"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 (9:30am with masks), 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: We have been meeting for in-person worship since August 2020. We follow the safety protocols from the Oregon Health Authority. If you are vaccinated you may choose to sit closer than six feet. The cantor will lead us as we sing under our masks. We will continue to update the protocols as we follow the advice of the Health Authority and the CDC.
Sunday Morning Worship
- Every Sunday at 9:30am
- 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 sign-up online to physically attend in-person at St. James -- or you watch our video recording on your computer at home -- we invite you to join us for worship!
Jazz Vespers
This month, the video recording of our Jazz Vespers Service will be available starting on Sunday, June 20th, when we welcome our featured guest Haley Horsfall on vocals & percussion.Musical accompaniment by Mike Horsfall on piano, Laurent Nichol on bass, and Brent Follis on drums. Pastor David Knapp is the liturgist, and Valarie Griffiths Brown is the vocalist. We invite you to send a donation (offering) to help support our musicians during this pandemic. Until we resume our Jazz Vespers series in-person at St. James on August 15th -- we hope you enjoy Jazz Vespers on video.
You can find links to all of our 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.
Our special guest for the July 18th Jazz Vespers video recording will be Cheryl Alex on flute & alto flute.
NOTE: Be sure to join us in-person beginning August 15th at 5:00pm when our Jazz Vespers series returns to St. James -- our special guest for this live performance will be Dmitri Matheny on flugelhorn.
June 2021 Announcements
PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY. On Sunday, May 30th we thanked our Interim Music Director and Organist, Michael Lindner, for guiding our music program through a time of transition and pandemic. On Sunday, June 6th, we will introduce our permanent Director of Music Ministry, Colin Stave. Colin is an experienced church musician, choral singer, and conductor. His adeptness at planning repertoire for varied abilities and age groups will bring inclusiveness to all. His ability to administer, work with Pastor and staff, develop a Vespers series, and involve himself in the congregation gives him valuable understanding into the life of a church. With an educational background from Pacific Lutheran University, Central Washington University, and University of Southern California, his degrees include a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting, and, soon, a Doctorate in Music. Colin possesses the focus to elevate music as an expression of faith and spiritual growth.
THANKS FROM LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF. Last October you gave over $21,000 to help Lutheran World Relief assist those in Lebanon affected by the port explosion. Then, this spring you raised an additional $15,000 to help them get the vaccine to developing countries. This month, Pastor Lisa Kipp will travel to St. James to say Thank You. On Sunday, June 20th, she will preach for us and then show a video after worship of how our gifts are touching others with love all over the world.
SUMMER BIBLE STUDY. On Wednesdays in the month of July, Pastor David will provide another multi-week recorded Bible Study here on our website. The theme will be “Is Jesus God: Creeds, Chaos and Constantine.” Then on Sunday, August 1st you are invited to gather at 11:00am for an in-person discussion as the series concludes. From February to April we explored “Peter, Paul and Mary: How They Guide Our Lenten Journey.” The study invited us to see how the scriptures were formed and how some of Jesus’ companions viewed him. So what happened next? What can the early history of the Christian Church tell us about how our creeds were constructed and why we share them today? How was Emperor Constantine part of this? Join us.