Worship is the central gathering point for life and work at St. James. As we gather we recall the classic elements of Christian gathering since the earliest times of the Church:
● Confession and Absolution
● Praise
● Reading of Sacred Texts from Hebrew and Christian Scripture
● Confession of Faith
● Prayers of the Community
● Sharing of Christ’s Peace
● The Holy Meal (Communion)
● Sending into the World
The two great “peaks” of the worship experience are Word and Sacrament. The Sunday preaching texts are part of a three-year cycle of readings. Sermon, hymnody, choral and instrumental music reflect the thematic of these texts; Music Ministry is a vital part of worship and life at St. James.
Familiarity with worship forms comes from regular participation in the Sunday Assembly – it is, we are NOT ashamed to say, acquired behavior!!! Worship bulletins with texts, hymn and psalm notes, the “new” red hymnal (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) — and friendly help from your neighbor in the pew and the ushers will help you if you are a newcomer. Be patient – you may help us to discover elements of music and text we hadn’t noticed!
The Sunday liturgy is an opportunity not only to gather together as a community of faith, but to open our doors to everyone, sharing God’s love with all. We hope you will join us for worship, sing with us in the choir, or join our handbell choir!
Contact the Church Office at 503-227-2439, for more information.
Find Driving and Parking Directions here.
Worship Service Schedule
Sunday Morning Worship with Holy Communion
Join us in-person for worship and fellowship on Sundays at 9:30am.
Every Sunday at 9:30am at:
St. James Lutheran Church
1315 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR 97201
Holy Communion is celebrated at each Sunday liturgy. Refreshments and community time follow the worship service. Childcare available from 9:00am-12:00pm.
We have posted livestream recordings of our 9:30am worship service to the St. James YouTube channel. They are available to view here on our website by Sunday afternoon: Click here to link to our “Worship & Sermons” page …
Whether you physically attend in-person with us at our St. James building — or you watch our video recordings on your computer at home — we invite you to join us for worship!
Midweek Eucharist
NOTE: Midweek Eucharist has ended for the time being.
Wednesday Noon Eucharist …
We gathered for Noon Eucharist and the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 as the Season of Lent began. We then joined together every Wednesday following for Noon Eucharist in Pioneer Chapel and a Bible Exploration Class led by Pastor David. These events continued until the Festival of Pentecost in May.
WEDNESDAY NOON EUCHARIST AND CHURCH HISTORY …
We gathered this spring for a midweek reflection and exploration with Pastor David. From February 21st through May 15th, our Lenten and Easter seasons were enhanced by:
–A half-hour Wednesday 12:00 noon service of Eucharist in Pioneer Chapel
–A discussion of our Early Church History at 12:45pm.
–Our study was “From Jesus to Constantine: Early Christianity.” With the help of Professor Bart Ehrman and others we searched for how the Bible was compiled. We looked at the wide-range of “Christianities” that were labeled as heresies and discovered how the creeds of the church came to be. How did the number of followers of Jesus of Nazareth grow from 12 Disciples to the religion of record in the span of 400 years? How does our history inform our faithfulness today?
Every Wednesday at 12:00 noon.
A thirty-minute liturgy of Holy Communion takes place in the intimate setting of the Pioneer Chapel. This service provides an opportunity for communal prayer, a brief sermon and reflection. Scriptures may be used from the Daily Lectionary or may reflect the Calendar of Saints and Commemorations available to the wider Christian community.
Jazz Vespers
On August 15th, 2021 at 5:00pm — we began to resume live performances of our Jazz Vespers series here at St. James (NOTE: Since the completion of construction — we will be holding our services back in our newly renovated St. James Lutheran Church building). Please join us in-person for our next Jazz Vespers performance — in our St. James sanctuary — scheduled for Sunday, September 15th, 2024 at 4:50pm.
You may choose to listen below to the most recent recording of our Jazz Vespers Service from Sunday, August 18th, 2024. You may also check out other earlier recordings from our Jazz Vespers series — which are archived under “Communications > Music” here on our St. James website.
NOTE: There is no recording of the Jazz Vespers Service from Sunday, October 15th, 2023.
This 45 minute jazz musical setting of the Evening Prayer liturgy is held on the third Sunday of each month at 4:50pm. Professional jazz musicians and vocalists lead this reflective service with scriptural reading, psalms, hymns, and prayer. Preludes and postludes from the broad jazz repertoire precede and follow the service.
Click below to listen to the latest recording of Jazz Vespers.
Bach Cantata Vespers
Fall 2022 Vespers at St. James …
We reinvigorated the St. James Vespers tradition with a service in our newly renovated St. James Lutheran Church building on Sunday, November 13th, 2022 at 5:00pm. This Vespers service highlighted and celebrated the Reformation with instrumental, vocal, and organ music.
Bach Vespers Service on Sunday, November 13th, 2022 at 5:00pm.
