There were so many things to do and everyone had so much to do. Members were hard pressed to find the time for all the chores to be done before the holidays. It was a little hard to find members available for the 'extras' we often find ourslves doing. So this year we didn't do them, it made things easier.

Thant's not to say there weren't activities. There were the Christmas parties at Shore Hill, Lutheran Medical and so forth. The combined Worship with special formats throughout the neigbor hood.

Here at St. Jacobi it was a time of the basics. The joy of the birth or Our Savior. The Worship and Praise. The Church modestly decorated. The few who could spare the time found thanks from the rest as we entered and were brought back to the beauty of St. Jacobi at this holiday time.

We held it at the Home because one of those three evehts was the 92nd Birthday of Ms. Minnie Kroose. This made it possible for her to attend and we could celebrate the other two events with her as well.

Second, it was the anniversary of the ordination of Pastor Mary Chang.

Third is the kickoff of the 115th anniversasry of the founding of the St. Jacobi Congregation.

Our day's festivities started with a Service in the Chapel at the Home. At the close of the Service several members and former members were acknowledged for their service to the congregation. We then heard from a few members abour their thoughts as to how being a member hs been important to them. We then moved to the Dining Room for fellowship, Birthday Cake and to receive the accolades of the Borough President's Office for the three events.

Jim Cuthbert is a singer/guitarist who has been recently performing as the dinner entertainment at a couple of New Jersey resteraunt. He brought his instrumental and vocal selection to St. Jacobi to a modest audience in the dog days of August.

A selection of about nine instrumental and ten vocal selections topped off with a couple songs origianlly by Frank Sinatra. A little different than several of the past comcert but who wouldn't find good guitar work welcome to enjoy for an hour or so.

The Mission Group from Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota graciously allowed the use of their bus to help get people to the picnic. The also had twenty two members of their own attending.

In all the attendance was great. Besides the twenty-two from Bethlehem we had some students from the Vacation Bible School with their family members. There were members of the current Congregation, a couple former members and also a few friends of St. Jacobi. It was a pleasure to have over sixty in all attending.

We all missed a key member however. Pastor Chang was well on her way to Taiwan for the Services and burial of mother who passed the Saturday before. Pastor was close to everyones heart during the day.

The twenty one youth and adults came to New York for their annual Mission Trip. The rest of the 91 member group are spread out at six other churches in the city. They were the counselors, teachers and administrators for the years week long fun filled activities.

Each afternoon the original over forty registered, and nearly thiry additioanal add-on students and older brothers and sisters of the 9 - 14 year old students were kept busy with many activites. There was singing, Bible stories, crafts, games, snacks, and all sorts of fun during the four hours of the VBS. The students also presented themselves on Sunday the 27th for a wrap-up presentation at the Sunday service.

Some students and their family members even joined in to come along for the annual St, Jacobi picnic on Saturday, July 26th.

The full group with be about 95 youth and adults. They come to New York to serve seven of our ELCA Congregations in The Bronx, Manhattan and here in Brooklyn.

Their purpose and tasks will include leading vacation Bible schools, day camps, serving project which require many hand such as painting a gym, maintainance jobs in a parsonage and projects in and around the Church buildings.

They also come to New York City - 'The Big Apple' - to be tourists. A little time must, and should, be used during their stay to see the sights, both serious and fun.

Ms. Patricia Woodard, Soprano, Mr. Basil Kyriakou, Flutist and Mr. Cryder Bankes, Organsit were the featured artists. For several pieces Ms. Woodard was also assisted by Suzanne Ludato, Alex Wang and Elliot Kaback.

The selections were varied and showed the great range of the skills of the performers. There were selections fromBach, Handel, Satie, Szymanowski and Zagwijm in the first half. This was followed by early Americanpieces and Gospel Hymns based on Clasical Themes in the second half. The concert was wrapped up by a great presentation of Dudley Buck's arrangement of variations of the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key.

The idea was born in a discussion between Rev. Mary Chang, Pastor of St. Jacobi and the Dr. Roger Wesby, Choirmaster of Wagner College's world reknown Choir earlier this year.

A program was developed for an hour of song drawn from available sources: "The Lutheran Book of Worship" the 'Green Book' Hymnal common in ELCA Churches,"With One Voice" the supplemental Book of added Hymns and a special printed booklet of added Songs.

Dr. Roger Wesby led the 26 hardy souls who braved the very wet weather through the selections that shown the breadth of the musical heritage available to us today. He was very ably assisted on the piano by his wife, Ms. Barbara Wesby, an Adjunct Instructor in the Wagner College Music Department.

St. Jacobi has the All Volunteer Community Chorus agin organized for the singing of portions of the Messiah. Coming from the community and representing at least six Churches were 22 singers with a wide range of experience and talent. Dr. Schmidt did a wonderful job of melding the voices into a very nicely sounding Chorus.

Starting at 4pm on Sunday, June 8th the Chorus went through the program of 13 selections from G. F. Handel's very famous and well loved work. The group sang for a few minutes over an hour with one short intermission. This was the third presentation of portions of the choral work since the start of the series of Concerts.

At the end of the concert Dr. Schmidt thanked everyone for being present. Also he promised that we would hear "The Messiah" in its entirety if we came pack for a few more 'portions' through the Concert series. The audience thanked the Chorus warmly from the heart with applause before adjourning to Friendship Hall for light refreshments.

That's what happened on April 13th at St Jacobi. A slightly smaller audience than usually attends our concerts very warmly welcomed the Harold Stelter Quartet that afternoon. "Their Jazz program was just so good", according to Marion Palm one of those in attendance. They wowed the group listening with a nice variety of sounds.

The musicians were also appreciative of the reception. Harold Stelter was heard to say that it was a good crowd when you think of the size of most Manhattan Jazz Clubs. So they were pleased. Also pleasing wias the good acoustics of the Sanctuary space which perhaps helped to enhance the enjoyment.

This is a Newspaper format free monthly in Chinese that is a tool for spreading the Gospel and other Christian news of and about Chinese Christians.

Mr Credit was accompanied by Mr. Cifford Terry n the piano for his performance. Included were favorites from Copland, Burliegh, Gershwin and Hammerstein. We were also treated to a few songs composed by Mr. Credit himself.

There has developed a group that comes every month for the concerts. On regular mentioned how she was brought to near tears by Mr. Credit's fine rendition of several well know favorites. It was another well received and appreciated perfomance that soothed a hectic schedue for a few in the audience.

The Choir sang a total of eighteen pieces, under the leadership of Roger Wesby , Conductor with Barbara Wesby as accompaniest on Organ and Piano, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Aaron Copland and Cole Porter.

The Choir is made up of student singers from all across the acedemic disciplines at Wagner College. We were pleased to welcome sixteen of its members for today's send off concert. In the second week of March the Choir will have sung at seven venues in New Jersey, Pennsylvania Virginia and North Carolina. Returning to Staten Island for a Homecoming Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church.

St. Jacobi is very appreciative that is was chosen to host the Send Off Concert. The many Brooklynites in attendance look forward with hope that the Wagner College Choir will come back to Brooklyn to sing again soon.

Mr. Gregory Eaton is a well known Organist from St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church in Downtown/Brooklyn Heights. A suprise guest for the Anniversary Recital was the composer Mr. David Hurd.