Invitation - Overview

“We are a Christian community of the Episcopal tradition, growing in Jesus Christ. We strive to hold in our hearts and actions the spiritual and physical welfare of others in Christ’s name. We are committed in faith to live this out through worship, education, ecumenical ministry and service to others in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Invitation/Overview

The family of St. James welcomes you to a profile of our parish life in Christ. We are passionate about service to others and acceptance of all who seek God or a deeper knowledge of God. We have open and curious minds, and value learning and community. We seek to be conduits channeling the bountiful love and blessings we have received from God to our community. Coming together to worship and share the body of Christ, in all the joy and sadness of life, gives us hope and bolsters our faith as we reach out to all who touch our lives. As we approach the 200th Anniversary of our formation, we are inspired by the nurturing culture of our parish and the saints who have gone before us. They have built a strong foundation for the future. St. James has lovingly supported many discerning calls to the priesthood and diaconate, been a home to fledgling congregations of different faiths — and has been a Jubilee Center for feeding the poor for nearly four decades. Together, with the help of our new Rector and the Holy Spirit, we want to discern the way to continue serving and connecting with the community and bringing the Good News to a diverse younger generation that lives in Painesville and surrounds our building, in place for over a century. There is so much life to live within and beyond our church; come and join us as we unravel the mystery of how we can serve as God’s own hands in a growing circle of love that transcends human understanding.

We pray that God’s will continues to be done at St. James and that He will provide a shepherd to tend this flock, feed us as we feed the sheep — and guide us in the way of love, truth and justice for all as we live out our Christian Faith. We do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

Who We Are

We see ourselves to be “like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.”(Psalm 1:3). Like a tree with strong branches that reach skyward, we are a congregation possessing a variety of gifts from the Holy Spirit with which we reach out to the world. Among these parishioner gifts are teachers, health care professionals, engineers, and technical specialists in many fields. We volunteer extensively in the community in a variety of non-profit organizations. We have a wide number of interests ranging from gardening to traveling, acting to hiking and birding to needlework. Our laity are involved in all aspects of the church; from Worship to the Feeding Ministry and Parish Leadership. More than half of the active members are involved in at least one — and as many as ten activities within St. James.

We pray that by giving back what God has given to us, we will provide a basis for future generations to flourish and grow. We pray we can pass along to upcoming generations the love of Christ, encouraging them to be Christ’s hands, feet, eyes and body in the world (Teresa of Avila).