The page on the calendar indicates the month of April is finally upon us, and the highlight for the Church will certainly be the Easter celebration that comes on April 17th. Yet, as I prepared to write this column and offer an Easter message, I realized that at the time of this writing, we are but halfway through our Lenten journey. As the children of God, we long to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter, but in order to be faithful, we cannot look past the lessons of Lent and the events of Holy Week. Of course, there are plans underway for our traditional Easter breakfast and Easter egg hunt. Yet, in the midst of all these plans for celebration, if we fail to consider the journey of Christ to the cross, suddenly the story loses much of its meaning.
Since Ash Wednesday, Christians the world over have focused on our need for repentance and our reliance on God’s mercy and grace. Lent is a season of penitence, a time for spiritual renewal and a time of dedication to discipleship and following Christ. Each Wednesday, our congregation, along with four other congregations, have been engaged in a series based on the prophet Joel’s call to “Return to the Lord.” As we consider what Christ endured on our behalf, we hear God’s call to turn away from our betrayal, bearing false witness, and denial. We have also heard the message that God calls us to return to him in prayer, seeking his kingdom first above all else.
Each Wednesday, we continue to hear the call to return to the Lord from neighboring pastors who have prepared messages for us according to our theme. These voices of repentance provide us with very real examples of how we are to respond to God’s grace. God meets us where we are and in our every need. He provides that which we need to live and calls us to share these good gifts with others. Just as Christ loves us, God calls us to love our neighbors and be as Christ to them.
Finally, as we prepare for the week the Church calls Holy, we look to Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem where he was greeted as king and called blessed. The Bible study we have shared concerning the Passion of Christ has focused attention to those events of Holy Week that have
been leading up to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion. For me, it has been a particularly meaningful time of Bible study. I strongly encourage those who are able, come on Wednesday morning and join in. We will engage Scriptures as we read of Jesus before Caiaphas, Herod and ultimately Pilate. We will consider his passion as the ones whom he came to save. And finally, we will study and meditate on Christ words from the cross as he completes his earthly mission and wins the victory over the powers that defy God.
Many of you will come to the service of Palm Sunday and hear the passion narrative of our Lord Jesus. Many more of you will come to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and feel the power of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Still, I encourage you to attend the services of worship dur-ing Lent and especially Holy Week. This is the time to consider what God in Christ Jesus has done and continues to do for the sake of God’s people. This is the time to dedicate yourselves to deepening your relationship with God. This is the time to cast away those aspects of our lives that do us harm and give thanks to God for rebirth as children of God as we bathe in the waters of our baptism onto Christ.
The Easter celebration is not far off, but it is also not yet here. In order that we may fully and joyfully experience the wonders of Christ’s empty tomb, we must also hear and consider his journey to the cross. I look forward to seeing more and more of you as Easter approaches. I look forward to sharing the gospel story of Jesus with you and receiving the feast of Christ body and blood that God sets before us each week. And most certainly I look forward with great anticipation to sharing with you the Easter proclamation that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Pastor Archive
From the Pastor’s Heart by Pastor David Nuottila
Posted April 1, 2022 By adminFrom the Pastor’s Heart
Posted March 15, 2022 By adminRead Joel 2:12-14
Return to the Lord your God!
Recalling the forty days during which Christ spent in the wilderness, our Lenten journey begins with a call to repentance and to resist temptation. “Return to the Lord your God, who is merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13)” is the refrain sung by the church at worship. Forsake the ways of the world and return to following the path set before you by your Lord and God. In order that we may do this, we begin our Lenten journey together with the corporate confession of Ash Wednesday and hear the words of God’s love and promise of his grace. These are but the first steps along the path toward Golgotha, and ultimately the empty tomb of Easter. So that we may make this journey together in faith, I strongly encourage everyone at St. Jacob’s to focus on God’s activity in your lives and to participate in the services and activities of Lent.