“We are excited to return to our Vespers Ministry on the second Sunday of November. As we prepare to resume this beautiful tradition, we are looking at refreshing and reimagining it as well. For me, this means we must start with the foundation: the Vespers liturgy itself. This service will focus on highlighting the structural components of the liturgy, where and when they come from, and how they came to be a part of this centuries-old tradition. The ancient roots of this service will be evident in the 3rd Century Hymn ‘Joyous Light of Glory’, and a choral realization of a chant setting of the canticle, ‘Magnificat’ by Charles Wood. Tying into our fall Stewardship theme, the service will feature Paul Bouman’s beautiful anthem, ‘It Is a Good Thing to Give Thanks’. Please join us!”
–Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry
You may choose to listen below to the most recent recording of our Evening Prayer Vespers Service from Sunday, November 13th, 2022. Click below to listen to this latest recording of our Bach Cantata Vespers.
Summer 2023 Bach Cantata Vespers …
We hope that you enjoyed our Bach Cantata Vespers service on Sunday, June 11th, 2023 at 5:00pm. The service featured Bach’s charming Cantata 112 “Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt” (The Lord is my faithful Shepherd). The St. James Bach Choir was joined by soloists and instrumentalists. Our thanks to our Director of Music Ministry Colin Stave for his guidance and direction. Please join us for our next beautiful service with a reception to follow in Pioneer Chapel.
Please join us again in 2024 …
Spring 2024 Bach Cantata Vespers …
Thanks to all who attended our Bach Cantata Vespers service on Sunday, April 28th, 2024 at 5:00pm. The St. James Choir, guest singers, soloists, organ, and orchestra presented Bach’s “Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats” BWV 42. The service was followed by a reception in Pioneer Chapel.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Cantata!
Fall 2024 Bach Cantata Vespers …
Please mark your calendars for a Choral Vespers service on December 1st at 5:00pm. The centerpiece of the service will feature Bach’s Cantata 62, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland”, composed for the same Sunday, 300 years ago.
The Bach Cantata Vespers Services at St. James are unique to Portland as they present Bach’s cantatas in the historical context for which they were created. Presented with the same readings and spiritual milieu that inspired Bach to compose his cantatas, listeners are enriched in hearing Bach’s works in their sacred context. Portland’s finest instrumentalists, vocal soloists, and organists join with the St. James Bach Choir in the Vespers now being reinvigorated under the direction of our Director of Music Ministry, Colin Stave, after a hiatus. Newly commissioned motets by contemporary American composers are another feature of the event, bridging the old and the new.
Parkside Piano Series
Wrapping up the Summer Parkside Piano Series …
Thank you to all who came to enjoy the music, everyone who supported the series with your offerings, especially to our Piano donors.
This summer we heard three incredible concerts celebrating our sanctuary’s new Mason & Hamlin grand piano.
- On Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, we welcomed The Trillium Piano Quartet who presented two very different takes on classic chamber music: Robert Schumann’s “Piano Quartet in E-flat Major”, and film composer Danny Elfman’s “Piano Quartet”.
- On Sunday, July 28th, 2024, Hammer & Peg – featuring cellist Dylan Rieck and pianist Reece Marshburn – brought us a fun, fascinating mix of classical works, original pieces, and new arrangements of non-traditional repertoire including a Bossa Nova, Ragtime, and even a beautiful ballad by Billy Joel.
- Tim and Nancy LeRoi Nickel returned on Sunday, August 11th, 2024, presenting a concert that featured not only our beautiful piano, but also our two organs in just about every combination imaginable — featuring piano duets by Clara and Robert Schumann and their friends Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn — as well as Gaetano Piazza’s “Sonata” for two organs and Leo Sowerby’s “Dialog” for piano and organ.
All of the concerts were at 4:00pm — with a suggested donation of $15 — followed by a champagne reception.
Music Ministry
St. James Choir
Choir Returns …
Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, September 5th, 2024 at 7:15pm in the Pioneer Chapel and will be back in the loft on Sunday, September 8th, 2024.
–Colin Stave, Director of Music Ministry
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!
St. James Handbell Choir
NOTE: The St. James Handbell Choir is currently on hiatus. Please contact our Director of Music Ministry, Colin Stave, if you are interested in participating in the future.
The St. James Handbell Choir contributes to Sunday morning and occasional liturgies throughout the year. Music will be selected based on the number of ringers who volunteer! No prior experience with bells is required; just a willingness to learn and make music in a team setting!
St. James Pipe Organ
The three manual Pipe Organ incorporates some of the ranks from the original 1908 Estey tracker pipe organ. Originally only 9 ranks, this instrument was electrified and reconditioned in 1949, then re-built and expanded in 1989 by Portland organ builder Richard Bond to include 32 ranks with three manuals and pedal. Five original Estey ranks were retained in the Antiphonal division in its former chamber on the main floor. The new Great and Swell were installed in the rear balcony gallery. Read about the Architectural History of St. James.
