Other Happenings Archive

Supporting We Care

Posted June 30, 2020 By admin

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, food pantries such as We Care have faced many challenges. There are many families that depend on their services just so they might have enough food to last throughout the week or month. As a member of the community and especially as members of Christ’s church, St. Jacob’s can and should consider becom-ing a strong supporters of We Care. Why? Because as disciples of Jesus Christ, “we care.”
All members of our church family are encouraged to make regular donations of non-perishable items that can be brought to the church and collected in the fellowship hall. During the suspension of church activities, donations can be brought to the church office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Providing food for those who are hungry is but one way we can grow in our partnership with those who provide for others. It is also a way we can grow in relationship with those whom God has placed within our midst. Remember, as we do it for the least of these, we do it also unto Christ our Lord.

Chapin We Care

We Care Pantry Needs

Donations of all food items are appreciated.

Listed below are some of the things that are in constant need.

•Peanut butter/ Jelly
•Chili, Soup
•Dried Beans
•Grits, Rice
•Mac & Cheese
•Canned Tuna/Salmon
•Pork & Beans
•Spam
•Canned Chicken
•Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce
•Turnip/Collard Greens
•Laundry Detergent
•Personal Hygiene Items, i.e. Toothbrushes, Toothpaste

Welcome To Our Newest Church Family Member

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

St. Jacob’s welcomes The Rev. Dr. Derald Edwards (retired) as our newest member of the congregation. Pastor Edwards has been a friend of many in the Chapin area and has served several congregations within South Carolina. He is most recently the former chaplain for Heritage at Lowman. Please extend a warm welcome to Pastor Edwards and his wife, Vicki.

In Home Visits

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

Following recommended social distancing guidelines from the CDC and SCDHEC, Pastor David will continue to refrain from in home visitation. Best practices for scheduling and distribution of Holy Communion to St. Jacob’s members who are not yet attending worship are being worked out. Please be patient. Information will be passed along as soon as possible.

Precautions And Changes During Worship

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

Now that we are worshiping in our building once again, you will likely notice there are a few things that are being done a bit differently. Several changes have been made to promote a healthier and safer environment. During worship, we are no longer passing items through the pews such as friendship registers and collection plates. Record of worship and communion cards are inserted in the weekly bulletins. Offerings are placed in the alms basin located by the narthex door. This is to reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus and other sicknesses as well.

Another change has been made for the confidentiality of St. Jacob’s family and friends. We will no longer be using the prayer board to list prayer concerns. Instead, the old suggestion box in the narthex will now be used for prayer concerns. Please fill out the cards located near the box and drop them in. Remember, you must have express permission from the person whose name you are adding to the prayer list to do so.

Now that we are live streaming our worship service on Facebook and YouTube, along with providing a recording of the entire service on our website, we will no longer be reading the full names of those on our member’s prayer list. They will be listed in the bulletin, but only first names will be read out loud. Again, this is to protect the privacy of those whose names are being read out loud during the prayers of the church.

If you have any questions about these matters, you can contact Pastor David Nuottila by phone or email.

Online Devotions

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

The following is the new schedule for St. Jacob’s online activities:

  • 10:30 AM Sunday – Live stream of worship service
  • 9:30 AM Monday and Friday Mornings – Morning devotions and prayer
  • 7:00 PM Tuesday and Friday Evenings – Evening devotions and prayer
  • 7:PM Wednesday evening – Vespers

Please join us online as you are able at the St. Jacob’s Facebook page.

Up & Going

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

The 2020 UP & GOING — 4 Churches Meeting scheduled for August at Macedonia Lutheran Church has been cancelled due to safety concerns this year. Macedonia Lutheran Church will host this event in 2021. The date is to be determined.

Youth Director & Family Ministries

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

Look up the scriptures below that are about freedom. Find the missing words. Input (first word is the answer; the rest of the line is the clue)

[Pick from these words: Slavery, Flesh, Freedom, Evil, Truth, Indeed, Spacious, Mastered]

1. Psalm 118:5 – When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a _________________ place.

2. 1 Peter 2:16 – Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for _________;

3. 2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is __________.

4. Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let your-selves be burdened again by a yoke of _____________.

5. Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the _________;

6. 1 Corinthians 6:12 – I have the right to do anything—but I will not be _____________ by anything.

7. John 8:32 – Then you will know the ___________, and the truth will set you free.

8. John 8:36 – So if the Son sets you free, you will be free _____________.

In Christ love,

Rachel

It’s Time To Come Home

Posted June 29, 2020 By admin

Have you been away from St. Jacob’s for a while? Has it been weeks, months or even years? Well, now is the time to consider your return. Thanks to COVID-19, everyone has been away. No one has been in worship on Sunday except for watching in their own homes. Perhaps you too have been watching. If so, that means you have been a part of the community gathered around the Gospel each week. Or perhaps, you have been watching the morning or evening devotions and Pastor’s check-in. If that’s the case, I am very grateful for your presence online and I hope to see you in person when we can open our doors to everyone.

Now is the time to come home. No matter the reason you have been away, now is the time to re-connect. You don’t have to worry about questions about your absence. You don’t need to be concerned about having been away for any specific period of time. Like I said, we have all been away. When we resume our regular worship activities just come be a part of them. Come home to St. Jacob’s. Come and hear the Gospel and enjoy our shared life together.

Pastoral Devotion For June

Posted June 1, 2020 By admin

What Is Fear?
Psalm 46:1-11
What is fear? That is perhaps a question that most of us have not pondered. Certainly, we have asked ourselves why are we afraid and what is it that we fear? But when is the last time you asked yourself, “What is fear?”

Everyone is afraid of something. When Abram went to Egypt, he was afraid Pharaoh would kill him and take his wife Sarai to be his own. When Moses was called to lead the Hebrews from bond-age, he was afraid he would be ineffective and rejected. He begged God not to send him. And when Jesus’s twelve disciples were threatened by a storm on the sea, they feared for their lives, even while Jesus was sleeping in the boat. Given these examples, I believe we have an answer to our question.

Fear is the absence of trust in God that he will act according to his promises. When we have complete trust in God to provide for us and protect us, we have no need to be afraid. With so much going wrong in our world, so many instances of violence and disease, our trust belongs in the Lord. Only God has the power to overcome the evils that surround us. He is our refuge. God is our ever-present help. Therefore, do not be afraid. Be still. Trust God.

Prayer: Give me faith to place my trust in you, O Lord, that I may not be afraid.
Amen.

From Pastor David’s blog –
In The Beginning

Bible Study

Posted May 28, 2020 By admin

Pastor David and Rachel Shelton continue to host an online Bible study at our regular time each Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM. The lesson is sent out via email the day before if we have an email address for you so you can prepare. You may follow along on our St. Jacob’s Facebook page for this live and interactive study. Participate by making comments in the comments section. Please give Facebook a try so you can participate. We might just find that there is room for online Bible study as a part of our future ministries.