From the Pastor’s Desk …
At St. James, we just moved from forty days of Lent to the fifty days of the Easter season. We have also moved into what was seemingly impossible: Easter.
In Lewis Carroll’s 1871 story Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen proclaimed to Alice that she often believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Easter, for us, is therefore not just a day, but rather experiencing the Risen Christ’s presence as the impossible becomes pregnant with possibilities. We hear that life bursts from the barriers of death. As a St. James congregation, that may look like:
- “Sharing God’s inclusive love with all.”
–Our St. James Mission Statement - “The Church is a field hospital.”
–The late Pope Francis - “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.”
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer - “The Church is not a building. The Church is a people.”
–Camp song
“The Oregonian” newspaper on Easter day ran an article concerning the decline of downtown Portland churches. At St. James, we are growing! Does that seem impossible? Uncertainty and confusion out of Washington D.C. are rattling businesses and stock markets. We respond with feeding those in need, calling on our elected officials to be true to democracy, and bringing hope to the refugee. Suddenly, the impossible becomes possible.
I don’t know what others usually do before breakfast, but at St. James we believe six impossible things. And the Easter Risen Christ is leading the way!
–Pastor David
An Easter Prayer of Blessing …
“Draw us forth, God of all creation.
Draw us toward and away from limited certainty
Into the immense world of your love.
Give us the capacity to even for a moment
Taste the richness of the feast you give us.
Give us the peace to live with uncertainty,
With questions, with doubts.
Help us to experience the resurrection anew
With open wonder and an increasing ability
To see you in the people at Easter.”
–Author Unknown
St. James Joins the 2025 CROP Hunger Walk …
On April 27th, the “Soles of St. James” walking team joined five other groups to walk the 2025 CROP Hunger Walk. Over $2900 was raised by the local teams to donate to the fight against hunger. The walk spanned two bridges and ended where it began at First Christian Church. Thank you to all who participated.
Boxcar Project …
On Thursday, May 1st, we prepare Personal Health Kits for those in need around the globe via Lutheran World Relief. Charlotte Cook brought items (towel, soap, toothbrush, etc.) for us to pack, and then on Friday, area Lutheran churches will pack a semi-truck that will be placed on a boxcar and shipped.
“Unlikely Moses and the Nine Commandments” …
There are two sessions left of Pastor David’s mid-week Bible Study that explores Moses’ life. They will take place in the Pioneer Chapel at 12:40pm after Midweek Noon Eucharist. Please note that these are also the last two dates of Midweek Eucharist. Here are the upcoming topics of discussion:
Wed. May 7th “Jesus and the Commandments”
Wed. May 14th “Wilderness Wandering”
Choral Cantata Vespers …
Premiered 300 years ago in 1725, Bach’s Cantata BWV 6 “Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden” reflects the Easter season, the essence of our evening vespers tradition, and the difficulties of today. The opening text, “Abide with us, for it will soon be evening, and the day is now declining,” from Luke 24, is typically assigned to the days immediately following Easter. The closing text, from Martin Luther’s hymn “Erhalt uns, Herr” pleads for light in a time of darkness. Join us on Sunday, May 25th at 5:00pm to hear this piece.
Wine Tasting at St. James …
Pastor Barry Rogge will again host a special wine-tasting event on Sunday, June 1st after worship. This is courtesy of Archery Summit Winery in Dayton.
Pack Food Bags with Eco-Justice Committee for PCC Panther Pantry …
Join the Eco Social Justice Committee on Sunday, June 8th to pack food bags for the PCC Panther Pantry during Open Space. Students and staff from PCC will join us. The funding for this project was made available by the Endowment Committee. If you cannot make it to the packing event, but still want to help, consider donating a $25 gift card. Gift cards are used to support students with urgent needs. This emergency assistance can be used to purchase items not regularly offered in the pantry such as culturally appropriate food items, diapers, over the counter medicines, and gasoline. Contact Mandy Ellertson for questions.
Preparing for St. James’ 135th Anniversary …
We thank God for our active ministry as we gather on Sunday, July 27th. We will experience Anniversary Worship with guest Pastor Robert Neubert, a festive meal, a new anniversary banner, some building improvements, and an updated directory.
