All children of St, Jacob’s and their families are invited to a Halloween Party following our Trunk-or-Treat from 7:30-9:00PM on October 28th. The Halloween Party will be a time of fun and games for all. Following the Halloween Party, there will be a Lock-In for St. Jacob’s youth and their friends in 5th grade and up. Parents, please let Matt Burt know if your youth members will be attending.
Please let Matt or Pastor David know if you will be decorating your vehicle and participating in this year’s Trunk-or-Treat. We look forward to having a great time of fun and fellowship as we welcome our costumed children and youth. Trunk-or-Treat will be held from 5-7PM on Friday, October 28th .
Due to response to Hurricane Ian, both Carolinas Disaster Response Warehouses are empty and in great need. As such, St. Jacob’s is collecting blankets and assembling Health Kits. A list of items for health kits is provided below. Men, women, and youth members of St, Jacob’s are encouraged to participate in the assembly of health kits on Sunday, November 6th in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:00PM. Our Chili Cook-Off will immediately follow.
Disaster Response Health Kit Contents
1 bath towel, 1 wash cloth, 1 travel size shampoo (3 oz), 1 bar bath soap, 1 toothbrush, 1 tube toothpaste (2 if travel size), 1 comb, 1 hairbrush, 1 deodorant, 1 nail clippers (optional), 1 dental floss We will also collect disposable diapers and disposable adult under garments. Blankets and these other items may be dropped off on the stage in the fellowship hall.
Who is the champion chef at St. Jacob’s? We will find the answer to that question as we enjoy a Chili Cook-off at 5:00PM on November 6th after we finish assembling health kits for the NALC Disaster Response Warehouse. Anyone may enter their best pot of Chili, (with beans or without). Matt Burt and his select panel of Judges will crown the 2022 St. Jacob’s Chili Champion. Come be a part of the fun and fellowship.
On Thursday, September 15, the Up and Going got up and going to the mountains in Hendersonville, NC. We shared a very nice lunch at Harry’s BBQ and Grille before heading out to Granddad’s Apple Orchard. Several of our members enjoyed fried apple pies and apple cider slushies while stocking up on delicious apples. Thank you to our van drivers, Davis, and Michael. A splendid time of fellowship was certainly enjoyed by all.
Our St. Jacob’s Lutheran Men welcomed Travis Bennet, Biologist for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, who gave a very interesting presentation on the various species of wildlife found in South Carolina.
Covering animals ranging from turtles to black bears, Travis provided information on the challenges concerning protection of wildlife in our state. As many would guess, the biggest challenge to numbers of many animals is the loss of their natural habitat due to development.
Prior to Mr. Bennett’s presentation, the men enjoyed a delicious meal of lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Thank you to all who helped prepare our meal and thank you especially to Travis for his very informative program.
Our Wednesday morning Bible study is in full swing with a study of the Parables of Jesus. Everyone who is able is invited to join the group. We have wonderful conversations while exploring the richness of God’s mercy and grace. Come be a part of our learning and fellowship. Mid-week Bible study meets at 9:30 A.M. in the fellowship Hall each Wednesday Morning.
The days are cooling, everything pumpkin spice is on the menu and that means all our choirs are back in practice. This year there are a few changes to our St. Jacob’s choirs. Our youth in grades 4 and above are rehearsing hand bells each Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. We have started a new choir for our youngest St. Jacobs family members. Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade are meeting at 3 pm on Sunday afternoons for Children’s Choir. There are even changes for our adult choir. The Wednesday evening service will be held at 6:30 each Wednesday starting the first of October which allows our adult choir to practice from 7-8 pm starting immediately following the service. Please come and join us.
I’ve seen Christmas merchandise being put on the shelves in stores, so it is not too soon to be thinking about our Christmas music. If you would be willing to participate in special Christmas music for the season, please let me know. I would love to have a small hand bell group, and this would be a great time for you to participate in choir on a limited basis. Come learn the music for Christmas with us.
