WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Reception for Nancy Nickel
Saturday, June 2nd, from 4-6:00pm, in the Pioneer Chapel
Mark your calendars for this special event when we say “Goodbye” to our very special Minister of Music. On the eve of Nancy’s last Bach Cantata we will gather to wish her well, and send her off with love and thanksgiving for the music ministry she has guided St. James through for the past 13 years. This should be a celebration you won’t want to miss.
Education hour following the 9:30 am service and coffee.
E.L.C.A. Series, June 2018
Five Lutheran Theologians, an Agnostic, and an Anabaptist walk into a church. No, it’s not the opening line of a theological humorist’s stand-up routine, it’s St. James’ Open Space four-part series on the E.L.C.A.! Ever wonder about those four letters, about those four words – Evangelical. Lutheran. Church. in America.? Each week in June you can partake in a lively, funny, hopefully informative, and perhaps provocative conversation on each of these words. Join us as we reflect together on our varied experiences and understandings of each word, how they can reflect and shape our religious identity, and how we might navigate the various notions of these words in our contemporary lives.
6/3: E.– Evangelical: “It’s not a bad word!”
As your Latin teacher may have intoned – abusus non tollit usum – “abuse does not preclude proper use.” What comes to mind when you hear the word, “evangelical”? What feelings, thoughts, and preconceptions does the word evoke for you? What do you think it evokes in others? Euangelion – it simply means Good News! So, what exactly is this good news? German Theological Karl Barth presents a compelling case that the Good News is God’s great “Yes!” to humanity and all of creation. Let’s gather around such a definition and reclaim the use of a good word.
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
Education hour following the 9:30 am service and coffee.
E.L.C.A. Series, June 2018
Five Lutheran Theologians, an Agnostic, and an Anabaptist walk into a church. No, it’s not the opening line of a theological humorist’s stand-up routine, it’s St. James’ Open Space four-part series on the E.L.C.A.! Ever wonder about those four letters, about those four words – Evangelical. Lutheran. Church. in America.? Each week in June you can partake in a lively, funny, hopefully informative, and perhaps provocative conversation on each of these words. Join us as we reflect together on our varied experiences and understandings of each word, how they can reflect and shape our religious identity, and how we might navigate the various notions of these words in our contemporary lives.
6/10: L. – Lutheran: “From Slur to Sigil”
What does it mean to be “Lutheran”? Grab some Lutefisk, crank up the Bach, and hone your best Scandinavian accent – the Lutherans are coming to town! Yes, we Lutherans are a serious people, but let’s take a few moments to poke some good-hearted fun at ourselves, seriously. Once we’re properly humbled and collect our breathe from some well-deserved guffawing, let’s put on our thinking caps for a consideration of three of Martin Luther’s most influential writings – To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian, all published in 1520, but wonderfully relevant 500 years later.
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
Education hour following the 9:30 am service and coffee.
E.L.C.A. Series, June 2018
Five Lutheran Theologians, an Agnostic, and an Anabaptist walk into a church. No, it’s not the opening line of a theological humorist’s stand-up routine, it’s St. James’ Open Space four-part series on the E.L.C.A.! Ever wonder about those four letters, about those four words – Evangelical. Lutheran. Church. in America.? Each week in June you can partake in a lively, funny, hopefully informative, and perhaps provocative conversation on each of these words. Join us as we reflect together on our varied experiences and understandings of each word, how they can reflect and shape our religious identity, and how we might navigate the various notions of these words in our contemporary lives.
6/17: C.– Church: “Of Christ, but In and For the World”
Polis, Agora, Ekklesia. City, Marketplace, Assembly. The brothers Reinhold and Richard Niebuhr were profoundly influential public theologians in 20th century American life. They each spoke to the church and on behalf of the church to politicians and policymakers about the intersection of religion, politics, ethics, and public life. What do the brothers Niebuhr have to say to help us be church in and for the world today? How can they help us articulate a pastoral and prophetic voice in the public square?
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
Education hour following the 9:30 am service and coffee.
E.L.C.A. Series, June 2018
Five Lutheran Theologians, an Agnostic, and an Anabaptist walk into a church. No, it’s not the opening line of a theological humorist’s stand-up routine, it’s St. James’ Open Space four-part series on the E.L.C.A.! Ever wonder about those four letters, about those four words – Evangelical. Lutheran. Church. in America.? Each week in June you can partake in a lively, funny, hopefully informative, and perhaps provocative conversation on each of these words. Join us as we reflect together on our varied experiences and understandings of each word, how they can reflect and shape our religious identity, and how we might navigate the various notions of these words in our contemporary lives.
6/24: A. – in America: “I Pledge Allegiance?”
The power of a preposition properly placed. Is it the E.L.C. of A. or the E.L.C. in A.? We are a creedal church, not a national one. Is reciting the Creeds and obeying the First Commandment compatible with placing a hand over our heart and reciting the pledge of allegiance? It isn’t just Anabaptists who discern the difficulty of trying to serve two masters – God and country. German Christians in the 1930s and 1940s were confronted with a stark choice – pledge their allegiance to the Nazi state or face persecution, possible imprisonment, and perhaps death. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a founding member of the Confessing Church, and Karl Barth (yep, we met him three weeks ago), who crafted the Barmen Declaration – a statement of confession, allegiance, and resistance, provide us with the theological ballast needed to whether the temptations of a host of nasty –isms, starting with nationalism.
