A Lutheran Home on 31st Avenue
St. James Lutheran Church sits on 31st Avenue in Rock Island, Illinois, part of the Quad Cities community that straddles the Mississippi River. The congregation has gathered there since 1953 as a member church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America within the Northern Illinois Synod, and over more than seven decades it has built a reputation for warm welcome, a strong music program, and a long reach that crosses the street, the country, and the ocean.
Worship is at the center of life here, and so is mission. The congregation's faith statement, "Saved by Faith; Serving with Love," captures both. Worship services are held in the sanctuary each Sunday morning and livestreamed on Facebook for those at home or across the miles.
Sunday Morning Worship
Worship at St. James centers on the cross of Christ. The two Lutheran sacraments, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, are celebrated regularly. Baptism is offered to people of any age, joining the newly baptized into the Christian family as a beloved child of God with the promise of forgiveness, the presence of Christ for eternity, and a new beginning in life. Communion is celebrated every week during Sunday morning worship, with gluten-free wafers available. Through the bread and wine (or grape juice) and God's promise and blessing, worshippers are nurtured on their faith journey and offered the forgiveness of sin, new and abundant life, and Christ's Spirit as a living presence in their daily lives.
The Sunday morning rhythm begins at 8:30 am with the worship service, which is livestreamed on the congregation's Facebook page. Recordings of earlier services are archived on Facebook with the newest at the top. After worship, the congregation gathers for fellowship at 9:30 am. Sunday School for children follows at 10:00 am.
The church shares its building with All Saints Episcopal Church, whose congregation rents space and worships in the sanctuary at 10:30 am each Sunday. The two congregations keep a shared online calendar of events and have produced a combined photo directory.
Music That Stays With You
Music is an essential part of worship at St. James, and the program is led by Music Director John Hildreth. Hildreth has served on the faculty of the Music Department at Augustana College for more than thirty years, where he has taught the history and literature of Western music, music theory, ethnomusicology, music in general studies, history of American music, African-American music, and women in music. He has served as organist and choirmaster at various places, including Augustana where he served as chapel organist. At St. James, he serves as organist and choir director, and he also fills the same role for All Saints Episcopal Church.
The recorded archive of music at St. James shows a wide range of offerings. Choral anthems include "Christ Is Risen, Alleluia" and "In Christ Alone." Spirituals such as "Ain't that Good News" share the program with traditional hymns in new arrangements. Solo instrumentalists and vocalists regularly add to the music. A flutist plays "Tis the Gift to be Simple," a clarinetist offers "How Great Thou Art," and vocalists with guitar share "Be Not Afraid" and "I Hear My Savior's Voice." On one occasion the Stubbs family sang "Song of Praise" in Swahili. Solo instrumentalists and vocalists are encouraged to make their talents and abilities known so that all the musical gifts of the congregation might be fully used and appreciated.
Open Doors: A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
On June 11, 2017, St. James adopted a Statement of Affirmation and Welcome as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. The statement reads, in part: "In our awareness that we are all broken people, we rejoice in God's abundant grace. Therefore, we welcome all who are seeking God's love and forgiveness regardless of national origin or ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, abilities, beliefs, political views, financial resources, or family status. There will always be a place for you at St. James."
The welcome is put into practice through the African Ministry Team, which walks alongside African refugees who have joined the congregation and now worship and serve with the rest of the community. The team helps with practical matters including finding employment, preparing for GED exams, securing warm winter clothing, vehicle repair, housing concerns, and computer setups and repairs. St. James is a charter member of the Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, with African Ministry Team representatives serving on the QCAIR board. African members participate in worship leadership roles, mission and outreach projects, and spiritual growth opportunities. The team closes its description of its work with the words "Bwana Yesu Christou (the Lord Jesus Christ), by the power of Roho Mtakatifu (the Holy Spirit)."
Mission That Reaches Around the World
Through the ELCA, St. James enjoys formal companionships in Christ with the North Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania and the Arcot Lutheran Church in India. Members of the congregation cut and assemble quilts and school bags for Lutheran World Relief. Large and small pieces of fabric become a message of peace and love as they are stitched together and sent to those in need. Sewn bags are filled with school supplies so children can attend school and build a better future. The congregation also supports small farmers around the world through sales of Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade items; Equal Exchange coffee, tea, cocoa, olive oil, and chocolate bars are sold near the Art Gallery.
Disaster relief has been another area of involvement. Volunteers have traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi and Minot, North Dakota to help homeowners rebuild, returning energized and saying, "We definitely received more than we gave. We bonded in a special way with each other and really felt the Lord's presence among us." After Hurricane Sandy, members Tom Fox and Bill Kempf personally delivered Flood Buckets to Staten Island in a cooperative effort of many area churches.
Locally, mission emphasis has included Habitat for Humanity building projects; St. James has provided and served lunch to Habitat Saturday volunteers in Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport over the years. The special offering on Good Shepherd Sunday has been designated for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, and the In Touch Adult Day Center in Moline is part of LSSI's local ministry.
Children, Youth, and Sunday School
Children and youth are part of the full life of the congregation. All ages worship together, and young people participate as ushers, assisting ministers, choir members, sound board operators, greeters, and acolytes. Sunday School at 10:00 am centers on Bible stories, prayer, and conversation about what it means to follow Jesus.
Middle School and Junior High youth have the special opportunity of Confirmation Ministry, which includes learning Bible stories, studying Luther's Small Catechism, and serving others in need. The young people host the Easter breakfast, and the Christmas smorgasbord offers fellowship and time to talk with the kids who present the Christmas program. Members also volunteer with blood banks, hospitals, and the Red Cross.
Bible Study and Spiritual Growth
Pastor Don Knowles leads a weekly Bible study, currently working through Philippians via Zoom. Cáfe Women's Bible Study and the Women's Circle each meet monthly. The Women's Circle uses the Bible study in Gather Magazine, a publication that mixes articles, theological reflections, devotions, and stories of comfort and challenge to help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
Resources for daily faith are widely shared. Daily Grace, from the Women of the ELCA, offers a daily email message. Christ in Our Home, a quarterly devotional available in large print, sits on the Information Tables near each church entrance along with the current issue of Living Lutheran magazine. God Pause, an ELCA resource, sends daily email devotions written by Luther Seminary alumni. The Holy Bible app on mobile phones makes scripture reading easy with multiple translations and a variety of reading plans.
Local Outreach in Rock Island
Hands-on local outreach is a steady rhythm at St. James. In October 1996 the congregation assumed responsibility for cleaning a 0.8-mile stretch of 14th Street West in south Rock Island through the Adopt-A-Highway program. Volunteers meet at the eastern parking lot of Mel McKay Park and clean up four times a year. Safety vests, gloves, garbage bags, grabbers, and garbage bag holders are provided; sturdy shoes are recommended.
Members serve supper every month at Christian Care in Rock Island and organize weekly donations of food items to a nearby food pantry.
Leadership and Staff
Pastor Don Knowles has served St. James since August 1, 2017. A graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he also serves as pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline. He is married to Mary, and they have two children, Nathan and Kendall.
Office Administrator Luanne Beinke joined the staff in May 2026. Treasurer Doug Nelson has faithfully served for more than thirty years. Because of his experience, he is often relied upon for his insights when financial decisions are being made within the congregation; he is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Augustana College.
The Congregation Council, which meets monthly except in July, is led by President Bethany Weipert and Vice President Leslie Cox. Joe Loete is Secretary, and other members include Ruth Anne Hartman, Debbie Jones, Terrill Johnson Sr., Luanne Beinke, Mike Olinski, and Tina Wieland.
Office and Location
The church office is open 9 am to 2 pm Monday through Thursday and closed Friday. Visitors can be welcomed in person at 3145 31st Avenue in Rock Island, or join the 8:30 am service online. The congregation invites everyone to "search for your role in God's mission" at St. James.