April 10th: Palm/Passion Sunday
9:30am Procession and Worship/Eucharist
On this day Jesus entered Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna.”
April 13th: Holy Wednesday
Thriving Spiritually Online Study
“The Other Mary and Dr. Luke”
April 14th: Maundy Thursday
12:00 Noon Worship/Eucharist
On this day Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples.
April 15th: Good Friday
7:00pm Worship
This day marks Jesus’s death on the cross.
April 16th: Holy Saturday
9:30am Contemplative Prayer via Zoom
A day of solemn reflection.
April 17th: Easter Sunday
9:30am Festival Worship/Eucharist
5:00pm Easter Jazz Vespers
Christ is risen!
From Pastor David:
“Early hasten to the tomb where they laid his breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken him away?
Christ is risen! He meets our eyes. Savior teach us so to rise.”
The lyrics from Go To Darkness Gethsemane point us to a change, a movement:
-From Jesus’s death to resurrection
-From Good Friday pain to Easter joy
-From our daily struggles to live with wholeness and purpose
As our spiritual landscape changes, so does our historic St. James building. Our new heating and cooling system is being installed right now and we will continue to worship in our sanctuary through Easter Sunday (April 17th). Then we will step just next door to Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist for our Sunday morning 9:30am worship service for several weeks. Our ushers will greet you at that door and direct you. Newness comes in many ways during our Easter season.
“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation,” Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church. That includes us.
–Pastor David
Also coming up in April:
St. James Young Families Gathering
Come enjoy the cherry blossoms on Sunday, April 3rd at the Waterfront with other St. James members after church. Bring your own food for a snack or a meal. Talk to Paula Veseth for more information!
St. James Food Box Ministry — Volunteers Needed!
Twice a month the St. James Food Box group meets in Pioneer Chapel to pack food boxes for our houseless neighbors. This month we will meet on Tuesday, April 5th and Thursday, April 21st at 10:00am. We hope you can join us! In addition to the food boxes packed by St. James members, we also distribute deli items donated by the 39th and Hawthorne Fred Meyer. Every Tuesday morning, a member of St. James volunteers to pick up these deli items and drops them off at St. James. If you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month with this task, please contact the front desk so Elsa can provide more information!
Thriving Spiritually In Lent — Bible Study
Thanks to all who have accessed our website (https://stjamespdx.org/communications/bible-study/) each Wednesday since March 9th to explore the stories of Biblical characters with Pastor David. We have journeyed from “Love of God to Love of Self to Love of Others.” We have walked with Judge Deborah, General Naaman, Elijah, Mother Mary, Jacob, Ruth, and Nicodemus. This month our trek continues with: “Zaccheus’s and Peter’s Makeover” (Wednesday, April 6th) and “The Other Mary and Dr. Luke” (Wednesday, April 13th).
Indigenous Spirit: Weaving Justice and Peace in a Wounded Land
You are invited to join the online Rutlen Faith and Creation Lectureship Series at Luther Seminary. This year’s featured speaker, from George Fox University, is Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture and Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies. His lecture is titled, “Indigenous Spirit: Weaving Justice and Peace in a Wounded Land.” Dr. Woodley is recognized as a Cherokee descendent by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. He is active in the ongoing discussions concerning new church movements, racial and ethnic diversity, peace, racism, Earth justice, Indigenous spirituality, interreligious dialogue, and mission. For more information, or to register for this online webinar, visit https://tinyurl.com/indigenouslutherseminary. The webinar takes place on Thursday, April 7th, 2022 at 5:00pm. This lectureship series is made possible by a gift from St. James member David Rutlen.
Interfaith Event: Justice Through Compassion
On Saturday, April 9th at 6:30pm, we will join with Muslims, who break the Ramadan fast, and also our Jewish friends (before Passover) for an in-person and Zoom gathering. Harris Zafer and Pastor David will co-chair the event at Portland Rizwan Mosque (9925 SW 35th Drive, Portland) near Jackson Middle School. The gathering is co-sponsored by St. James and Rizwan Mosque during Ramadan, Passover preparation and Holy Week. Zoom information will be available on Thursday, April 7th.
CROP Hunger Walk
The Portland CROP Hunger Walk takes place on Sunday, April 24th, beginning at 12:30pm. It starts right across the street at First Christian Church and is only three miles long. CROP Hunger Walks are a significant source of funds for Church World Service, an organization that does disaster relief and development work in the United States and around the world. 25% of what we raise will go to the NE Emergency Food Program. The rest will help fund world-wide projects including services for displaced people (almost 60% of CWS expenses in 2021), providing clean water and sanitation facilities in rural communities, and helping make schools safe places for children to learn.
You can go to https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/event/portlandor for more information.
If you would like to join our walking team, the Soles of St. James, please contact Esther Portnoy.
