Parkrose Community United Church of Christ has stood in the same east Portland neighborhood for more than a century, and its welcome has only widened over time. Established in 1913 in the Parkrose neighborhood on the east side of the city, the congregation is one of Portland's progressive, Open and Affirming voices. Its motto, "Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here," appears on the church sign and in everything the church sends out, and shapes everything that follows from it: loving God, loving one another, and loving neighbors as oneself; compassionately serving the wider community; boldly practicing peace and justice; and faithfully worshipping together to deepen shared spirituality.
Sundays at Ten
Worship is held in person and livestreamed each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The service draws on music, prayer, scripture, art, justice, and community. The congregation describes worship as "tending to our connection with the God who is always with us," and the variety is deliberate - the church wants each person to find a way in.
The rhythm shifts slightly across the month. On the first Sunday the congregation shares communion. On the second Sunday the pastor interviews a special guest. The remaining Sundays carry a message of encouragement, equipping, or challenge. The church takes seriously the United Church of Christ teaching that "God is still speaking," so services draw on the perspectives of spiritual ancestors in the Bible as well as voices outside of scripture.
Sunday School and Nursery Care are available for children and youth during the service. Parking is on-site at 12505 NE Halsey Street. Those who cannot attend in person can join the livestream on Facebook at 10 a.m.; recordings going back to 2015 are archived on the church's YouTube channel.
A Progressive, Open, and Affirming Identity
Parkrose Community identifies as an Open and Affirming congregation, a designation drawn from the UCC's Open and Affirming Coalition that names the church's welcome of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members. The church describes itself as committed to loving "all of our neighbors, including those who are black, brown, white, rich, poor, religious, atheist, documented, and undocumented." A volunteer from the Russell neighborhood once told the congregation: "I am proud to live in a neighborhood where the local church walks its talk."
Theological framing centers on the Greatest Commandment, loving God and others as oneself. The congregation understands the work of ministry as building connections: with God, with one another, with neighbors, with the spiritual inheritance received from ancestors, and with the world left for those who come after. The same progressive journey that produces the Open and Affirming stance also produces a commitment to continual learning and renewal.
Wellness Wednesdays and the Lunch Program
The church's most visible outreach runs through Eastminster Hall. Wellness Wednesdays take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering lunch, showers and laundry, clothing, hygiene items, and resources. The program is a partnership with Cultivate Initiatives, Concordia Nursing College, Hairstylists for Humanity, and WeShine PDX's Parkrose Community Village.
The Monday, Wednesday, and Friday lunch program has become a neighborhood institution. Lunches are served from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and all are welcome. In spring and summer the meal includes a sandwich, fruit, cookies, and water; in fall and winter, hot soup, a roll, fruit, cookies, and water. Weekly volunteers and substitutes keep the program running, and many of the same guests return week after week.
A Founding Site for WeShine PDX
The church's largest partnership is also its newest physical one. Parkrose Community UCC is the first site for WeShine PDX, an organization building safe, welcoming, and empowering transitional micro-villages for homeless persons in every Portland neighborhood. The church was also one of the founding congregations of SnowCap Community Charities in the 1960s.
Other partners on the church's roster include Cultivate Initiatives, which supports east Portland through workforce development, housing, and supportive sheltering; SoValTi, a culturally sensitive social service agency serving African American and biracial individuals in the Portland metro area; the Portland Fruit Tree Project, a grassroots effort to harvest and care for urban fruit trees; the Eastminster Community Garden, one of fifty-eight Portland community gardens in operation since 1975; and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, a statewide association of Christian denominations, congregations, and interfaith partners.
The Pastor's Door Is Open
Pastor Giuseppe Amato leads the congregation. Giuseppe holds a Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology and was ordained through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2019. Before Parkrose he served as pastor of Centennial Christian Church, as associate pastor at Cedar Hills UCC, as assisting minister and intern at Waverly UCC, and as intern with Christ Church. He married Stephanie on September 18, 2010, and he writes that their biggest adventure so far has been parenting their two children.
His office hours run Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church, and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at home (please call ahead). For anyone curious about faith, working through doubts, or wanting to learn more about the church, Giuseppe hosts "Coffee with Pastor G." - a short form opens a conversation over coffee.
The Staff and Ministry Teams
Erica Martin has served as Community Life and Youth Director since February 2018. She organizes activities for children, youth, and the wider community and has built the church's relationships with WeShine PDX, Union Gospel Mission, Cultivate Initiatives, Portland Rescue Mission, Concordia Nursing students, and Hairstylists for Humanity. Her community life office hours are Sunday and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the church (please call ahead).
Clay Osburn, a Parkrose native who attended Parkrose schools, is the moderator. He has been part of the congregation for more than thirty years and has held many positions. His wife Tanya has long been part of the children's and youth education program, and their two children went through the youth choir and church camp.
Niki, the music director, works with Pastor Giuseppe on Sunday services and events. She leads hymns, arranges special music, and coordinates volunteers. Post-COVID the choir is being rebuilt; a handful of singers and guitar players contribute twice a month. Niki is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up cantoring at St. John the Baptist in Milwaukie and has played for churches of various faiths ever since.
The Office Administrator handles database management, communications, financial record-keeping, and general administration. Office hours run Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ministry teams do the rest of the work:
- Christian Ed Ministry Team provides spiritual formation for children and youth: nursery care, Sunday School, holiday activities like Palm Sunday, Easter, and the Christmas pageant, youth confirmation with the pastor, and camperships to Camp Adams.
- Community Life Ministry Team directs spiritual growth, mission, recreation, and partnerships, serving as the point of contact for campus ministry organizations such as WeShine, Providence Behavioral Health, and Union Gospel Mission.
- Parish Life Ministry Team nurtures Christian community through fellowship, decorating the church for the seasons, organizing Coffee Times, potlucks, and community events.
- Restorative Justice Ministry Team educates and advocates for systemic change, promoting peace, social justice, and environmental care.
- Finance Ministry Team oversees accounting, payroll, contracts, stewardship, and the annual budget.
- Trustees Ministry Team maintains, repairs, and upgrades the building.
Children and Youth
The Christian Education Director Erica Martin takes an "organic" approach with children and youth, sharing developmentally appropriate spiritual insights and practices as kids participate in the church's programs. The congregation lists its priorities simply: love children and youth where they are, promote their relationship with Christ, and connect with the local church and community through meaningful service. "We also like to have a bit of fun," the church adds. Nursery Care is available each Sunday during worship.
The Annual Craft Baza and Fall Festival
Each fall the congregation hosts an outdoor Craft Baza and Fall Festival on the church grounds at 12505 NE Halsey Street. The event draws crafters, woodworkers, quilters, knitters, bakers, makers, and artists to sell their wares. Vendor tables are rented through Donorbox in the weeks before the event. The festival is a fundraiser and a neighborhood gathering, drawing on the same community partnerships that support Wellness Wednesdays.
Part of a Larger Family
Parkrose Community UCC belongs to the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ and, through it, to the national UCC, a denomination of more than 5,100 churches and 1.1 million members across the United States. The annual report, in PDF form, summarizes the congregation's life each year.
Giving
Donations are accepted via PayPal or credit card through Donorbox. One-time gifts can be made without setting up either account; recurring gifts run through Donorbox, with PayPal supporting monthly recurring donations. The church tracks no information about visitors and keeps only the minimum needed for transactions: name, transaction number, amount, and a contact email in case of problems.