Welcome to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

On the day of Pentecost, the church celebrates God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. We also celebrate the birth of God’s Church. In our worship, our learning, and our serving, we see God’s Spirit in action. We feel the power of God’s love as the Spirit comes like the rush of a violent wind, stirring our hearts and minds to faithfulness. Such is the theme of Pentecost; it’s the power of God’s Spirit blowing through the lives of His people.
It isn’t about wearing your red dress or shirt to church on Pentecost Sunday. It’s about the mighty breath of the Holy Spirit, rearranging the furniture of our lives and filling us with all the confidence, strength, excitement, and assurance the disciples had in order to share the good news of God’s redemption.
Think about the world around you. Think about the things you have heard and seen. Think about all the times in your life when you thought you were at your wits end. Don’t’ you think the world needs to hear this good news of great joy? In so many ways and in so many instances, God makes his presence and power known in ways so clear that no matter what, people can know and understand His mercy and grace are real and that His love lasts forever.
This is exciting stuff folks. This is the stuff movies are made of…good movies!
The gospel of our Lord is the best news you are ever going to get in your lifetime. The times you first realized God’s grace is for you, that you have been rescued from the consequences of sin forever, well, these are as good as it gets.
When you are young, prom is a big moment. Some of us know kids who have recently gone to or will soon go to their first prom. Guess what, as good as prom is, God claiming you to be his child is better. When you get older, graduation comes with all its pomp and circumstance. Guess what, it can’t compare with all the glory of heaven. There are still bigger moments ahead in your lives. College, your first real job, engagement, marriage, the purchase of a home, and the birth of a child. You know what? All of these are blessings from a loving God, yet because of Christ Jesus, the best is still yet to come.
People of God, all these are wonderful events; they are milestone moments, times of great joy. But if these are the most important times in your life, you’ve missed the boat. None of these can even compare with the fact that through Christ Jesus, God has saved you from sin and death, made you holy in his sight and prepared for you a heavenly home. Nothing can compare with the fact that through Christ Jesus, God has saved your life for all time. That’s good news, that’s exciting.
At Pentecost, as we celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray that God stirs us into such faithfulness that we cannot help but tell others the good news of salvation through Christ. As we strive to follow the example of our Lord Jesus, may we continue to love others as we are loved, feed the hungry, care for the sick and minister to those who are least of all.
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love!
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:1-7

Finally, our long Lenten journey has reached its unlikely conclusion. Unlikely, at least according to the world’s assumption. For forty days, Christians all over the world have been contemplating their sinfulness and need for God’s intervention in rescuing us from the consequences of our disobedience to His law. For forty days, many have taken up the discipline of reading Holy Scripture, abiding in God’s Word of love, mercy, and grace which brings hope to sin-sick souls. And now, in the most unlikely of scenarios, the once sealed tomb of Jesus of Nazareth is opened for all to see inside; to see that He is not there, for He is risen.

Early on the first day of the week, some of the women who followed Jesus went to the tomb to weep and complete the Jewish burial rite by anointing Jesus’s lifeless body with spices, oils, and perfumes. How would they roll the great stone away? How would they dare to gain access to His body with Roman sentries standing by guarding Christ’s grave so that no one may enter? These and so many other questions must have been running through their minds as they came upon the grave where Jesus was laid. But their questions were soon answered in a most dramatic fashion. An Angel announced to them that Jesus was indeed alive; he is risen! Does this good news conjure up questions in your mind as you stand two-thousand years opposite Mary and the women who first discovered the resurrection of Christ?

Following our forty day Lenten trek across the scriptures to the cross of Good Friday, it would be natural to ask questions upon discovering such a miracle. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean? How must I live my life knowing that Christ has died and arisen from the grave? How do I faithfully respond to the news of Jesus’s rising? All good questions for sure, and all demand answers.

First of all, “What does the resurrection of Jesus mean?” It means that those who have placed their faith and trust in Him, even though they die, shall live. The grave could not hold Jesus and because we are united with him in death through our Baptism, the grave cannot hold us either. Christians need no longer fear the grave; it’s lost its power. On the day of God’s choos[1]ing, we will receive the resurrection of the body and dwell in the kingdom of God forever.

Next, “How must I live my life knowing that Christ has arisen from the grave?” All believers in Christ Jesus are called to live according to His example of loving service toward our neighbors. This means doing what Jesus did in the ways He taught us. Forgiving the sins of those who sin against us. Sharing the goodness and abundance of God’s blessings with those who have little. Praying for those who are wandering around, lost in this world and have no one to encourage, care, or pray for them. This is what it means to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus.

And finally, “How do I faithfully respond to the news of Jesus’s rising?” Well, simply put – tell others. Share the Gospel of our Lord to those whom you meet. Share it with anyone and everyone, no matter whether they have heard it before, or have not heard it at all. All people need to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t know how to tell others, or if you are shy about having such conversations, pray. Pray for courage. Pray for guidance. Pray that God would send you a companion who will teach you, encourage you, and walk alongside you as you go in the name of Christ our Lord.

It’s the Easter season. No longer do we travel the road to the cross of shame. For now we travel a much different road. It is the way of truth, and the way of life. For Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Grace and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila