All St. Jacob’s men are encouraged to participate in the first annual South Carolina Mission District Men’s Retreat. The retreat will take place at Camp Longridge in Ridgeway, SC on the weekend of April 14-16. The cost for the weekend is $125.00 per person and includes meals and lodging. The theme for the retreat is “Becoming Fishers of Men.” St. Jacob’s and St. Peter’s Lutheran Churches in Chapin are the host congregations for the weekend. Registration brochures will be available beginning Sunday, January 1, 2023. More information will follow in the St. Jacob’s Newsletter and South Carolina Mission District Facebook page.
Other Happenings Archive
Announcing! 2023 South Carolina Mission District Men’s Retreat
Posted January 5, 2023 By adminFive Lessons We Learned from Deceased Churches
Posted January 4, 2023 By adminby Thom S. Rainer
Founder & CEO Lifeway Christian Resources
It has been a decade since we did our original research on churches that have closed their doors. Our findings were published in my book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, in 2014. Our work obviously hit a nerve since the book became a number-one bestseller.
Church Answers has continued to talk with church members and leaders whose churches closed or those that were on the precipice of death. While the original information in Autopsy of a Deceased Church is still relevant, there is more information we’ve gleaned since then. We will release that information in a major new resource in January 2023.
For now, let us share with you five updated lessons from churches that closed.
1. The churches had no ongoing effort to reach the unchurched in the community to become churched.
That last phrase, “to become churched,” is key. Many of the churches had good ministries to their communities, but they were not intentional about inviting them and getting them to become a part of the worship and small group gatherings of the church.
- The pandemic increased the pace of decline and, ultimately, death of the churches.
We’ve noted this reality on several occasions. The pandemic did not change the trends of churches. They exacerbated them.
- The leaders and members of the churches were in denial.
These congregations refused to confront their reality. If they did, it was often too late. [They were blinded by the notion creating a future by attempting to live in their past.]
- The churches did not have new members’ classes to set expectations.
Most of the deceased churches did not have a new members’ class at all. The few that had such classes only provided information; they
did not use the class to set expectations. All of the deceased churches were hurt significantly by decreased attendance patterns of members. Their failure to set expectations was a key reason members attended less frequently.
- The churches kept waiting for the silver bullet.
The most common silver bullet was a new pastor who would turn things around. The second most common silver bullet was a new youth or children’s minister who would do all the work to reach young people. In other words, the members desired to abdicate their ministry responsibilities and pay someone else to do it.
We will unpack more of the issues related to deceased churches in January when we release our new resource.
Sincerely, Thom
At the beginning of 2020, our Church council began reading the book cited here, Autopsy of a Deceased Church. A meaningful discussion began to follow, but soon afterward the COVID-19 virus brought an abrupt end to the discussion.
Still, our current reality remains one of declining worship attendance on Sundays and Wednesdays, scant participation in Sunday school, and a reduced focus on congregational fellowship. As Thom cited in his article above, COVID had something to do with it, but COVID did not create the issue, it merely sped it up. Looking through the history of St. Jacob’s, our congregation has been in noticeable decline for some time.
Our Church Council has recently taken up the conversation on a proposed “NALC Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit” and presented it to the congregation at our annual meeting in December. I believe the Fresh Eyes Summit would be a positive step forward in renewing our
commitment to ministry here in our community and within the greater
Church. It would be most beneficial and productive to have plenty of congregational participation during the summit.
Please ask questions of our congregation leaders concerning this
Fresh Eyes Summit and provide your thoughts, especially as you reflect on the information shared here by Thom Rainer.
I have ten copies of this book Autopsy of a Deceased Church. If anyone would like one, please ask and I will get it to you.
Blessings,
Pastor David
Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach
2022 Mission Team Reports
Posted January 3, 2023 By adminAll mission team and auxiliary leaders (Men, Women, Up & Going) and treasurers are reminded that it is once again time to submit your annual reports for the 2022 Report Book. Please email your reports to the church office by January15th so Jean will have enough time to include them.
Filed in Other Happenings
Church Roster Updates
Posted January 3, 2023 By adminAlso, please make any necessary updates to your contact information so the church directory can be updated and published on time. The directory and Report Books will be published electronically and sent to the congregation by way of email. Anyone desiring a printed copy should contact the church office and one will be made available for you.
Filed in Other Happenings
Choir Notes
Posted January 3, 2023 By adminWhat was that hymn?
I’m sure there have been weeks when you left church wondering where on earth did that hymn come from, and some weeks we sing everyone’s favorites. There is a pattern to the hymns that we sing each week. I would love to pick my favorite hymns each week, but the hymns are chosen based not only on the season of the church year but the lessons for the day. Our opening hymn prepares us for worship. It invokes God, the Holy Spirit, to dwell with us as we gather and hear God’s word. It often addresses our need to enter into worship with open hearts and confessing our need for our savior.