Return to Worship
The season of Lent is always a good time to center ourselves and our families in the rich traditions of the church. Gathered with God’s people on Sundays and again during Wednesday vespers, we renew our commitment to offer God our worship and praise, hear God’s Word through sermon and song, and receive his forgiveness and grace through the sacrament of the altar. Lent is a good time to renew our passion for such worship through rich liturgy and prayer, begging Kyrie eleison, Christi eleison, that is Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Each Sunday during Lent, our sermon series will focus on the humanity of Christ as God came to live among his people, and how Jesus gave himself away as sacrifice for all so that we may live in God’s mercy and be recipients of his grace.
Focus on Scripture
In the early church, the forty days of Lent was a time for instruction in the basic truths of the Christian faith. Commitment to daily reading and study of Holy Scripture; therefore, a central part of one’s faith formation during Lent and beyond. In order to live lives of faith and be followers of Christ Jesus, one must continue to learn of the mighty acts of God and the history of our salvation. So many of our members do not take advantage of Sunday School and small group Bible study, thus my question for you during this Lenten pilgrimage is, from where are you learning the elements of the Christian faith? Where are you learning about your faith and call if not from the church at Sunday School and Bible study? Worship is meant to praise and glorify God while connecting faith and life. It is imperative that Christians continue in life long faith formation within the community of Christ. I strongly encourage each of you to dedicate yourselves to daily reading of Holy Scripture and to participate in study of God’s Word in the fellowship of the church.
Focus on Prayer
What is prayer if not our personal and intimate communication with God? Given the reality of what prayer is, let me ask another question; How is your prayer life? Living in such a fast paced world, we often forget to slow down and enjoy conversation with our loving God. Yet God is always with us, always walking by our side, leading us to the good gifts of his kingdom. Lent is a good time to remember to slow down, be still and listen to the voice of God. It is a good time to enjoy quiet moments in prayer and hear God’s answers to the concerns we bring before him. I encourage everyone during these forty days and beyond to take time for daily prayer, either in the quietness of your homes, or in the quietness of your hearts. Then join your sisters and brothers in Christ on Sundays for the prayer and ritual of worship on Sunday as we join our voices lifting the concerns of others before God.
Focus on Discipleship
As we continue to study God’s Word and grow in faith, our thankful response to God’s grace grows as well. During the forty days of Lent, Christians recommit their lives to being faithful disciples of Christ, following his example of ministry for the sake of others. Lent, therefore, is a good time to examine your level of giving of time talent and treasure, to become a cheerful giver of the gifts which God first has given unto us. Again, I strongly encourage everyone to examine their level of giving in each of these areas. I encourage you to participate in the services of the Lord’s house, the ministries we share for the sake of those in our community and world, and to give thanks daily for the opportunity to be as Christ for others.
On Ash Wednesday we begin the pilgrimage anew, yet it is the journey of our lives as people of God. Yes, this is a rather lengthy contribution to the newsletter, but hear in my words the invitation to grow in faith, learn the ways of God, and become a blessing for those whom God places in your midst. When the steps toward Golgotha become especially strenuous, remember what it is that Christ endured for our sake. Gather with your sisters and brothers at St. Jacob’s, and return to the Lord your God, who is merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Lenten Vespers Series and Schedule
Posted March 2, 2022 By adminThrough the words of the prophet Joel, God called to His people and commanded that they turn from their sinful ways and return to Him for His grace and blessings. This has been the focal point of Lent for Christians as they observe the forty days of this season of penitence and reflection. Lent is a time for listening and responding to the call to return to faithfulness to the God who has been ever faithful to His people. Joel’s exhortation, “Return to the Lord, your God” will serve as our call to Lenten vespers each Wednesday leading to Easter. It is more than a verse sung as part of the liturgy. It is a heartfelt directive for our lives as together we follow the pathway of Lent.
Pastor David will join four other NALC pastors in a preaching series where each will visit one another’s congregation and preach according to five themes of Lent. The schedule for our Lenten series at St. Jacob’s is:
1st Week in Lent – Pr. Bill White (St. Peter’s Lexington) – Return from Betrayal
2nd Week in Lent – Pr. David Nuottila – Return to Prayer
3rd Week in Lent – Pr. Dave Tholstrup (St. Peter’s Chapin) – Return from Denial
4th Week in Lent – Pr. Andrew Loomis (Immanuel, Sumter) – Return to the Kingdom of God
5th Week in Lent – Pr. Cassie Boehringer (St. Peter’s, Lexington) – Return from False Witness
The liturgy we will follow for the Wednesday Vespers is Holden Evening Prayer. Please note that traditional Vespers liturgy does not include the Sacrament of Holy Communion, so there will not be communion on the Wednesdays in Lent. Please plan on attending each week as we journey together toward repentance and the cross of Christ, and finally are confronted with our risen Lord at the empty tomb of Easter. As it has been our tradition, a meal will be served prior to our Lenten mid-week worship services. Keep an eye on our weekly worship bulletin for more details.
