The children’s choir finished their first choir season. We learned a lot about God’s love, had lots of fun and even made some noise. Thank you to the entire congregation for all your support. Our musical finale was a huge success. We raised plenty of money toward choir robes for next year. We will start up again in August. God bless you all.
Angela
The following is a brief summary report concerning the actions of the Carolinas Mission District Convocation. The Convocation took place on May 17th-18th at Advent Lutheran Church in North Charleston. Delegates from St. Jacob’s were Pastor David Nuottila and Brandon Slice. Brandon also serves on the CMD Executive Council. Larry Shull was in attendance as the chair for the CMD Finance Committee. Lynn and Susan attended as registered visitors. The NALC Executive Staff was represented by the Rev. Mark Chavez, North American Lutheran Church General Secretary, and the Rev. Dr. David Wendel, assistant to Bishop John Bradosky.
Items that were approved by the convocation included a motion to restructure our mission district into four smaller districts and form the Carolinas Mission Region. North American Lu-theran Church congregations in South Carolina will become one of these mission districts. More on this process will be included in future newsletters.
Other items included the election of the Mission District Dean and members to the Carolinas Mis-sion District Executive Council. Incumbent Dean Pastor Nathan Yoder and all incumbent members, including Brandon Slice, were re-elected to serve a one-year term until the constitution of the new mission region goes into effect next year.
A motion to form an official Mission Relationship with the Lutheran Church in Congo, DRC and Victory Ministry in Liberia passed. The Carolinas Mission district now officially recognizes these two Lutheran Church bodies as mission partners. In conjunction with this motion, the convocation approved a $2,000.00 grant to each of these church bodies.
Motions were approved to recognize and expand a committee exploring options and possibilities to secure property for a Carolinas Mission district Camp and Retreat Center. Pastor Marty Ramey, Pastor Todd Cook and Larry Shull are currently leading this project. Updates on this action will be given as information becomes available.
Thank you to the congregation of Advent Lutheran Church in North Charleston for their hospitality in hosting this year’s convocation. The meal provided (Low Country Boil) was wonderful and all volunteers were extremely helpful. Thanks also to Advent’s Pastor Melinda Jones for serving as the convocation chaplain. Most certainly, thanks be to God for the mission in which we are all invited to serve.
Faithfully,
Pastor David Nuottila
Pastor David is now collecting your gently used pre-scription eye glasses to take with him on his mission trip to Congo in July. A box is located in the Narthex to drop off your donations.
Donations are being Accepted until June 30.
The Lutheran Men are planning for their annual pork BBQ and Hash fundraiser. The cost is $8.00 for a pound of BBQ and $8.00 for a quart of hash. As in the past, orders can be picked up in the church Fellowship Hall on Friday, June 28th between 3:00 and 6:00 PM or Saturday, June 29th between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Please see a member of the Lutheran Men to place an order or contact Robert by Sunday, June 23rd.
Our 2019 VBS is “In the Wild!” Come join our adventure in God’s creation on this wilderness ride and experience amazing encounters with Jesus! It will be Monday, June 17th thru Thursday, June 20th. A meal will be served at 5:45 PM. Class rotation will start at 6:30 PM and end at 8:00 PM. Class rotations include lesson, crafts, music and games. Classes for all ages! Join the wild side and share the Good News! Come and see Wally!!!
On Pentecost Sunday, June 9th, five of our youth members will affirm their Baptism and become confirmed members of St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church. Jay, Tommy, Tyler, Dixon and Rion have studied the New Testament and Luther’s Small Catechism with Pastor David and David Kibler and are ready to make public affirmation of the promises they received on the day of their Baptism. We rejoice with them on this occasion and promise our continued support along their journey of faith. A reception will follow the service of worship to honor these confirmands
Years ago, pastors of Lutheran Churches would schedule a Public Examination of those young persons to be confirmed in their faith. This public examination would take place the Wednesday before Confirmation Day. I remember when my classmates and I went through our public examination. It was a nervous time when we really didn’t know what to expect. Members of the congregation were invited (encouraged) to ask us questions concerning what we had learned in our three-year catechetical instruction. Yes, it was scary, but our pastor had our backs. No one was allowed to ask a question which they themselves did not know the answer.
Fast forward to our present time and you will notice that I have brought back Public Examination to the confirmation process. For our students, I am sure it is a nervous time, perhaps even scary. They will be asked to recall several items that they have learned during the eighteen months since I became their pastor, along with things they discussed with David Kibler, who has been a great help through the process. The congregation is invited to come be a part of this public examination.
The purpose of Public Examination is not to put our students on the spot.