The hymn of the day, which we sing just after the sermon, is chosen by the pastor to support the message for the day. All of the lessons and the psalm tie together to support the theme of the day. The prayer of the day just before the children’s sermon usually gives an idea of how the lessons all tie together. The hymn of the day does the same. We also sing hymns during communion.
As I stated in a previous article, the church body joins as one when it raises its voice in song with all the saints on earth and with the heavenly hosts gathered around the throne of God. As one we come forward to receive the body and blood of Christ. Although many think of communion as a very personal experience, just as its name suggests, it is a communal act. We gather as the first Christians did, and as Jesus and his disciples in the upper room, and we confess our sins and are fed with the body and blood of Christ. We join our voices in song at communion to join with each other for the feast. These hymns are almost always about Jesus our savior.
Finally, the closing hymn is a hymn of praise. We have been forgiven of our sins, God’s word has been opened for us just as Jesus did for his disciples on the road to Emmaus, and we have received the body and blood of Christ. We leave the church praising God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and profess our commitment to go into the world and share his good news.
The hymns we sing each Sunday are chosen very carefully to reflect all the elements I have listed above. I often find it helps to read the hymns without singing to truly get the full message of the words. I encourage you to pay attention to the words we are singing. What is it that we are saying through our music. We are not simply enhancing our worship with music. We are speaking to God as we lift our voices in song. If you are not familiar with a particular hymn and are having difficulty singing it, read it to yourself as the congregation sings. What are the words saying to
you and to God?
Through the centuries we have been blessed with a rich abundance of hymns. There are many like Amazing Grace, that we can sing by heart, but there are also many hymns we are less familiar with that can enrich our worship and our under-
standing of the Word.
Starting this month we will have a hymn of the month to help us learn some of these less familiar hymns. This hymn will be sung at communion and we will sing this same hymn each week for a month. Please sing along with us and learn the music that God has blessed us with.
In Christ,
Angela
Thank You!
Posted January 3, 2023 By adminThank you to all who shared their musical gifts and talents with our church family during our Christmas Prelude and worship services on Christmas Eve. Your music truly beautiful and greatly enhanced our worship
St. Jacob’s Men Hosted Christmas Dinner
Posted January 3, 2023 By adminOn Sunday, December 4, following worship and our annual congregation meeting, our St. Jacob’s Lutheran Men hosted the annual Christmas Dinner. This was the first Christmas Dinner enjoyed by our church family since before the COVID pandemic. It was wonderful seeing the Fellowship Hall filled with smiling people and enjoying a delicious meal together. Thank you to our St. Jacob’s Men for this generous gift. Thanks also to Phyllis for making sure we had pictures to remember the occasion.
Pastoral Devotion for December – Remaining Faithful
Posted December 20, 2022 By adminRead Genesis 45:1-28
It goes without saying, Joseph is a model of faithfulness for anyone who faces trouble in their life. His brothers became jealous and angry that their youngest brother was their father Jacob’s favorite. So intense was there jealousy, they cast Joseph into a pit leaving him for dead. Later he would be sold into slavery, and finally, he would be falsely accused and imprisoned for crimes he did not commit.
In each instance, Joseph could have cried out in anger. He could have turned away from the God of his ancestors or, he could have completely given up. Yet in every instance, Joseph remained faithful and relied on God.
The story of Joseph teaches us that within this fallen and broken world, God can use all things for the good of his people. Our lives are filled with challenges to our faith yet, there is no one person who is so lost that God cannot find them. There is no one so grief stricken that God cannot bring consolation. There is no one person so sick, suffering, or in peril that God cannot deliver them from that which holds them captive.
During this time of Advent, the story of Joseph reminds us of God’s grace. We are reminded of the lengths in which God will go to deliver his people from sin. Our Lord is willing to go even unto the cross in order to redeem that which was lost. Yes, bad things do happen, even to God’s people. But our Lord and God is stronger than any powers of this earth. Ours is to remain faithful and to fully rely on God in our times of need.
Prayer – O God our Savior, in times of despair, keep us faithful through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
From the Pastor’s Heart By Pastor David Nuottila
Posted December 15, 2022 By adminAnd Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49
This week, many congregations took time to decorate their churches for the coming Christmas celebration. These symbols of Christmas bring us joy and delight as the Church waits in hopefulness and prepares to receive the good news yet again. Through the birth of the Christ child, God fulfilled his promise of the long-awaited Messiah. Ever[1]greens, poinsettias, wreaths in the windows and even trees filled with Christian symbols help us to proclaim this good news. Their symbolism reminds us of God’s long ago promise and opens our eyes and our hearts to God’s perfect and unconditional love. When connected to God’s Word in Holy Scripture, these symbols, in their own way, share the good news of Christ Jesus with us. Yet, these decorations are not the object of our focus. However pleasing it may be, the beauty of our churches during Advent and at Christmas, the music of beloved songs and the joy that tradition brings, are not the good news. For Christian joy and celebration is not rooted in decoration, rather, it is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel literally means, “good news.”
