Good things at St. Jacob’s
Sunday School attendance is up.
Worship attendance is up.
Ministry to Floriede Lindler was greatly appreciated.
Pastor’s Report Pastor
• David thanked the church elders for their leadership in worship service during his absence.
• Encouraged all men to attend the SCMD retreat in April.
• The Safety Team is working on the development of a Response Team for medical emergencies.
• The Discipleship Team encouraged the congregation to continue to donate to the Mercy Bucket Program.
• The Property Team reported that Chad Lindler will remain as Chairman and Gerald Lindler and Danny Shealy will serve as Co-Chairman.
• The NALC fresh eyes summit meeting will be March 10th, 11th, and 12th. Questionnaires will be mailed to all members for response in preparation for the meeting. All congregational members are encouraged to attend on Saturday, March 11th.
• Council is discussing a 3 phase plan to proceed with plans to improve church property. This plan will include the church facility, the office building facility, and the parking lot.
Council Briefs for February 2023 Council Briefs – February 7, 2023
Posted March 3, 2023 By adminLenten Prayers
Posted March 3, 2023 By adminDuring Lent, Christians all over the world focus on the disciplines of faith. One central and powerful discipline we can all engage in is prayer. This Lenten season, all members of St. Jacob’s are encouraged to deepen their prayer life by setting aside time each day to pray. Pray for your neighbors, pray for our congregation, pray for your family, and lastly, pray for yourself. Holy Scripture has much to say about God’s command for his people to pray.
Psalm 77:1 – “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.”
James 5:16 – “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
During Lent, everyone is encouraged to lift your prayers to God. Below are some daily prayers you may consider in these remaining days of Lent. The dates in bold we will pray as a congregation during worship special prayers for those who are listed.
March 1 – Pray for our church council and their families
March 2 – Pray for our church staff and their families
March 3 – Pray for our ministry team leaders and their families
March 4 – Pray for our church family; homebound, disconnected, and away from home
March 5 – Pray for our choir and musicians
March 6 – Pray for the pastor and his family
March 7 – Pray for our Sunday school
March 8 – Pray for our NALC Bishop Dan Selbo
March 9 – Pray for the NALC Staff
March 10 – Pray for our Dean, Pastor David Tholstrup
March 11 – Pray for our local emergency personnel (Police, Fire, EMT)
March 12—Pray for Doctors, nurses and medical assistants
March 13 – Pray for our President and Governor
March 14 – Pray for our Senators and Congressional Representatives
March 15 – Pray for the homeless in our community
March 16 – Pray for those who feel alone
March 17 – Pray for those who grieve lost loved ones
March 18 – Pray for those who are afraid
March 19 – Pray for parents
March 20 – Pray for people living in abusive relationships
March 21 – Pray for all caught in the wake of natural disasters
March 22 – Pray for married couples
March 23 – Pray for those going through divorce
March 24 – Pray for the recently retired
March 25 – Pray for people considering the adoption of children
March 26 – Pray for anyone suffering from addiction
March 27 – Pray for the elderly of our community
March 28 – Pray for those who suffer from hunger
March 29 – Pray for those who suffer from depression
March 30 – Pray for missionaries all over the world
March 31 – Pray for those who hurt your feelings or caused you distress
April 1 – Pray for your spouse or significant other
Holy Week
April 2 (Palm Sunday) – Give thanks for Jesus and His public ministry
April 3 – Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, pray for correction with in the Christian Church
April 4 – As Jesus taught in the temple, give thanks for teachers, librarians, and all educators
April 5 (The Day of Preparation) – Give thanks for the opportunity to serve others
April 6 (Maundy Thursday) – Give thanks for Holy Communion
April 7 (Good Friday) – Ask God for forgiveness, give thanks for His grace
April 8 (Holy Saturday) – Give thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit
Holy God, Give us the will and the desire to come to you in prayer. Hold us in earnest as we pray for all those included within this list, and especially for all whom we may have failed to include. Into your hands, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pastoral Devotion for March – Do Not Be Anxious
Posted March 3, 2023 By adminRead Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 6:25-34
Some mornings it just doesn’t pay to read the papers or watch the news on television. One click of the remote and a restful sleep gives way to the harsh reality of our broken world. Military conflicts, economic down turns and global health crises dominate the airwaves. Quite frankly, things are a mess. Yet, one thing remains; Jesus Christ is still Lord of all.
If you choose to see only the effects evil has on the world, then you are missing out on so many of the good things of God. When the sun rises, birds begin to sing, flowers open to the sunshine and God’s people look toward a new day and a new opportunity to share the good news that through Christ Jesus, the world is reconciled to God.
