In a desire to help the children of St. Jacob’s grow in their faith and discipleship, our choir director, Angela Nuottila has equipped the youth handbell choir members to lead worship services here at St. Jacob’s. Our older youth members have also been a part of this ongoing act of discipleship.
Each month with a fifth Sunday, our youth will be leading our services of worship. This is not to be confused with having a “Youth Sunday”, but it is a means to incorporate our younger church family members in the weekly worship of St. Jacob’s. Growing such faithful leaders for the church helps to ensure our youth remain engaged and connected to their faith throughout their lives. Please support these young Christians by attending and participating in weekly worship.
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
Posted February 2, 2024 By adminMidweek Bible Study
Posted February 1, 2024 By adminOur Midweek Bible study is back in full swing with a study of Psalms. Each week we are taking a close look at a selected Psalm so the topic is new every time. The purpose of our study is threefold:
• To know God through the world he created, through his Word, and through our experiences with him.
• To gain assurance that God will sustain us throughout our life.
• To help us hear God’s message every time we read Scripture. It is possible to read without hearing.
Through this study, we want to learn to listen for God speaking very personally to us as we read the Psalms.
Please plan to attend and study the Psalms with members of your church family. There are no special materials required and there is always room for more at the table. Midweek Bible study meets each Wednesday morning at 9:30 in the church office conference room.
Up And Going News
Posted February 1, 2024 By adminUp and Going’s January meeting was held on Thursday, January 11th with 21 members and guests present.
We had a short business meeting. Helen L. Lindler gave the devotions from the book “God’s Little Devotional Book for Women” on turning kindness into love. This was a very thought provoking devotion and ended by using John 3:16-17 for prayer.
BINGO was played until all had won several times. This is always one of our most fun activities. The Soup Pot had simmered and was enjoyed by all. Delicious Soup, sandwiches, cornbread and various desserts were enjoyed by all.
The February meeting will be held on the 2nd Thursday, February 8th at 11:00 AM in the fellowship hall.
Lunch will be a covered dish meal.
Helen,
Team Leader
Pastoral Devotion for February – Who Will Deliver Me?
Posted January 31, 2024 By adminRead Romans 7:7-25
Everyone has bad habits. Those things we do subconsciously and don’t realize it until it’s done. Then there are those bad habits that, as we strive to refrain from doing them, the temptation becomes too great, and we surrender. We all suffer from such inclinations. Everyone falls into the pit of their own personal bad habits because we are all sinners in need of redemption.
In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul puts it plainly for everyone to see. Because of sin, we continue to fall short of God’s expectation for us. We want to follow God’s commandments, but our sinful flesh is weak and so the evil deeds we do not want to do are all too often the exact thing we do. The desires of our flesh wage war against our desire to please God. So often is the case, the flesh wins, wretched people that we are.
Paul also makes it clear that, even as we are captive to sin, we have a champion. Christ has put sin to death once and for all.
Because Christ prevailed over sin, death, and the power of the devil, those who repent and turn to God for forgiveness will be saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: O God, give me strength to withstand temptation, forgive my sin, and keep me in your grace.
Amen.
LM Bulk Pork Sausage
Posted January 31, 2024 By adminThe Lutheran Men will be making Country Sausage on Monday, February 12, 2024. If you would like to purchase BULK sausage at $5.00 per pound, please place your order in advance. See a member of the LM or contact Gerald on or before Sunday, February 4th. The sausage can be picked up between 3:00 and 6:00 pm on Monday, February 12th in the Fellowship Hall.
Choir Notes
Posted January 31, 2024 By adminPsalm 92:2-4 Let Us Sing to the Lord For His Steadfast Love
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, 2 to sing
praises to your name, O Most High; to
declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music
of the lute and the harp, to the melody of
the lyre.
4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
February brings us Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday all on the same day. How fitting that we should come together to remember that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die for us. Though Lent is a time of remembering our sinfulness and need for a savior, it is also a time to thank God for his steadfast love in prayer and in song.
