First Communion classes are scheduled for Sundays, March 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Parents or guardians who feel their child is ready should plan to attend classes with their child. Classes will be held during the Sunday School time in the Sanctuary. Children participating will receive their First Communion on Palm Sunday, April 5th.
Pastor Archive
First Communion Classes
Posted March 2, 2020 By adminCongo Missions Update
Posted March 2, 2020 By adminThere have been some wonderful developments concerning the Congo Mission as of late. In November, Pastor Stéphane Kalonji and I submitted paperwork to incorporate what is now known as Congo Mission International. Having received information that incorporation has been granted, the next step was to submit the application for tax exempt status.
I am pleased to inform you that Congo Mission International has been granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the United States Internal Revenue Service. These are exciting times for us as we do the work God sets before us. Yet, it goes without saying, the work in God’s mission field is never complete. I would invite you to continue to support the Congo Mission through your benevolent offerings and by attending special fund-raising events during the year. I will be working with several people at St. Jacob’s to schedule a fund-raising dinner for our congregation and also the community around us. Please keep Congo Mission International and the good folks we minister to in Africa in your prayers.
Meet The St. Jacob’s Team
Posted March 2, 2020 By adminEvery month we will continue interviewing one person from the team that serves St. Jacob’s.
Our prayer for this series is that it will allow everyone to get to know us deeper and open the door for conversations.
This month’s team member is Pastor David.
What is your favorite bible verse and why? My favorite verse is Luke 24:30; “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.” This is from the account of the Road to Emmaus. The risen Lord Jesus came to the disciples just as he comes to us. Jesus is revealed to us as He offers His body and blood for our forgiveness and fills us with the power of His love. Truly, there isn’t enough room on this page to explain more about why it is my favorite.
What is one thing you are passionate about? I am passionate about helping people grow in their faith and understanding of God’s continued presence in their lives. It begins with worship, prayer and study of scripture. If only more Christians would take time during the week to gather around God’s Word and study together! What an amazing witness we could provide. Other than the Bible, what is one book that has greatly impacted your faith? I have several favorites, but I would suppose “The Wounded Healer” by Henri J.M. Nouwen is one I can say has had a great impact on my life and ministry.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be and why? I’d like to play the piano. I have always loved music and would love to learn how to make music.
What is one movie you could watch over and over and never get tired of? The Shawshank Redemption – There are so many pivotal moments where life and death collide, evil is overcome by good and in the struggle of life in a broken world, faith and hope lead to new life.
What is the thing you like the most about St. Jacob’s? I love the way we love each other as a church family. There is a genuine concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and a desire to live together as children of God. I believe God has blessed us with a gift to share with our community and I pray we will find ways to share this gift and invite others to come and see these blessings first hand.
Filed in Other Happenings, Pastor
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted February 1, 2020 By adminby Pastor David Nuottila
“I am a Christian, but I don’t have to go to church to have a relationship with God.” This is the phrase that all too often changes the course of conversation once people find out that I am a pastor. Each time I hear this phrase, I wonder if people really believe they can be faithful Christians on their own. Usually it means that this person does not feel the necessity to attend worship services on Sunday morning. Other times, it serves as an indicator of a past or present issue a person has within his/her congregation. In either case, the statement cannot be anymore false. To be a Christian means living within a relationship, not simply with God, but with other faithful Christians as well.
The Communion of Saints Just as families grow larger with the birth of each new child, so also God’s family of faith grows with the baptism of each new Christian. Through baptism, God gathers people into community with one another, living together as members of the body of Christ. This is not simply a relationship we share with members of our congregation. It isn’t just a relationship we have with Christians of our time. This relationship is one that is shared with all of God’s people for all time. As we express in our liturgy, “God has made us his people through our baptism into Christ.” God calls us to live together in faithfulness. Through times of prosperity and through times of great difficulty, Christians enjoy a kinship unlike any other, one filled with God’s unfailing love.
