What an amazing impact our congregation has made in helping families in need by providing meals to be delivered by We Care. Since we began this ministry less than a year ago, we have donated over 300 meals!! The Discipleship Team has organized volunteers into two groups that will meet only once a month (on the 1st or 3rd Sundays) to pack and distribute the meals to We Care on Monday morning.
There is room for more people to help with this! Do you have time to donate ONE hour of your time once a month to help shop for food, pack the bags with meals or deliver the bags on a Monday morning? Call or talk to Lynn and let him know!
Other Happenings Archive
Mercy Bags Ministry for We Care
Posted February 11, 2023 By adminCongregation Meeting
Posted February 9, 2023 By adminOur Annual Spring Congregation meeting will be held prior to worship on Sunday, February 19th, 2023. The purpose of the meeting is to receive and approve the 2022 Annual Report Book. Report books will be sent to the congregation electronically (email). Anyone who desires to have a hard copy for the report book should contact the church office to make arrangements for one to be provided.
Calling all St. Jacob’s Youth!
Posted February 7, 2023 By adminSuper Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching. Will your favorite team be one of the two playing for the title? Well, now you have a chance to cheer them on and be of help to your orphaned Christian brothers and sisters in Congo at the same time. The annual Souper Bowl of Caring involves youth church members all over the country in the mission of God. Here at St. Jacob’s you will collect a love offering in “Souper Bowls” marked with each team’s logo. The team that raises the most money for the Children in Congo will be declared the winner. The goal set for our competition is to raise a combined $200.00 for the Congo Mission.
If our “Souper” Bowl reaches the goal, all youth participating will be invited to provide “Head Coach” Pastor David Nuottila with the traditional Gatorade victory shower. So come on! Let’s have some fun and at the same time show the love of Christ Jesus to our far away friends and children who are in great need.
St. Jacob’s members, be sure to bring your spare change and loose cash to donate to this cause. Remember, the greater the gift, the wetter Pastor will get.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted February 5, 2023 By adminCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10
Remember, you are dust. As if we need a reminder. In the second chapter of Genesis we read that God created humankind from the dust of the ground. It wasn’t long after, that Adam and Eve fell into sin and God explained to them the consequences of their disobedience. In chapter 3, God said to Adam, “By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” Genesis 3:19.
And so, since that time, God’s people have had to face the truth, you are dust, and there is nothing you can do about it. To dust you shall return.
Each year, about this time, Christians all over the world are confronted with the fact that, because we are sinners, we are deserving of God’s punishment and wrath. It is the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. Well, in truth, it is only a part of the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. The other part is that we receive the good news that God has provided for us the means to escape eternal punishment. God, who is rich in mercy, provides for his people a Savior who will spare us from the eternal death we so richly deserve.
Facing these realities, Christians all over the world begin the annual metaphorical pilgrimage to the cross of Christ where the victory over sin is won. The season of Lent is a somber time, a time for self-reflection upon our lives as sinners, yet also as God’s redeemed people through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. The worship services of the Church are meant to provide people with an opportunity to reflect upon their need for a Savior, and to remind them that we indeed have one. He is Christ the Lord.
All that Christ endured, his pain, his suffering, he did so for our sake. As God’s incarnate Word, Jesus came into the world to fully identify with God’s created people who have fallen away from the Father’s intentions and expectations.
Centuries before Christ was born, King David, of all people, stood convicted in his sin. Just like every one else, King David was formed from the dust of the ground. David knew there was nothing he could do to erase the shame and guilt that he brought upon himself through his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Mercy could only come from the God whom he grievously disobeyed. And so, in his guilt and shame, he bore his heart to God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:10-12). David’s prayer is our prayer too. Only through Christ are we saved. Even as we are dust, through God’s grace, mercy and love, Christ extends the promise of God’s kingdom to all who believe.
This year, as we make our annual Lenten journey to the cross together, we will do so following a particular journey. I will be preaching a series of sermons entitled “The Journey of Stones.” Each Sunday during Lent we will hear messages meant to reveal the hardness of our hearts, hearts as hard as stone. By journey’s end, we will leave this hardness of heart where it belongs, at the foot of the cross of Christ.
I invite you to commit to weekly worship during Lent and to make this journey with the rest of your church family. It begins with worship on Ash Wednesday, February 22, when we are marked with the ashen cross of Christ, the symbol of our mortality blended with the symbol of our salvation. Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. God’s grace and peace be unto you all during this season of Lent and forever and always.
Blessings,
Pastor David Nuottila
Choir Notes
Posted February 3, 2023 By adminThe Hymn Of The Month
In January we began singing a hymn of the month during Holy Communion. In the hymn for January, O Love How Deep, we have each week recounted the story of the Gospel in song. We have sung that in Jesus’s deep love for us he chose to come to earth, take on our frail body and give his life as a sacrifice for us. Our natural response to this amazing gift of love is our adoration of Jesus which we will sing in February with the hymn Thee We Adore, O Savior.
In January we sang:
O Love how deep, how broad how high,
He wore the robe of human frame,
And to this world himself he came.
And now in February we praise Christ:
Thee we adore, O Savior, God most true,
Our hearts to thee in true devotion bow
In humble awe we hail thy presence now.
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death,
For us he gave his dying breath.
