First Presbyterian Church- Portland, Oregon

Last Sunday I visited First Presbyterian Church in downtown Portland. I arrived a few minutes late. Located in the park blocks at 13th and Alder, the church building is a historic edifice of brick, stained glass windows and a conical steeple.

Not knowing my way around the propert I entered the building at the incorrect door and found myself facing the office secretary. She politely directed me toward the sanctuary. I little girl tentatively peaked into the main auditorium. I could see that we were to the left and behind the stage, with the audience facing us. I turned to a woman who was also waiting to enter and said, "Are you sure it is okay to enter through this door?" She assured me that it was fine, so when there was a pause in activity on the platform, all three of us entered together. I quickly took a seat in a nearby wooden antique pew. I had arrived.

The room was about 1/3 full. I estimate about 150 were present, if that. The attending interim minister acknowledged that many were gone that weekend for various reasons. The church apparently is conducting a pastoral search for a permanent minister. I do not know the story behind the need for a new minister. As I scanned the audience I noted that it consisted mostly of older couples and individuals, although there was a smattering of younger families. When the minister called the children forward for the weekly children's moment, about eight kids responded and listened to his humorous brief talk.

The interior decor is breathtakingly gorgeous, as you may be able to detect from the photos above. The intricate woodwork and stained glass art combined to give a visually inspiring atmosphere.

This particular church seems to have a liturgical style with respect to form and content. Surely, its physical environment lends itself to that preference. While the pulpit is located front and center as in a typical evangelical church, the elements of sacrament are laid before it, separated by a lit candle. There are no instruments, save the majestic pipe organ. One soloist sang an aria, but the vocalist was hidden from my view, a situation remniscient of my experience at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Personally, I appreciate the emphasis on lyrics and vocals, as opposed to stage performance.

There were no instructions from the platform concerning the order of service. All of that was provided in the lovely multi-fold handout which I did not receive due to my having arrived late and at the wrong door. Interestingly, no one thought to provide me one, even though it was obvious I was a newcomer. I am fine with that from the standpoint that I was able to figure things out. I wonder how an unchurched newcomer might have felt?

There was a mixture of call and response liturgy, an interesting method which encourages parishioners to engage personally in the material, as opposed to being strictly passive listeners during the course of the service. Near the end of worship, we also recited the Apostles Creed and the Lord's Prayer. I felt quite at home during these moments, and also during the singing of Amazing Grace, plus a couple of other hymns.

I am intrigued by the ministry of First Presbyterian Church. Like many churches in the downtown core, they place a special emphasis on social justice for marginalized persons. They also have a children's ministry page on their website which describes their ministry to the youngest among them.

I enjoyed my visit. I pray God's richest blessings on this congregation as they serve the Lord in reaching their community and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.