The Lutheran Men will be sponsoring a Christmas Luncheon on Sunday, December 7 th immediately following our service of worship. Everyone is invited to attend; dinner will be provided. The congregation is asked to bring their favorite dessert. Please invite your family and friends to celebrate with us.
Midweek Bible Study meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM in the church office conference room. We are currently studying the Gospel According to John. This study is a traditional chapter and verse study where we will read and learn more of the message John has to teach all who hear his Gospel and come to believe that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the true Son of God. We will read and compare John’s writing with that of the other Gospel writers. We will also explore the connections between John’s Gospel and the Old Testament. Everyone is invited to join us as they are able.
Christmas Party
Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to a Christmas Party December 7th from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM in the church office.
We will bake Christmas cookies to take to our homebound members when we go Christmas caroling the next week.
There will be food, music, crafts and lots of fun. Make plans to join us.
2026 NALC Continental Youth Gathering July 7-10, 2026
Join us for an exhilarating journey of faith and fellowship at the North American Lutheran Church’s Continental Youth Gathering (CYG) from July 7–10, 2026, nestled in the heart of Virginia at St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke, VA.
NALC youth will rally around the powerful theme “Rejoice,” living with a joy that lasts. Joy isn’t just a happy feeling; it’s something God has given us so that we can face life with hope, no matter what’s going on around us. The mission of the CYG is to provide opportunities for Lutheran youth to not only grow in their faith, but to be encouraged by connecting with other believers throughout North America.
The CYG isn’t merely an event, but a milestone in nurturing a robust community of believers across North America. It is a space where youth can delve deeper into scripture, engage in earnest conversation with peers and leaders, and encounter God in a fresh, transformative way. Over four days, attendees will join together in:
With only 350 spots available and a deadline for registration on April 15, 2026, be sure to mark your calendars and register as soon as possible.
Christmas Cantata December 14th
Join us as we journey with Joseph, Mary and the shepherds to Bethlehem to meet our savior in the manger once again. Two thousand years before Jesus was born, the city of Bethlehem was established. It was located in a very fertile area, and grains such as wheat and barley were grown there. In fact, Bethlehem is the city that Naomi and Ruth returned to after the death of Naomi’s sons. Ruth gleaned grain from the fields and the two were redeemed by Boaz. The name Bethlehem literally translates as “House of Bread.” Travel with us to meet the Bread of Life, our redeemer, who comes to us as a baby born in a manger in this house of bread.
The cantata will be presented as part of the Sunday morning worship service.
Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 14th we will go Christmas caroling and take the joy of Christmas to all our members who are unable to attend worship. We will have a soup lunch in the parish hall immediately following worship and then go caroling. Mark your calendars and plan to join us. Contact Angela Nuottila to let her know that you will attend and if you are able to provide a pot of soup or a pan of cornbread.
The season of Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year for the Christian Church. The word “advent” literally means “coming.” During Advent, Christians prepare for the second coming of our King Jesus Christ. This year, due to Christmas Eve being on a Wednesday, our Advent celebration includes three midweek services. We ponder again the great mystery of the incarnation when our Lord humbled himself, taking on our humanity, and his promised second coming. Mid-week Advent Vespers will be observed on the three Wednesdays in Advent (Dec. 3 rd, 10 th , 17th) beginning at 7:00 PM. Our liturgy for these services will be Holden Evening Prayer Vespers. Following tradition of vespers liturgy, Holy Communion will not be offered during these services, and the Advent observation will culminate with the eucharistic celebration upon the Nativity of Our Lord on December 24th. If you have been away from St. Jacob’s for an extended period, Advent is a great time to renew your relationship with your church family. All are encouraged to “come and see” him who is called Christ the Lord and prepare for his coming again. Join your church family in worship in all these opportunities to help prepare the way of the Lord.
Good Things at St. Jacob’s for October
Pastor’s Report
Ministry Teams
Staff Support: Susan
Safety: Robert
Christian Education: Sherrie
Congregational Care: Billy
Discipleship: Lynn
New Business:
**Next scheduled meeting is December 9th , 2025, at 6:45 PM in the church office with newly elected council members.**
Read Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-4
Light came down; it came from heaven. This light came down and assumed the flesh of a child. He took up residence among the people of God. Many who encountered the light did not recognize its source. Most who passed by didn’t even take notice. Others most certainly found it hard to believe such light could radiate from the smallest, most insignificant of people; a baby wrapped in rags, a feeding trough for his bed. But then shepherds came.
They were filled with excitement; theirs was a story too good to be true. Angels brought, to this band of sheep watchers, the news concerning the birth of a Savior; Christ the Lord they said! Can it be? The Christ of God born this night…in this little town? So, they ran, only to find things just the way the angels said they would be. In that instant, the shepherds recognized the light.
Who told you? Who brought you the good news of this light from heaven? Was it an angel, or a shepherd? Probably not, but it was most certainly someone who recognized the light from heaven; and now you do too. Tell others. Tell them light came down. Tell them it came from heaven. And in the light was life and the life was the light for all people. This is the light no worldly darkness shall ever overcome. Angels told shepherds. Tell someone, anyone. Share the light of Christ.
Prayer: God of wonder, fill us with the light of your Christ, that we may share the light and the life he brings for the sake of all people. For we know he is Christ the Lord. Amen.
Pastor David and Angela will be away on vacation visiting family in California for the Thanksgiving holiday, and will return to Chapin on Sunday evening, November 30th. Anyone with pastoral needs should contact council President A.J. and necessary arrangements will be made.
The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year for the Christian Church. The word “advent” literally means “coming.” Coming on the heels of Christ the King Sunday, Advent is the season when Christians prepare for the second coming of our King Jesus Christ. There is actually a two-fold meaning of this “Advent” coming. When the Church celebrates Advent, we look toward Jesus’s second coming by remembering his first coming to earth. We ponder again the great mystery of the incarnation when our Lord humbled himself, taking on our humanity, and entering into our time and space to free us from sin. All the while, we recall in the Creed that our Lord will come again to judge the living and the dead and that we must be ready to greet him.
This year, the First Sunday of Advent is November 30th. Advent is a great time to renew faithful worship habits. If you have been away from St. Jacob’s for an extended period, you are encouraged to “come and see” him who is called Christ the Lord. Come hear the good news of salvation and receive the sacrament of his body and blood for the forgiveness of sin. Mid-week Advent Vespers will be observed on the three Wednesdays in Advent (Dec. 3rd, 10th, 17th) this year. Join your church family in worship in all these opportunities to help prepare the way of the Lord.
It’s hard to believe but the time is quickly approaching for our Thanksgiving Eve worship service. Our service will begin at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 26th in the church nave. With Pastor David away, we will have a lay distribution of Holy Communion, sharing elements held in reserve from our most recent celebration of the sacrament.
Following our service, we will once more prepare pound cake slices to be included in the community Thanksgiving meal sponsored by The Hub. Please come and join us for worship and for an opportunity to serve our neighbors.
