St. James has a number of opportunities to get involved both inside and outside our building’s walls. There are several groups that meet regularly, such as Book Club and Visual Artists. We are also committed to serving those in need by providing many ministries to the community, often through partnerships with other organizations such as Loaves and Fishes and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Contact the Church Office (503-227-2439) for more information.
Groups
St. James Book Club
Fourth Tuesday of Every Month, 7:10pm
St. James Book Club meets on a monthly basis to discuss all kinds of books! In the past year we have read such titles as The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones, The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman and Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. All are welcome to attend, nominate book selections, and participate in discussion!
St. James Visual Artist’s Group
Last Saturday of Every Month, 10:00am-12:00pm
St. James Visual Artist’s Group is a collection of visual artists who gather once a month to show our art to each other and receive feedback and suggestions! All practicing artists are welcome to attend!
St. James Women of the ELCA (WELCA)
Meeting: Third Tuesday Sept.-June, 10:00am
Fair Trade Sales: First Sunday of Every Month, 10:30am
St. James WELCA Group meets regularly for prayer, conversation, and bible study. We work diligently to provide both funds and services to those in our community and elsewhere who are in need. We also sell fair trade coffee, chocolate, and other products once a month after worship through a partnership with Lutheran World Relief. These monthly sales help various people throughout the world generate income through fair trade practices.
Contemplative Prayer at St. James
First and Third Saturday mornings, 9:30am
Contemplative Prayer is continuing to happen remotely during this time of quarantine and isolation.
NOTE: We will meet the next three weeks on Saturdays, March 28th, April 4th, April 11th at 9:30am for a 45 minute time of meditation, sharing and silence. After that we will return to twice monthly on the first and third Saturday mornings. We will do it through the Zoom Platform. If you want to be added to the list of participants, please let Susan McBerry know (mcberry@lclark.edu).
Taking time to remove oneself from the noise of daily life is a gift you can give yourself.
Anyone interested in contemplative listening to God is invited to join us. We spend time in silence, in reading sacred texts, and praying for the world, each other and ourselves.
Ministries
St. James Community Garden
St. James has been growing food in our garden for over five years.
The Fulton Garden is located in SW Portland at the Fulton Community Garden. The produce from this garden is donated to the downtown Loaves and Fishes Meals on Wheels location.
Goose Hollow Family Shelter
Fourth Wednesday of Every Month, 6:30pm
Once a month, St. James volunteers at the Goose Hollow Family Shelter where we provide a meal and hospitality while connecting with families that are experiencing homelessness. During this difficult time these families are working with the Portland Homeless Family Solutions on getting a place of their own. St. James volunteers provide an evening meal, play with children, and assist with household tasks.
Lutheran Ligaments
Every year, a group of 12 people mostly from St. James participate in the annual Hood to Coast Relay. This group of walkers starts in Portland and makes their way to the Oregon coast along with the many others that participate in this event. Donations received for the event benefit Lutheran Community Services.
Habitat for Humanity
St. James regularly participates in Build Days for Habitat for Humanity and raises funds for construction efforts.
Boxcars (School and Health Kits)
Spring, Fall
Twice a year St. James assembles school and health kits that are shipped to developing countries all over the world, through Lutheran World Relief. School kits help children attend school with the needed supplies, and health kits are provided to people who have experienced natural disasters and other trauma.
Let the Light Shine
Every year during Advent or Epiphany St. James hosts an educational lecture series on a current social issue, typically for 4-6 weeks. Topics have included: mental illness, homelessness, and most recently human trafficking. St. James also co-sponsored a series with the Muslim Educational Trust.
Concerts for a Cause
These concerts are open to the public and all proceeds go to support various causes designated by the performer. Recently Christopher Wicks performed “La Nativite du Seigneur ” (The Nativity of the Lord). The proceeds for this concert went to the Oregon Food Bank.
Shrove Tuesday
St. James comes together the day before Ash Wednesday, which is typically called Fat Tuesday, with a pancake feed. We open our doors to the surrounding neighborhood; all are invited to join in this festive meal.
