Because so many of our members were finding it hard to juggle all the activities including Worship, we made the decision to have only the one Service on Sunday. This provided for family needs and a proper Worship for the Nativity of our Lord.

Using the traditional time of 10:30am we planned a combined worship with Communion and the Carols of Christmas. It also gave those who would never have been able to attend a Service on Christmas Day the opportunity to still celebrate Christmas.

This year with our Christmas Service on December 26th the Lessons and Carols Service was held a week before Christmas. How fitting too. The story of the coming of Christ in Scripture and song the week before this wondrous Daaaay.

The Service was created by our Pastor, the Rev. Mary Chang. It is a Bilingual Service with readings and Hymns in both English and Cantonese/Mandarin. Moving St. Jacobi ever closer to a One Congregation, Two Voices identity.

There were the four Christmas packages assembled for the visits by the Chaplains at the Seamen's International House in Manhattan. We hear that the packages are now on one of the Orange Juice Ships traveling regularly between South America and the New York Port.

We had a small gatherring of some of those who participated this summer in the Vacation Bible School program. They came together for a reunion of sorts and to watch one of the recent Disssneey animated movies, with plenty of popcorn, for a Sunday afternoon.

The decorating of the Sanctuary for Christmas with red Bows, a Tree, Nativity Scene and Flowers one Saturday evening.

There was the visit to the Augustana Lutheran Home at Lutheran Medical Center for singing Carols for the residents.

And the monnthly visit to the Shore Hill Senior Houusing for a Service and fellowssssship.

Mr. Gregory Eaton, Organist and Music Director at the Church of St. Ann and The Holy Trinity at Clinton & Montague Streets in downtown Brooklyn was at the keyboard for the November Concert. Mr. Eaton had a program of 19th & 20th Century music that was just what a cold day needed. Wonderful artistry evoked an encore by a very appreciative audience.

Ms. Angela Yeung on Cello and Mr. Scott Avenell on French Horn combined to offer a wonderful addition to our continuing series of concerts. They put together a performance that was interesting and entertaining. Mr Avenell was a last minute substitution for a Luter performer who had to bow out due to illness. However, that did not diminish the artistry and skill of the presentation for the 45 plus members of the audience.

Ms. Judith Spokes on violin and Mr. Kang Xia on Cello wowwed those in attendance with a beautiful harmony of insturments in presenting several well known classical pieces, interprettions of Chinese Folk melodies and a suprise to end the concert.

There was a duet by Firllo, a Paganini Rondo, music from Bach as a offering of classical pieses that were just supurb. There were three short pieces of Chinese Folk tunes that were from the Drum Dances known to many classical Chinese artist that were a wonderful light interlude. We were pleasently suprised by the closing duet that was an American classic from the Country Blue Grass vein of America's own style of music, the Orange Blossom Special.

They placed on our Main Page the Site of the Month Logo for being chosen for this honor

It wasn't looking like a very good day for a picnic. The day dawned cloudy and rainy, but managed to ease off a bit to a drizzle and then just cloudy. So all was not lost.

Joining in for this years festivities were Seniors from Shore Hill Senior Hpusing where Pastor Chang regularly goes for visits. We have developed a small group of friends among the residents there. There were the seventeen members of the Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church senior high youth group from Minneapolis, Minnesota who were visiting as part of their annual summer mission trip. And of course there were the members of the Congregation, and a few of our friends from the neighborhood as wull. We were pleased to have about fifty or so participating in this annual, if a little damp, fun event.

And we managed a little excitement as well. In the course of events as the Minnesota youth fed the seagulls, one of the Seagulls got tangled in some string and then got caught in one of the tree branches of one of the shade trees at the picnic area. With the help of a couple of the local patroling Police Officers the bird was removed from the tree. Then with the help of everyone, but especially the Lake Nokomis youth, at the area, the bird which was still tangled-up and unable to fly, was captured. An adult leader from the youth group, Dale Toso, freed it from the string and off it went. Our Church Secretary, Marion Palm had the string presented to her as a memento of the excitment.

A dozen or so youth and four adult leaders came to Brooklyn to visit the Big Apple. It was the annual summer trip for the Senior High youth of the Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church. Part of each day would be spent seeing the sights of New York City and part would be assisting with the Vacation Bible School. We were pleased to have the group participate in our annual picnic in honor of St. James the Elder for which the Church is named.

St. Jacobi hosted the group. They used Friendship Hall as their home away from home. Using the neighborhood for meals and the church as their accomodations.

Those attending from Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church were: Dale Tose, Brian Boothe, Ann Eskeson, John Anderson, Kelsey Anderson, Nicole Bair, Angie Bromeland, Nikki Buskirk, Kayla Denison, Ashley Eskelson, Andrew Hedensten, Stacy Howell, Matt Larson, Jenna McDonald, Nick Smith, Jessica Swanberg, and Dane Swanson.

