Through the words of the prophet Joel, God called to His people and commanded that they turn from their sinful ways and return to Him for His grace and blessings. This has been the focal point of Lent for Christians as they observe the forty days of this season of penitence and reflection. Lent is a time for listening and responding to the call to return to faithfulness to the God who has been ever faithful to His people. Joel’s exhortation, “Return to the Lord, your God” will serve as our call to Lenten vespers each Wednesday leading to Easter. It is more than a verse sung as part of the liturgy. It is a heartfelt directive for our lives as together we follow the pathway of Lent.
Pastor David will join four other NALC pastors in a preaching series where each will visit one another’s congregation and preach according to five themes of Lent. The schedule for our Lenten series at St. Jacob’s is:
1st Week in Lent – Pr. Bill White (St. Peter’s Lexington) – Return from Betrayal
2nd Week in Lent – Pr. David Nuottila – Return to Prayer
3rd Week in Lent – Pr. Dave Tholstrup (St. Peter’s Chapin) – Return from Denial
4th Week in Lent – Pr. Andrew Loomis (Immanuel, Sumter) – Return to the Kingdom of God
5th Week in Lent – Pr. Cassie Boehringer (St. Peter’s, Lexington) – Return from False Witness
The liturgy we will follow for the Wednesday Vespers is Holden Evening Prayer. Please note that traditional Vespers liturgy does not include the Sacrament of Holy Communion, so there will not be communion on the Wednesdays in Lent. Please plan on attending each week as we journey together toward repentance and the cross of Christ, and finally are confronted with our risen Lord at the empty tomb of Easter. As it has been our tradition, a meal will be served prior to our Lenten mid-week worship services. Keep an eye on our weekly worship bulletin for more details.
Worship and Music Archive
Lenten Vespers Series and Schedule
Posted March 2, 2022 By adminChoir Notes
Posted February 28, 2022 By adminI recently read the book, Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale by Ian Morgan Crone. The book tells the story of a man facing his crisis of faith by following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, and although fictional it raised a lot of thought-provoking ideas about faith and worship. One that stood out to me was the question of when worship begins. Crone suggests that worship begins when you get into your car to head to church. He says that worship starts when you begin to step away from the worldly thoughts and enter into God’s presence. This struck me because I’d never understood why the alarm goes off at 5 AM on Sunday mornings, I’m not a morning person, or why there isn’t much conversation over coffee before heading out to church. I was intrigued by this passage because I realized that this is when David begins to enter into worship, and I wondered, when do I? As I prepare to meet Jesus on my own personal road to Emmaus so that He can open the scriptures for me and explain all that has happened so far, when do I start to put aside all the worldly thoughts that will keep me from focusing on what He is about to share. Perhaps it is worry over children, or bills, or the to do list that seems to grow longer each week that distracts me. It may even be excitement about upcoming activities that need to be put aside.
When do you begin to step away from the world and prepare for worship? I would expect most of you are like me and that’s not at 5 AM. For several of you it begins in Sunday School when you start to study God’s word. For most, this probably happens as you step into worship. Our worship service begins with an opportunity to do this, the prelude. Although this is often a time when we catch up with people we haven’t seen all week, the prelude is there to give us a moment of quieting our mind. It’s a chance to put away all those thoughts that will keep us from hearing what Jesus has to tell us and to be fully present with our Lord. We are so fortunate to have it played so beautifully by an extremely talented musician, Sarah. I encourage you to take advantage of this moment to prepare for worship and to consid er this week, “when do I begin to enter into worship with my Lord?”
God bless you all,
Angela
We are beginning to prepare music for the Easter season. Please come join us. I’m still praying for you to hear God’s call to serve.
Choir Notes
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminPart of worship planning is choosing the liturgy that we will use during the different seasons of the church year. I grew up Lutheran like most of you. I know that we are a liturgical church. We follow a liturgy in our worship each Sunday, and our church year and lessons are based on the liturgical seasons. It all got me thinking about liturgy, what it means and where it comes from. Like all good Lutherans, I have learned about this throughout the years, but I could use a refresher. I’ve always heard that liturgy means “the work of the people” so, I was prepared to ask myself “how hard am I working?” I mean do I show up each Sunday ready to give one hundred and ten percent or am I keeping my head low hoping the boss doesn’t realize that I’m just not feeling it this week? Being a retired librarian, I decided I ought to do some research. To my surprise I found that the word liturgy does not mean the work of the people.
