St. James is....

St. James welcomes all people, including those who have been excluded because of cultural or ethnic background, race, physical or mental ability, socio-economic or family status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.

We recognize the blessings of diversity and celebrate the uniqueness of all who worship here. We welcome all people as full participants in the life of this congregation.

IN 2017 ST. JAMES CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF MINISTRY! 
ST. JOHN'S UNION CHURCH ~ ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH

The beginnings of St. John's Union Church were typical of all mission work. For some years prior to the organization of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations, an active organized Sunday School gathered families together. Their numbers increased, and a Christian Aid Society was organized. The need was felt for a local church building. In 1889 the cornerstone was laid, funds were gathered, the building progressed until dedicated on June 21st, 1891.

The earliest history of St. John's Church begins with the Coopersburg Union Sunday School which was officially organized on April 3, 1850. Some records go back to 1845, and the Sunday School met in various locations. Upon its incorporation in 1891, the Coopersburg Union Sunday School moved into the church and officially changed its name to Saint John's Union Sunday School.

The ground for our present building was given by Tilghman Cooper and Mrs. Matilda Cooper in 1884. Work on the building was started in 1886 and the cornerstone was laid in 1889. The building was first used on July 27, 1890, and was dedicated on June 21, 1891. From the beginning it was a Union Church serving the needs of both St. John's Reformed and St. John's Lutheran congregations.

St. John's Union Church was not strong enough to have its own pastor, so for many years in was part of a three-point charge, being yoked with St. Paul's (Blue) Church, and Friedens, Friedensville. The Union Church was dissolved in 1962.

St. John's Lutheran was renamed St. James Lutheran Church (two brothers among Jesus' disciples were James and John -- the new name signifies the long relationship between these two congregations). St. John's Union Church was renamed St. John's United Church of Christ, and shared the building with St. James Lutheran Church until Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967. After a successful building fund campaign held in April and May of 1965, groundbreaking ceremonies held on March 13, 1966, St. James moved to a new location in 1967, and St. John's continues to use the building which has served it for over a century.

After a joint service at St. John's, the Altar Book and Sacramental Vessels were removed from the Altar, Pastor Wolf and the Church Council started the procession bearing the Sacramental Vessels. Rick Mayer carried the Altar Book. The march followed St. John's east to Linden Street, turning east on Station Avenue to 4th Street, north to E. State, north on Route 309 to Oxford Street. We entered the church on the Oxford Street side.