Jesus says to God’s people, “Do not be anxious about your life.” Surely, the God who created heaven and earth, and formed humanity in his own image and likeness will provide and care for that which he calls his own.
Just take a look when the sun rises. The birds fill the skies, the flowers bloom, and as the new day dawns, the people of God remain in the tender care of our Lord. Simply seek the kingdom. It’s there for you today, tomorrow and always.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the blessing of each new day. Amen.
It’s Time to Order Easter Lilies
Posted March 3, 2023 By adminWorship & Music will once again be accepting orders for Easter Lilies to be placed in the church for our Easter services in honor and/or memory of loved ones. This year the cost per lily will be $15.00 each.
Order forms will be available on the “Offering Table” or at the church office. If you would like to or der a lily, please submit your completed order form AND payment to Marie. If it is more convenient, you may mail your completed order form and payment to Robin.
The deadline for placing your order is Sunday March 19th. Please turn your completed order form & payment in early, NO orders can be accepted after the deadline.
Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit – March 11th
Posted February 22, 2023 By adminAnd Jesus stopped and called (the two blind men), saying, ‘What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes and immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:32-34
In ongoing reflection, prayer, and conversation, our church council has voted to join with members of the leadership of the North American Lutheran Church in seeking an integrative approach to our congregational assessment, evaluation, and renewal.
Working together, Assistant to the Bishop for Missions, Dr. Gemechis Buba, Assistant for Domestic Missions Pr. Phil Gagnon, Director for Renewal Ministries, Pr. Brad Hales and Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry, Pr. David Wendel have developed such an approach, appropriately titled, the “Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit!”
The goal of the summit is to involve appropriate leadership in the NALC, together with the Congregation’s pastor and leaders, praying first, “Lord, let our eyes be opened!” We then trust that the Lord will give participants fresh eyes to receive new insight and understanding, all aimed at new or renewed direction for mission and ministry as the congregation seeks to follow Jesus firmly and faithfully!
Each summit begins with pre-work by pastor and congregational leaders, which is reviewed by NALC leaders who bring varied experiences and expertise. An on-site visit is scheduled at St. Jacob’s with an NALC facilitator who will then join two or three of our congregational leaders in a tour of the local area and neighborhoods, surrounding the church, neighborhoods bordering the congregational service area, and making visits, where appropriate, to neighboring congregations, community offices and locations. The goal is to look with “fresh eyes” at the congregation, context and community and develop a strategy for renewal of ministries and growth.
The NALC facilitator then meets with the pastor and summit participants, which should include those currently on council and serving on ministry teams, as well as others who have served in the past and may serve in the future, to review pre-work, asking, “What have we learned? What is a surprise? What pre-conceived ideas were supported or dispelled?”
On Saturday, March 11th, a workshop is scheduled that will be led by the NALC facilitator, involving all members of the congregation who desire to participate in learning more about how to renew the mission and ministry of St. Jacob’s.
ALL MEMBERS OF ST. JACOB’S are encouraged and invited to participate in this Saturday Summit Workshop. Many congregations in the Carolinas have hosted Fresh eyes Summits in the last year, and have found them to be very helpful in learning more about how to renew their church’s ministry and create a vision for future growth.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Posted February 17, 2023 By adminShrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is observed in various Christian denominations. The name “Shrove” Tuesday is derived from the Old English verb “shrive,” It refers to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in Europe in the Middle Ages. Although the day is sometimes still used for self-examination and introspection, Shrove Tuesday eventually acquired the character of a carnival or festival (Mardi Gras) in many places and is often celebrated with parades. As the final day before the austerity of the Lenten fast, Shrove Tuesday (also known as Fat Tuesday in Latin America) also has many customs pertaining to food. Pancakes are traditional in a number of countries because eggs, sugar, and fat, commonly forbidden during the Lenten fast, are to be used up so they will not go to waste or become a temptation to break the fast.
Also a part of the ritual of Shrove Tuesday, is the burning of the previous year’s Holy week palms, finalizing the previous year’s Lenten sacrifice. Shrove Tuesday marks the beginning of the forty Day season of Lent. This it the time when we contemplate the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert where he resisted the temptation of Satan.
As is our tradition, our Lutheran Men’s group will serve up a delicious pancake supper with all the trimmings featuring their homemade pork sausage for us to enjoy. We will also observe the ritual of burning last year’s palms to make the ashes for our Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes. The burning of palms will begin at 6:30PM on February 21st, with our pancake supper immediately following. Come enjoy this night of fellowship with your church family.
