Communications | St. James Lutheran Church

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” –Winston Churchill

Welcome to October at St. James! We begin our Stewardship Emphasis, “Why I Give.” The quote above is attributed to Winston Churchill and adjusts our focus from making a LIVING to making a LIFE. Often the first part of our adult years center on gathering...

“With what grace should I treat others?” –Laura Sasaki Norton

September marks a change in the seasons. It also signals a liturgical change of focus at St. James. During the summer our Gospel readings asked “What does it mean to be a disciple?” Now we ask “How do disciples deal with one another in...

“…there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there…” –John 2

August is a wedding month at St. James. Committing to healthy relationships is worth celebrating! Even Jesus’ mother thought so (always listen to your mother!). Chelsea and Ethan Kimmett are St. James members who will honor their 10th wedding anniversary with an...

Celebrating Our Namesake

On Sunday, July 23rd we will commemorate our name: St. James Lutheran Church. In October of 1889, a small band of Lutherans gathered in the wild, undeveloped part of the Oregon territory called Portland to found the first English speaking Lutheran Church within...

“His greatest present, was not to panic.” –Pestered by Plague

Historian and St. James member Friedrich Schuler recently published a book on the 1899 Quarantine Station in Astoria, Oregon. Dr. Hill Hastings is credited with keeping the fishing and timber community safe during the plague. Yet Schuler suggests that his greatest...

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of a bush…” –Exodus 3

Seen any burning bushes lately? In a recent article, Victor Parachin suggests that we could learn something from Moses: how to minister in the midst of diversity. This month we prepare to celebrate the many voices and cultures of Pentecost Sunday (May 28th). So what...