activities . ALL SJY are needed on March 17th – sign up for your shift at the March 4th gathering! Last day to sell BBQ tickets is March 11th! Be sure to bring your ticket sales and money to the March 4th meeting too!
The group met at 10AM on Friday, Feb 9th, in the Fellowship Hall to conduct business and to enjoy devotions given by Ray. He read from a booklet entitled “Jesus Calling”. His devotions reminded us to praise and thank God for His many blessings that we so often take for granted. We took a moment to thank God for the beautiful day that He had provided for our enjoyment.
Members voted to send a memorial in memory of Mr. Dan to St. Jacob’s Church Congo Mission Fund. We signed cards for Mrs. Floriede, Sandra, and Davis. Each person took a card to send to Hannah.
Twelve members and guests boarded the St. Jacob’s Express driven by Gerald and headed to The Brookland Banquet Facility in West Columbia
to enjoy a special treat Valentine’s Day seafood buffet, delicious food, beautiful surroundings and great service. Everyone enjoyed this event.
Now on to the Riverbanks Zoo to enjoy a “Free Friday at the Zoo”. We all got our exercise. We walked/took the trolley from one end of the zoo to the other. A special treat was the judged Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens. The orchids were of all sizes and colors. God gave us the MOST beautiful day to enjoy the zoo. The animals were active, the people were friendly and the zoo was not so crowded. We all had a great time. Special “thank you” to Gerald.
March meeting will be on the 2nd Thursday, March 9th at 11AM in the Fellowship Hall. We will prepare Hospice Easter Bags (doing whatever is necessary to get the job done). Lunch will be a “Brown Bag Working Lunch”. Please bring an item that you would find in a brown bag lunch (sandwiches, chips, goodies, desserts, etc). Wear comfortable shoes and clothes because we will do lots of walking and moving about. Come join us, you will enjoy the fellowship and be so proud of the finished bags.
Are you making Summer plans? All of us need time away from our routine to refresh and recharge! It is the
same for our faith life! Doing more than the routine can really ignite our spiritual walk with the Lord, especially with
the young Christians. Plans for Vacation Bible School at St. Jacob’s will soon be underway. Please: 1) Pray for the
attendees and the leaders, 2) Prayerfully consider serving as part of the VBS team, 3) Mark your calendars for July
15-19 for VBS, and 4) Watch your worship folder for more details.
Our next meeting is March 18 at 6 PM in the fellowship hall. Billy McTeer has devotions. Cooks
are Billy, John, and AJ.
