Church Office
Are you new to Pearl Church? Join with Pastor Mike for a brief conversation about all things Pearl! We’ll discuss Pearl’s rhythms and values, as well as any questions or interests that you have. Questions? Please contact Pastor Mike.
Summer camp is July 6th-9th! Cascade Church, Pearl Church, Wayside Friends, and North Valley Friends are teaming up this summer to offer a Jesus-Centered camping experience for 6th-12th grade students. Cost is $440 (early registration) and increases to $455 after June 2nd. Scholarships are available - Please reach out to Kylie Marble to learn more!
Many newcomers have found Pearl over the past several months and we’d like to say, “Hello” and “Welcome!” If you're new(er) to Pearl, you're invited to a casual reception at Irving Park, where you'll have an opportunity to meet members of our pastoral staff, oversight team, and leadership team. We would love to meet and warmly welcome you to our Pearl community.
We will be at Picnic Area A, close to NE 7th and by the tennis courts. You’re invited to drop by anytime between 6:00 and 7:300pm for drinks, refreshments and casual conversation. Please RSVP if you plan to join us! Questions? Contact Pastor Ben.
It's time for another beautiful hike—everyone is welcome to join! This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get to know others at Pearl Church. We'll enjoy some waterfalls at Falls Creek Falls. This hike is located in Washington about 1.5 hr from Portland. This is a lovely 4.5 mile trail with 820 feet of elevation in the Gifford Pinchot Natl Forest. We will hike along Falls Creek in a lush forest to see a triple tier magnificent waterfall. After a nice lunch/snack break at the waterfall, we return on a loop to see a different section of the forest. The trail has a short climb to the loop section so be sure to wear good shoes and bring hiking poles if you have them.
We will meet at the Gateway Transit center at 8:30 am and carpool from there. This is a good spot for those who use public transit and has a large parking garage for those who will leave their car to carpool with others. The last few miles to the trail is a rugged forest road known to have large potholes. If you will be a driver, I would suggest driving a larger vehicle, mid-SUV probably.
Please be sure to bring water, snacks and lunch. I expect the duration of this day, including driving time will be 8:30 am - 3:00 pm.
Here is a link to the trail on AllTrails:
Falls Creek Lower Falls Loop on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/falls-creek-lower-falls-loop?sh=cx3wlm&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
Attention all Pearl Members! Following our service on July 12, we will hold our Annual Members’ Meeting. At the meeting, we will reflect on the last year, appreciate our staff and volunteers, meet new members, discuss our dreams for the future, talk about our budget, volunteer opportunities, and more. If you’re not a member but consider Pearl your home, you’re more than welcome to attend. Childcare will be provided.
Church Office
You've read the books. You've deconstructed the framework. You understand, intellectually, why the old certainties no longer hold. And yet, something still feels unsteady. That unsteadiness isn't a sign you haven't thought hard enough. It's an invitation into a different kind of work. This class is for people who are further along the cognitive journey than they are the emotional one, and who are ready to name what certainty was actually giving them—safety, identity, belonging—and to begin finding those things in wisdom and mystery rather than answers and dogma.
Questions? Contact Pastor Mike Roth.
You belong at our table. And marching with us in Pride is a powerful way to show someone else they do too.
On July 19, Pearl is walking in the Portland Pride Parade—and we want you with us. Whether you're queer, straight, somewhere in between, or still figuring it out, there's a place for you in our group. Come march as yourself, fully.
Somewhere along that parade route, someone is standing on the sidewalk who has written off the church—likely because the church wrote them off first. When they see us, something shifts. They get to see a Christian community that welcomes them fully. A few of them found their way to Pearl because of that moment. You get to be part of that.
The parade runs 11am–2pm. We're about halfway through the lineup, so you'll have plenty of time to attend service with us first and head over after.
RSVP and we'll send you everything you need to know.
Order Pearl Pride 2026 T-Shirts when you sign up, too! $25 each. Available in all the colors of the pride flag, with the words "every part of you is welcome". Lightweight, soft American Apparel t-shirts; youth sizes available in some colors. You can add one to your registration, or purchase even if you aren't planning to walk with us. Shirts will be available for pickup at church when ready.