The word liturgy comes from the Greek, and it translates as “work done for the people.” What? Well, there goes the newsletter article I’ve been composing in my head for the last two weeks! On the bright side, I’m off the hook. I don’t need to worry if I’m praying fervently enough or listening closely to the sermon. If someone else is doing the work, does it really matter if I am there or not? And whose job is it anyway, the pastor’s?
No. The work done on behalf of the people is done by Christ. Christ leads our worship. He comes each Sunday and opens the scriptures for us just as he did for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection. Luke 24:27 tells us that “beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself.” We gather on Sunday on our own road to Emmaus weighed down by all our fears and confusion just like these disciples, and Christ is right here at St. Jacob ’s. He opens the Word for us and helps us to understand all that God has promised and done for you and me. And then he breaks the bread and opens our eyes.
Does this mean that I am off the hook? Not at all! Each Sunday do I give my full attention to Christ on that road as he talks to me or do I walk away thinking that Christ ’s words left me flat this Sunday, I couldn ’t really follow what he was saying? And just like those two disciples, do I rush to tell my friends of the encounter I have had with Christ? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that through our baptism we have been made a part of the body of Christ. Every part of the body works together and not one part can be left out. We are all essential to the work of God. Christ has saved us, Christ opens our eyes and explains God ’s word to us. United with each other and Christ we roll up ours sleeves to get the work done for the people, all of God ’s people.
Kids For Christ
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminSt. Jacob’s Kids for Christ will meet immediately following Children’s Choir rehearsal on Sunday, February 13th from 4 PM – 5 PM. Acolyte training will be a part of this event but shouldn’t take too long. KFC will take on a project to reach out to our church family members. All children from grades 1st through 6th are welcome to participate. Parents are also welcomed to come and sit in on the fun.
Ministry Team Leader Meeting
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminPastor David is calling all St. Jacob’s Ministry Team Leaders to a meeting on Saturday, February 12th from 9AM-12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall. There will be several important items to be discussed concerning ministry team functions, financial responsibilities, communications, and record keeping. Please plan to attend. If you are not able, a member of your ministry team should be in attendance.
Acolyte Training
Posted January 31, 2022 By adminTraining for children who would like to serve as Acolyte during our worship services will be held immediately following the Children’s Choir rehearsals on Sunday, February 13th. All current acolytes should also attend this training session so that everyone will be on the same page when it comes to serving. Please contact Pastor David with any questions you may have.
Choir Notes
Posted January 3, 2022 By admin“Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God” Martin Luther.
Beginning on Christmas Eve, we are returning to singing hymns during the administration of communion. Although many think of the Rite of Communion as a very private, personal encounter with God, we actually need to look at the name of the rite itself, communion, to see that it is actually a time of community. It is the moment in our service when we join not just with the other members of our congregation but also with the saints of all times and in all places. We meet each other at the table as one body of Christ with our hands outstretched to receive our Lord’s body and blood which he so selflessly gave to us all. The purpose of singing during communion which starts with our singing of Lamb of God is to unite our spirits through the unity of our voices as we go forward to the table. We continue to sing throughout the distribution joining our voices with those gathered around the throne of heaven.
Luther tells us that “next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise…After all, the gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music.”
So please raise your voice during communion. Join the hymn and sing along with all your loved ones who have gone before you, all your friends and family scattered around the world giving praise to God for his gift of salvation.
God bless you,
Angela
Elders of St. Jacob’s From Pastor David
Posted January 3, 2022 By adminAt 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.
Mid-Week Advent Worship
Posted December 12, 2021 By adminThe 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.
Christmas Morning Worship
Posted December 10, 2021 By adminYears ago, I was confronted by a church member concerning Worship on Christmas Day. That particular year, Christmas was on Sunday and this certain church member wanted to know if we would be having worship that morning. Of course, we did have worship. After all, Sunday is the Lord’s Day regardless of any other celebration we might want to observe. That instance set in motion a practice that I have observed every year since. As a pastor, it breaks my heart that the vast majority of churches remain closed on Christmas morning, one of the holiest days of the year. I have made it my tradition to offer a worship service every year on Christmas morning for those who would desire to come celebrate Christmas with worship and Holy Communion. This year will be no different. Worship with holy communion will be Christmas morning at 10:00 AM. All are invited to keep Christ in Christmas and worship at St. Jacob’s during this simple Christmas morning service. It is a “come as you are” opportunity to gather with your church family. Over the years, I have witnessed children in pajamas, adults in relaxed and casual dress, all coming to sing the praises of a God who would provide the most precious gift of all, the birth of a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Everyone is most certainly welcome. Come make a joyful noise and share in the blessing of Christmas with your church family.
