"We share God's inclusive and eternal love with everyone!"
“Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.” -Isaiah 41:10
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
WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT ST. JAMES!NOTE: The Oregon mask mandate has ended. Although not required, you are encouraged to continue wearing a mask at St. James events for a while longer. As always, we encourage you to vaccinate.
Sunday Morning Worship
ATTENTION: Walk 20 more steps! We will now be holding our Sunday 9:30am worship service at Sixth Church (the building next door to St. James.) This is due to the exciting renovation of our historic church building for the next few months. Our ushers will greet you at the sidewalk and direct you. Elevator and accessibility entrance available.
- Every Sunday at 9:30am -- next door during construction -- at:
Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist
1331 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR 97201 - We have posted recordings of our 9:30am worship service to the St. James YouTube channel. They are available to view here on our website by Sunday afternoon: Click here to link to our "Worship & Sermons" page ...
Whether you physically attend in-person with us next door at Sixth Church -- or you watch our video recording on your computer at home -- we invite you to join us for worship!
Jazz Vespers
This month, be sure to join us in-person on Sunday, May 15th, 2022 at 5:00pm when our Jazz Vespers series continues next door at Sixth Church -- our special guest for this live performance is Kevin Deitz on bass.Musical accompaniment by Mike Horsfall on vibes, Skip VonKuske on cello, and Brent Follis on drums. Pastor David Knapp is the liturgist, and Valarie Griffiths Brown is the vocalist. We invite you to attend next door at Sixth Church and we ask you to make a freewill donation (offering) to help support our musicians as we continue our 2021-2022 season. Although we have resumed our St. James Jazz Vespers series in-person -- please remember that you may still enjoy our prior Jazz Vespers on video.
You can find links to all of our previous Jazz Vespers recordings by navigating to "Communications > Music" on the main navigation menu at the top of the page. Or you can click here to be linked 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 once again in-person on Sunday, June 19th, 2022 at 5:00pm when our 2021-2022 Jazz Vespers season continues -- our special guest musician for this live performance will be Haley Horsfall on vocals & percussion.
Join us at Sixth Church
We are worshiping just next door at Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist throughout the construction period at St. James. Join us for worship and fellowship on Sundays at 9:30am.
From Pastor David:
“The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies.”
–Kate McGahan
It happens in the 80th minute.
At every Timbers home soccer game suddenly the mood of the crowd changes; from loud feet-stomping and rough and tumble competition comes a sweet song:
“You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.”
The tune envelopes the crowd at Providence Park and unites them with tenderness. It is sung in memory of Timber Jim’s daughter Hannah who died too young in an auto accident. She was Jim’s sunshine.
Easter changes the mood for us. Jesus’ suffering and death moves us to unlimited living where “life never ends and love never dies.” Possibilities abound. Our imagination is limitless. The dead-end signs have been removed. At St. James we are pushing forward with our $3.5 million building renovation so that generations of ministry can follow in this place. We have given generously to those who are fleeing the brutal war in Ukraine. We even changed our Sunday morning worship venue by moving next door to Sixth Church for a few months. Resurrected-life takes risks and is willing to embrace change. Thank you all for your willingness to be an Easter people. We are following our Risen Christ on a journey without maps — every 80th minute and more.
–Pastor David
Thank You for Your Offerings
Your faithful offerings sustain ministry. From January through March this year your gifts exceeded ministry expenses by $14,991. This will help with construction transition costs as we rent space at the Sixth Church next door.
Your Gifts for Ukraine
Since Putin’s war on Ukraine began on February 24th, you have given over $11,181. Your gifts are now helping mothers and children who are fleeing to Poland and other countries. If you would like to learn more about the war in Ukraine and what you can do to help, Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Service is hosting a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, May 3rd at 12:00 Noon. You can sign up for the webinar here: https://tinyurl.com/LIRSUkraine.
Coming Up: Open Space at St. James
Be sure to join us for an exciting series of Adult Education events this May and June! Interested in leading an Open Space? Contact Mandy Ellertson for more information.
May 1st Art Museum Visit — Frida and Diego — guided by Friedrich Schüler
May 8th Mother’s Day (No Open Space or Sunday School)
May 15th Reception for Pastor Heidi Fish (Pastor Fish was our Vicar in the 1990’s. She now serves a church near Seattle. Welcome Back!) — comments by Pastors Fish and Knapp
May 22nd Synod Report (News from our Synod Assembly: What are 112 churches doing in Oregon?) — Mandy Ellertson, Scott Ellertson, and Pastor David
May 29th Memorial Day (No Open Space or Sunday School)
June 5th Discussion on merging the Justice Committee with Caring for Creation Committee — Mandy Ellertson and Doris Nielsen
June 12th Summer Book Reading in the Library — with George McCargar
June 19th Cheering on the Portland Pride Parade — All are welcome!
June 26th Keeping our downtown neighborhood safe. — Sergeant Matt Jacobsen from the Portland Police Bureau
A New Piano for Our Sanctuary
St. James Lutheran Church has recently purchased a piano after several individual gifts were given in memory of loved ones. Our “team” of researchers spent two months researching and testing different pianos for the space and decided as a group on a one-owner, used Mason & Hamlin. The piano has been called a “muscle car” of pianos and allows St. James’ sanctuary to serve as an outreach venue to the entire Portland community. It will serve individuals, choirs, and instrumental groups as a true performance instrument in a phenomenal downtown music space. The piano will remain in storage until construction is complete.
–Shirley Roggen
Fall Vespers at St. James
This fall we look forward to reinvigorating the St. James Vespers tradition with a service on Sunday, October 23rd at 5:00pm. This Vespers service will highlight and celebrate the Reformation with instrumental, vocal, and organ music. Mark your calendars and join us!