Our annual Homecoming celebration is scheduled for Sunday, October 6th. We will also be honoring our “Golden Agers” as a part of the celebration. A special presentation will be made to our most senior church family members, and we will again honor them with a congregational meal following worship. We will welcome our Homecoming guest preacher, Pastor Mark Metze, and his family. Please invite your friends and neighbors, and plan to attend as we celebrate another year of ministry at St. Jacob’s.
Pastor Archive
Homecoming Celebration 2024
Posted October 2, 2024 By adminFrom Your Pastor’s Heart – Spiritual Gifts
Posted October 1, 2024 By adminEach of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
This month I would like to spend a little time talking about stewardship. The mere mention of the word “stewardship” might solicit several reactions, most of them being feelings centered upon money. Some will read this month’s pastoral offering intently and think seriously about their role as stewards of God’s blessings. Others might skip over this column entirely, figuring they already know that the pastor is going to talk about money and the church’s need for more. I pray the majority of our members see themselves as part of the first group I mentioned, for we really do need to think about how we are to be good stewards of all that God provides…and I do mean ALL. Still, the “s” word conjures up many mixed feelings, so it is perhaps good that we focus on the scripture passage above before we dig too deeply.
One of the things Christians must always understand is that God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance, so that we have enough of everything, and we may share it abundantly (2 Cor. 9:8). Sadly, too many Christians understand stewardship as being a means for a congregation to pay the bills. In so many congregations, the mantra becomes, “If we don’t start bringing in more members, we’re going to have financial trouble.” or “We can’t cut much more out of our budget, there’s nothing left to cut.” The problem with these statements is they place the focus on the church building and programs first and the giver second, without ever mentioning God’s role in providing what is necessary to do His will. This is in direct opposition of what being a good steward really means.
Stewardship is NOT a means for the church to collect money. Rather, stewardship is a way for God’s children to grow in relationship with the One who is the provider of all that we have…again, ALL. Focusing on the institution’s need for funds and the giver’s responsibility to provide them gives humans the false notion that they are the possessors and God’s church is the possession. If you think for a moment, you will quickly see how this is played out in churches all across the land, even St. Jacob’s.
We have all heard statements made to the effect that the church should be run like a business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Businesses have one focus, to maximize profits for the sake of their shareholders. The heftier the bank balance, the healthier the business. Churches, on the other hand, exist for the sake of their non-members, those who are the neediest among us. The Church’s focus is its ministry to the gospel, proclaiming the good news of God’s salvation and meeting the needs, both spiritual and physical, of the needy within the surrounding community and world. A healthy church is not necessarily one with a hefty bank balance, but one that has an appetite for growing in faith and a thirst for God’s Word. Healthy churches understand that the blessing of treasure is one to be openly and generously shared. As Christians, we have to believe that God will provide what we need in order to do the work He has called us to do. In fact, God has already provided us with such blessings.
There is an old joke where preachers give congregations the good news and bad news concerning the need for funds. The good news is that God has provided all we need. The bad news is that it is still in your pockets. Think for a moment, there is some truth in this statement. Christians are called to tithe the first fruits of their labors, giving the first fruits of what God has provided for the sake of the gospel. It’s not simply a suggestion; it is a precept of God for the people of God. Thus, being a faithful steward and a cheerful giver means realizing all we have belongs to God, who entrusts such blessings unto us for the sake of those whom God places within our midst. The first fruits of our time, our ability and yes, our treasure, therefore, are to be generously and cheerfully shared so that the message of the gospel becomes reality for those who are in need of God’s saving grace.
Tithing is not simple, it takes discipline. It takes prayer and requires a shift in mindset that in all matters of life, God will provide for our needs. Yet, truly, not all are able to tithe ten percent, but all are able to give of their first fruits. Working together as a congregation, we can learn what it means to become good stewards, learning how we can share our time, talent and treasure for the sake of the gospel. As we become good stewards and cheerful givers, we will soon realize we can overcome the “business mentality,” and further our focus on growing in relationship with God. As Christians, this is our duty and our goal, that we offer God what He has first provided us, ourselves, our time, and our possessions, these signs of His gracious love.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Men’s Bible Study
Posted September 30, 2024 By adminOur Men’s Bible study will continue with its new time and day. All St. Jacob’s men are invited to participate in Bible study on Monday, October 7th at 6:30 PM in the church office. Please bring your Bible. If you do not have one to bring, then one will be provided for you.
Blessing of the Animals
Posted September 30, 2024 By adminGod 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.
Pastoral 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.
St. Jacob’s Youth
Posted September 26, 2024 By adminFollowing our Confirmation classes on October 6th, the youth of St. Jacob’s are invited to a time of food, fellowship, fun and games. Since there will be no Youth Handbell rehearsals that day, our Youth meeting will begin upon the conclusion of confirmation class about 4:00PM. All St. Jacobs Youth and their friends in grades 6 and above are welcome. We will meet in the Church office.
Pastoral Devotion for September – Living a Happy Life
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminRead: Psalm 34:11-14
Recently, I read an article concerning “The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life.” We all want to have a happy life, don’t we? Though, God doesn’t promise us happiness – that’s not His most important goal for us. But happiness can often come as a byproduct of our relationship with Him. Would you like to know what the secret is? It is found in our passage for this month.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14
The psalmist begins by saying, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days.” Nearly everyone wants to experience these things so that’s the audience for what comes next. If we love life and want to see many good days, here’s what we should do: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Those who want to receive these promises from God simply need to take his word to heart. The psalmist gives us the steps that lead us there.
