"We share God's inclusive and eternal love with everyone!"
"I came that you may have life and have it abundantly." –John 10:10St. 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. As the impact of this pandemic subsides, 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
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- Sunday Morning In-Person Worship
9:30am Eucharist at:
St. James Lutheran Church
1315 SW Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
- Sunday Morning In-Person Worship
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- Sunday Morning Online Worship
Join us online on the St. James YouTube channel -- or here on this website.
- Sunday Morning Online Worship
Midweek Eucharist
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- Wednesday Eucharist
30-minute 12:00 Noon service in Pioneer Chapel.
- Wednesday Eucharist
Bach Cantata Vespers
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- Bach Cantata Vespers
Spring service on Sunday, April 28th at 5:00pm.
- Bach Cantata Vespers
Jazz Vespers
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- Jazz Vespers
Every 3rd Sunday at 4:50pm.
- Jazz Vespers
In February, 132 people gathered for Jazz Vespers. We were pleased to be a venue for the PDX Jazz Festival. KOIN News ran the story. This month, be sure to join us in-person on Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at 4:50pm in our St. James sanctuary for the seventh concert of our 2023-2024 Jazz Vespers series -- our special guest for this live performance is guitarist John Stowell.
Musical accompaniment by Mike Horsfall on piano, Laurent Nickel on bass, and Tim Rap on drums. Valarie Brown is serving as cantor, and Pastor David Knapp is our liturgist. We invite you to attend as we return to our newly 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 2023-2024 season. March marks the seventh month of the 12-month Jazz Vespers series. Some of the artists have played the Vespers in the past, such as Renato Caranto, Paul Mazzio, and John Stowell. There are also several new artists including guitarist Ben Graves, saxophonist Michelle Medler, and trombonist Adriana Wagner.
Please check out the complete schedule for our 2023-24 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 our prior Jazz Vespers on video.
You can find links to our 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 -- when we welcome David Evans on tenor sax and bass clarinet -- Sunday, April 21st, 2024 at 4:50pm -- for another great Jazz performance.
Holy Week at St. James 2024
Sunday, March 24th: Palm/Passion Sunday
9:30am Processional Eucharist
Scott Baby Shower
Wednesday, March 27th
12:00 Noon Eucharist
12:45pm Pastor’s Class: From Jesus to Constantine
Thursday, March 28th: Maundy Thursday
12:00 Noon Eucharist
The Day of Jesus’ Last Supper
Friday, March 29th: Good Friday
7:00pm Worship
The Day of Jesus’ Death
Saturday, March 30th: Holy Saturday
7:00pm Worship
Prayers as Jesus Lies Entombed
Sunday, March 31st: Easter Sunday
9:30am Easter Festival Worship
The Resurrection of Our Lord
10:30am Celebration Coffee Hour Hosted by Council
“Give us this day our daily bread…”
–The Lord’s Prayer
This year our 40 day season of Lent runs head-long into the 50th anniversary of Lutheran World Hunger. At St. James we journey to Easter (March 31st) with both reflection and celebration.
REFLECTION: The cross of Christ can be a mirror. We are honest enough to see our true selves. Since Jesus stopped at nothing to love us, how can we better “reflect” that love? Join us for both Sunday and Wednesday services during this holy season.
CELEBRATION: Since 1974 Lutheran Churches in the U.S. have given over $650 million to assist the hungry in 64 countries. This is in addition to our 5-day-a-week feeding program near our church doors. Before launching into the next 50 years, we pause to “celebrate” and say “Well done!”
We move forward by sharing our generosity. We ask you to give a financial gift to St. James marked “Hunger.” Our St. James Endowment ministry has already contributed $5,000 to get us started. At the end of April, our money will be added to the gifts of the 112 other Lutheran (ELCA) churches in Oregon and given to ELCA World Hunger. Jesus’ love on the cross will be demonstrated in food and acts of love for those in need worldwide.
As we journey together,
–Pastor David
Wednesday Noon Eucharist and Church History …
We continue this mid-week service and study in Pioneer Chapel on Wednesdays at noon. After the 30 minute Eucharist service we gather for Pastor David’s discussion, From Jesus to Constantine: How It All Began. How was the Bible compiled? Where did we get the creeds? How did a small group of Jesus’s disciples become a worldwide church of 2 billion? Join us every Wednesday through May 15th.
Weekly Class Topics:
Mar 6th St. Paul, Marketing Department
13th The Exclusive Religion
20th The Rise of Christian Anti-Judaism
27th (No class due to Holy Week)
Apr 3rd The Myth of Persecution
10th 62 Christianities. Which One Is Right?
17th 3rd Corinthians? What Happened to It?
24th How We Got the New Testament
May 1st Baptism and Eucharist Take Center Stage
8th The Doctrine of the Trinity
15th Jesus to Constantine: What We Learned
Let’s Give A Gift to World Hunger …
St. James will help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ELCA (Lutheran) World Hunger Program with a significant donation to their worldwide ministry this spring. Please contribute to this gift that already has $5,000. Your gifts will:
– Provide food for immediate needs in 64 countries
– Equip communities to foster long-term changes
– Provide education and quality health care
– Share sustainable solutions in agriculture
– Advocate for just laws
Join us in being part of the story of our next 50 years together – boldly and hopefully pursuing God’s promise of a just world where all are fed. You can place cash in the offering plates (one near each door), cut a check to “St. James Lutheran Church” with “hunger” in the memo line, give electronically, or donate a stock gift. We will send our gift April 30th. Thanks for celebrating 50 years of helping others!
$6,040 Already Given for World Hunger …
In the first ten days of our fundraising drive you have already contributed $6,040 to Lutheran World Hunger in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Our thanks to our Endowment Ministry for their initial gift of $5,000. You are invited to give your gift through April 30th.
Your St. James Leaders …
At their February meeting, our St. James Council elected officers to serve on your behalf. Installation will be on March 10th. Congratulations to:
President – Sue Hammond
Vice-President – David Scott
Treasurer – Esther Portnoy
Secretary – Leigh Nelson
Our Downtown Ministry …
On February 20th our Council was updated as to the many ways St. James is working to care for those on our streets AND keep our sidewalks safe. Our staff connects with the City of Portland daily. Over the past month camping on the sidewalks, drug abuse and trash have all been reduced.
Here are a few updates on our ongoing efforts:
– Our school parents paying for a security guard morning and afternoon
– More frequent police presence and additional interaction with city social workers
– Proposed Clean and Safe cleaning area from Park Ave to 405 freeway
– Rapid Response sanitizing the entire block weekly
– Our St. James Apartment installing security gates and more litter pickups
– Interestingly, our 5-days-a-week feeding is utilized by a different group of those in need
St. James Welcomes Six New Members …
We are delighted to receive six new members on Sunday, March 3rd. They will be introduced in worship and you can greet them at the reception following.
Spring Bach Cantata Vespers …
Mark your calendars for our Bach Cantata Vespers service on Sunday, April 28th at 5:00pm. The service will feature the St. James Choir, guest singers, soloists, organ, and orchestra. Please join us for the service, which will be followed by a reception in Pioneer Chapel. We look forward to seeing you there!