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!
Sunday School Returns:
Sunday School and Open Space returned on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. We moved back to our newly renovated St. James historic building on October 23rd, 2022.
Children’s Sunday School Events at St. James:
From October–December, the St. James Sunday School will be hosting three special events for children. Mark your calendars!
October 30th: Exploring The Season of the Soul with crafts and stories related to Dios de los Muertos and All Saints Days.
November 20th: Join in some guided activities for children about the importance of thanks and gratitude. Activities include the children creating “Gratitude Trees” to share with their loved ones.
December 18th: All we need is love and Christmas cookies right? On this day we will have a special event decorating cookies that represent the holiday season we enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Years.
WELCOME BACK, CHOIR!
Our St. James Sanctuary Choir has returned after a summer break. They will enhance our worship each Sunday under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave.
NOTE: The St. James Choir began rehearsing on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 and returned to worship on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Contact Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry if you would like to join the choir. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 7:15pm.
The St. James Choir continues a long and distinguished congregational tradition of liturgical and concert singing. Their repertoire includes a wide range of music from composers of the Renaissance and Reformation periods to contemporary works by local and nationally-known composers, such as Timothy Nickel, Frank Ferko, and others. Members rehearse every Thursday evening from 7:15-8:45pm during the program year (September through early June). Most choir members also participate in the Bach Cantata Vespers Services. People of all ages are invited to sing with us!
Education hour at 11:00am — following the 9:30am service and coffee
Sundays Year-Round, 11:00am-12:00pm
Open Space takes place most Sunday mornings in the Main Sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend and listen, participate, learn, grow, and share as we develop a stronger sense of our individual faith and also who we are as a community of believers in our world today. Topics range from biblical study to current events, social issues, and information session about local organizations. Open Space is a safe environment where all questions and viewpoints have the right to be heard respectfully.
Open Space Schedule:
Much of the fall will be devoted to exploring Pastor Mark Brocker’s published book on faith and ecology entitled Coming Home to Earth. We will kick off the adult class with one session on September 17th titled “Same and Different.” The Eco Social Justice Committee will help facilitate. The time will be spent exploring our similarities and differences as St. James members. The goal is to discover the richness of our congregation and how what we have in common is just as important as what makes us different.
Calendar is as follows:
September 17th: Same and Different — What do we have in common at St. James and where do we find differences?
September 24th: Begin the Coming Home to Earth series with Pastor Mark Brocker
October 1st: Coming Home to Earth: Loss of Love for Earth
October 8th: Coming Home to Earth: Grieving with Earth
October 15th: Coming Home to Earth: The Things that Make for Peace
October 22nd: Endowment Luncheon
October 29th: Reformation Themes
November 5th: Coming Home to Earth: Conversion to Earth
November 12th: Coming Home to Earth: Taking Up Our Ecological Cross
November 19th: Guided Imagery of Oregon History
November 26th: No Open Space
December 3rd: All Creation Sings with Colin Stave.
December 10th: The Christmas Story told by the Old Masters with Paula Carlson
December 17th: Scandinavian Coffee Hour
December 24th: No Open Space
December 31st: Cookies and Carols
January 7th: Pastor David’s Sabbatical Trip
January 14th: Archery Summit Wine Tasting
January 21st: St. James Annual Congregational Meeting and Meal
January 28th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire
February 4th: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Faith Under Fire with Pastor Mark Brocker
February 11th: No Open Space
February 18th: The Creative Spirit with Monica Setziol-Phillips
February 25th: Wine Tasting with Pastor Barry Rogge
March 3rd: ELCA World Hunger Relief Drive Presentation
March 10th: Wealth Redistribution for Housing Justice in Portland
March 17th: ELCA Statement on Civic Engagement and Faith
March 24th: Scott Baby Shower
March 31st: Easter Festival Coffee Hour
April 7th: Join Esther Portnoy to hear about the Crop Walk – another facet of fighting hunger in our community and world
April 14th: Historian Friedrich Schuler will share some of his expertise on South America in his presentation entitled “Miracles in Amazon: New Discoveries of Ancient Civilizations”
April 21st: Colin Stave previews Bach Cantata Vespers
April 28th: Harris Zafar of Rizwan Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be our guest. He will bring a greeting in worship and present “Hamas/Israeli War – A Muslim Perspective” at our 11:00am Open Space class.
Join us for an exciting series of Open Spaces Sundays this May at 11:00am!
May 5: Cancelling the Classics: Join Mandy Ellertson for an engaging and challenging discussion on issues associated with some classic literature. Come contrast the racially charged language of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn with the book James: A Novel by Percival Everett.
May 12: Gaza and Israel: Our Voices for Peace series continues with Zmira Lovejoy, a spiritual leader from Portland’s P’nai Or Jewish Community.
May 19: Follow-Up to PDX Housing Solidarity: Join the Eco Social Justice committee help set a path forward for how we, as a congregation, might join forces to help a BIPOC family find a way to purchase a home.
May 26: Memorial Weekend – Day Off!