St. James Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon

Life In and Around St. James

St. James is a church community comprised of diverse members who worship and gather regularly in our historic buildings in downtown Portland, OR. But life isn’t just happening around St. James. In the past 100 years our humble corner of downtown Portland has seen much change,...
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Being Lutheran

Lutherans in the United States had their organizational origins predominantly in the national churches of Northern Europe and Scandinavia. Many congregations retained in liturgy and fellowship the languages and social patterns of their ethnic background well into the twentieth...
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Architectural History

To see photos of the many architectural details of St. James, click here. Australian-born Portland architect Phillip Chappell Browne designed the first permanent chapel, sanctuary, and parsonage for St. James Lutheran Church on the present site in 1891. Browne specialized in...
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Neighborhood

St. James is located in Portland’s Cultural District facing the South Park Blocks, an area of rich architectural heritage and the city’s cultural heart. St. James has been an integral part of this community for over 100 years. This area of downtown Portland is filled with...
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Worship and Music

Worship is the central gathering point for life and work at St. James. As we gather we recall the classic elements of Christian gathering since the earliest times of the Church: ● Confession and Absolution ● Praise ● Reading of Sacred Texts from Hebrew and Christian...
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Groups and Ministries

St. James has a number of opportunities to get involved both inside and outside our building’s walls. There are several groups that meet regularly, such as Book Club and Visual Artists. We are also committed to serving those in need by providing many ministries to the...
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Open Space (Adult)

Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Pioneer Chapel of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we...
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Special Occasions

As people of faith our lives are full of opportunities for celebration! From small intimate gatherings with a few close friends to large festive holidays that our community commemorates with the wider church, St. James is a wonderful place to participate in or plan a special...
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Feast of St. James

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

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Welcome

Welcome to the website for St. James Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. St. James has served downtown Portland, the city and the larger region for more than 120 years. In the central city, St. James welcomes all and celebrates God’s grace and inclusive love with the gifts of Word, music, classic Lutheran liturgy, hospitality and service. As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, St. James welcomes people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities.

Worship Services

Sunday Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Every Sunday, 9:30am

Holy Communion in the Main Sanctuary with refreshments served in the Pioneer Chapel immediately following. Childcare provided 9:15am-12:15pm

Midweek Eucharist

Every Wednesday, 12:00 Noon

In the Pioneer Chapel. Pastor Parker leads Bible Study following the Midweek Eucharist.

Bach Cantata Vespers

Sunday, Apr. 29th, 5:00pm will feature music from Bach Cantata 166 “Wo gehest du hin? (Where are you heading?)” with soloists Susan Hale, Les Green and Kevin Helppie and the St. James Bach Choir.

Guest organist will be Christopher Lynch, Fellow in Church Music at Trinity Cathedral. Young singers from Portland’s Trinity Cathedral Choir School will sing a new motet for children’s voices by Kenneth Kosche commissioned for the Bach Vespers. Organ prelude will begin at 4:50. Free will offering.

NOTE: We are now in the process of hiring a new Minister of Music. Please click here for more information.

Mark Your Calendars!

Sunday, April 15th and Sunday, April 22nd … These are two of the most important dates for St. James this year. On Sunday, April 15th our Pastoral Candidate, recommended and approved by Council, will preach at the 9:30am service (Pastor Janet will preside). There will be a Q&A session following the service to give members […]