The artists were Mr. Ron McClure, Ms. Midriyo Tanaka and Ms. Masa Asai Bradley in a performance that was well received by the audience. The trio performed a few Jazz standards and several improvisations that moved the 35 to 40 in attendance. Several in the audience were first time listeners and were suprised by the very professional level of the music.

The Boy Scout Troop as a part of the program of Ministries here at St. Jacobi came to St. Jacobi a few years after it own start. A young Dr. Bauchmann, the newly called Pastor in 1931 wanted Boy Scouts to be a part of the offering of programs and activities for his pastorate. We have served both the Church and more importantly, the Community, ever since.

In June we called to a closed our 75th year of operations. The Boy Scout Troop is small compare to many past years. We lost two of our own who were called home. There were those in America who attacked Scouting in the past year. So to some Boy Scouting is not as important in community life as it used to be. But we proved them wrong.

It's right to teach being Trustworthy, Loyalness, being Helpful, being Friendly, showing Courtesy, being Kind, being Obedient, having a Cheerful spirit, knowing to be Thrifty, being Brave in all things, Clean in thought word and deed and Reverant to one's Good. That's why Scouting is a part of the Ministries at St. Jacobi. Every boy will benefit from it who partakes of it.

We went on weekend camping Trips. We held weekly Troop meetings in Friendship Hall nearly every Friday from September to June. There was an occasional Day Activity and we succeeded in doing a small fundraiser and a Good Turn project. We had Scouts advance in rank and earning other awards and recognitions. One of our Scouts was pictured in the annual Boy Scout Painting used for its annual national calendar. Yes, we did not go to summer camp this year but beyond tat , it was a successfuly year for our 2003 - 2004 season.

As with St. Jacobi we could use more members, both youth and adult. We did what we planned most of the time and offered a good program to those who took advantage of it.

Not the smallest audience but a very apreciative one. With many family gatherings we did not expect a big turrnout. We were please with an attendance of thirty however. The DUO MARCHAND did a wonderful performance once again of mostly Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century works for harp and voice.

Palm Sunday started the week with a traditional service started this year by an indoor processional. This year at St. Jacobi we did not include mid-week services. Instead we were encouraged to participate in the daily Services organized through the Southwest Brooklyn Lutheran District. Each evening a different congregation hosted the community in a special Service for that day. It was a pleasure to visit and share with the other Churches in the Bay Ridge and Bensenhurst neighborhoods.

There were also childrens activities on Good Friday and Saturday morning. From the traditional Easter Egg coloring to stories and a telling of the Easter story a wonder set of events for the children.

Easter Sunday gave the members of St. Jacobi the opportunity to welcome the Risen Lord. With a good number of members in attendance, and with a few visiters welcomed as well, we participated in a Bilingual Service with Communion. Included was the Baptism into the Church of three new members and a transfer-in of a fourth. It was an uplifting experiencee.

The staff for the workshop included: The Rev. Thomas Taylor, Lutheran Disaster Releaf, Fr. Donald Bates, OSA, MFA, BC/CC-APC, Ms. Linda Boardman, Psychiatric Nurse, Mr. Tom Butler, Therapist and the Rev. Mary Chang, Level I Trauma Chaplain.

In a major outreach to foriegn students, one effort has been to recruit students from Taiwan, wanting to study at a United States College. This is not only for the major area of study but also for the student to be also to study and improve English as a second language.

Pastor Chang met with and made presentations to several thousand High School students during the week. Included was information about Concordia College, New York City, St. Jacobi and other information about the United States and our local community. This resulted in several interviews with serious porspects for study at Concordia College. With enrollment will be study at St. Jacobi for English as a second language and related studies.

Ms Wesby, currently earning her Masters of Music in vocal performance at the Manhattan School of Music, started with presentations of the works of W. A. Mozart and Claude DeBussy. After a brief intermissions she continued with works by Felix Mendelssohn, Aaron Copeland, G.C. Menoti, Harold Rome and Harvey Schmidt. Hers is a wonderful talent that is a pleasure to listen to in a fine acoustic setting.

Serving the Community as a family of believers is our purpose and Mission. The Congregation took steps to find ways to better spread His Word and gather more into our family and Congregation during the next three years. Using our resources we set out on the road to a new venture, to use our resources while they are still available. Our revitalized mission to the Community will develop over the coming weeks. Our outreach will be pronounced. Our growth is our goal.

Mr. Liam Wood and Mr. Benjamin Moran were once again wonderful on their acustic guitars. Giving over an hour of primarily Spanish style pieces with a warmth and fullness that kept everyone attuned to the fine music. Music that was written by John Johnnnson, Fernando Sor, Roland Dyens, Enrique Granados and Astor Piazzolla.

The are in for nearly two full days of activities,study, worship and fellowship to have fun becoming friends and growing in faith. The site in the Camp Koinonia near Eldred, NY in the foothills of the Catskills in upstate Sullivan County. A bit of a drive but a beautiful setting for this weekend activity.