During Lent, we will begin a new psalmody that includes an antiphon. Antiphons are a rich part of traditional sacred music in liturgical churches and are used in many Lutheran congregations. Antiphons are short passages of scripture sung at various places in the service. During the psalm, the antiphon is a verse from the psalm of the day sung as a refrain. To introduce the antiphon for the day, the choir will sing the antiphon once and then the congregation will repeat the antiphon. The cantor and congregation will then sing the psalm responsively including the antiphon at designated places throughout the psalm. It will be a little different, but I think we will all catch on quickly. The psalm helps tie the message of all the readings for the day together. I hope this use of antiphons will enrich our worship and our understanding of the message for each Sunday.
Congregation Meeting
Posted January 31, 2024 By adminOur Annual Spring Congregation meeting will be held prior to worship on Sunday, February 18th, 2024. The purpose of the meeting is to receive and approve the 2023 Annual Report Book. Report books will be sent to the congregation electronically (email). Any one who desires to have a hard copy for the report book should contact the church office to make arrangements for one to be provided.
New Congregational Bible Study
Posted January 15, 2024 By adminThroughout 2025, Pastor David is inviting the congregation to join him and Angela in a new Bible Study. This particular study is written by prominent Christian author Max Lucado. The study is called Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks. The study is meant for people to grow in their knowledge, understanding, and relationship of our Lord. Anyone who would like to participate can do so by first purchasing the book. It is available online from Amazon for less than $15. The plan will be for each person to participate in this study on their own, or with a friend. The group will meet with Pastor David once per month to simply discuss what they have discovered along the way. Again, all are invited. Youth members of our congregation are also encouraged to make the journey with us. Everyone who joins in should contact Pastor David to let him know they will be part of the group. Once the group is established, everyone will be contacted and alerted as to when to begin.
Christmas Morning Worship
Posted December 15, 2023 By adminWe’ve all seen the signs, billboards and bumper stickers: “Keep Christ in Christmas!” The truth is, without Christ, it simply isn’t Christmas. Christians everywhere urge others to remember The “Reason for the Season.” But you know, even some churches find it difficult to “Keep Christ in Christmas”. Just take a look at the many churches standing idle and empty on Christmas morning.
St. Jacob’s offers everyone an opportunity to “Keep Christ in Christmas” beginning December 24 at 5:00P.M. with our annual candlelight service. The service will certainly be beautiful and inspiring. Then all are encouraged to gather on Christmas morning at 10:00 for an informal family Christmas celebration. Children are welcome to come in their pajamas and are invited to bring a gift they received for Christmas. Each child may share with all of us the joy this gift brings. Adults may “come as you are” and enjoy time for family and fellowship. Plan to attend these wonderful services of worship with your church family. Join us and “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
Up and Going
Posted December 13, 2023 By adminThe Lord blessed us with a perfect Fall day for the Up and Going members and guests to enjoy our annual
Thanksgiving luncheon. Twenty people excitedly gathered in the Fellowship Hall carrying wonderfully tasty
Thanksgiving dishes for our Enjoyment; and Enjoyed we did! The food was delicious. Helen Lindler, Team Leader, gave the devotions from the booklet entitled “God’s Little Devotional Book For Women”. The Bible Reading was from Psalm 77 and we closed with prayer and the Blessing of Thankfulness for Our meal.
After Lunch, Lynn spoke to us about the “Mercy Bags” project. He graciously answered our Questions and Informed us about “WE CARE” and the urgent need the “Mercy Bags” provide.
Lynn spoke of the needs and benefits of “Mercy Bags”. Relating to neighboring communities. There is a big request for helpers to assemble bags and shop for needed items. Please check your schedule and see if you can help out. Let Lynn know if you can help.
Up and Going made a contribution to the “Mercy Bags” Project as our Thanksgiving Project. A Special Thank you to Lynn Shealy for graciously taking the time to inform us of this most worthwhile project.
The December meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec 14th at 11am in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be party foods so bring a favorite for sharing. As our Christmas gift, please bring paper goods, cleaning supplies, and/or Personal hygiene items for WE CARE. A sign-up sheet will be posted on our Bulletin board.
Helen, Team Leader
