Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of worship will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 27th. Our church family, neighbors and friends are invited to attend as we worship and give thanks to our loving God for the many blessings he pours out upon us. Gather with your church family for this special evening.
Following our service, as is our custom, we will prepare 300 pound cake slices for distribution at the annual community Thanksgiving meal provided by The Hub. Please contact Billy McTeer for more information concerning how you might help.
Worship Service Archive
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Posted November 10, 2024 By adminMusic Notes
Posted November 2, 2024 By adminPsalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Like all of you, I have so much to be thankful for, “how can I keep from singing?” I thank you all for your support as David and I walk through this difficult time. Thank you to Sarah, our incredible organist, for carrying on with choir practice in my absence. Our choirs are having to adjust practice times and music schedules, and I thank them for all their support and love. I also thank and praise God for this church family and please know that your prayers and love bring both David and I much comfort and support.
We will not have our cantata as planned this advent season. We will instead have a service of lessons and carols on the last Sunday of advent which will include some special music.
Please note the change of times for choir practice, 6:00 PM during November and children’s choir, 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. Happy thanksgiving to you all.
Homecoming 2024
Posted October 30, 2024 By adminOur Homecoming and Golden Agers Celebration was a day filled with fellowship and plenty of good food and stories shared by many. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day such a wonderful event. We were pleased to welcome home Pastor Mark Metze, who served as our guest preacher. Accompanying Pastor Mark was his wife Rebecca (Eargle) Metze, along with their sons Henry and Eli. Several long-time members and guests also joined us for worship and a delicious meal afterward. Thanks be to God for the time we shared together.
All Saints Sunday
Posted October 29, 2024 By adminThis year, All Saints Sunday falls on November 3rd. It is a time of remembrance and a time of thanksgiving. With the traditional candle lighting and prayer, we remember those who have entered the Church Triumphant and now rest peacefully in Christ. We also give thanks for the newest saints of Christ who are welcomed into the Church Militant through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Since our Previous All Saints celebration, several of our church family members have grieved the passing of parents. We have also welcomed three children into God’s family of faith through the waters of Holy Baptism. We give thanks to God for the Baptisms of Chloe Meetze, Tate Bise, and Samuel Dugan. We also acknowledge the St. Jacob’s members who joined the Church Triumphant, Kenneth Mostiler and Richard Shealy. We remember, as well, parents of several of our church family members who have passed during the last year. These include, Vera (Tina’s mother), Gerald (Tina’s father), Elizabeth (Joanie’s mother), Howard (Melissa’s father), Heyward (Jeff’s father), Beverly (Michael’s mother), and Nolan Berton (Bert) (John’s father). May God grant us peace and consolation as we commend our loved ones to his almighty and eternal care.
All Saints Sunday
Posted October 25, 2024 By adminAll Saints Day is a time of remembrance and a time of thanksgiving. With the traditional candle lighting and prayer, we remember those who have entered the Church Triumphant and now rest peacefully in Christ. We also give thanks for the newest saints of Christ who are welcomed into the Church Militant through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. All Saints Day is November 1st and traditionally observed on the first Sunday in November.
Into Liturgy, part 2
Posted October 20, 2024 By adminWe continue to explore the components of our Sunday liturgical worship (the Divine Service) from start to finish in the order which they appear. This month, we examine the Invocation along with the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness.
Invocation
For Lutherans, the invocation is the opening prayerful act through which we humbly, yet confidently acknowledge God’s divine presence during worship. Baptized into his name – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we seek God’s blessing as we come to hear his Word and receive his grace. As we are gathered in God’s name, we remember that in baptism, we are sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Thus, it is proper to make the sign of the cross over your body, beginning at the forehead (Father), then moving to the abdomen (Son), then left to right across your heart (Holy Spirit).
Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness
(Absolution)
After the Invocation, the Brief Order for Confession and Absolution in divine service prepares us to enter the place where heaven and earth are united in God’s name. Sins are confessed, and through the office of the keys, are absolved by the one called under the authority of Christ himself to absolve (forgive) sins. The congregation receives absolution from the Pastor as from God himself. The Pastor’s act of absolving is God’s forgiveness conveyed upon repentant sinners. Here, the Office of the Keys, the special authority Christ has given to his church to loosen or bind sins (John 20:21-23) is used publicly by the Pastor as a called and ordained servant of God’s Word.
Reformation Sunday
Posted October 15, 2024 By adminOn October 31, 1517 as an invitation to debate the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This action by Luther is seen as the beginning of the 16th century Reformation which gave rise to the Lutheran church and other protestant church bodies. As we gather for worship on October 27th, we will acknowledge our Lutheran history through the singing of traditional hymns. We will also have the opportunity to dedicate the new red paraments purchased earlier in the year which dress our altar, pulpit, and lectern. Please join us for worship as we give thanks to God for the work of Martin Luther and those dedicated to lead the Reformation of the Church.
Homecoming Guest Preacher – Pastor Mark Metze
Posted October 3, 2024 By adminPastor Mark Metze grew up in Sumter, South Carolina, and later attended the University of South Carolina earning a Bachelor of Arts in History. Mark’s work in youth and camp ministry led him to seminary where he would earn an MDIV from the NALS/Trinity Anglican Seminary. Following graduation in May of 2015, Mark married St. Jacob’s own Rebecca Eargle and soon started his vicarage in Annapolis, MD with Annapolis Evangelical Lutheran Church. Following his vicarage, Annapolis Evangelical Lutheran Church called Mark to be their associate pastor and a year later their solo pastor. In August of 2024, Pastor Mark was elected to serve a 5-year term on the NALS Board of Regents. Becca and Mark have two boys, Henry (6) and Eli (3). Mark enjoys exercise, playing chess, and spending time with his wife and kids.
Homecoming Celebration 2024
Posted October 2, 2024 By adminOur annual Homecoming celebration is scheduled for Sunday, October 6th. We will also be honoring our “Golden Agers” as a part of the celebration. A special presentation will be made to our most senior church family members, and we will again honor them with a congregational meal following worship. We will welcome our Homecoming guest preacher, Pastor Mark Metze, and his family. Please invite your friends and neighbors, and plan to attend as we celebrate another year of ministry at St. Jacob’s.
Music Notes
Posted October 2, 2024 By adminPsalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He put a new song in my mouth,
A hymn of praise to our God.
It is hard to believe that we are already into October. I have so many reasons to be thankful and sing praises to our God. The musical groups at the church are very busy. The chancel choir began the new music season with a covered dish dinner and now is busy working on all the music for the remainder of the year. The cantata is scheduled for the last Sunday in Advent and rehearsals will begin soon. Our youth are working on duets and new music for the Advent and Christmas season. God has in deed put a new song in our mouths, our bells and our instruments. One of my greatest joys is working with the children’s choir. Though small in number, they are indeed singing praises to God.
Please join us from your pew and sing out your praises to God. Please join us for the cantata and share again the story of the greatest gift we could be given.
I will be away for the first three weeks of October as I accompany my mom to England. The following is the schedule for the choirs.
October 6, 13, and 20 – No children’s choir or handbell rehearsal
October 9 – No chancel choir rehearsal; chancel choir will rehearse as usual on Wednesdays
October 27 – Children’s choir 3 PM, no handbells due to fall festival
November 3 – Handbell choir practice resumes
