Tis the season! Please plan to join the members of our church family as share an evening of fellowship with our shut in members. We will go Christmas Caroling in the late afternoon of Sunday, December 11th. We will gather at the church at 3:30PM and caravan to several of our church family member’s homes and provide some Christmas cheer with songs and well wishes for a blessed Christmas.
Other Happenings Archive
Christmas Caroling
Posted December 7, 2022 By adminAdvent at St. Jacob’s
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminAt St. Jacob’s we will celebrate Advent in traditional ways. Sunday worship services will focus on the lessons prescribed by our lectionary. Our mid-week services will feature dramatic readings and the Vespers liturgy from the Lutheran Book of Worship.
On Wednesday, December 21, we will include a special prayer and candlelight hymn as we worship on the Longest night of the year. Traditionally called “Blue Christmas” worship on the longest night reminds us that through Christ, light has come into the world, and the darkness shall not overcome it.
Advent service begin each Wednesday in December at 6:30PM. Further information will be shared in the weekly worship bulletins. Note: There is no Holy Communion shared as we use the Vespers liturgy.
Welcome Our New Administrative Assistant
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminSt. Jacob’s gives a warm welcome to Jean who begins her employment with St. Jacob’s on Thursday, December 1st. Jean is our new Administrative Assistant. Please welcome Jean as you are able. We give thanks to God for leading us to this point in our congregation’s ministry and look forward to having Jean as a part of the St. Jacob’s family.
Filed in Other Happenings
Council Briefs for November 2022
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminGood Things for October 2022
- The Up and Going trip to the Newberry Museum.
- Golden Ager’s Sunday (10/23/22) was a great success!
- Trunk or Treat Halloween party and lock-in
Council Briefs for November 2022
- The Council received the Pastor’s report. Pastor David is continuing to do the administrative duties in addition to his regular duties, as the search for an Administrative Assistant continues. The Pastor will be on vacation Nov. 14 – 19, 2022.
- Bob provided the treasurer’s report. The church has spent 74% of the 2022 budget. The Council has established an ‘Estate Gifts’ account. A decision to for appropriation/ distribution of these funds will be determined at a later date.
- All ministry team reports were received by the council. Notes of interest were as follows:
- Staff Support: The Administrative Assistant position remains open. If you know of an interested candidate, please speak to a Council Member or Staff Support Committee member
- Congregational Care: St. Jacobs will provide pound cakes for the Thanksgiving meal at The Hub. Volunteers will be needed following the Thanksgiving Eve ser[1]vice to assist in cutting and packaging the cakes.
- Discipleship: Bags to replace Mercy boxes should arrive before Thanksgiving.
- Property: The person who purchased the Church bus has reimbursed St. Jacob’s for the citations received prior to him re-tagging the bus.
- Stewardship: The Audit team met on Oct. 21, 2022 to review the 3rd quarter records for the General Fund. All records were accepted as presented.
- Worship and Music: New Chrismon trees and other decorations have been purchased for the Advent and Christmas season.
- Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit: A handout will be distributed to the congregation during the Congregational Meeting on December 4, 2022.
- The Administrative Assistant position remains open.
- The Council has approved the final budget proposal for 2023. This budget will go before the Congregation for final approval at the Congregational Meeting on Dec. 4, 2022. A handout will be available for members to pick up two weeks prior to the Congregational Meeting. These copies will be made available in the Narthex.
- The Council is seeking interested members to fill 5 vacated seats for the 2023/2024 term. Election for these seats will be held at the December Congregational meeting. Any members interested in filling a Council representative seat should notify one of the current Council members.
- A decision was made to delay further discussions regarding the purchase of a small bus.
- The Pastor shared a thank-you note from the AA group that meets at St. Jacobs, thanking the Church for the use of the building. Also, a note was received from Sherry Floyd for the gift from St. Jacobs in honor of her retirement.
- The Agenda for the Annual Congregation[1]al Meeting was set as follows:
- Election of Council Members for 2023
- Approval of 2023 Budget
- Handout for Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit
Filed in Council Reports, Other Happenings
News from St. Jacob’s Up and Going‘s
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminOn a bright and sun shining November 17, 2022, twenty-two Up and Going members and guests gathered to enjoy an Old Timey Thanksgiving Meal together. The weather was cold, but the Fellowship Hall was warm and toasty, inviting all into the cheerfully decorated space. Fall items filled the room with color. Everyone was welcomed and encouraged to participate with others. Devotions given by Helen were from the book “Redeemer” entitled “Our Daily Bread” closing with praying together The Lord’s Prayer.