Originally published in 2005 and first selected for Oprah's book club in 2008, Oprah called it "the most important book she's ever read" — making her re-selection a first in her book club's history. Tolle's work on ego-transcendence and present-moment awareness has only grown more relevant in an age of fragmentation and distraction. Whether or not you have time to read the book, you're warmly invited to join us for this discussion.
Church Office
Are you new to Pearl Church? Join with Pastor Ben for a brief conversation about all things Pearl! We’ll discuss Pearl’s rhythms and values, as well as any questions or interests that you have. Questions? Please contact Pastor Ben.
Membership is for those who appreciate Pearl’s work and desire to more deeply participate. The purpose of membership is to encourage an active engagement between Pearl Church and those who call Pearl “Home.” Membership benefits include an Annual Members’ Meeting, Monthly Updates from the Oversight Team, and intentional engagement regarding the direction of the church. Whether or not you’re interested in membership, the Membership Class is an opportunity to meet with a pastor to hear all about the ins and outs of Pearl Church. Ever wonder about Pearl’s story? Curious about our values? Interested in learning about our dreams for the future? Consider attending the upcoming Membership Class to hear more and to ask any questions that you may have.
We are happy to arrange childcare for this event, with at least three day's notice. You can request childcare while registering.
Pearl Youth—Join our annual backyard campout in Forest Grove from the morning of August 14 to the morning of August 15. We will start with a service project around town, then we’ll end the evening with fun and games and sleep in tents in Kylie Marble's backyard. Please RSVP if you plan to join us. Questions? Contact Kylie Marble (kyliem@pearlchurch.org)
Pearl youth—You read that right! We'll have blank shirts and hats that we will be able to paint (or color on with sharpies). You’ll take home your work of art and *hopefully* be proud enough to wear it! Lunch from Hot Lips pizza will be provided. Questions? Contact Kylie Marble.
Queer theology isn't just for queer folks.
Join us for Queering Theology, a conversation for anyone who's ever wondered whether the Christianity they inherited was telling the whole story. We'll explore how queer theology doesn't just speak to LGBTQIA+ Christians, but challenges all of us to ask better questions: Who gets to define what faithfulness looks like? What voices has the tradition pushed aside? And what might the Spirit be doing in the places we've been told not to look?
This one's going to make you think. Come ready to.
Questions? Contact Ben Conachan (benc@pearlchurch.org)
This class is now full, but you are welcome to sign up for our waitlist. It will be offered again in 2027.
If you've been reconstructing what you believe and reimagining how you see the world, you may be wondering what all this looks like in the real world—not as a set of beliefs to hold or rules to follow, but as a life to live. This class is the next step: building a rhythm that helps you actually flourish.
This summer, we're offering Reinhabiting Christian Practice—a four-week guided experience for a small group of eight participants. Together, we'll explore what's sometimes called a rule of life or a trellis—not as a demand or a spiritual achievement ladder, but as a simple, living structure that holds you as you grow. By the end of the class, you'll have a simple "trellis" that makes sense for your life.
What we'll cover:
Week 1, June 7—Why a "Trellis"
What a spiritual practice is, and what it isn't. We'll explore practices as wisdom rather than merit, support rather than law—and begin sketching out what a trellis shaped around your real life might look like.
Week 2, June 14—Sacred Story
The stories we live by shape everything. We'll explore practices that help us stay rooted in life-giving narratives—whether that's engaging with Pearl's teaching, or the books, podcasts, and quiet habits you already reach for when you're trying to make sense of things.
Week 3, June 21—Common Table
Faith was never meant to be a solo project. We'll look at practices of community, belonging, and mutual care—from Pearl's home groups to your family, your neighbors, your coworkers. Wherever you are genuinely known and knowing others, that's the table.
Week 4 June 28—Divine Love
What does it look like to extend outward—not from guilt or obligation, but from a place of genuine love? We'll explore practices of service and justice that flow from fullness rather than fear, and that are just as real whether they happen through Pearl or through the work you're already doing in the world.
