News & Events

All Church Labor Day Retreat – September 2-4

WHO’S INVITED? You! All of us! Come as you are… Newer to our community and those who’ve been at FPC for a long time. Young and “more life-experienced.” Single or with your partner and/or kids and/or other folks dear to you. People of all colors, shapes, sizes. Whatever your letters: LGBTQIA+ … AA … OSU, PSU, U of O… Outdoorsy or happier sitting on the porch. Church retreat veterans or not quite sure what you’re signing up for. WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? The All Church Labor Day Retreat offers our faith community time together in a beautiful location for an exceptional experience. Stepping away (or escaping) our lives’ usual responsibilities and distractions gives us a chance to breathe fresh air, marvel at creation, have more meaningful conversations/interactions with our fellow church members and look for God’s presence among [...]

Registration is Open for “Walk the Wildwood”

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You are invited! Saturday, August 13, 2022, is “Walk the Wildwood”, an event supporting Good Shepherd Primary School and Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School in rural Kamwenge, Uganda. Our church has an ongoing relationship with Partners in Mission (PIM) which supports these schools, having sent three mission groups to Uganda since 2015 with plans to send another team in 2023. Thanks to FPC underwriting the event, 100% of the funds raised will go towards a new carpentry/welding shop at the vocational school. Read more and register online and please invite friends to register and walk, too. You may choose either the 3.5 mile walk or the 7.5 mile walk. Both routes begin at the Stevens Pavilion of Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum and end there with lunch. We hope to see you there! [...]

Covid Update (February 10) – In-Person Worship To Resume

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In-Person Worship to Reconvene on Sunday, February 20 This Sunday, February 13, will be our last Sunday of worshipping by streaming only. As the virus picture is improving, our church’s Reopening Group has met and decided that in-person worship will reconvene Sunday, February 20. Singing and saying of prayers will be allowed, while those attending remain masked. We ask that people make their decision to attend in person or by streaming based on their health and vulnerabilities, keeping in mind underlying health conditions, age, and whether they have been able to have the vaccine. Sunday School will recommence from February 20, with the nursery reopening in March. Groups in the church will have the option of meeting in person from February 20. Some groups may wish to continue meeting by Zoom as virus numbers continue to decline, and others may [...]

Weddings at First Presbyterian Church

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First Presbyterian Church (FPC) is a unique treasure nestled in the heart of the city. With its Victorian Gothic-inspired architecture, it is the perfect location for a large or intimate affair. Built in 1890, it is one of the oldest and largest churches in Portland. The hammer-beam trusses, original hand-carved pews, Povey stained glass windows, and magnificent Jaeckel pipe organ provide the perfect setting for a romantic and unforgettable wedding ceremony. Click here to learn more about booking your wedding at First Presbyterian Church. [...]

Covid Update (January 18) – Worship Services Online Only

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Between the high rate of infection and steep rise in cases of the Omicron variant, COVID-19 has put an incredible strain on our healthcare systems and its workers. Following the recommendations of the Presbytery of the Cascades to do our part to help limit the spread of the virus, the Reopening Working Group has voted to move worship services to streaming exclusively. The suspension of in-person worship will begin this Sunday, January 23, and stay in place for four weeks, with the possibility of an extension if the caseload stays high. We are also suspending all in-person church gatherings including Sunday school classes. We are encouraging all groups of the church to meet over Zoom during this time. The church office will remain open during business hours. Please call the office to arrange a time if you need to come [...]

In-Person Children’s Sunday School and Nursery Closure

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Because of the particular vulnerability of babies in this season of the pandemic, the church nursery will be closed throughout the month of January. Children’s Sunday School will continue to meet in person (children gather in classes immediately following the Children’s Moment in worship). Thank you for your flexibility, families! If you have questions or concerns please reach out to Pastor Carmen. [...]

COVID Update (December 30)

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Due to the recent rise in cases of the COVID Omicron variant, we ask members and visitors who recently traveled, attended large gatherings, or who are at high health risk, to please worship with us online. For those who choose to continue in-person worship, please note that there will be adjustments to our normal practices in order to ensure safety for our community. We are grateful for your continued patience as we seek to care for all of God’s people, but in particular, our most vulnerable. Please review the new guidelines regarding meetings and worship service at FPC. [...]

Pastor’s Note for January 2

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The introduction to the gospel of John is both a poetic and theologically rich text. It calls forth images of a time before the world was created. I always imagined it to be a rich darkness with a soupy swirl of light in the center. The center of what, I am not sure. I imagine it to look like the pictures that satellites are shooting back from deep space of wonderful things. Things like bursting stars and new galaxies; but that in this light rests God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The text goes on to talk about John’s role of not being part of the light but to testify to the light. I can’t help think what an enormous task that must have been. Let us not forget that this is not just John’s task but it is something that [...]

Pastor’s Note for December 26

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This year, we’re grateful for the hope that Christmas brings, that we will hear again the Christmas story of the angels announcing the birth of the Christ child, born in Bethlehem. We are glad for the carols of Christmas that lift our hearts as we celebrate the Savior’s coming. This year, we’re grateful that we can gather (whether in person in the sanctuary or by streaming the Christmas Eve worship online from home) to remember and take heart that the Christ Child is born, and the light shines in the darkness. There will be a 5pm Children and Family Christmas Eve service, in which children attending are invited to take part, and a 9pm service of Lessons and Carols with candle lighting. These services will be live-streamed, and also available to view after the times of the service. I look [...]

Pastor’s Note for December 19

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Here we are, right in the middle of the “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All” season. I think we might widely agree that this isn’t the case in our world right now. I’m reminded of a time when our world was a good deal more violent. It was the beginning of the First World War, Christmas 1914. Somehow, people on both sides of No-Man’s-Land managed to call a halt to the hostilities; at least for a little while. One website wrote: The starting of this Christmas truce was very amazing! It bubbled up from the ranks, with both armies making small gestures of goodwill in the days before Dec. 25. In France, some Germans suggested a brief, local cease-fire, even sweetening the deal with a chocolate cake. Along the Lys River, a battalion of Welsh infantrymen hoisted a banner reading [...]

All Church Labor Day Retreat – September 2-4

Registration is Open for “Walk the Wildwood”

Covid Update (February 10) – In-Person Worship To Resume

Weddings at First Presbyterian Church

Covid Update (January 18) – Worship Services Online Only

In-Person Children’s Sunday School and Nursery Closure

COVID Update (December 30)

Pastor’s Note for January 2

Pastor’s Note for December 26

Pastor’s Note for December 19

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