Saint Jacobs Church - Payne, Ohio

03/16/2025

13“You are the salt of the earth.... You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5: 13-16

"Salt" is the opposite of corruption, and it prevents corruption from getting worse. "Light" is the gift of guidance so that those who have lost their way can find the path home. A "City" is the product of corporate social order and good government; it is against chaos and disorder. Christ's disciples are called to exhibit these qualities individually and corporately. God is first mentioned here in Jesus' Sermon in his role as, "Father." A father takes delight when his children become what they are intended to be, which is to say they exhibit the qualities above.

Find out more during our "Fellowship Service" at St. Jacobs Church in Payne, tomorrow morning at 9am!

01/19/2025

"Lettuce" is good for you! (And it tastes better with dressing!)

There are moments in life when our faith falters....any way forward seems obscure and any light at all is difficult to see. Hard times create challenges in life and to our faith, and during those times it's easy to go backwards and possibly give up.

Moments like these faced the recipients of the Letter of Hebrews. Instead of persevering in their new faith in Christ and the New Covenant Christ instituted, they were tempted to return to the Old Covenant with its laws and stipulations, a Covenant that was fading away, rather than living in the new grace provided by Christ and the freedom He provides. To encourage those believers (and us!) to continue in faith and not give up, the writer to the Hebrews writes several "Let Us" statements: exhortations to keep focused in faith, hope and love! We'll look at those "Let Us" statements tomorrow morning during our Fellowship Service at St. Jacobs Church in Payne at 9:00am.

Remember, "Lettuce" is good for you!! 😉😁Check out what's going on tomorrow morning! Join us at 9:00am.

01/12/2025

"With every step of faith there is a test of faith." - Bert Jones

"After three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people: 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.'" - Joshua 3: 2-4

Whether it means the people of Israel following the LORD into a new, promised land (as it does specifically in this scripture reference)...OR!... whether it means following the LORD symbolically into new, uncharted areas of our our lives, we are called to trust and obey Him going forward with a sense of respect, awe and wonder. We are all going to places "we have never traveled before" this upcoming year! Keep the LORD in your sight and Christ as your focus!

Find out more how this is done tomorrow morning during our Fellowship Service at 9am at St. Jacobs Church in Payne.Come and join us! 🙂

01/04/2025

"And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way." - Matthew 2:12

Tomorrow is the church day known as Epiphany, where the story of the wise men complete their journey to see Jesus, now a small child living at his home in Bethlehem.

However, this group of "wise men" (likely a cohort of travelers, including seasoned astrologers originating from the Iran/Iraq region of the Middle East) did not return by the same route they took to get there. Instead, they were instructed in a dream to go back via a different land route to avoid the Roman despot ruler at the time, King Herod.

Interestingly enough *no one* on life's journey who encounter, worship and revere Jesus remain the same after first meeting him. Everyone goes home differently after that life-changing experience! Consequently, everyone takes a different route home.

Find out more tomorrow as we look at this final "Christmas Story" at St. Jacobs Church in Payne during our informal "Fellowship Service" at 9am. Come check it out!

12/12/2024

For the time being the fellowship hall is not available for rent. We will post here when that changes.

10/20/2024

Proverbs 22:28 - "Do not move the ancient boundary, which your fathers have set."
Proverbs 23:10 - "Do not move the ancient boundary, Or go into the fields of the fatherless.”

Consider the following questions: Ever been the victim of someone or some organization, company that attempted to “move the goalposts” on you and you've been wronged by a sudden, unjust change? In what ways have you seen the world change? For the better. For the worse? Are there any areas in life, or for you personally where "no go" lines must be drawn? 'This far, and no further!"

We will be wrestling with questions like these during our Fellowship Service today at St. Jacobs Church in Payne at 9am. Come check it out!

"You shall not Pass!" Gandalf drew a definite, un-smudgeable line!

10/06/2024

"What's the point of being 'a Christian?' What good does it do? Why should I try to 'be good' when it is incredibly unpopular and I'm doomed to fail, anyway? Why do I need one more stressor in my life when it's easier just to live and let live?"

Ever ask those questions, or questions like that? You aren't alone. Psalm 73 covers this. We'll be looking into this Psalm tomorrow morning at our Bible Fellowship Service tomorrow in Payne, 9am.

1Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
2But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7They have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. 10And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. 11“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” - Psalm 73: 1-11 NLT

09/29/2024

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27: 4 - 5

By faith we believe that there are far better things to look forward to in the future than anyone can possibly imagine now. The joy of enjoying the immediate presence of the LORD will be far better than anything the world has to offer. Knowing this gives a direction to life and a sure hope that keeps one going, even during the darkest of times. Covering this Psalm later this morning during our St. Jacobs Fellowship Service at 9am.

09/22/2024

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." - Psalm 32: 1-2

Looking into Psalm 32 for insights to living later this morning during St. Jacobs Church Fellowship Service at 9am. Come join us for an informal time of fellowship and worship!

09/15/2024

Leading a small group Fellowship Worship time this morning at Payne St. Jacobs Church. Drawn to this tune again. What a great reminder of how we need to see ourselves when a good work has been done within us through Christ!

Del Album ''Through His Eyes'' 1983 The Orchard Music & rumblefish ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. content is non profit. For entertainment purposes. CopyRight ...

09/08/2024

Before abandoning the faith, the Bible encourages us in James 5 to consider, "the steadfastness of Job," and "the purpose of the Lord." We will be covering this topic tomorrow morning at 9am at St. Jacob's Church in Payne during our Fellowship Service in the Fellowship Hall. Consider joining us!

07/10/2024