Being a Christian is also a way of life. Christians worship together, pray together, study God’s Word together and share fellowship together. When church family members fall short (and we all do), others come to their aid and support them with the love and compassion of Christ. God does not intend for his people to live in isolation; the Christian life cannot be lived out alone. Each member of the body depends on the others to live and thrive as God’s people of faith. Denying this relationship means denying the One who calls and institutes the relationship also.
Keeping the Sabbath Holy We often read in the gospels that Jesus had the custom of reading and teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Jesus did not set this pattern for worship, and he did not set this pattern for people to learn of the ways of God. This pattern was established for us by the very hand of God with the third commandment. God said, “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” Notice that Jesus’ Sabbath custom did not include spending the day alone. He went to the synagogue and joined God’s gathered family for worship. In worship, God speaks to his people through liturgy, song and sermon. We share stories of our faith, share the peace of Christ, and are strengthened as we receive our living Lord in Holy Communion. For Christians, keeping the Sabbath holy; therefore, also means immersing one’s self in the community gathered by God for worship.
Christ at the Center of Life Finally, to be a Christian, that is a follower of Jesus Christ, one must always keep Christ at the center of his/her life. To do this, one must strive to live as Jesus lived and obey his two great commandments. Jesus teaches that we are to love God with all our heart, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. God gathers us, God feeds us, and God sends us in mission to the world; not to live in isolation, but to be living examples of faithful people living in the community of Christ Jesus. Dismissing God’s call to gather with other Christians and be a fellow worker for the sake of the gospel replaces Christ and puts the self at the center of life. Those with the false notion of being Christian on their own do so with an unrealized intention of being in control of the relationship. They end up serving their interests before God’s interest, and eventually fall even farther away from the church and their relationship with God and his people. Living for the sake of the world and its empty promises brings false hope. Those who seek only to live as Christians on their terms live in denial of the promises of God and the fellowship of God’s people.
So why this article now? Well, as I look around and see those vacant seats in our church each week, and hear other pastors tell of the same emptiness, I pray for those who are not with us, especially those who profess to be Christians on their own. And what about those of us who attend worship each week and participate regularly in the life of the church? Are we inviting friends and neighbors to join us in this relationship? We all know people who say they are Christian, but don’t feel the need to go to church. Such a statement is our invitation to be inviting. The next time someone tells you they don’t need to attend worship in order to express their love for God, invite them anyway. Worship is not hardship; it is a Christian’s pleasure, a right and good thing to do. Invite them to come and see what they are missing.
Grace to you and peace, Pastor David Nuottila
Pastoral Devotion for February
Posted February 1, 2020 By adminPrayers of Thankfulness
Read Colossians 1:1-14
How often do you find yourself praying for someone? It is likely that you often pray for those who are sick, facing a difficult decision or for the safe travels of a friend. But when you pray, how often do you give thanks for the faith of others?
As Paul begins his letter to the Colossians, he rejoices and gives thanks for the faithfulness of those to whom he proclaimed the Gospel. In fact, it would seem by the introduction to this letter that Paul continually leads his community in thankful prayer for the Colossians’ love and care for their neighbors. He praises God for the work of the Holy Spirit within their community and beyond. Such an example of faithfulness!
We all have persons in our life that have taught us the Christian faith. Our response ought to be as Paul’s. We should give thanks for their witness. We should rejoice that they are examples of Christian living we can imitate as we share our faith with those whom we meet.
And so, following Paul’s lead, I pray for the well-being of those who have taught me the faith and continue to be examples for me to follow. And I pray for all who read the words I share here, that they too might live lives of faith for the sake of their neighbor.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the many people who have taught me the faith. May they continue in your peace and love. Amen.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminOur Wednesday morning Bible study continues on January 8th beginning at 9:30 AM. We have been working through a study written by our friend and last year’s Homecoming guest preacher Brad Hales. Our discussions have been lively and informative. Come join us! It doesn’t matter if you have not attended from the beginning; each week is a perfect opportunity to jump right in.