Pastoral Devotion for March
Posted February 28, 2022 By adminCome and Rest
Read Mark 6:7-13, 30-33
The disciples returned from the mission from which Jesus sent them filled with excitement. They couldn’t wait to report to their teacher the many things they had done in his name. Pairing up and traveling from place to place, the disciples preached the message of repentance to all who would hear, cast out demons, and healed the sick. Certainly, there was plenty to discuss, but understanding their needs, Jesus invited them to come away to a place of rest.
Life as a disciple of Christ is much the same today. Those who are engaged in ministering to the sick, hungry, homeless, and lost find that there is seemingly no end to such mission. Even the people of God who come weekly to worship often lean heavily upon those called to ministry. Even still, the passion and excitement displayed by the twelve is paralleled by today’s disciple. Similarly, just as with the twelve, seldom is there a day when such a disciple may take full advantage of finding a desolate place to rest. Even in that desolate place, the disciple loves those whom God has placed in his charge; he cares for the sick, tends to the needy, and prays for the flock. The notion of rest seems unattainable, yet Jesus realizes and understands their needs.
Following the boat that carried Jesus and the twelve to that “desolate” place was a great crowd. When Jesus saw them, he had compassion and called his disciples to give them something to eat. What followed was perhaps one of Jesus’ most powerful miracles. Not only did Jesus feed the multitude, but he also fed the twelve. As we continue to trust and follow our Lord, Jesus continues to feed us with the truth of the gospel, the compassion of God’s love and with food from heaven provided in abundance.
The blessing of being in ministry and service in the name of Christ is such that as the disciple grows tired, Jesus fills them with power, even when the desolate place is not so peaceful.
Prayer: Dearest Jesus, bless us in our work of the gospel, and grant us rest in you. Amen.
From the Pastor’s Heart by Pastor David Nuottila
Posted February 19, 2022 By adminDo you have enough faith?
Read Mark 7:24-30
Do you have enough faith? Do you have enough faith to pray even when it seems God is not listening? It is not always easy to maintain faithfulness, especially when it seems God is silent to our pleas for help. Just as the Psalmist wrote; “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest…” (Psalm 22:2) many feel they experience silence from God. On the night he was handed over, Jesus himself prayed that the cup of suffering might be removed from him, yet he remained faithful. The fact remains that Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s greatest silence.
We have all experienced this silence of God. We pray for something, and the opposite seems to happen. We pray for healing yet still suffer. We pray for companionship, yet we remain lonely. This is where faith enters. Having faith means understanding and believing that Christ was, is and always will be Emmanuel, God with us. Even as we do not understand God’s ways, through faith we are enabled to believe that God’s mercy endures. Even as we don’t always seem to get what we want, the Holy Spirit leads us through faith to realize God gives us what we need.
In the text listed above, the Syrophoenician woman pleads for her daughter’s healing; she believes the crumbs from the Master’s table have the power to save. It is all she needs. Even as we plead, “Lord have mercy”, Christ reaches out and fills our empty hands with this same bread from heaven. Christ is our only source for forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Through faith in him we are saved.
Do you have enough faith? What do you think? Do you believe that God’s blessings are for you even if you are an outsider? Having enough faith is not hoping we will get what we want; it is knowing Jesus is Lord. Having enough faith is believing that no matter what chaos threatens us, we are not alone in a storm. Having enough faith means knowing Christ is our Lord and our God, and through him only is the way to eternal life.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminOur mid-week Morning Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, February 2nd beginning at 10 AM. Our topic will be a based on a book “Reviving the Aging Church” written by our friend, Pastor Brad Hales from the NALC Staff. We will take a close look at the scriptures pertaining to God’s blessing the faithful with long life and many years. This will be a great study and produce good fruit for our congregation as we live into the “golden” years. There are no special materials needed, just bring your Bible and a desire to explore God’s Word with members of your church family.
