Other Happenings Archive

Blessing of the Animals

Posted November 25, 2024 By admin

Pastor David led a special service of blessing and thanksgiving on Saturday, October 19th on the Church Office front lawn. God 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. We praise God for all the animals that make our lives richer through their presence.
Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Psalm 148:5

Into Liturgy, part 3

Posted November 23, 2024 By admin

In this third installment of our look into the liturgy of the church, we explore two of the initial liturgical movements.
Kyrie
The Kyrie is a prayer for God’s mercy. Observing the Triune formula Lord [Father] have mercy, Christ [Son] have mercy, Lord [Holy Spirit] have mercy. As we gather in the presence of the One True God, we cry out for that which we do not deserve. God comes to us in divine service, bestowing his gifts of his mercy, help, and provision in our every need. As sinners in need of God’s grace, we are equipped and emboldened through the waters of Holy Baptism to approach God as beggars for forgiveness and renewal. In a plea for mercy, we cry “Help, save, and defend us gracious Lord.” The Kyrie concludes with “Amen” that is “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

Hymn of Praise The Hymn of Praise, also known as the “Jubilant Anthem of Redemption” is the first of two songs of the angels sung in divine service. The “Gloria” sings of God’s glory in the highest heaven and his peace to his people on earth. The Gloria is an elaboration of the song of the angels sung over Bethlehem at the birth of the Christ child. Singing praises once again in the Triune pattern, the three stanzas of the Gloria form a series of acclamations, ascribing all glory to God. The Gloria is most commonly sung when Holy Communion is celebrated during the ordinary times of the church year.
Another song used as Hymn of Praise is “Worthy is Christ” often referred to as “This Is the Feast.” This hymn of praise is a modern composition introduced by the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW). It draws from the hymns sung by the company of heaven in the book of Revelation. This hymn of praise enjoins the ongoing celebrations of Passover and Easter, carrying with it the theme of God’s redemption through Christ’s victory over sin and the grave. This hymn of praise is sung during the festivals of the liturgical year in which special focus is placed upon the resurrection of Christ.
The leadership of Kyrie and Hymn of Praise falls upon the assisting minister for the day, or upon the cantor. The assisting minister or cantor sings antiphonally from a location away from the altar, but in full view of the congregation.

Mercy Bags for We Care

Posted November 15, 2024 By admin

Mercy bags are packed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Please come to the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship to help pack bags.

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Posted November 10, 2024 By admin

Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of worship will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 27th. Our church family, neighbors and friends are invited to attend as we worship and give thanks to our loving God for the many blessings he pours out upon us. Gather with your church family for this special evening.
Following our service, as is our custom, we will prepare 300 pound cake slices for distribution at the annual community Thanksgiving meal provided by The Hub. Please contact Billy McTeer for more information concerning how you might help.

Responding to Disaster

Posted November 7, 2024 By admin

We all remember what happened when a Hurricane named Helene came to town. Our community endured heavy winds, rains, and many fallen trees, all which knocked out power for days within our surrounding area. Yet, by God’s grace, our normal routine has been restored. Folks in the mountains have not been so fortunate.
As we all know, Helene brought devastation to millions of people in the hills of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. In some instances, complete communities have been swept away by flash floods and mud slides. As a congregation in the North American Lutheran Church, we have been asked to assist in relief efforts, giving aid to people who have lost so much. It has been a tall order, but with God’s help we seem to be up to the task.
The response from our church family has been tremendous. Your generosity and willingness to share with your neighbors has been a blessing. From the beginning of October through October 11th, an avalanche of relief supplies fell upon our Fellowship Hall and Disaster Response Shed. Flood Buckets, Health Kits, clothing, food, hygiene products, and even pet foods were collected and sent to Western North Carolina.
Thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or simply prayed for our neighbors’ recovery. The recovery effort is not yet complete and won’t be for quite some time. The needs in the Mountain communities seem to change day by day. NALC Disaster Response is able to organize mission trips for groups or individuals who would like to volunteer in the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Anyone who is interested in participating in such efforts should contact the church office for further information.
Our Disaster Response Shed is in need of re-supply. You can help by putting together Health Kits or Flood Buckets. See the list included in this newsletter for packing directions for each kit. Your completed kits may be placed on the stage in the Fellowship Hall and will be moved into our Disaster Response Shed.