Mercy Bags Ministry for We Care
Posted February 11, 2023 By adminWhat an amazing impact our congregation has made in helping families in need by providing meals to be delivered by We Care. Since we began this ministry less than a year ago, we have donated over 300 meals!! The Discipleship Team has organized volunteers into two groups that will meet only once a month (on the 1st or 3rd Sundays) to pack and distribute the meals to We Care on Monday morning.
There is room for more people to help with this! Do you have time to donate ONE hour of your time once a month to help shop for food, pack the bags with meals or deliver the bags on a Monday morning? Call or talk to Lynn and let him know!
Congregation Meeting
Posted February 9, 2023 By adminOur Annual Spring Congregation meeting will be held prior to worship on Sunday, February 19th, 2023. The purpose of the meeting is to receive and approve the 2022 Annual Report Book. Report books will be sent to the congregation electronically (email). Anyone who desires to have a hard copy for the report book should contact the church office to make arrangements for one to be provided.
Calling all St. Jacob’s Youth!
Posted February 7, 2023 By adminSuper Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching. Will your favorite team be one of the two playing for the title? Well, now you have a chance to cheer them on and be of help to your orphaned Christian brothers and sisters in Congo at the same time. The annual Souper Bowl of Caring involves youth church members all over the country in the mission of God. Here at St. Jacob’s you will collect a love offering in “Souper Bowls” marked with each team’s logo. The team that raises the most money for the Children in Congo will be declared the winner. The goal set for our competition is to raise a combined $200.00 for the Congo Mission.
If our “Souper” Bowl reaches the goal, all youth participating will be invited to provide “Head Coach” Pastor David Nuottila with the traditional Gatorade victory shower. So come on! Let’s have some fun and at the same time show the love of Christ Jesus to our far away friends and children who are in great need.
St. Jacob’s members, be sure to bring your spare change and loose cash to donate to this cause. Remember, the greater the gift, the wetter Pastor will get.
From the Pastor’s Heart
Posted February 5, 2023 By adminCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10
Remember, you are dust. As if we need a reminder. In the second chapter of Genesis we read that God created humankind from the dust of the ground. It wasn’t long after, that Adam and Eve fell into sin and God explained to them the consequences of their disobedience. In chapter 3, God said to Adam, “By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” Genesis 3:19.
And so, since that time, God’s people have had to face the truth, you are dust, and there is nothing you can do about it. To dust you shall return.
Each year, about this time, Christians all over the world are confronted with the fact that, because we are sinners, we are deserving of God’s punishment and wrath. It is the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. Well, in truth, it is only a part of the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. The other part is that we receive the good news that God has provided for us the means to escape eternal punishment. God, who is rich in mercy, provides for his people a Savior who will spare us from the eternal death we so richly deserve.
Facing these realities, Christians all over the world begin the annual metaphorical pilgrimage to the cross of Christ where the victory over sin is won. The season of Lent is a somber time, a time for self-reflection upon our lives as sinners, yet also as God’s redeemed people through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. The worship services of the Church are meant to provide people with an opportunity to reflect upon their need for a Savior, and to remind them that we indeed have one. He is Christ the Lord.
All that Christ endured, his pain, his suffering, he did so for our sake. As God’s incarnate Word, Jesus came into the world to fully identify with God’s created people who have fallen away from the Father’s intentions and expectations.
Centuries before Christ was born, King David, of all people, stood convicted in his sin. Just like every one else, King David was formed from the dust of the ground. David knew there was nothing he could do to erase the shame and guilt that he brought upon himself through his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Mercy could only come from the God whom he grievously disobeyed. And so, in his guilt and shame, he bore his heart to God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:10-12). David’s prayer is our prayer too. Only through Christ are we saved. Even as we are dust, through God’s grace, mercy and love, Christ extends the promise of God’s kingdom to all who believe.
This year, as we make our annual Lenten journey to the cross together, we will do so following a particular journey. I will be preaching a series of sermons entitled “The Journey of Stones.” Each Sunday during Lent we will hear messages meant to reveal the hardness of our hearts, hearts as hard as stone. By journey’s end, we will leave this hardness of heart where it belongs, at the foot of the cross of Christ.
I invite you to commit to weekly worship during Lent and to make this journey with the rest of your church family. It begins with worship on Ash Wednesday, February 22, when we are marked with the ashen cross of Christ, the symbol of our mortality blended with the symbol of our salvation. Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. God’s grace and peace be unto you all during this season of Lent and forever and always.
Blessings,
Pastor David Nuottila