Details
Sundays in June, 11:00am
Pearl Church office
Limited to eight participants
Questions? Contact Ben Conachan
This is the third of Pearl's three Core Classes, which can be taken in any order. Attending the previous Core Classes is encouraged but not required.
Our kids and youth have worked hard and completed another year of school—time to celebrate! During the service we’ll get a chance to cheer for our kids and celebrate their milestones, and afterward there will be a party on the third floor terrace with frozen treats and snacks for all! Everyone is welcome to join us.
This offering is from our partner, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
2026 Collins Lecture: A Conversation on the Separation of Church and Hate
Saturday, June 6 | 7 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 147 NW 19th Ave., Portland, Ore. (virtual option available)
Tickets $30 (scholarships available)
John Fugelsang is an actor, comedian and host of “Tell Me Everything” on SiriusXM Progress. He is also the author of New York Times bestseller, “Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.”
Fugelsang uses humor and biblical scholarship to challenge far-right Christian ideologies, such as Christian nationalism, and argues for a return to the core teachings of Jesus–love, mercy and service. He provides a toolbox for responding to Christian nationalism on the biggest issues that divide us today: immigration, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, poverty, gun safety, feminism, the death penalty, and more.
Fugelsang will be joined for a portion of the event for a conversation and Q&A led by Dr. Jessica Taylor, a strategic executive advisor, ordained minister and founder of Leadership Training Initiative.
If you want to learn directly from John Fugelsang about his approach to using the scripture and Jesus’ teachings to challenge Christian nationalism and authoritarianism, join us at the 2026 Collins Lecture for “A Conversation on the Separation of Church and Hate.”
Come join us at the home of Valinda and Paul Harlan in Vancouver for an evening of conversation and connection while tasting wines! You are invited to bring a bottle under $20 to share; we will have a blind tasting and see which wines are our favorites. Snacks will be provided.
Pearl Church LGBTQIA+ community, come join us for a fun evening of trivia at Steeplejack Brewing! We've got a private room reserved, so it'll be a cozy, low-key night with good people and fun questions. Drinks and food will be available for purchase.
Whether you're a trivia buff or just here to have a good time, all are welcome — especially newcomers! This is a laid-back, no-pressure way to connect with others in the community and make some new friends. Questions? Contact Ben Conachan.
Church Office
Are you new to Pearl Church? Join with Pastor Mike for a brief conversation about all things Pearl! We’ll discuss Pearl’s rhythms and values, as well as any questions or interests that you have. Questions? Please contact Pastor Mike.
Join us for a discussion on Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing, by Hillary McBride. McBride helps us understand that trauma, or whether something’s “traumatic,” is in the body of the beholder — and all trauma is spiritual trauma because it wounds our worldview and sense of connection with self, others, and something greater. Healing is possible, and comes through the body, self-compassion, and community. Whether or not you have time to read the book, you're warmly invited to join us for this important material.
Facilitated by Gary Conachan, LPC.
The second Sunday of each month is Community Sunday. You’re invited to stay a bit after first service, or come early for second service (around 10am), for a chance to connect with others at Pearl who attend the other service! Coffee and treats will be provided.
Pearl Youth, come join us for an afternoon of Board Games and Art! I’ll bring a whole abundance of games to play (bring your favorite from home if you’d like!). I’ll also provide craft and drawing supplies so we can flex our creative muscles. Pizza from Hot Lips will be provided! Questions? Contact Kylie Marble.
Membership is for those who appreciate Pearl’s work and desire to more deeply participate. The purpose of membership is to encourage an active engagement between Pearl Church and those who call Pearl “Home.” Membership benefits include an Annual Members’ Meeting, Monthly Updates from the Oversight Team, and intentional engagement regarding the direction of the church. Whether or not you’re interested in membership, the Membership Class is an opportunity to meet with a pastor to hear all about the ins and outs of Pearl Church. Ever wonder about Pearl’s story? Curious about our values? Interested in learning about our dreams for the future? Consider attending the upcoming Membership Class to hear more and to ask any questions that you may have.