It is to allow them an opportunity to pass along what they themselves have learned and tell the congregation about their desire to live according to the faith in which they are baptized. David Kibler and I will be asking the initial questions, then congregation members will have an opportunity to participate. Each student has been provided the materials and tools necessary to be successful in this event and I have no doubt they will do well. How could they not? They are all bright students and have learned that sharing their faith with others is really not that difficult. And besides, as my pastor assured me, I will have their back.
Public examination of our confirmands will take place on Sunday, June 2nd beginning at 4:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The church family of St. Jacob’s is invited to attend and share this time with our 2019 Confirmation Class. Following the examination, we will enjoy a time of fellowship with food and plenty of good conversation. Please come and support these fine young people as they take the next step in their journey of faith.
St. Jacobs Church Council met May 7th for its regular meeting.
Thanks to the Lutheran Women for their LW Service
Important Notes and Dates:
Ongoing Project Updates:
Digital Sign: Sign is still on schedule for install around May 21st. Council has approved recommended electrical upgrade to sign location.
Parking Lot: No formal decisions have been made in regards to the parking lot.
Director of Youth/Family Services: One interview was held with a potential candidate and she withdrew her name from consideration. One more interview is scheduled for the month of May.
Did you know that handbells have been around since the late 1600s? Did you know their original purpose was as practice instruments for tower bell ringers in England? Did you know that handbells were brought to the United States in 1902 by Margaret Shurcliff? Did you know that you don’t have to know how to read music to be able to play handbells and that it is, in fact, an excellent way to learn to read music?
If you’d like to know more about the history of handbells, how they became part of church worship services and how they can be used effectively to enhance worship, join me this summer for Handbells 101. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Monday evenings from 6:45 to 7:30 PM, beginning Monday, June 3rd and continuing through August 26th (excluding June 17th for VBS). This is an opportunity for anyone who has an interest in handbells or learning to ring handbells to come check out the instrument (yes, handbells are considered a single instrument!).
Handbells 101 is open to all ages and all musical ability levels. For those interested in learning to ring, this is an opportunity to try it out. For current (or past) ringers, this is an opportunity to refresh/relearn/improve your handbell ringing technique and knowledge during the low-stress summer months while the handbell choir is not actively playing each month.
Some of you may know that I work part-time at Jeffers Handbell Supply, a handbell supply company based in Irmo, and that handbells are near and dear to my heart. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and love of bells with you this summer.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Laurie Lackey
When confronted by the Pharisees and scribes concerning issues of authority, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days.” These words were spoken within the confines of the temple in Jerusalem, which of course took decades to build with hundreds of workers. Of course, we know Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body, that he would be killed, thus, destroyed, but then raised up on the third day by the powerful hand of God. Later, the disciples marveled at the huge buildings and the surrounding temple. But Jesus said to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
These two occurrences took place on the day after Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, the day we call Palm Sunday. This year, on the day after Palm Sunday, I could not help but recall these two passages from Scripture. Another iconic temple built nearly a thousand years ago by hundreds of God’s people was de-stroyed by fire. Notre Dame Cathedral is a fixture in the landscape of Paris, and also within the landscape of the Christian Church. It has withstood wars and many natural disasters, and for centuries, it has been a gathering place for the faithful people of God.
While serving in the navy, I was fortunate to be able to visit Notre Dame. It was long ago, and my memories are dulled by time, but I can remember the feeling of wonder, much like it must have been for the disciples, as I entered this massive church. The choir and the nave were magnificent, and the altar certainly a sight to behold. A large cross, the symbol of our faith stood in the chancel. Upon my exit I was able to light a candle and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for those persons who are dear to me.
After hundreds of years, this temple made by hands has been destroyed. As I watched the video that streamed across the world of this cathedral burning, my heart sank. Oh, we have been reassured by politicians and business men that it will indeed be restored, but to what end and for what purpose? I am sure there is a sense of the need to restore Notre Dame for its historical nature. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visited Notre Dame each year. Some who were interviewed by news agencies said Paris would not be the same without it. But I can’t help but remember, Jesus teaches us to put our trust in God, not in things of this world.
As we stand in the midst of the Easter season, we remember that God indeed raised up Jesus on the third day. The temple of Christ’s body, which was once beaten, crucified and thus destroyed, has been raised physically, wholly, and perfectly by the hand of God. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, sin, death and the grave have lost their power over those who confess that Christ is indeed Lord and Savior. Because of this, we too, after our skin has thus been destroyed (Job 19), will be raised up.
Friends, whether it is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, or the three historically black churches in Alabama intentionally set ablaze, such destruction breaks the hearts of many. Surely, we love our churches, the buildings, the grounds and the memories that come with them. But we must always remember, the Church is not the building. The Church is made up of sinners redeemed through the blood of Christ Jesus. Bricks and mortar can be rebuilt. What is most important is that, as they are, it is for the purposes of worshiping the one true God who has saved his people and will raise them up on the last day.
To God be the glory, now and forever.
Pastor David Nuottila
