Tithing envelopes for 2022 will be available in the Narthex until February 13, 2022. Please make plans to pick up your envelopes and those for any other family member, friend or neighbor who may be unable to get to the church. Following the February 13th service, the envelopes will be removed from the Narthex and you will need to contact.
All Lutheran Women are requested to attend a brief meeting on Sunday, January 16th at 4:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
Good Things at St. Jacob’s for November:
• Don & Leon took the water and flood-bucket supplies to Disaster Center in Kings Mountain, NC.
• Gerald & Robert (Lindler Plumbing) repaired the water lines for the church and office and supplied a much-needed cut-off valve.
• Received three new members this month, Ken and Linda Mostiler by transfer, and
• Tessa Monts by Holy Baptism.
• Thanksgiving celebration.
• New Advent Wreath made by Danny Shealy.
Council Briefs:
• Lutheran Women and Lutheran Men are resuming regular meetings.
• The Discipleship Team is working on the “Mercy Buckets” program – watch for coming news.
• Council approved re-opening the position for Choir Director.
• Worship & Music to purchase new Chrismon trees.
• Pastor will hold two training sessions in December for the Elders.
• New Finance Procedures approved for Policy and Procedures Manual.
• There will be a special called Meeting of the Congregation on January 9, 2022 to ratify the NALC Constitution changes.
• Council Retreat to be held on January 14th & 15th, 2022 at St. Jacob’s.
There will be a called congregational meeting prior to worship on Sunday, January 9th for the purposes of ratification of an amendment to the NALC Constitution. Any such action approved by the NALC Convocation must receive a ratifying vote of two thirds of the congregation in the North American Lutheran Church. Voting members who were eligible to vote at our December 5th congregational meeting are eligible to vote on January 9th. The vote to ratify only requires a simple majority to pass. Information regarding the amendments will be supplied to the congregation by way of email prior to the called meeting.
At a recent meeting, several Mission District pastors lamented about the unavailability of NALC supply pastors within the Carolinas. Currently, there are few retired NALC pastors available for supply. During August you will recall that when I was quarantined due to Covid-19, we did not have Holy Communion at worship on the two Sundays I was away. That was because there were no pastors available for pulpit supply. The issue came again in October for several of our South Carolina NALC pastors who hoped to take some much-needed vacation time. Again, there were not enough supply pastors to fill in.
The answer to this problem was for pastors to identify lay members who are gifted to serve as Elders to lead worship in the pastor’s absence when no supply pastor is available. An Elder is a lay person authorized to distribute consecrated elements of bread and wine for Holy Communion. Elders are trained by the pastor and act under his direction.
Being an Elder is an extraordinary ministry which does not take the place of the ministry of ordained clergy but serves as a means to distribute Holy Communion during a time of unavoidable pastoral absence. Here at St. Jacob’s, I have identified four persons who I believe are gifted to serve in such capacity. David, Carroll, Sherrie, and A.J. have all completed brief training with me to serve as Elders for St. Jacob’s. They will be authorized by me to distribute the Sacrament if I am not able, and no supply pastor is available. These four Elders will be publicly recognized on January 2nd.
I Am with You
Read: Genesis 28:10-22
Jacob, having tricked his father Isaac into blessing him over and above his brother Esau, is now on the run. He is in fear for his life as his brother has vowed to kill him for what he had done. Alone and afraid, Jacob travels through the wilderness. He is not seeking an encounter with God, nor is he searching for some deeply religious explanation of his life. Jacob is between places, the place of his father which is his home, and the place to which he is traveling where he hopes to find a new life. Yet, through a dream, God makes his presence known and the gospel, the good news of God’s deliverance comes to Jacob. “Behold, I am with you!”
Jacob’s vision of a ladder reaching from earth into heaven teaches us that the world is not a place absent of God’s presence. Rather, there is intersection between the realm of earthly life and God’s kingdom. Angels, messengers of God, travel to and from bringing tidings of good news and God’s divine protection to those who live within the family of faith. God’s children are not alone; there is someone who walks with us, powerful enough to take on our troubles and wash away our shame. Because God loved the world so much, we have a Savior who says, “Behold, I am with you!”
How often do we wander in the wilderness? When are those instances when we search for God, yet He seems distant? These are the times to become quiet and still, to open our hearts and minds to the presence of our Lord Jesus. For the words of his promise are sure, “Behold, I am with you.”