Pastoral Devotion for February
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminTogether in Faith
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5
Christians today certainly face doubts and fears. So, like many in the early church, Christians today benefit from the encouragement of other believers. When left on their own, even the faithful risk becoming distant and inactive in matters of worship and fellowship. The world offers too many alternatives to living a life patterned after the example of our Lord Jesus.
At every turn, the powers that defy God lay in wait to snatch the believer from the community of faith. Worldly temptations meant to lure believers away from heavenly things become stumbling blocks. Relying on the self only, even the most devout can set their minds on earthly things rather than seeking God’s kingdom first. This is the great challenge to the faithful while living in a world fallen in upon itself. In such a world, we often rely on the faith of others.
The church certainly faces issues of complacency; many are not as active as we ought to be. Others become lukewarm in their faith. Yet, living in a community of faith, the Holy Spirit strengthens God’s people through their hearing the gospel. The epistles of Paul, along with the other biblical authors continue to encourage Christians throughout the world. We are strengthened by their words, for theirs are the Word of God.
PRAYER: Strengthen your church, O Lord; bless the community of those who call upon your name. Amen.
Pastoral Devotion For January
Posted January 3, 2022 By adminA PLACE AT THE TABLE
Read – 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 living on 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 through his newly gifted faith, Greg 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 rich and poor, the rich man failed in his calling to feed the hungry, 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 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.
Father God, give us hearts for love alone, that we might love and serve our neighbor without distinction. Amen.
Pastoral Devotion for December
Posted December 15, 2021 By adminI Am with You
Read: Genesis 28:10-22
Jacob, having tricked his father Isaac into blessing him over and above his brother Esau, is now on the run. He is in fear for his life as his brother has vowed to kill him for what he had done. Alone and afraid, Jacob travels through the wilderness. He is not seeking an encounter with God, nor is he searching for some deeply religious explanation of his life. Jacob is between places, the place of his father which is his home, and the place to which he is traveling where he hopes to find a new life. Yet, through a dream, God makes his presence known and the gospel, the good news of God’s deliverance comes to Jacob. “Behold, I am with you!”
Jacob’s vision of a ladder reaching from earth into heaven teaches us that the world is not a place absent of God’s presence. Rather, there is intersection between the realm of earthly life and God’s kingdom. Angels, messengers of God, travel to and from bringing tidings of good news and God’s divine protection to those who live within the family of faith. God’s children are not alone; there is someone who walks with us, powerful enough to take on our troubles and wash away our shame. Because God loved the world so much, we have a Savior who says, “Behold, I am with you!”
How often do we wander in the wilderness? When are those instances when we search for God, yet He seems distant? These are the times to become quiet and still, to open our hearts and minds to the presence of our Lord Jesus. For the words of his promise are sure, “Behold, I am with you.”
Holy God, guide us by your Holy Spirit and guard us with your angels. Help us to see always, your power and presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Christmas Morning Worship
Posted December 10, 2021 By adminYears ago, I was confronted by a church member concerning Worship on Christmas Day. That particular year, Christmas was on Sunday and this certain church member wanted to know if we would be having worship that morning. Of course, we did have worship. After all, Sunday is the Lord’s Day regardless of any other celebration we might want to observe. That instance set in motion a practice that I have observed every year since. As a pastor, it breaks my heart that the vast majority of churches remain closed on Christmas morning, one of the holiest days of the year. I have made it my tradition to offer a worship service every year on Christmas morning for those who would desire to come celebrate Christmas with worship and Holy Communion. This year will be no different. Worship with holy communion will be Christmas morning at 10:00 AM. All are invited to keep Christ in Christmas and worship at St. Jacob’s during this simple Christmas morning service. It is a “come as you are” opportunity to gather with your church family. Over the years, I have witnessed children in pajamas, adults in relaxed and casual dress, all coming to sing the praises of a God who would provide the most precious gift of all, the birth of a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Everyone is most certainly welcome. Come make a joyful noise and share in the blessing of Christmas with your church family.
