"We share God's inclusive and eternal love with everyone!"

St. James Lutheran Church

"In the City for Good"

Welcome!

From Pastor David:

WELCOME TO ST. JAMES!

This website serves as our “front door” to ministry in downtown Portland. We offer an array of options. We invite you to consider — what fits you?

Join us for Sunday in-person Eucharist worship (at 9:30am in our sanctuary), or participate via recorded video worship posted to our website each Sunday afternoon (Communications > Worship & Sermons).
Feed those who live on our Portland streets five times a week by preparing food boxes, or donate to purchase food and needed supplies.
Deepen your spiritual life with Saturday Contemplative Prayer via Zoom, in-person Wednesday morning Centering Prayer, or join our recorded Bible Study (3 series a year) or virtual Healing Prayer events.
Help guide our St. James low-income Apartment ministry (122 units), or enroll your child at our St. James Child Development Center (infant through kindergarten-aged children). Presently over 80 children are enrolled.
Share your creative imagination with our St. James Art Group, or offer your musical skills as our choir prepares to return this fall.
Meditate on classical music and meaningful Sunday liturgy, or enjoy our monthly Jazz Vespers services on YouTube now and in-person beginning August 15th at 5:00pm.
Jump onboard to live out your faith with acts of JUSTICE by exploring our embedded attitudes concerning race, gender and LGBTQ+ rights, or be hands-on with our Caring For Creation efforts.
Partner with us to reach beyond our doors by supporting Lutheran World Relief’s efforts to bring the vaccine to all countries, or pack boxes of school/health kits to meet worldwide needs.
Join us for the life-changing moments of baptism, fall Sunday School, weddings, celebrations, and memorials; stay connected through Book Club, WELCA, or our Card Ministry; or sit down for a cup of coffee with Pastor David.

There are lots of options at St. James. What fits you as we follow the Risen-Christ?

–Pastor David Knapp

Worship Services

Sunday Morning Worship

- Sunday Morning In-Person Worship
  9:30am Eucharist at:
  St. James Lutheran Church
  1315 SW Park Ave.
  Portland, OR 97201

- Sunday Morning Online Worship
  Join us online on the St. James YouTube channel -- or here on this website.

Midweek Eucharist

NOTE: Midweek Eucharist is on hiatus until Ash Wednesday during the next season of Lent in 2026.
Midweek Eucharist began again on Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 -- and continued every following Wednesday at 12:00 Noon through May 14th, 2025. Pastor David led and Colin was at the piano. Starting last March, Pastor David guided us in a Bible Study on the themes of the book of Exodus titled "Unlikely Moses and the Nine Commandments." It took place immediately following the Wednesday service.
We hope that you will join us again for Midweek Eucharist and Bible Study during Lent in 2026.

- Wednesday Eucharist
  30-minute 12:00 Noon service in Pioneer Chapel.

Bach Cantata Vespers

- Bach Cantata Vespers
  
  NOTE: We will continue in 2026 with upcoming Bach Cantata Vespers on February 22nd and June 14th.
  
  Thanks for joining us on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, starting at 4:00pm in our St. James sanctuary, as we began our 18th season of Bach Cantata Vespers with one of Bach's earliest cantatas, BWV 106 "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit" (God's time is the very best time). This work, scored for two Viola da Gambas, two recorders, organ, soloists, and choir, is often referred to as Bach's first masterpiece. The work was written for the funeral of a former mayor of Muhlhausen in 1708. The text blends old and new testament passages, as well as individual verses of hymns by Martin Luther and Adam Reusner.
  
  "God's time is the best of all times. In him we live, move and are, as long as he wills. In him we die at the appointed time, when he wills." Acts 17:28
  
  If you are interested in participating with the choir or the Cantatas, please reach out to Interim Choir Director John Cox through the St. James front office.
  
  We look forward to seeing you again for more Bach Cantata Vespers in the future.
  
  Jazz Vespers
  - - Jazz Vespers
      Every 3rd Sunday at 4:50pm.
  Once again this year, we were pleased to be a venue for the PDX Jazz Festival. This month, be sure to join us in-person on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at 4:50pm in our St. James sanctuary for the third concert of our 2025-2026 Jazz Vespers series -- with a performance by Israel Annoh on percussion, Tim Rap on drums, Kevin Dietz on bass, and Mike Horsfall on vibes and piano.
  Valarie Brown is serving as cantor, and Pastor David Knapp is our liturgist. We invite you to attend as we return to our recently renovated St. James Lutheran Church building and we ask you to make a freewill donation (offering) to help support our musicians as we continue our 2025-2026 season. November marks the third month of this recurring 12-month Jazz Vespers series.
  Please check out the complete schedule for our new 2025-2026 season by navigating to "Life at St. James > Worship & Music > Jazz Vespers" on the main navigation menu at the top of this page. Or you can click here to link directly to our "Jazz Vespers" page.
  
