Psalm 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.
Worship Service Archive
Music Notes
Posted November 2, 2024 By adminHomecoming 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
From Your Pastor’s Heart – Spiritual Gifts
Posted October 1, 2024 By adminEach of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
This month I would like to spend a little time talking about stewardship. The mere mention of the word “stewardship” might solicit several reactions, most of them being feelings centered upon money. Some will read this month’s pastoral offering intently and think seriously about their role as stewards of God’s blessings. Others might skip over this column entirely, figuring they already know that the pastor is going to talk about money and the church’s need for more. I pray the majority of our members see themselves as part of the first group I mentioned, for we really do need to think about how we are to be good stewards of all that God provides…and I do mean ALL. Still, the “s” word conjures up many mixed feelings, so it is perhaps good that we focus on the scripture passage above before we dig too deeply.
One of the things Christians must always understand is that God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance, so that we have enough of everything, and we may share it abundantly (2 Cor. 9:8). Sadly, too many Christians understand stewardship as being a means for a congregation to pay the bills. In so many congregations, the mantra becomes, “If we don’t start bringing in more members, we’re going to have financial trouble.” or “We can’t cut much more out of our budget, there’s nothing left to cut.” The problem with these statements is they place the focus on the church building and programs first and the giver second, without ever mentioning God’s role in providing what is necessary to do His will. This is in direct opposition of what being a good steward really means.
Stewardship is NOT a means for the church to collect money. Rather, stewardship is a way for God’s children to grow in relationship with the One who is the provider of all that we have…again, ALL. Focusing on the institution’s need for funds and the giver’s responsibility to provide them gives humans the false notion that they are the possessors and God’s church is the possession. If you think for a moment, you will quickly see how this is played out in churches all across the land, even St. Jacob’s.
We have all heard statements made to the effect that the church should be run like a business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Businesses have one focus, to maximize profits for the sake of their shareholders. The heftier the bank balance, the healthier the business. Churches, on the other hand, exist for the sake of their non-members, those who are the neediest among us. The Church’s focus is its ministry to the gospel, proclaiming the good news of God’s salvation and meeting the needs, both spiritual and physical, of the needy within the surrounding community and world. A healthy church is not necessarily one with a hefty bank balance, but one that has an appetite for growing in faith and a thirst for God’s Word. Healthy churches understand that the blessing of treasure is one to be openly and generously shared. As Christians, we have to believe that God will provide what we need in order to do the work He has called us to do. In fact, God has already provided us with such blessings.
There is an old joke where preachers give congregations the good news and bad news concerning the need for funds. The good news is that God has provided all we need. The bad news is that it is still in your pockets. Think for a moment, there is some truth in this statement. Christians are called to tithe the first fruits of their labors, giving the first fruits of what God has provided for the sake of the gospel. It’s not simply a suggestion; it is a precept of God for the people of God. Thus, being a faithful steward and a cheerful giver means realizing all we have belongs to God, who entrusts such blessings unto us for the sake of those whom God places within our midst. The first fruits of our time, our ability and yes, our treasure, therefore, are to be generously and cheerfully shared so that the message of the gospel becomes reality for those who are in need of God’s saving grace.
Tithing is not simple, it takes discipline. It takes prayer and requires a shift in mindset that in all matters of life, God will provide for our needs. Yet, truly, not all are able to tithe ten percent, but all are able to give of their first fruits. Working together as a congregation, we can learn what it means to become good stewards, learning how we can share our time, talent and treasure for the sake of the gospel. As we become good stewards and cheerful givers, we will soon realize we can overcome the “business mentality,” and further our focus on growing in relationship with God. As Christians, this is our duty and our goal, that we offer God what He has first provided us, ourselves, our time, and our possessions, these signs of His gracious love.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila