"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 this expression of St. James Lutheran Church. During this time when the pandemic limits the extent to which we can meet physically, I hope you will:
- Gain hope through the prayer, readings, sermons and music each week on our “Worship & Sermons” page (click on “Communications > Worship & Sermons” above.)
- Feed those in need who live on our streets. Each weekday at Noon we offer needed items to the 50-70 individuals who gather in the Park Blocks outside our building. Through your donations (both money and in-kind) we provide: bottled water, fresh fruit, protein or fruit bars, Ensure drink, cup-a-soup, hygiene products, new socks, used books, etc.
- Stay healthy and pray for others. Check on your neighbors. Support our weekday meals for the houseless.
- Continue your financial support of our St. James ministry (click on “E-Giving” above or drop a check in the mail.)
- Be inspired by the poetry and prayers listed on our “Reflections” page (click on “Communications > Reflections” above.)
We want you to REMAIN HEALTHY during these uncertain times. We hope that by restricting group activities we will be able to REACH OUT IN LOVE to those near our homes.
-Pastor David Knapp
Worship Services
WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT ST. JAMES!NOTE: We may safely hold 50 people per service (six feet apart, masked.) It is helpful if you sign up online.
Sunday Morning Worship
Every Sunday at 9:30amDuring this pandemic, St. James is pleased to provide these Sunday Worship options:
1.) We have returned to our traditional worship schedule of one service at 9:30am in our beautiful sanctuary (no 11:00am service.)
- Maximum of 50 people. Online sign-up required via our online form: https://signup.com/go/JVKxRwx. Contact Karin Hatch if you have difficulty with the online form.
- Masks and social distancing will be required. Seating will be six feet apart.
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 of our Jazz Vespers Service is now available starting on Sunday, February 21st, when we welcome our featured guest guitarist John Stowell.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 -- 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.
Peter, Paul, and Mary: How They Guide Our Lenten Journey
Pastor David’s recorded Lenten Bible Study began on Ash Wednesday, February 17th and will continue through Wednesday, April 7th. Many are joining this journey by turning to our website each Wednesday when a new session is added. We ask hard questions about the origins of scripture, the distinction between fact and belief, and how biblical characters and writers viewed Jesus. We are having fun with Peter, Paul, and Mary: both the 1960’s folk group by that name and also Simon Peter, Paul the apostle, and Mary Magdalene.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Wednesday, March 3rd: Simon Peter was a Jewish Apocalypticist. He believed that God had revealed in Jesus the heavenly secrets that would make sense of the pain and uncertainty of life. God would break into our world at any moment to rescue his chosen ones. Why didn’t the rescue occur? What does that mean for us?
Wednesday, March 10th: Paul the apostle was a marketer. His product was Jesus and Jesus’ message. Like the 1960’s folk group, the message needed a manager and an advertising firm … that was Paul. Of the thirteen books claimed to be authored by Paul in your New Testament, which ones actually were?
Wednesday, March 17th: The unity of the early church is a myth. Peter and Paul did not see eye to eye on just about anything. The song “If I Had A Hammer” would have been a good tool to use literally with these two. How did they differ? Who won out? The answer determined what you think about Jesus today.
Wednesday, March 24th: Who was Mary Magdalene? Why is so little written about her? Was she married to Jesus? Do you believe the early church propaganda that she was a prostitute? How did she view Jesus?
Wednesday, March 31st: During Holy Week we follow Jesus to the cross. Why are the passion narratives in the four Gospels different? What really happened? Why do we refer to the books as “gospels” rather than “histories?” What is a theological retelling?
Wednesday, April 7th: Mary was present at the empty tomb. Was Jesus resurrected bodily or spiritually? Was Mary, a female, the first Christian missionary who headed to France? Why didn’t that make it into your Bible? So as this study concludes, what do you think of Jesus?
Listen each Wednesday — with a Bible in hand — here on our St. James website:
https://stjamespdx.org/communications/bible-study