  In addition to the live performances of our current St. James Jazz Vespers series -- please remember that you may still enjoy some of our prior Jazz Vespers on video.
  You can find links to previous Jazz Vespers recordings by navigating to "Communications > Music" on the main navigation menu at the top of this page. Or you can click here to link directly to the "Music" page.
  
  NOTE: We are delighted that the new CD "St. James Jazz Vespers - We'll Be Together Again" has been released and is available for $20 at the St. James office. It is a collection of tunes recorded during the pandemic by The Mike Horsfall Trio and guests of the St. James Vespers. Enjoy!
  
  Please join us again next month for another great Jazz performance -- when we continue our 2025-2026 season of Jazz Vespers with a performance by vocalist Marilyn Keller -- starting at 4:50pm on Sunday, December 21st, 2025. We'll have more Jazz -- as always -- on the third Sunday of each month.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” –Winston Churchill

From the Pastor’s Desk …

When I open my Bible, I read that

• Israel was fed with manna from heaven
• Elijah was sustained by bread and meat brought by ravens
• The disciples traveled with a common purse, and Jesus fed 5,000 with a young boy’s lunch.

God has a knack for blessing us in mysterious ways. Perhaps part of that mystery is viewing ourselves with new eyes. While some never get beyond the attitude of always wanting more, we find life in what we give, as Churchill reminded us. We give ourselves away in relationships. We serve those in need because it leads to life. We see our income as a gift of God to be shared. Those ideas are foreign to the world while we see them as avenues to a life of faith.

On November 9th, we will gather all the white “Estimate of Giving for 2026” cards and bless them at the altar. We hope your card will be among them as we offer this prayer:

“God of abundance, as we gift these cards back to you, we know that they are outward signs of your inward work in us. May they become seeds that bring forth newness in the upcoming year. Bless our intentions; bless our hopes and dreams, and bless the world through these offerings to you.”

–Pastor David

Installation of Presiding Bishop …

Rev. Yehiel Curry was elected as the next Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, Ariz., on July 30th, 2025. He began this role on Oct. 1st, 2025, and was installed on Oct. 4th in Minneapolis. Welcome Bishop Curry!

Congratulations to Our Confirmation Students …

We joyfully celebrate our newest congregants — Emmett, Blake, Mira, and Meg — as they root themselves in the past and grow toward the future of their faith journey. May God continue to guide and bless them in the years ahead!

Food Box Ministry …

Starting in November, food distribution will shift to Monday–Thursday only. Thursday deliveries will include extra food to support neighbors through the weekend. Final Friday delivery: October 31st. Thank you for your continued support and heart for this ministry!

–Mali Jensen

All Saints Day …

Dr. Robin Steinke steps into our St. James pulpit as we commemorate All Saints Sunday, November 2nd, 2025. Dr. Steinke has served as the President of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN since 2014. St. James member David Rutlen presently serves on the Luther Seminary Board. After worship at 11:00am she takes your questions at an Open Space titled “Where Have All The Churches Gone.”

“Estimate of Giving” …

On Sunday, November 9th, 2025, we bless our “Estimate of Giving” cards at the altar. That afternoon our musicians share their gifts with a Bach Cantata Vespers Service. A cut-out card can be found on pg. 6 of the November Newsletter, or by the offering plates.

New Members …

St. James will again welcome new members into our church family. On Sunday, November 23rd, 2025, we will introduce them during worship and get to know them better at the reception that follows. If you also would like to make St. James your church home, please speak with Pastor David.

Christmas Gift Program …

Once again we will be sponsoring a Christmas gift program, providing a family with clothing and gifts. Please remember, you do not need to wrap the gift because we will be having a wrapping party on Sunday, November 30th, 2025, in Open Space. We invite you to click on this link: bit.ly/47avgoT to view the Shopping List. All items must be purchased no later than Saturday, November 29th.

–Cathie Coffman

The Great Thanksgiving …

Coffee Hour on November 30th, 2025 will be sponsored by the Eco Social Justice Committee in the spirit of considering the importance of limiting food waste. Please consider bringing — to share with the rest of the congregation — appropriate leftovers. We did this last year and the event was a hit. According to the United Nations Climate Change Committee “Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions; cost USD 1 trillion annually.”

–Mandy Ellertson

Lutheran Ligaments Walking Team …

We have been selected to participate in the 35th annual Providence Portland To Coast Walk Relay, on August 28-29, 2026! Invitations to our individual members will be sent in January.

–Larry Larsen

Don’t Get Caught …

There has been an increase in phishing attempts recently. Whenever you get a text or email from an unknown source, take caution. Here are some steps to take if you are contacted by anyone with a request:

• Compare the sender’s info with what you know.
• Contact the supposed sender using info you have used before or know to be accurate.
• Be Cautious in giving out any personal information or fulfilling any requests.
• Confirm it’s spam, then report and delete/block the sender.

No one from St. James will ever reach out directly via text or email with a “special request” or “favor” — or ask you to purchase gift cards — or anything of that sort.