Holy God, guide us by your Holy Spirit and guard us with your angels. Help us to see always, your power and presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The congregation is invited and encouraged to attend our mid-week Advent services beginning on Wednesday, December 1st, at 7:00 PM. Our theme this year is “A Christmas Journey.” Congregation members will present dramatic readings telling the story of the Holy Family’s trip to Bethlehem in anticipation of Christ’s birth. Characters include, Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, and the Innkeeper. Join us as we await the celebration of Christmas and the birth of our Lord and Savior.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
I can’t say why, but this year, more than most, the celebration of Christmas seems just a little bit nearer to me. Perhaps it is because that the past two Christmas celebrations have been somewhat curtailed by the pandemic. Maybe it is because the year 2021 presented a few challenges to my faith. Or perhaps it is due to a cloudy outlook into the future that many people envision because of uncertain times. Regardless, this year I find myself in earnest reflection of the Christmas narrative and the miracle surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus.
Think of it, a young woman – a girl actually – pure and innocent, a virgin, suddenly finding herself “with child” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Dear Mary, whom the church would later recognize as “theotokos” or “the God-bearer” she would face so many challenges at a tender young age that most women would likely shy away from. Mary most likely faced harsh ridicule from those who knew her best. “How could you become pregnant outside of marriage?” How could you bring shame upon your family…upon Joseph with such behavior?” No, in these instances, young Mary was alone in her predicament. How could she convince people the child within her was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit? Truly, how could she convince Joseph? Only because God sent the angel Gabriel to Joseph in a dream did he become privy to God’s plan to send his Son into the World through such humble means.
As servants of the Lord, Mary and Joseph submitted to the will and desire of our Holy and Mighty God. Perhaps because of their humbleness and willingness God found reason to choose them to be the instruments of his good will toward mankind.
Think of Joseph. He was a man who worked with his hands. Scripture tells us that he was a faithful and just man, one who took into consideration his love and concern for others. Joseph is a good example for today’s men to follow. When presented with challenges in relationships with others, we can look to Joseph, doing well to handle them quietly, faithfully, compassionately. When called to serve according to God’s will, even when the situation is difficult, we can see in Joseph a willing spirit and an eager obedience to follow.
And think of Mary, the things she had to experience for herself. There was no midwife to help her deliver and care for her child. No warm water in which to bathe the child. No light, no warmth, only a cold manger for a bed and rags in which to wrap the babe in so he wouldn’t shiver. Who showed this poor girl what to do in such circumstances? Who was there to guide her, encourage her? No one but God, and Mary placed her complete faith and trust in him.
I believe that such reflection upon the birth of our Lord serves us well as we look to God’s unfailing love for his people. Christmas is a time when we can take a long look at our faith and life. What sweeter picture can there be other than a young mother’s glance beaming down upon her first child even as he was born into such a harsh environment? Loving eyes looking upon a helpless child, dependent upon his mother for everything.
It is the same picture of love we see as we consider our heavenly Father’s glance beaming down upon his precious children whom he saved from sin and death through the miracle of this baby born of Mary. We sinful human beings are brought into a right relationship through the child conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. This truly is the greatest gift of all. God’s loving eyes looking upon his people who are helpless and powerless against the powers that would defy God’s goodness, mercy, and grace.
As we sojourn into the approaching Advent and Christmas seasons, I would pray that we all could do so in quiet reflection upon the images of Christ’s nativity. Take in the picture of the holy family. Make them a part of who we are as God’s people gathered here. May we all share the love, peace, and miracle of the Nativity of our Lord.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King.
We will soon be singing these words once again, and this year we have so much to be joyful about.
As I write this, I am thinking of all I need to do to prepare for my family coming for Thanksgiving. It is the first time since the pandemic started that I will be gathering with all my children to celebrate the holidays. I am indeed filled with joy. As a church family, we will gather on Christmas eve to celebrate the birth of our Lord without having to sit apart from each other and we will be able to sing boldly our praises to God. So please join us for caroling, for our children’s program, and on Christmas eve to thank and praise God for all his blessings, most especially the gift of his son.
Let every heart, prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing!
Dates to remember:
December 5th
Children’s choir rehearsal 4:00-5:00 PM.
Christmas program rehearsal 5:00-5:30 PM.
December 12th
Children’s choir rehearsal at 3:00 PM.
Christmas caroling at 4:00 PM.
December 18th
Christmas program rehearsal 9:00 AM.
December 19th
Children’s choir rehearsal 4:00-5:00 PM.
Children’s Christmas program 6:00 PM.
All Lutheran Men are requested to attend a brief meeting on Sunday, December 12th at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