We are happy to arrange childcare for this event, with at least three day's notice. You can request childcare while registering.
For those of you involved and/or interested in community service or activism in Portland, join us for an informal gathering after second service on Sunday, April 26 in the Ecotrust first floor atrium.
For our April meeting, we’ll be focusing on immigrant support and solidarity. We encourage folks to attend one of the monthly Migra Watch trainings put on by Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC)– this is a 2-hr participatory training held virtually mid-month and in-person end of the month. Completing the entire training is required to join the statewide rapid response network and neighborhood notification system. https://pircoregon.org/get-involved/events
If you’ve already been involved as a trained observer, accompaniment support, or other forms of immigrant solidarity, please come share your experience!
Here’s a link to other PIRC resources.
Questions? Contact Abby Coppock.
Join us for a wonderful and rowdy N64 tournament directly following the second service. We’ll provide some scrumptious lunch from Hot Lips pizza. Questions? Contact Kylie Marble.
If you're new(er) to Pearl, you're invited to a casual reception following Sunday’s service where you'll have an opportunity to meet some of Pearl’s core members, ministry leaders, home group leaders, oversight team, and staff. We would love to meet and warmly welcome you to our Pearl community. You’re invited to pop in after our second service for light refreshments and casual conversation.
The Oversight Team is working on a three-year vision and wants to hear from you! A few months ago, a visioning questionnaire was sent to our members and home group participants to get their thoughts on all things Pearl. This was followed up by members of the Oversight Team visiting Home Groups to share what was heard and to ask more questions. If you consider Pearl home but aren’t in a Home Group or missed Home Group on the night members from the Oversight Team visited, we’d love for you to attend one of our upcoming Visioning Listening Sessions!
This event is full.
Come join us as we hike the Memaloose Hills Trail in Mosier, OR. This is a great way to get to know others at Pearl and enjoy the outdoors! Mosier is about 1 hr and 10 minutes outside of Portland, just past Hood River. This trail is about 3.5 miles, with 600 feet elevation gain. It has two medium hills to climb, which are covered in wildflowers, balsam root and lupine. There are great views of the Columbia River, Mt Hood, and a glimpse of Mt Adams.
Rachel McCown will be coordinating this hike. We will meet at the Gateway Transit Center at 9am and carpool from there. Please bring water, snacks and/or lunch for yourself. Long pants are suggested because poison oak and ticks are common at this time of year.
“Art is nothing more than a guided dream,” somebody once said. So come spend an evening with a professional dreamer and see how his process of guiding imagination (for fun and profit) might help you guide yours as well. Wayne Harrel is a writer, sculptor, and storyteller who’s spent his life sharing creativity with others.
The second Sunday of each month is Community Sunday. You’re invited to stay a bit after first service, or come early for second service (around 10am), for a chance to connect with others at Pearl who attend the other service! Coffee and treats will be provided.
“Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on it way!” Join us Easter Sunday, April 5, at Pearl Church for an all-ages Easter egg hunt after second service. We will begin as soon as the second service ends, around 11:45am. We’re so excited to have you join us for some Easter fun!
As you arrive for Easter on Sunday, April 5, there will be a flowering cross as you enter our space. We invite you to bring freshly cut flowers to place on this cross but we’ll have extra flowers in case you’re unable. The contrast between the barren altar that you have observed throughout Lent and the living flowering cross that you will see as you enter into church for worship will be a welcome sight that helps to prepare our hearts for celebrating new and abundant life in Christ.
Throughout the ages, mystics and theologians have pointed to the image of Christ crucified and declared: This is the image of God. The Divine suffering, the Divine broken, the Divine self-giving, the Divine with us in our deaths. You are invited to join us for this special service as we ponder this God who is known most truly in vulnerability and solidarity.
This special service will follow a tenebrae format, as we slowly extinguish candles while descending with Jesus into the darkness of Good Friday. Childcare will be offered for children through 5th grade; youth are encouraged to attend the service with their families.