We begin by guarding the things we say. We don’t gossip. We don’t tear people down. We tell the truth. Then we stop doing bad things and start doing good things, unselfish things. Then, we must seek peace. But we don’t just wait for peace to come to us; we pursue peace. That means we do what we can to live at peace with others, especially people with whom we might have difficulty. We don’t do things that are divisive and factional, undermining people who disagree with us or finding fault with them. Everyone can apply the Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life. It begins through our relationship with Christ, and that’s very Good News.
Prayer: Holy God, keep us from evil and help us to live according to the example of our Lord Jesus, so that we would share the happiness of a life reconciled in him. Amen.
Catechetical Instruction to Begin in August
Posted August 22, 2024 By adminThe Confirmation process will soon begin for several of our younger church family members. Emma, Gabriel, Samantha, Copeland, Bryleigh, and MacKenzie will all be joining Pastor David for lessons in the Old and New Testaments, as well as exploring Luther’s Small Catechism. The two-year period of instruction will conclude on Pentecost Sunday in 2026. That seems like a long way off, but truly the time will pass by quickly for these faithful youth members. Please pray for them as they embark on this journey where they will come to the point when each one will stand and publicly claim the promises God made to them at the time of their Baptism. Confirmation Instruction is currently scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 25th at 3:00 PM in the church office.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted August 11, 2024 By adminWe give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
So far, for many people this has been quite a summer. For some, the days have been dreadfully hot and dry. For others, summer has brought with it an opportunity for vacation and travel with family and friends. And for those who are apt to volunteer, it has been a summer filled with church work. I can count several people for whom this has been a summer of recovery from illness or medical procedures. We have members of our church family for whom this has been a summer of mourning and grief. In all of these, I can say that as your pastor, it has been a summer of prayer.
In his letters to various churches, the apostle Paul consistently begins by lifting up prayers of thanksgiving for the saints to whom he is writing. Whether he is writing to Christians just coming to faith, a church needing encouragement, or a congregation mired in conflict, Paul gives thanks for the faith of those who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In doing so, Paul sets a wonderful example for Christians in all places to follow. When I read Paul’s words concerning his thanksgiving and prayers for others, I usually find myself spending a good bit of time in prayer for St. Jacob’s.
As some of you know, I like to begin my week in prayer for our church family. One ritual is to take the Sunday worship bulletin and pray for those on our various prayer lists. One by one, the names of people who are sick, recovering or home bound stand out. I pray for the various friends and family members who are not members of our congregation but listed as those needing continual prayer. It’s humbling to know that, even as we pray for others we do not know, through faith, our prayers are heard and received by our Father in heaven.
Another prayerful activity I enjoy is going through our church directory and simply praying for church family members whose names randomly come to the forefront. I sincerely believe that as I look through the listing of families, God calls me to pray for certain individuals or families for whatever circumstances they may be experiencing. Sometimes, I will send a card to those for whom I pray so they know their pastor prayed for them. Sometimes, people will tell me that the card came at just the right time; that they really needed to know someone prayed for them. For this reason, it is important that we keep up our relationships with our prayer partners.
I think that in this summer of prayer, the thing I have enjoyed most is knowing how many St. Jacob’s church family members, and members of congregations in my past, have prayed for me. This summer has brought challenges to my health that I had never foreseen coming. Like many people to whom I have ministered, I find myself facing the realization that our bodies do not last forever, and that they truly do need the care and attention of those whom God has gifted for medical procedures.
Needless to say, I’m likely not the most agreeable patient, and I truly don’t like sharing such personal information. But in order to practice what I have preached for nearly twenty years, I have softened my stance and learned that there is no weakness in asking for prayer. In fact, it takes great strength to open up and solicit the prayers of the faithful.
I’m thankful for the blessing of being your pastor, and in the words of St. Paul, I give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in my prayers. Thank you also to the many who have prayed for me. We are all blessed with the gift of God’s love, especially as we share his love with one another, giving thanks in all circumstances for the grace God makes available through his son Jesus Christ. As always, I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Pastoral Devotion for August – Lord, Hear Our Prayer
Posted August 3, 2024 By adminRead: Mark 9:14-29
There is one thing that is fairly certain, we all, at one time or another, ask people to keep us in their prayers. Another thing that is certain is that others have asked us to do the same. Prayer is a central part of Christian living. We pray for healing, comfort, peace and happiness. We pray for so many things, but what happens when we do not immediately recognize God’s answer?
Some, although they believe, begin to have doubts. The man, whose son was possessed, believed one of Jesus’ followers could cast out the demon. When this did not happen, doubt crept into the situation. The word “if” is pursed upon his lips; “If you can…help us.”
Jesus teaches us the power of prayer. “Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find” (Mt. 7:7-8). Our Lord teaches that as you pray, do so believing that you have already received that for which you pray. It is no small task; because of doubt, we often need visible proof that our prayers are truly answered. Still, God is faithful. As we pray in faith, the Holy Spirit provides us with confidence that God indeed hears our prayers and provides all we need.
As we continue to live in Christian fellowship with one another, we pray for the wellbeing of those whom we love, and even our enemies. We all need prayer; it leads us to greater faithfulness and confidence in believing the truth of God’s promises.
Continue to live a life of prayer, not simply for yourself, but for others as well. For as James says, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
Prayer: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen.