Flood Buckets

  • 1 five-gallon bucket with lid
  • 1 jug bleach (1/2 gal. or smaller)
  • 2 large trash bags (Contractor 3 mil)
  • 1 roll paper towels
  • 2 rags
  • Comet or scouring cleanser
  • Pine Sol or liquid cleaner
  • scrub brush
  • gloves, 1 pair each, size L preferred
    • rubber (reusable, i.e. Platex, dishwashing type)
    • leather
    • cotton

Health Care Kit (Pack in 2-gallon plastic storage bag or tote bag)

  • 1 bath towel
  • 1 wash cloth (optional)
  • 1 shampoo (2 if travel size)
  • 1 bar of soap (2 if travel size)
  • 1 toothbrush (individually sealed)
  • 1 pack of floss (optional)
  • 1 toothpaste (2 if travel size)
  • 1 comb
  • 1 deodorant
  • 1 nail clippers (optional)

Youth Ministry Spotlight

Posted November 5, 2024 By admin

Members of St. Jacob’s Youth engaged God’s mission in a couple of significant ways during October. Several of our youth worked to assemble flood buckets in the fellowship hall to assist people in hurricane recovery. On another occasion, youth members went along with Lynn and Susan Shealy, shopping for Mercy Bag items. They learned about the Mercy Bag ministry and how it impacts people in need within our surrounding area. Thank you also to David Kibler and Susan Shealy for leading a Youth Bible study on Wednesday evenings in the church office conference room. Yes, our St. Jacob’s Youth really is “mission driven.”

Pastoral Devotion for November – Welcoming All

Posted November 2, 2024 By admin

Read: Matthew 9:9-17
Once, I met a man named Greg. Greg was homeless. He was someone whom society overlooked or mostly avoided. None the less, Greg was a member of our community, a person created by God, a sinner in need of redemption. Who would have thought that such a man would one day become my best friend?
People like Greg are not new to society; the world has been busy ignoring them for thousands of years. When we read the gospels, we meet Greg many times over. We meet Greg the leper, Greg the blind beggar, Greg the lost and forgotten. The world shuns such people, yet Jesus meets Greg and invites him to follow.
Jesus came to heal the sick and forgive the sins of many. His mission often led him to associate with the dregs of society. The Pharisees were always quick to point out Jesus’s “misdeeds.” Heal on the Sabbath? Associate with prostitutes and sinners? Dine with a tax collector? The Pharisees weren’t willing to do such things, the stakes were too high. They had reputations to protect and laws to follow.
Jesus overcomes all this. He loves those whom society deems unlovable, opens his arms, and invites the sinner to follow. Our Lord Jesus welcomes all into his divine presence. He lifts up the lowly and invites even the most unworthy or insignificant among us to partake in the richness of God’s eternal Kingdom. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ; your love is unmeasurable and your grace sufficient. Keep us close forever. Amen.

Music Notes

Posted November 2, 2024 By admin

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Like all of you, I have so much to be thankful for, “how can I keep from singing?” I thank you all for your support as David and I walk through this difficult time. Thank you to Sarah, our incredible organist, for carrying on with choir practice in my absence. Our choirs are having to adjust practice times and music schedules, and I thank them for all their support and love. I also thank and praise God for this church family and please know that your prayers and love bring both David and I much comfort and support.
We will not have our cantata as planned this advent season. We will instead have a service of lessons and carols on the last Sunday of advent which will include some special music.
Please note the change of times for choir practice, 6:00 PM during November and children’s choir, 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. Happy thanksgiving to you all.

Men’s Bible Study

Posted November 1, 2024 By admin

Our 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, November 4th 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.

Homecoming 2024

Posted October 30, 2024 By admin

Our Homecoming and Golden Agers Celebration was a day filled with fellowship and plenty of good food and stories shared by many. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day such a wonderful event. We were pleased to welcome home Pastor Mark Metze, who served as our guest preacher. Accompanying Pastor Mark was his wife Rebecca (Eargle) Metze, along with their sons Henry and Eli. Several long-time members and guests also joined us for worship and a delicious meal afterward. Thanks be to God for the time we shared together.