What do you get when you mix a fidget, precious beads or stones, and mindfulness practice? The Rosary! The Rosary is an ancient religious exercise that invites us into the story of Jesus. On Maundy Thursday—when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with friends—we’ll take time to learn about the Rosary. We’ll then work our way through the Sorrowful Mysteries, taking time to pause and to thoughtfully reflect on Jesus’ passion—the agony in the garden, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of the cross, and the crucifixion. Bring along your own Rosary or use and take home a simple Rosary that we’ll provide. Questions? Contact Pastor Mike.
The Oversight Team is working on a three-year vision and wants to hear from you! A few months ago, a visioning questionnaire was sent to our members and home group participants to get their thoughts on all things Pearl. This was followed up by members of the Oversight Team visiting Home Groups to share what was heard and to ask more questions. If you consider Pearl home but aren’t in a Home Group or missed Home Group on the night members from the Oversight Team visited, we’d love for you to attend one of our upcoming Visioning Listening Sessions!
Do you enjoy singing? Come lend your voice in our Easter Choir. Rehearsals will be held Mar 22 and Mar 29 from 11:45 - 1:00. Attendance at both rehearsals is strongly encouraged; attendance at one rehearsal is required. Those with choral singing experience are welcome to sign up for a specific section (i.e. soprano, alto, tenor, or bass).
No choral experience? No problem! You can sign up to sing in the melody section, or for extra guidance, we are offering a special "Introduction to Choral Singing" event on Tuesday night, Mar 17 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
The choir will be singing on Easter Sunday, April 5 at both the 9:00am and 10:30pm services. To sign up, please contact Brian Cheney at brianc@pearlchurch.org.
Do you enjoy singing? Come lend your voice in our Easter Choir. Rehearsals will be held Mar 22 and Mar 29 from 11:45 - 1:00. Attendance at both rehearsals is strongly encouraged; attendance at one rehearsal is required. Those with choral singing experience are welcome to sign up for a specific section (i.e. soprano, alto, tenor, or bass).
No choral experience? No problem! You can sign up to sing in the melody section, or for extra guidance, we are offering a special "Introduction to Choral Singing" event on Tuesday night, Mar 17 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
The choir will be singing on Easter Sunday, April 5 at both the 9:00am and 10:30pm services. To sign up, please contact Brian Cheney at brianc@pearlchurch.org.
An Educational Evening: Gospel & Salvation
3/19, 7-8:30pm, Church Office
The “gospel” and “salvation” are theological ideas that christians have, at times, used violently, causing incredible harm. In this class, we’ll explore the historical and biblical meaning of these words. In doing so, we’ll deconstruct violence in Jesus’ name and reconstruct a truly good gospel and desperately needed salvation capable of animating our lives by Divine Love.
Do you enjoy singing? Come lend your voice in our Easter Choir. Rehearsals will be held Mar 22 and Mar 29 from 11:45 - 1:00. Attendance at both rehearsals is strongly encouraged; attendance at one rehearsal is required. Those with choral singing experience are welcome to sign up for a specific section (i.e. soprano, alto, tenor, or bass).
No choral experience? No problem! You can sign up to sing in the melody section, or for extra guidance, we are offering a special "Introduction to Choral Singing" event on Tuesday night, Mar 17 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
The choir will be singing on Easter Sunday, April 5 at both the 9:00am and 10:30pm services. To sign up, please contact Brian Cheney at brianc@pearlchurch.org.
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, by Lisa Damour
Do you have teenagers or will you eventually have teenagers? This book discussion is for you! The Emotional Lives of Teenagers is a guide for parents to understand and support their teenagers' emotional development, addressing common challenges and providing practical strategies for building a strong and supportive relationship during adolescence.
Pearl Youth—Join us for a two-night, rustic winter youth retreat at Champoeg State Heritage Area! We’ve got multiple cabins booked (with heat!), and yummy food and fun activities will be provided! Questions? Please contact Kylie Marble.
Email: info@pearlchurch.org | Phone: (503) 568-1012 | Mail: Pearl Church, 721 NW 9th Ave Ste 225, Portland, OR 97209 | Online Donations
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