Spring Retreat
Posted January 30, 2020 By adminSt. 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 January 30, 2020 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 2nd, 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.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted January 1, 2020 By adminWhile walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19
Fishermen, they are the ones whom Jesus picked out of the crowd. Fishermen. Jesus didn’t choose prominent figures. He didn’t choose the leader of the synagogue. He didn’t choose a rich land owner, civic leader or well-known businessman. He chose fishermen as his first disciples. It would seem highly unlikely that one who came to rescue God’s people from worldly powers that defy God would chose such a band of brothers to become the first members of his followers, but he did.
What is even more curious to us in these so many years after Jesus walked the earth is why Simon, Andrew, and later James and John left their nets, their families and even their lives behind and followed this unknown Jesus. Jesus wasn’t well known at this point. He wasn’t famous. As far as anyone knew, he was a carpenter from Nazareth. But indeed, they did follow and they became the builders of the church Jesus instituted so that the world could learn of God’s salvation through the death and resurrection of his Son.
Now here we are in the year 2020 and Jesus is still calling disciples to build up his church so that all who have not heard the name Jesus may hear the truth of the Gospel. Jesus calls all Christians to be disciples, to take up their cross and follow, just as he called Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Our Lord calls us to learn from him, do the things he did, and live for the sake of others that they might be saved. The only things left to consider is will we follow? Will we leave behind all that hinders us, all that keeps us from being about the work of Christ? Will we learn to cast our nets and fish for people?
Being disciples and making disciples is central to the ministry of the NALC. Since the beginning of our denomination nearly ten years ago, we have heard the call to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Slowly, gradually, I have begun bringing this movement to St. Jacob’s. For the past twelve months, a handful of church family members and I have studied together and explored the life of discipleship. Now, as we begin this new year, more church family members will engage in this discussion and study until our congregation as a whole has the opportunity to follow our Lord on this journey of faith. We will be learning more about being disciples of Jesus and finding ways to make disciples for him as we share our faith with our community. What we will one day recognize is a change in the culture of our congregation. One where worship is paramount, fellowship is increased, and prayer becomes central to what we do as we engage more deeply in the mission of the church.
Dear friends, living as disciples of Jesus is something all Christians are called to do. Casting our nets and fishing for people is the work our Lord Jesus has given not only to us, but all of his followers. I pray that as you read this, you will become curious as did Simon and Andrew. I pray that you would become eager as did James and John. And I pray that our church family, all of us together, will become fishers of people, following our Lord Jesus as his disciples on a journey of faith.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Pastoral Devotion for January
Posted January 1, 2020 By adminWhat Makes You Tick?
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
If you want to know what a person is really passionate about, just listen to them as they speak. It doesn’t take very long to figure out what makes them tick; it’s that one thing they continue to bring up repeatedly. The apostle Paul was relentless in sharing the Gospel of Christ throughout the world. Being among God’s people and rejoicing in the promise of life in God’s kingdom is certainly what fueled Paul’s fire.
Paul endured hardship, imprisonment and even shipwrecks, yet nothing seemed to dampen his excitement for telling others about the power of God’s love made manifest in Christ’s victory over sin and death. The world was desperate to receive the good news of God’s salvation, and Paul was especially willing to proclaim it.
Today, it is no secret that the world is desperate for God’s Word. As traditional values erode and the authority of Holy Scripture is not as widely recognized, the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be shared by those especially willing to proclaim it. Some endure hardship, others face persecution. But like Paul, they are relentless in their mission.
Most Christians do not face such difficulties. Still, being among the people of God, rejoicing in the promise of God’s grace, and sharing the good news of Christ makes many Christians tick. Listen, God is calling. He is calling Christians to follow the example of Paul, to speak with passion, His promise of grace and peace to a world so desperate to receive it.
Prayer: Almighty God, make us bold in our proclaiming your message of grace through Jesus Christ. Amen.
