"We share God's inclusive and eternal love with everyone!"
St. James Lutheran Church
"In the City for Good"
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. 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
Sunday Morning Worship
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- Sunday Morning In-Person Worship
9:30am Eucharist at:
St. James Lutheran Church
1315 SW Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
- Sunday Morning In-Person Worship
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- Sunday Morning Online Worship
Join us online on the St. James YouTube channel -- or here on this website.
- Sunday Morning Online Worship
Midweek Eucharist
NOTE: Midweek Eucharist has ended for the time being.
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- Wednesday Eucharist
30-minute 12:00 Noon service in Pioneer Chapel.
- Wednesday Eucharist
Bach Cantata Vespers
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- Bach Cantata Vespers
Please mark your calendars on the first Sunday of Advent for a Choral Vespers service centered on Bach’s Cantata 62, "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Savior of the nations, come). This occasion will mark 300 years since the work was premiered on December 3rd, 1724. The central hymn and text come from Martin Luther, himself, and proclaims the arrival of Jesus as savior in a number of contexts. Join us at 5:00pm on December 1st, 2024 to welcome the Advent season with the St. James Choir, soloists, and orchestra.
- Bach Cantata Vespers
Jazz Vespers
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- Jazz Vespers
Every 3rd Sunday at 4:50pm.
- Jazz Vespers
In February, 132 people gathered for Jazz Vespers. We were pleased to be a venue for the PDX Jazz Festival. KOIN News ran the story. This month, be sure to join us in-person on Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 4:50pm in our St. James sanctuary for the fourth concert of our 2024-2025 Jazz Vespers series -- our special guest for this live performance is Kerry Politzer on piano with Mike Horsfall on vibes.
Musical accompaniment by Laurent Nickel on bass, and Tim Rap on drums. Karyn Slanina is serving as cantor, and Pastor David is our liturgist. We invite you to attend as we return to our recently renovated St. James Lutheran Church building and we ask you to make a freewill donation (offering) to help support our musicians as we continue our 2024-2025 season. December marks the fourth month of this 12-month Jazz Vespers series.
Please check out the complete schedule for our new 2024-2025 season by navigating to "Life at St. James > Worship & Music > Jazz Vespers" on the main navigation menu at the top of this page. Or you can click here to link directly to our "Jazz Vespers" page.
In addition to the live performances of our current St. James Jazz Vespers series -- please remember that you may still enjoy some of our prior Jazz Vespers on video.
You can find links to previous Jazz Vespers recordings by navigating to "Communications > Music" on the main navigation menu at the top of this page. Or you can click here to link 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 again next month for another great Jazz performance -- when we continue our 2024-2025 season of Jazz Vespers with violinist Eddie Parente -- at 4:50pm on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.
Christmas at St. James 2024
Sunday, December 1st: 1st Sunday in Advent
Ten new members will be received. World AIDS Day. The Great Thanksgiving Meal. Choral Vespers at 5:00pm.
Saturday, December 7th: Decking the Halls
We gather at 9:00am to decorate the sanctuary and raise the Christmas tree.
Sunday, December 8th: 2nd Sunday of Advent
The Fireside Singers share music during coffee time.
Sunday, December 15th: 3rd Sunday in Advent
Lucia Bride in worship. Scandinavian Coffee Hour. 4:50pm Christmas Jazz Vespers.
Saturday, December 21st: Winter Solstice
Labyrinth Walk on the Winter Solstice, 10:00am – 12:00Noon.
Sunday, December 22nd: 4th Sunday in Advent
Mary, Mother of Our Lord Sunday. Violinist Megan Scott will play carols and requests.
Tuesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve
Candlelight Worship at 4:30pm and 10:30pm.
Sunday, December 29th: 1st Sunday of Christmas
Cookies and Carols Day.
“Courtesy Call”
From Pastor David’s Desk …
This season of Advent is God’s “Courtesy Call” for the Biblical characters to enter the stage to prepare for the birth of the Christ Child. For four Sundays (December 1st – 22nd), the host of characters include the arrival of Malachi’s image of a refiner’s fire, Isaiah’s vision of rough places made smooth, knee-deep in water with John baptizing, and Mary singing her radical song of justice and joy. These actors in the divine performance insist that God will not allow us to hold the new Christmas baby until we acknowledge that there are no quick fixes or easy answers, something deeper than feel-good moments, no pat religious responses.
