First Immanuel Lutheran Church
A welcoming community centered in Christ’s love, joyfully reaching out together
1816 NW Irving Street, Portland OR 97209
503-226-3659
Email: office@firstimmanuelluth.org
A welcoming community centered in Christ’s love, joyfully reaching out together
1816 NW Irving Street, Portland OR 97209
503-
PASTOR AARON COUCH
I didn’t really set out to become a pastor, and sometimes it still surprises me that this is where my life journey has led. During my growing up years, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Later on I thought seriously about becoming a physical therapist. But I have been captivated by the message of Jesus and over the years have been drawn deeper and deeper into Jesus’ challenging and hopeful way.
It is Jesus’ message of the wideness and faithfulness of God’s love that gives me hope and a sense of purpose. In Jesus’ message, I hear good news that God loves the world so much, that God will not give up on us—regardless of our failure, regardless of how preoccupied with ourselves we are. The darkness will not win. God intends to draw the human family into a new future—without war or violence, without poverty or suffering. The whole of creation is precious to God, and should be precious to us as well. The challenge for me is to learn how to live into that future when the culture around me seems to be following a different set of values.
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I didn’t really set out to become a pastor, and sometimes it still surprises me that this is where my life journey has led. During my growing up years, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Later on I thought seriously about becoming a physical therapist. But I have been captivated by the message of Jesus and over the years have been drawn deeper and deeper into Jesus’ challenging and hopeful way.
It is Jesus’ message of the wideness and faithfulness of God’s love that gives me hope and a sense of purpose. In Jesus’ message, I hear good news that God loves the world so much, that God will not give up on us—regardless of our failure, regardless of how preoccupied with ourselves we are. The darkness will not win. God intends to draw the human family into a new future—without war or violence, without poverty or suffering. The whole of creation is precious to God, and should be precious to us as well. The challenge for me is to learn how to live into that future when the culture around me seems to be following a different set of values.
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MEET PASTOR MELINDA WAGNER:
“I find it exciting to share Christ’s ministry with the people of First Immanuel. This is a congregation with a good heart and many gifts. Our urban setting allows us to reach out to diverse people and communicate God’s Word in an ever-
known in every way possible – through our service to others, our presence in this Northwest/Pearl District neighborhood, and most of all through personal relationships in which we live and share the good news of Jesus’ love for this world. I pray daily for this outreaching ministry, and I invite you to join me. God has led us on a lively journey already, and there’s more discovery yet to come.
I have been a pastor for sixteen years and consider it a great privilege. After growing up in Indiana and Philadelphia, I graduated from Bates College in Maine and earned my seminary degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. As part of my pastoral training I spent one summer in Portland as chaplain at Emanuel Hospital. At the time, I never imagined I would return to the city one day to serve a parish, much less to serve the same parish that founded Emanuel Hospital back in 1909!
Before moving to Portland I served for many years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Then in 2001 my husband, Pastor Aaron Couch, and I were called to leave the sunny desert for the mossy Northwest, to become a pastoral team at First Immanuel. Some of my greatest joys in ministry include preaching, teaching, Bible study, leading worship, and walking with people through the significant events of their lives. I hold a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching, and each summer I teach a course in the preaching program of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
I treasure my family and celebrate my husband and our two sons, Nathan and Andrew, as God’s most precious gifts to me. I’m an avid reader of novels and literature. I enjoy international folk dancing and contra dancing. I also love gardening and being outdoors. As a family, we spend as much time as possible exploring the beauty of this region.”
I have been a pastor for sixteen years and consider it a great privilege. After growing up in Indiana and Philadelphia, I graduated from Bates College in Maine and earned my seminary degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. As part of my pastoral training I spent one summer in Portland as chaplain at Emanuel Hospital. At the time, I never imagined I would return to the city one day to serve a parish, much less to serve the same parish that founded Emanuel Hospital back in 1909!
Before moving to Portland I served for many years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Then in 2001 my husband, Pastor Aaron Couch, and I were called to leave the sunny desert for the mossy Northwest, to become a pastoral team at First Immanuel. Some of my greatest joys in ministry include preaching, teaching, Bible study, leading worship, and walking with people through the significant events of their lives. I hold a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching, and each summer I teach a course in the preaching program of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
I treasure my family and celebrate my husband and our two sons, Nathan and Andrew, as God’s most precious gifts to me. I’m an avid reader of novels and literature. I enjoy international folk dancing and contra dancing. I also love gardening and being outdoors. As a family, we spend as much time as possible exploring the beauty of this region.”