Business was conducted before we enjoyed a bountiful and delicious traditional Dutch Fork Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving memories were shared. Before leaving each member was given an Up and Going Cookbook. Hope you enjoy your Cookbook. Food stuff was collected to be taken to We Care. Thank you for helping with this project.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11am in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring finger food for sharing and 3 pairs of men’s socks that will go to the Oliver Gospel Mission. Have a Blessed and wonderful Holiday Season…Remember: Jesus is the reason for the season.
The NALC Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminMany congregations struggle with decline in attendance and income, transitioning neighborhood and context, lack of coherent and appropriate vision for mission. Time and time again congregational leaders make efforts to re-tool and re-shape the congregation’s life and ministry, only to find resistance to change, lack of commitment and little positive result. One of the challenges to renewal and re-formation is our closeness to our congregation’s history, culture and current practices. As with any family system, we can be so involved that we are blinded to the reality of our situation, unable to see clearly God’s will for new direction and transformation.
In ongoing reflection and conversation, leadership of the North American Lutheran Church have been seeking an integrative approach to congregational assessment, evaluation and renewal. Working together, several member’s of the NALC Executive staff have developed such an approach, appropriately titled, the “Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit.
The goal of the summit is to involve appropriate leadership in the NALC, together with congregational pastor and leaders, praying first, “Lord, let our eyes be opened!” We then trust that the Lord will give participants fresh eyes to receive new insight and understanding, all aimed at new or renewed direction for mission and ministry as the congregation seeks to follow Jesus firmly and faithfully.
On Monday evening, November 21st, several members of St. Jacob’s met with Pastor David Wendel, NALC assistant to the bishop for ministry, to explore the prospects of our congregation participating in the “Fresh eyes for Mission Summit.”
One need only look around to see that St. Jacob’s is not the congregation we once were. In these days of declining church attendance and membership, the Fresh Eyes Summit is designed to help congregations such as ours take a critical look at how their ministry is going and what key factors should be addressed. Congregations engaging in the summit look at the community’s growth and other factors, and weigh their giftedness to determine the capacity each church has for mission and ministry.
Several NALC congregations in the Carolinas (including local congregations such as Holy Trinity in Little Mountain) have participated and come away with renewed energy and excitement about their church’s Ministry.
More information will be shared during our Congregation Meeting on December 4th.
Worship at Generations
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminEvery other Sunday, Pastor David leads worship for the residents of Generations Assisted Care of Chapin. This ministry has made a 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 the love of Christ Jesus in worship with our friends just down the road. Our next worship opportunity will be: Sunday, December 11 with a service of Christmas Lessons and Carols. We begin our worship at 1:00PM in the lobby. Join us as you are able and bring a smile to those whom God loves.
St. Jacob’s Men Sausage Fund Raiser
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminOn Monday, November 28th, the men of St. Jacob’s were at it again. Over a dozen of or Lutheran Men gathered in the fellowship hall to continue the tradition of making their world famous homemade pork sausage.
The men took orders for sausage at five dollars per pound to raise funds for several of their ongoing ministry projects. All in all, St. Jacob’s men produced seven-hundred-forty-six pounds of delicious sausage for the congregation and surrounding community.
Many thanks to all the men who participated in this event, and especially to Phyllis, Sandra, All, and Linda for their assistance in packaging the sausage in one pound containers.
As always, there is plenty of space for all the men of St. Jacob’s to become active in participating in our Lutheran Men’s ministry. The men of St. Jacob’s meet at 6PM on the third Sunday of each month.
Filed in Lutheran Men, Other Happenings
NALC Disaster Response Event
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminWhat a great time we had during our NALC Disaster Response project in November! So many of our church family members helped us collect items to assemble health and hygiene kits for the Disaster Response warehouse. Our Goal was to collect enough materials to assemble fifty kits. That goal was certainly met. Along with health kits, St. Jacob’s collected about forty-five blankets, and several packages of adult disposable undergarments. Pastor David also furnished a case of Bibles to be donated to the warehouse.
At the completion of our project, one question remained. Who is the champion chili chef at St. Jacob’s? That question was answered as June went home with the honors (and the Chili Champion apron and trophy). Thank you to all who supplied chili with all the fixings. Thank you also to everyone who made a donation of time and talent in collecting and assembling the health kits for the NALC Disaster Response Warehouse. All in all, it was a fun night of mission and fellowship. Well done St. Jacob’s!
We Care Center Needs
Posted November 25, 2022 By adminSeptember Most Needed Items:
• Vienna Sausages
• Boxed pasta
• Instant potatoes
• Progresso soup
• Chili
• Canned greens
• Spam
• Soup
• Pancake mix/Syrup
• Corn muffin mix
We also ALWAYS need:
• laundry detergent
• toiletries
• paper products.
THANK YOU!
Filed in Other Happenings, Outreach