As pregnant Mary insists in her challenging melody, this baby seeks to change the social order and usher in the Kingdom of God. It will cost him his life on a Jerusalem cross before resurrected order can begin. Then, and only then, can Advent welcome Christmas joy, as we too, enter the stage to hold the Christ Child. At St. James, let’s gather weekly for this divine theatrical event so we can see clear-eyed who it is we are cuddling in the manger.
–Pastor David
St. James Welcomes 10 New Members …
We look forward to receiving ten new members at St. James on Sunday, December 1st during worship. They will be introduced at that time and a welcoming reception will follow.
Bach Vespers on December 1st …
Join us on the First Sunday of Advent for a Choral Vespers service centered on Bach’s Cantata number 62, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” (Savior of the nations, come). This occasion will mark 300 years since the work was premiered on December 3rd, 1724. The central hymn and text come from Martin Luther, himself, and proclaims the arrival of Jesus as savior in a number of contexts. Join us at 5:00pm on December 1st to welcome the Advent season with the St. James Choir, soloists, and orchestra.
Sponsoring a Family in Need at Christmas …
As we have often done in years past, our St. James family is sponsoring a family in need this December. This year’s family has six children, ranging in ages from 9 to 17. They have each requested one clothing item and one “personal item”. Please click here to sign up on the website. It is important that each gift has a tag which includes the family’s assigned number (ours is #21) as well as the initials of the recipient. You will see that three members of our family have the same initials, so please add their age to the tag as well. If more of us would like to contribute beyond the list, please let either Cathie Coffman or Jane Lloyd know, and have the initials of the family member to whom the gift will go. We hope to end up with each child receiving the same number of gifts.
Our deadline is fast approaching. Please bring your gifts to the church no later than Sunday, December 8th. For those who would like to donate a gift card to either Target or WalMart, please give those gifts to either Jane or Cathie. Thank you for your generosity!
Helping the Unsheltered with Food Boxes …
Our food ministry continues each weekday at 11:30am with those in need in the park. Join us on Tuesdays, December 3rd and 17th at 10:00am in Pioneer Chapel to pack food boxes for our houseless neighbors. We will return on January 3rd for more boxing.
During these cold winter months, St. James has handed out over 50 articles of winter clothing, with more ready to go.
If you are interested in donating supplies, you can access our Amazon Wish List that lists what our supply closet is in need of. You can go to amzn.to/3BazQ9b to take you to the list.
Make A Gift to the PDX Housing Solidarity Campaign …
During this holiday season, many of us are putting up wreaths and decorations in our homes to celebrate. As we do so, let’s remember those who are working to purchase a home of their own. The drive to raise funds to help someone from the BIPOC community put a down payment on a house continues until January 31st, 2025. If you wish to contribute a tax free gift this Christmas, do so via St. James. Checks can be made payable to St. James Lutheran Church with the following in the memo line: PDX Housing Solidarity. Thank you!
Welcome PSU Students …
Last month, four students from Portland State University filmed a short movie for their American Culture class in our St. James sanctuary. The story depicts how one of the students found acceptance in a local church near her home where she was raised. This month, when the assignment is complete, we will get a copy. Additionally, new PSU students Solomon and also Rachel will be joining us in worship.
Autumn Leaves Coat Our Sidewalk …
This Autumn, our large maple trees have dropped big golden leaves, leaving a great yellow carpet outside our door! It’s been a colorful fall for Portland this year, and we hoped you’ve enjoyed the view. Our thanks to Larry Larson for keeping our sidewalks and roof clear during this fall season.
Our Hands Helping Worldwide …
On November 10th, St. James welcomed Jon Buuck from Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service). He thanked us for our financial gifts and for our Christmas gifts to local refugee families who arrived through Global Refuge.
Then on November 17th, we welcomed Pastor Lisa Kipp of Lutheran World Relief (LWR). She updated us on how our St. James dollars, along with gifts from other Lutheran Churches, are assisting those in need around the world. In 2025, we will thank God for LWR’s 80 years of helping.