In the first chapter of Luke, the evangelist tells us of a young girl receiving good news from the angel Gabriel. The good news of Christ is first brought to Mary, and upon receiving it, her heart’s desire becomes doing as the Lord commands. Later in Luke’s gospel, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is also expecting a child and shares this good news with her. The sharing of good news leads to even greater joy and celebration. As Mary sings her “Magnificat,” this humble young woman from Nazareth sings praises to God as his promise for salvation begins to unfold. Mary’s song speaks of how God’s grace and mercy will bring joy and celebration to even the most lowly on earth.
Mary sings, “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” Luke 1: 50-53
Mary sings as if God has already done these things, because in her heart, she knows God will keep his promise. So, she celebrates this good and wonderful news. So too, the Church celebrates with joy and thanks[1]giving. But it doesn’t stop there. As the good news is to be shared and celebrated, it is also to be lived out in the mission of the Church.
The good news of Christ comes with blessing and the promise that wrong will be made right, and oppression will give way to compassion. The outcast will be made welcome, and the hungry will be fed. The joy of Mary and her beautiful Magnificat is a joy meant for all people; the joy of a young unwed mother to be, whose heart’s desire is to do as God wills.
Mary’s journey began in earnest when she embraced the promise of God as brought to her by Gabriel, the promise that says “…nothing is impossible with God.” In joyous refrain Mary answers, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:37-38.
Throughout our Advent journey, may our hearts also be drawn to the day God came with blessing unto Mary and shared with her the good news of Christ Jesus. An angel brought the good news to Mary, who in turn shared it with the Church for all time. Today this good news comes to us once again; the good news of a young woman suddenly expecting a child, who is Christ the Lord. As Mary heard the good news from Gabriele, her heart was drawn to God’s message of hope, and she gave of herself according to God’s call.
I pray that during this season of Advent, as our churches are beautifully decorated and we take delight in the long-standing traditions of our congregations, we do not lose our focus on what God wills us to do. May our hearts be drawn to give something of ourselves according to God’s call. May we continue to serve our neighbors and welcome the strangers among us.
Good news is news to be celebrated with great joy. Yet it is also to be lived out through the lives of God’s faithful people. As we welcome others into our churches, I pray that the beauty of these decorations is pleasing in their sight, and that their symbolism of God’s love and grace for all people is proclaimed, so that all may experience the joy and celebration at Christmas.
Most Holy God, we thank you for the beauty of the world which you have created. We give you thanks and praise for the beauty of your Church on earth, especially as churches are adorned with symbol of our faith during this holy time of year. Continue to grace with your presence, lead us and inspire us to go into the world and share the truth of your Gospel, the saving power of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. For it is in his name we pray. Amen.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Choir Notes
Posted December 12, 2022 By adminStill, Still, Still,
Thy heart with joy I’d fill.
I’d sing thee a song and watch by thy manger,
Guard thee from harm and keep thee from danger.
Still, Still, Still,
thy heart with joy I’d fill.
As I am rushing around making sure everything is “perfect” for our family Thanksgiving celebration, this carol is running through my head. It is one that our choir will sing on Christmas Eve. I can just imagine the mother Mary singing this lullaby to her precious baby Jesus in the still of the night. The peacefulness and love she must have felt as she quieted her baby and sang him to sleep is a beautiful image.
But as I sing this carol I realize nothing in life feels still at the moment. There are so many bulletins to help prepare and proofread, a newsletter article to write, music to choose for bells and children and choir besides the fact that my house is a wreck. I am hardly prepared to welcome my family for Thanksgiving let alone the Christ child. But reflecting on the other meaning of still, not just peacefulness and calm but continuing, I realize that Christ still chooses to come to me in my chaos even though I am not deserving. He is still willing to come to me with forgiveness and grace and everlasting life. And suddenly all the chaos doesn’t seem to really matter anymore.
During this Advent season I recognize my need to be still and spend time with Jesus in my bible read[1]ing and in prayer. To meet him on “my road to Emmaus” on Sunday mornings as he opens the scriptures for me and feeds me with his precious body and blood that Mary once sang over. And in response I sing praise and thanksgiving that Jesus still comes to me.
Still, Still, Still,
Within thy holy will.
To thee, great God, my voice I’d raise,
With awe and wonder sing thy praise.
Still, Still, Still,
Within thy holy will.
We would love to welcome you to the choir for the Christmas Eve service. If you can’t commit full time to the choir but would like to add your voice of praise on Christmas Eve, we will be rehearsing on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 after the Advent mid-week service.
