PASTOR’S WEEKLY MESSAGE

This coming Sunday is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost.  The gospel for the worship service on September 20th is Matthew 20:1-16.  Pastor Hout’s sermon theme will be “Generous Indeed”  Join us for Sunday worship services at 10:30 (led by the pipe organ) and noon (led by guitar).  We also have Sunday School at 9am each week.  We just had a great rally day and invite you to join us as we begin another year of learning about ourselves and God.
 

Rally Day was great  We gathered on the morning of September 20th and did what we could to rally behind our Sunday School.  How great to have another year of learning and studying about God and his beloved son Jesus.  Have you heard about all the bubbles brought to us by Cindy Domi?  They were great and we felt Jesus’ love bubblin’ over!!!
 

Whirled Top Festival  It was another fantastic whirling festival.  What a fabulous time!!!  We had a record breaking number of top games around our Albrecht Hall.  Can you believe there were over 70 games out?  You could really feel some of the history of this toy.  How great to have people here from all over like New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgia, Alabama and more.  A number of our participants stayed for worship and helped out with the children’s sermon and special music.  A great time was had by all at the 27th annual whirled top fest.
 

We also had great recent success with Bible School, Talent Show, Game Night and so much more.  We are looking forward to another game night on September 20th and a hayride in October.
 

The Prayers of the Church  No one from St. Jacob is in the hospital right now (that we know of) but we still have plenty of people in our prayers.  Our prayers are with the family and friends of Paul T. Schultz.  He died this past week and his memorial service will be in early October.  Allen Hasken and Sidney Wagner were both here for worship.  Can you believe Lois Masters turned 100 this weekend?  Others in our prayers include Bill Jackle, Eddie Kash, Carl Schroeder, Frankie Rost, Wyatt Dahlinghaus, Jean Hicks, Helen termuhlen as well as Katie Schultz and family.  We paused this past week to remember 9-11 and we continue to pray for peace in the world.  God bless our peacemakers Ben Sweeney, Zac Boyd, Alex Eanes and  Steven Greenlee.
 

Our Prayer of the Day - 17th Sunday after Pentecost  Almighty and eternal God, you show perpetual lovingkindness to us your servants.  Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.
 

Some scripture from the gospel for Sunday-Matthew 20:15-16  “Am I not allowed to to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Or are you envious because I am generous?  So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Love is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.

May you enjoy lots of love in this new year of 2026.