Other Happenings Archive

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Pastor’s Devotional for the Month

Posted May 1, 2018 By admin

Strengthened through Faith
Acts 15:36 – 16:5, 1 Peter 5:1-14

Everyone faces a time when the best made plans fall apart. Projects seem too daunting, resources don’t add up, or
perhaps we simply cannot rise to the occasion. Barnabas and Paul planned to revisit those churches included in
their first missionary journey. But prior to leaving they had a stark disagreement. At issue was John Mark’s
abandoning them early on. When the going got tough, young John Mark retreated to his home in Jerusalem. Yet this
was not the end for Mark.

As Mark grew in years and experience, he also grew in faith. At the point of our reading today, Barnabas is ready to
offer him another chance. Barnabas took Mark along to Cyprus where he continued his ministry. Later, Mark would
also serve extensively with Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Even Paul would come to rely upon Mark as a servant of the gospel
(Col. 4:10-11).

Mark serves as an example for Christians today. Even in our failures, God strengthens the faithful through the power
of the Holy Spirit. And so we continue in our calling, persevering in faith, ministering to our neighbor, and proclaiming
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Mighty God, strengthen my weaknesses and give me confidence to boldly share the truth of your Son
Jesus Christ. Amen.

Filed in Other Happenings, Pastor

Council News

Posted May 1, 2018 By admin

Council noted Good Things at St. Jacob’s this past month included that the Lenten services and meals were well received, Holy Week services were good and even had better attendance than last year.

Ministry Teams – Thank you to those that submitted monthly reports. A few highlights of the monthly reports are
included below.

Staff Support – Staff Support team members were received.

Spiritual Life – A long range plan is being put together for the new children’s choir. Adult volunteers are needed to
rotate during the practices for the children.

Altar Guild met on March 11, 2018. Feedback from the congregation was discussed and reviewed.

Prayer Team – Leaders and members were received and recorded.

Short Term – The St.Jacob’s Youth treasury books were great. The church treasury books were audited.

The Constitution Team is working to make the constitution information in the report booklet consistent.

The Building Team is working with the Long Range Planning Team on the goals for the church.

Parish Life – Lutheran Women are currently planning the May 6th congregational meal as well as the June 23rd
Mother-Daughter Brunch.

The Fellowship Team planned a bowling trip for April 5, 2018.

Up and Going had 13 members and 1 guest at their monthly meeting, they meet in the fellowship hall to enjoy a “Brown Bag Items” lunch. Each member brought an item of food that you would find in a lunch bag. Helen provided a devotion on how to deal with bad news media. An April 12, 2018, event is planned. The group plans to visit Bishopville, SC for a BBQ lunch.

Youth – The Youth BBQ raised approximately $2,500. Thank you to all that helped with this successful event! The next Youth meeting was planned for April 15th at 5pm. The group plans to attend Sonic for a Bible Study. There is a need for a Youth Leader to begin the month of May and lead this group until a Youth Minister can be hired.

Support of Ministries – The Technology Team members were received.

The Cemetery Team cut brush along the wooded area in the cemetery.

Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings

VBS

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

Are you making Summer plans? All of us need time away from our routine to refresh and recharge! It is the same for our faith life! Doing more than the routine can really ignite our spiritual walk with the Lord, especially with the young Christians. Plans for Vacation Bible School at St. Jacob’s will soon be underway.

Please:
1) Pray for the attendees and the leaders,
2) Prayerfully consider serving as part of the VBS team,
3) Mark your calendars for July 15-19 for VBS, and
4) Watch your worship folder for more details.

Filed in Chirstians Under Construction, Fellowship, LCY, Other Happenings, Outreach

Campfirmation Service Project

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

Each year, as part of our teaching on the season of Pentecost, our Campfirmation cluster has students engage in a service project to benefit our neighbors in need. This year we will be working with NALC Disaster Response, preparing emergency health and education kits for those displaced by natural disasters. Throughout the month of May, we will accept donations of items (all in original packaging) for these kits. A drop box will be located in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Heath Kit Items
Dark colored bath towels and wash cloths (new)
Bars of soap
Toothpaste, tooth brushes, dental floss
Combs and hairbrushes
Deodorant

School Kit Items
Spiral notebooks (please, no loose leaf paper)
Blunt scissors, Plastic rulers
Pencils and Erasers
Packages of construction paper
24 count box of crayons
++ Calculator (for high school students

Filed in Chirstians Under Construction, LCY, Other Happenings, Outreach

What is your favorite hymn?

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

Haven’t heard it sung lately? Wish we’d sing it more often? Well, here’s your chance. This summer, we’d like to sing YOUR favorite hymns as anthems. Put the title of the hymn (or lyrics if you’re unsure of the title) into the box in the narthex. Each week, starting on May 27th, one of the children will draw a hymn from the box and that hymn will be the anthem for the following Sunday. So don’t be shy – tell us those favorite hymns!