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
The Bible verse above is one that many of us grew up with. We grew up with it because our parents and grandparents believed it and implemented it as often as they could. Now that I am a grandparent, this verse means a lot more to me than it did years ago. Not only as a grandparent, but as a parent, and especially as a pastor, I have gained a deep appreciation for this particular proverb.
Recently in a discussion with several other pastors, we were comparing notes with what has worked as far as catechetical instruction goes. I reminisced with them for a while and remembered a little book written by one of my professors. The Rev. Dr. Jim Nestingen wrote this book way back in the mid-70’s in partnership with another professor, The Rev. Dr. Gerhard Forde. The book is an exposition on Luther’s Small Catechism and is entitled, Free to Be.
Free to Be is a handbook that unpacks the Small Catechism in such a way that all people, young and old alike, can learn more about wat it means to be free to grow as a child of the One True God. The opening chapter begins with these words: “God has made a decision about you. He hasn’t waited to find out how sincere you are, how devout or religious you might be, or how well you understand the Bible or Catechism. He hasn’t even waited to find out if you are interested or willing to take his decision seriously. He has simply decided.”
The gist of Free to Be is that since God has decided to love us even though we are sinners, through Christ we are freed from the eternal consequences of our sin. As forgiven people, we are free to love God and neighbor even though original sin once stood as a barrier between God and man. Through Christ the barrier is overcome by god’s love. The free gift of God’s salvation is the most precious gift anyone could ever hope to receive. With the devil’s grip upon our lives broken by the power of God’s love, we are free to be children of God’s light in Christ.
So why bring this up now? Well, as I look around St. Jacob’s, and indeed the broader Church in general, I see so many young people opting out of worship, Sunday school and many things religious. The George Barna group, a research think tank that studies trends within the Christian Church, has well documented the current trend of young people abandoning the church and instead opting for a life outside well established faith communities. If we are to take the proverb seriously, we need to find a way to re-present the Christian faith to our young people in such a way that they can realize the love our Almighty God has for his people, and just how valuable each person is in the eyes of God.
Of particular note is a study I read lifting up the seismic shift in our society that has occurred in just the last 25 years or so. Generation Z (those born between 1990-2015) is the most ethnically diverse generation in American history. They are individualistic, social justice oriented, and lonely. They were raised on technology, not on relationships. And their lives are often built around the online world. These young people are becoming activists and volunteers who want to make an impact on the world. The oldest members of Generation Z have entered their twenties and stepped into either the workforce or the world of higher education. And they will change the landscape of our society with their ideas and values many of which omit the idea of Christian faith and the prospect of church membership. In layman’s terms, to a large extent, our young people are being shaped by the world rather than by faith. So, as those who vowed at the baptism of so many Gen Z babies, that we would raise them in the faith, what do we do to train up the children in the way that they should go?
The answer is fairly simple, just four words actually; “dwell in God’s Word.” Dwell in the Word and grow in our relationship with Christ. Then share the joy of that relationship with our young people. They will soon see the joy we have in being freed from the burden of sin, and living as dwellers of God’s eternal kingdom rather than as dwellers of this fallen and broken world. For the sake of our young people, we must know God’s Word. We must know the story. We must help our young people answer the question: “Who is Jesus and why does he matter?” We must live it out and share it in such a way that, through our shared joy and fellowship, our young people will experience Christian relationships and become Free to Be excited about the love they have through the person of Christ our Savior. Imagine a faith community in which everyone, young and old finds themselves on the path that leads to eternal joy. Yes, that’s what it means to be “Free to Be.”
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
The Men of St. Jacob’s are invited to participate in our new “Every Man Bible study.” The Men’s Bible study meets in the church office conference room each Monday at 7:00A.M. Each participant will receive a copy of the “Every Man’s Bible in the New Living Translation (NLT).” The Bible is provided at no cost and is a wonderful addition to Every Man’s Bible collection.
Currently we are exploring the lives of men we read about in the bible and finding out more about their life and struggle to become faithful believers in a world fallen into sin. Please join us. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. We are looking forward to the growth of this ministry.