And now in February we beseech Christ:
Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God
Cleanse us, O Christ with thy most cleansing blood.
Increase our faith and love that we might know
The hope and peace from which thy presence flow.
For us he rose from death again;
For us he went on high to reign;
And now in February we long for Christ:
Jesus by faith we see thee here below
Send us, we pray thee what we thirst for so
Someday to gaze upon thy face in light.
As Pastor David said in his sermon on January 22nd, there are so many ways to fish for men. All we need to do is share the story of what Jesus Christ has done for us and for humanity
We practice telling this story each week in the songs that we sing. I encourage you to read through both hymns and reflect on the beautiful message in each. Hopefully as we sing the gospel story it will help the words flow from our lips as we go out into the world.
In Christ,
Angela
Worship at Generations
Posted February 1, 2023 By adminEvery other Sunday, Pr. David leads worship for the residents of Generations Assisted Care of Chapin. This ministry has made a great difference in the lives of many folks who are not able to attend worship at their home church. The congregation is invited and certainly encouraged to share this experience with our friends just down the road. Our next worship opportunities will be on Sunday, February 5th and February 19th at 1:00PM. Join us in the lobby at Generations.
News from Up and Going
Posted February 1, 2023 By adminThe Up and Going began the new year of 2023 on January 12th at 11:00AM in the Fellowship Hall. Decorations of snowmen greeted thirteen members and guests. Lunch was the Soup Pot, served by Ann Lindler and filled with delicious vegetables and beef, Appropriate side items and wonderful desserts, all provided by attendees.
Team Leader, Helen L. Lindler welcomed everyone and gave a devotion from the book, Faith Alone, by Martin Luther. Devotions ended with prayer. The treasurer’s report was given by Gary. Business was conducted and prayer was requested for the sick, our church and church family.
We were honored to have Administrative Assistant Jean join us for lunch. During lunch, we discovered that Jean is kin to a large number of our Up and Going members.
After lunch, Joan and Gary hosted Bingo, gifts were provided by those attending. Bingo was fun and opening and choosing gifts was a hard decision. The laughter and comments were the highlight of the day. All agreed that the Soup Pot lunch was especially delicious, and the Bingo games were a tremendous hit. A motion was made and an affirmative vote was taken that every January meeting will consist of a Soup Pot lunch and Bingo games. Members and guests will provide items for the Soup Pot and prizes for Bingo.
We decided to once again prepare and provide Easter bags for hospice patients. See Joan Marco for items needed. This is a project especially dear to the Up and Going and we look forward to providing these Easter bags for our hospice friends. God richly blessed our meeting.
Pastoral Devotion for February – Seek God’s Kingdom
Posted January 30, 2023 By adminRead Matthew 6:25-34
We live in a world filled with expectations. Children are expected to do well in school. College graduates expect to embark on a high paying career. Investors expect their portfolio will pay huge dividends. Life is filled with expectations, some are met, many others are not. God also has expectations. He expects that humanity will obey His law. God expects His people will love Him and love their neighbor. And God expects us to share our faith and bear fruit for his kingdom.
It seems there is a wide gap between God’s expectations and ours. People tend to live for themselves more than for God. We strive to be self-sufficient, personally secure and financially independent. Yet, in the end, our sense of expectation is replaced with worry. Why? The answer is obvious. Our expectations don’t match God’s.
Jesus teaches us that God graciously provides everything we need to live a fruitful and abundant life. Even as God cares for the plants and animals, how much more will God care for those created in his image and likeness? The truth is God provides for all people, even sinners who do no believe in Him, everything that is needed to sustain life in this world. In return, God expects to be acknowledged for it. In our thankfulness, we realize the tremendous blessing it is to be called “Child of God. We are to give God our thanks and praise in all Circumstances, and in our times of want God expects that we will seek his kingdom first above all things.
Prayer: Holy God, help us live according to your expectations, and grant me forgiveness when I fall short. Amen.
Lutheran Men Sausage Fundraiser
Posted January 30, 2023 By adminIt’s that time of year, time for our Lutheran Men to prepare their delicious homemade pork sausage. The men will be taking orders for bulk sausage available at $5.00 per pound. Just see one of the Lutheran Men to place your order. Orders may be made through Sunday, February 12th. Those who purchase sausage may pick their order up on Monday, February 20th from 3:00PM—5:00PM.
Council Briefs for January 2022
Posted January 30, 2023 By adminCouncil Briefs for January Meeting Good Things at St. Jacobs in December:
Good Food and Attendance at Christmas Dinner
Church was beautifully decorated for Advent and Christmas Season
• Worship and Music Team will purchase new paraments and/or altar cloths with contributions from holiday giving and memorial funds.
• Council agreed to move forward with Fresh Eyes for Summit meeting.
• Tommy Faulk elected as Vice Chairman and Brenda Smith will continue to serve as Secretary.
• Time and Talent Sheet responses are being compiled.
• Council agreed to discuss timing of Christmas Eve Service for next year, perhaps moving it to an earlier time.
• Council has agreed to pursue purchasing new pew cushions for the church. Before proceeding, Council will look into other property needs at the church and office building. A committee was assigned to address this. Any suggestions will be coordinated with Property Chairman as needed.
Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings
