Tigard United Methodist Church stands on SW Walnut Place in Tigard, Oregon, a city just south of Portland in Washington County. Across the street from Metzger Elementary School, the congregation operates Bethlehem House of Bread, its second campus, which houses a food pantry, a free store, and a community garden. Together these two locations shape a congregation known in the Tigard area for open welcome, lively music, and steady outreach to neighbors who are hungry in body or spirit.
A Welcoming Statement at the Center
The congregation adopted its Welcoming Statement on June 12, 2016. The statement opens with the conviction that, through his example, Jesus reveals a God whose love knows no boundaries, and continues, "We believe that God is the source of diversity in our world, and that God affirms and celebrates our diversity." It names people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, people of all races and ethnicities, and people regardless of age, class, economic status, health, ability, or any other identifying label. Three short sentences summarize it: everyone is a beloved child of God, everyone deserves to be included, and everyone is welcome at Tigard United Methodist Church.
Sunday Worship at 10 a.m.
Worship gathers in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings and runs a bit over one hour. The church describes its service as a bit more traditional with contemporary elements incorporated. The order includes music, congregational prayers, a Bible reading, and a sermon. Moments of quiet reflection, a time to share celebrations, and a children's message are also part of the gathering. Communion is open to all who wish to receive it; those who come forward receive a small piece of bread and a small cup of grape juice, in keeping with United Methodist practice.
The service is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, with the live feed opening at 9:45 a.m. Recordings are posted after each service for those who wish to watch later. After worship, Jubilatte, the church's own coffee shop, is open from 11 a.m. to noon.
Music: Four Ensembles
Music has long been central to life at Tigard UMC. Four groups share in the ministry of song.
- The Sanctuary Choir sings during worship most Sunday mornings from September through Pentecost Sunday. Director Caley Barstow, who has led the choir since 2016, is described as inclusive, engaging, supportive, and joyful. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings. No auditions are required, only a love of singing and a willingness to learn.
- The Tamba Marimba Ensemble is an intergenerational group that plays uplifting marimba music. People of all ages are welcome, and no previous musical experience is necessary. Directors Jeff and Jill Nave-Powers have led the ensemble for over twenty years.
- The Wesley Ringers Handbell Choir performs traditional and classical music using both bells and chimes. Youth and adults participate under director Rick Schisler.
- The Holy Cymbals Worship Band plays several times each year, leading contemporary music and traditional songs in a contemporary style. Deacon Jeff Lowery serves as lead guitarist and band leader.
Bethlehem House of Bread
Bethlehem House of Bread, often called BHOB, is the congregation's other campus and the heart of its direct service to the surrounding community. Its stated mission is to invite those who are hungry in body or spirit to a table where all are welcome. From that location the church runs a food pantry, a community garden, and a free store. Monthly pantry challenges invite the congregation and wider community to focus on stocking shelves with particular items. The free store distributes clothing and household goods. Many volunteers support the work, and Karen Y. Kiser, who serves as the church's administrative assistant, also stepped into the role of Operations Manager at Bethlehem House of Bread in 2026.
Children and Youth
Children's ministry begins in the lobby with activity bags for young visitors. During worship, nursery care is available for infants and children through age five in a room down the hall from the sanctuary. Children age five and older are invited to Kids' Club following the children's message; older preschoolers may participate as well. Children are also welcome to stay with their families throughout the service, and rocking chairs for those with small children sit near the tech booth.
Tigard United Methodist Youth, known as TUMY, is the ministry for young people in grades six through twelve. The group gathers at the church on Sunday afternoons, typically from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and at other times for special events. Service runs through the year: collecting food for the local food bank, Christmas caroling, and a week-long summer mission trip outside the local area. Crystal Gard, a long-time youth volunteer who became Youth Ministry Coordinator in 2026, leads the group alongside adult mentors.
Adult Groups and Classes
Several ongoing groups meet the rhythm of the week for adults. United Women in Faith gathers the women of the church into circles and activities, including Hope Circle, a reading group, a Friday walking group, and the Pull-up-a-Chair Women's Coffee Group that meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. United Methodist Men hosts two weekly gatherings: a Tuesday morning Coffee Group from 10 to 11:15 a.m., and the Heart Men small group, which meets on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom and is modeled after John Wesley's original Methodist class meetings. Pastor Jeremy leads a Monday book group from noon to 1 p.m. that reads across spirituality, history, theology, current events, and popular science. For travelers, TUMC Trekkers plans monthly day trips around the Pacific Northwest and one international trip each year.
Pastoral and Music Leadership
Rev. Jeremy Hajdu-Paulen has served as pastor since July 2014. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he studied at Duke University and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He has served as a circuit minister in Suffolk, England; as campus pastor at the Wesley Foundation at the University of Oregon; and as pastor of Dallas UMC in Dallas, Oregon. He and his wife Allison have two young adult children.
Rev. Jeff Lowery serves as a Deacon on staff and as the Pastoral Director at Bethlehem House of Bread. Raised in suburban Chicago and a Pacific Northwest resident for more than twenty-five years, he has served United Methodist churches in Yakima, Boise, and Salem, founded the service-learning program L.A.S.T., and worked with the Sellwood Faith Community. He is also a musician and songwriter; his music is available at jefflowerymusic.com.
Nina Anderson joined as Interim Worship Accompanist in September 2026 and brings years of experience accompanying worship and choirs.
Community Partnerships
Beyond Bethlehem House of Bread, the church maintains working ties with several local nonprofits. In partnership with others in the community, Tigard UMC offers English Language Learner classes, both on Zoom and in person. The church supports Family Promise of Tualatin Valley, which provides housing to families experiencing homelessness; Tigard UMC supplies all groceries for a week of meals for participating families once every three months. Other direct partners include Just Compassion of East Washington County, the Good Neighbor Center, and Habitat for Humanity of Oregon.
Land Acknowledgment
Before each gathering, the church pauses to read its Land Acknowledgment. Tigard United Methodist Church and Bethlehem House of Bread, the statement notes, stand on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Atfalati Kalapuyans, today represented by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz. The acknowledgment grieves the harm caused by past Methodist missionary zeal, including the generational harm on Native American people from settler colonialism, forced displacement, and assimilation, and honors the native peoples who have maintained interdependent relationships with the land for centuries. A Land Acknowledgment Task Force made up of church members and pastors developed and continues to refine the statement.
Visiting Tigard UMC
Visitors arrive at the covered main entrance, which is equipped with an ADA door opener and ramp; the sanctuary sits near that entry. Worship lasts a bit over an hour. People dress in a wide range of styles, from Sunday best to clean jeans and a nice sweatshirt, with a slightly dressier turn around Easter and Christmas Eve. As a guest, there is no expectation to give; the offering is described as a time to respond to God's grace through whatever gifts one has to share. For parents, activity bags are ready in the lobby, the nursery welcomes children through age five, and Kids' Club follows the children's message for older children.
The church office can be reached at (503) 639-3181 (extension 2 for visitor questions) or by emailing info@tigardumc.com. Financial gifts are made online through PushPay, and an Endowment Fund supports parts of the church's ministry and accepts planned gifts.