From Pastor David’s Desk …
Let’s gather a bunch of unlikely people:
- Maybe a person with unclean lips (Isaiah)
- A former persecutor of followers of Jesus (St. Paul)
- A business woman in a male-dominated world (Lydia)
- Three fishermen who can’t catch a thing. (Disciples).
God seems to pick the most unlikely people to be The Church. Gratefully, we are among them.
This year we mark the 135th anniversary of ministry as a St. James Congregation. In 1890, an unlikely group of people wanted to worship in English (not German, Swedish or Norwegian). Membership was divided by those who could contribute ten cents per-month and those who could only give five cents. Within nine years, St. James received notice of a “Sheriff’s Sale” due to unpaid local taxes. The Council voted to not pay.
Theologian Richard Rohr suggests that “the revolutionary idea of the Bible is that God is manifest in the ordinary, in the actual, in the daily incarnations of life.” That manifestation is what this Epiphany season in February is about. As we hear stories of Jesus’ tangible earthly acts of ministry, we are invited to not be spiritual beings but human beings. God is active in the ordinary, the unlikely. God reveals God’s self in water, word, meal and the face of the poor. Power and glory come not from Washington D.C., but from, as Jesus said “the one who welcomes even a small child in my name.”
Let’s celebrate being an unlikely bunch. Oh, and maybe we should pay those back-taxes!
–Pastor David
Welcome To Our Pulpit …
On Sunday, February 2nd, Pastor Martha Maier will preach and preside at St. James. Martha is a Lutheran pastor and daughter of the late St. James member Gene Maier. She has served parishes in Corvallis and Vancouver. The following Sunday, February 9th, our former Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke will lead us in worship and involve our five Confirmation students. Welcome!
Wednesday Noon Eucharist Begins …
We gather again midweek to celebrate the Eucharist. This 30-minute service in Pioneer Chapel begins on Wednesday, February 19th and continues every following Wednesday at 12:00 Noon through May. Pastor David will lead and Colin will be at the piano. In March, Pastor David will guide us in a Bible Study on the themes of the book of Exodus titled “Unlikely Moses and the Nine Commandments.” It will take place immediately following the Wednesday service. Invite a friend to join you.
New Member Sunday …
St. James continues to grow in membership and will again welcome new members on Sunday, March 16th during worship. Six people from three households have already asked to make St. James their spiritual home on that date. If you would also like to join this ministry, please speak with Pastor David.
St. James’ 2024 Ministry …
On Sunday, January 26th, 2025, ninety-one of us gathered for worship in-person and most stayed for our Annual St. James Congregational Meeting. In a span of 24 minutes, our Council President Sue Hammond skillfully enabled us to thank God for our 2024 ministry, pass a $543,183 ministry spending plan for 2025, and elect leaders.
Here’s a quick look at some ministry numbers:
- St. James is a congregation of 220 members, welcoming 24 new members in 2024.
- Celebrated 8 baptisms.
- United 2 couples in marriage.
- Held 9 funerals (4 member and 5 non-member).
- Ended the year with an offering surplus.
- Increased our average in-person worship attendance from 73 to 79.
- Grew our average online worship attendance to 126 views per service.
- Distributed over 4,000 servings of food to the houseless.
- Helped to train two chaplains with Emanuel Hospital.
- Our Endowment Ministry gave over $61,000 to help beyond our doors.
Our thanks to those who were elected to these positions:
- St. James Council (decision-making body): Eric Deitrick, Charlie Tohlen, Carol Bergen, Charlotte Cook, Bill Herbert
- St. James Endowment Committee: Cathie Coffman, David Scott
- Nominating Committee: Jules Auger, Sue Hammond, Linda Riddle
