"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: Governor Brown has issued a statewide Oregon Indoor Mask Requirement, effective Friday, August 13th, 2021 -- in order to limit the spread of the Delta variant as much as possible indoors, where COVID-19 spreads more easily. Our official stance at St. James will be to follow this requirement of the Governor and the Oregon Health Authority. Masks will be required for our indoor services at St. James. Thanks to all for your adherence to these public health guidelines.
Sunday Morning Worship
- Every Sunday at 9:30am in our beautiful sanctuary.
- 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 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, be sure to join us in-person on September 19th at 5:00pm when our Jazz Vespers series continues at St. James -- our special guest for this live performance will be Lars Campbell on trombone.Musical accompaniment by Mike Horsfall on piano, Dennis Caiazza on bass, and Brent Follis on drums. Pastor David Knapp is the liturgist, and Valarie Griffiths Brown is the vocalist. We invite you to attend here at St. James and we ask you to make a freewill donation (offering) to help support our musicians as we prepare for our 2021-2022 season. Although we are resuming our Jazz Vespers series in-person at St. James -- 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. Unfortunately -- there is no recording of our 5:00pm Jazz Vespers Service from September 19th, 2021.
NOTE: Please join us once again in-person on October 17th at 5:00pm when our 2021-2022 Jazz Vespers season continues at St. James -- our special guest for this live performance will be Israel Annoh on percussion.
Look ahead. Fall 2021 at St. James
St. James Choir Returns …
As we approach a new season, we anticipate a new beginning in musical worship at St. James. While we won’t simply flip a switch and go back to “normal” right out of the gate, we are still very excited to reclaim choral singing as a part of our worship. Two things we know for certain at this time is that all singers will be vaccinated and will continue to wear masks while singing. We are currently exploring ways to bring singers into the service safely. I am confident that there is an abundance of the holy spirit to reinforce our efforts, and ample grace to help us make these adjustments with flexibility and patience.
-Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry
We have much to look forward to as we continue to bring musical elements back into our services. This month we will explore themes of healing, good works, taking up our crosses, and honoring the 20th anniversary of 9/11 by renewing our commitment to bring peace to the world and our lives. May God watch over us and work through our hands and voices as we sing His praises! Soli deo gloria.
Open Space Fall Schedule on Sundays at 11:00am …
September 12th. ELCA Film on Service. Watch a short film related to the ELCA’s emphasis on service and engage in a discussion with Pastor David about how we at St. James serve the community.
September 19th. Emanuel Hospital Film and Synod work on Reparations. Watch a short film related to the displacement of African American people in Portland due to the building of Emanuel Hospital. Engage in a discussion related to the content of the film.
September 26th. Art Group: “Immigration”. Paula Carlson leads a discussion about the exhibition.
October 3rd. Blessing of the Children. We will honor the memory of Pastor Joe Smith as we place a “Blessing of the Children” plaque in our worship space.
October 10th. Sharing our Gifts. Part One: We feature Friedrich Schuler on his book “A Shield for the Columbia River”. We also feature Sue Hammond on her book “I Talk to Trees”.
October 17th. Sharing our Gifts. Part Two: We listen to author Lori McCloskey on her “Max the Cat” detective mystery series, which upholds disabled characters.
October 24th. 40th Anniversary of St. James CDC. Celebrate the ministry of the St. James Child Development Center with Patrick Earnest and John Danielson.
October 31st. Musings on Luther’s iconic hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. It is Reformation Sunday! Join us as we discuss Luther’s iconic hymn, “A Mighty Fortress” with our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
November 7th. Japanese Internment Camp Survivor. Hear Joni Kimoto’s personal story of her experience in a Japanese internment camp.
November 14th. Ordination Celebrations. Celebrate the 51st anniversary of David Zellmer’s ordination and the 50th anniversary of Bill Coffman’s.
Children’s Sunday School Begins …
On Sunday, September 19th, in-person Children’s Sunday School will begin at St. James at 11:00am. For the last few years our congregation’s children have had the fortune of being taught by Jan Nelson. She picks up the mantle again for the first four weeks of the year before stepping down. Fortunately, through a collaborative effort between Colin Stave, Chelsea Kimmett, and Joshua Peters McBride, we will be able to continue with Sunday School activities through December. We are looking for someone who is willing to teach 2-3 Sundays a week beginning in the winter. Please let Mandy Ellertson know if you are interested.
Construction Begins …
Three major projects are taking place at St. James this fall including the installation of a new roof, a complete seismic upgrade in the Pioneer Chapel, and the installation of a brand new HVAC system. Due to these changes, there will be general construction debris in the area and less street parking. These projects are a great investment in our church and will help ensure that we stay “in the city for good.” If you have any questions, contact Carl Cottingham, Sue Hammond, David Scott, Larry Larsen, Becky Bolt, or Don Nielsen.