We Have Gifts That Differ — Thanks!
The month of October highlighted our God-given gifts as a congregation and as individuals: our history, our school, our authors, a tradition of sponsoring refugees, music and more. Then we completed the yellow “Estimate of Giving” cards to prepare us for ministry in 2022. Our thanks to so many who made this estimate. Our intentions were blessed on Sunday, October 31st on the altar. Next spring we will hold a Ministry Fair to match your gifts with the specific ministries of St. James.
Welcoming Afghan Refugees:
In October you gave $20,059 to help refugees from Afghanistan find a home in the Portland area. 150 to 200 refugees are being welcomed through Lutheran Community Services NW and our check went to support their ministry of resettlement. Our St. James Endowment Committee got us started with a gift of $5,000 and you generously exceeded our $10,000 goal. Jennica Stephenson from LCSNW sends her thanks as well: “This is the most amazing gift. Thank you so much for being an incredible advocate and ally in this work. I’m so touched, and I know the whole team will be deeply grateful for this support. We’ve begun to see arrivals in Portland, and we have several large families coming soon.”
Feeding the Unsheltered:
Each weekday St. James brings two to three boxes brimming with food and needed items to those who gather near the Art Museum. 30 minutes later First Christian Church volunteers bring a sandwich and coffee. Our thanks to all who donate money for our Houseless ministry or give items like bottled water, protein bars, Cup-a-soup, Ensure, athletic socks, hygiene items and more. Thanks also to those who box these items twice a month. This month we will pack the food/items on Wednesday, November 10th at 10:00am and Monday, November 22nd at 10:00am.
Join us for a Celebration:
On November 14th, 2021 join us as we celebrate fifty years of ordained ministry for Pastor Bill Coffman and fifty-one years of ordained ministry for Pastor David Zellmer. Pastor Coffman will preach and Pastor Zellmer will preside. A small reception will follow in the Pioneer Chapel. Join us as we honor the ministries of these two St. James members.
St. James Welcomes Ten New Members:
We are delighted to receive ten new members on Sunday, November 21st. They will be introduced in worship and you can greet them at the following reception.
Building Construction Plans:
One year ago we voted to be good stewards of our church building by re-roofing, adding seismic tie-downs, and installing a new heating/cooling system (HVAC). Since then we have been knee-deep in details to make it happen. In late October we got news that HVAC construction will begin in January. Standing radiators will be replaced. The gated entrance to the courtyard will be dug up. Parts of our office area will be sealed off. Soon we will replace our old boiler with a reliable system! The re-roofing of the sanctuary will come later; the exact timeline has not yet been set. It is exciting to anticipate these changes as we care for this historic building. During construction we also hope to improve our accessibility. Our thanks to all who filled out the accessibility survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Can You Hear During Worship?
We are currently working with a professional sound company to overhaul our existing sound system. This new system will allow us the ability to livestream our services and should improve the in-person experience as well.
