PASTOR’S WEEKLY MESSAGE

This coming Sunday is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.  The gospel for the worship service on November 8th is Matthew 25:1-13.  The sermon theme will be “Keep Awake” and we will see who can keep awake during the sermon.  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.  Please come and join us to learn more fun songs and to learn more about God.
 

Greetings and prayers to our friends at Martin Luther Chapel  This congregation is in Marathon, Florida.  Pastor Hout was there last Sunday while on vacation.  He met lots of nice folks and they were especially excited when he walked over and touched the piano.  They said they have not had a piano player in worship since Covid!!!  It was Reformation Sunday so Hout said he would be happy to play A Mighty Fortress.  He also played a prelude medley of music for ten minutes and they were so thankful.  He could have stayed and taken the job as music director but chose to come back to St. Jacob to serve in Miamsburg.
 

Fall Fest was a hit  We had a great time together in the front yard of the church.  The evening was clear and just cool enough to enjoy a campfire.  Many thanks to all who made the evening go so smoothly with the games, the food, the decorations and the music.  We are on a roll as we also had a fantastic night of nice weather at the hayride.  We had great food, a warm campfire and lots of other fun activities.  It was so nice to have a good crowd and a lot of the Schultz family who were here after the memorial service.  Four guitars, a mandolin and a melodica joined together for some fantastic campfire music.  Ask the kids what they thought about the new barrel ride.  They were having a blast!!!
 

The Prayers of the Church  We are praying for the family and friends of Lois Masters.  Her funeral service was this past week.  We have been asked to pray for Mary Molnar.  Trent Ostendorf is also in our prayers.  Others to pray for include Allen Hasken, Carol Nestor, Steve Kash, Bill Jackle, Helen Termuhlen, Eddie Kash, Carl Schroeder, Frankie Rost, Wyatt Dahlinghaus, Jean Hicks, Gary Maxwell along with Katie Schultz and family.  We continue to pray for peace and our peacemakers Steven Greenlee, Ben Sweeney, Zac Boyd and Alex Eanes.
 

Our Prayer of the Day - 24th Sunday after Pentecost  O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son.  Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.
 

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 fun 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 special 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.  Have we told you about our game night in September and the fall fest coming up here for October 18th.
 

Some scripture from the gospel for Sunday-Matthew 25:13 “Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
 

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

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