Filed in Fellowship, Other Happenings, Worship and Music

Graduate Recognition

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

In May, we will be recognizing our 2018 graduates. If your child is graduating high school, please contact Sherry in the church office or send an email to stjacobschurch@hotmail.com including your child’s complete name, age, where they are graduating from, and what the next phase of their life will be by Sunday, May 6th so they can be listed in the worship folder in May and St. Jacob’s newsletter in June.

Filed in Other Happenings

The Children’s Choir

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

The Children’s Choir will practice on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, from 5-6 pm, in the church. See Laurie if you will be able to volunteer to assist her. We will continue to have a short, 10-minute music session at the beginning of Sunday School from 9:15 to 9:25 AM in the nave of the church, after which your children will be accompanied to their classrooms.

Filed in LCY, Other Happenings, Worship and Music

St. Jacob’s Youth News

Posted April 30, 2018 By admin

We will not have our normal scheduled meeting on May 6, so please make a note of that.

Remember we will meet on Sunday, May 20 at 5 PM.

Filed in Fellowship, LCY, Other Happenings

Lutheran Women News

Posted April 1, 2018 By admin

Lutheran Women Sunday is April 8.

Our group continues to help those in need, but we don’t always know who needs our help. If you know of anyone, please contact me or any member of our group. All donations have and will be greatly appreciated.

Also, we are still selling Happy Home Flavoring and Rada products. We are accepting orders thru April 8. We have a few books available to look at if you are interested and we have some flavoring and Rada knives on hand also. Contact Sandra or Phyllis to place an order.

Our Congregational Luncheon Fund Raisers will be held on May 6 and Sept. 23 immediately following the church service.

The Mother-Daughter/Friend Tea Party will be held on Saturday, June 23 at 4:00 PM. We will be serving delicious food and we will have some great entertainment.

We continue to collect food/items for We Care. Next time you go shopping, please pick up a few extra items and place them in the box which is in the

Fellowship Hall.
Phyllis, Leader

Filed in Fellowship, Lutheran Women, Other Happenings

From the Pastor’s Heart

Posted April 1, 2018 By admin

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5-6

Soon, our Lenten journey will reach its conclusion and our prayers for mercy and grace will again include resounding shouts of “Alleluia!” With the Easter celebration the church springs to new life in Christ. If you would like to get a jump start on the Easter season, read the events of Holy Week and then the first Easter. As I do this, a few words quickly come to mind.

The first word is “Surprise!” – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, women went to Jesus’ tomb only to find the stone rolled away and his body
missing. Inside the tomb, the angel of the Lord told them that indeed, Christ has risen! Imagine their surprise when they witnessed this, and then saw Jesus very much alive. Imagine the surprise of the two disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus when they finally recognized the stranger was actually Jesus himself. How many times are we surprised to find Jesus in our midst? How many times have we experienced a moment of God’s grace and seen the face of our Lord through the actions of others? Easter is a time of such surprises and grace filled moments, especially as we seek to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the entire world.

Next is “Joy.” To say those who witnessed his resurrection were suddenly overcome with great Joy is perhaps the greatest understatement ever made. It is impossible for us to imagine the events of Holy Week with all of their extreme grief and sorrow. It would stand to
reason that we also could not imagine the joy the disciples and friends of Jesus felt once they realized he had been raised for the dead. The immense joy and power of Christ’s resurrection changed the lives of the disciples and followers of Jesus forever. Even though we too know the sorrow of death at the passing of a loved one, this same Easter joy is ours as well. The Easter celebration and the good news of Jesus’ resurrection give the church
reassurance that God has redeemed his people, and we are also changed forever. Saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we are inheritors of eternal life in God’s kingdom. The grave no longer has the final word. This is the good news to be shared.

The third word is “Renewal.” – On that first Easter Sunday, when it was evening, Jesus appeared to the remaining eleven and opened their hearts and minds to understand the scriptures. He empowered them to be witnesses to all that he had said and done. Suddenly, being fishers of men took on new meaning. During Easter, we too can renew our commitment to follow Christ. Easter is the perfect time to recommit ourselves for mission and ministry. It is a good time for those who have gotten out of the habit of weekly worship to once again join the Sunday assembly in praise and thanksgiving. Easter is also a great time to rededicate ourselves in our life of discipleship, to support the mission of the church, to give generously in ministry to those less fortunate, and to join the church in prayer for our world and all who are in need.

I look forward to sharing the joy of this Easter season with you. I also look forward to renewing our efforts to follow Christ to those places the Holy Spirit leads us. Who knows what blessings God has in store for us as we continue to share the good news? Who knows the joy we will find? The answers to these questions and many more will certainly be yet another Easter surprise.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

Filed in From the Pastor’s Heart, Other Happenings, Pastor
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