Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church has gathered for worship at 2420 NE Fairview Avenue in Fairview, Oregon since October 19, 1890. The congregation's life is shaped by three threads: a long partnership with its neighbors, a theology centered on the love of God in Jesus Christ, and a steady habit of sending people out to serve. Today the church offers a blended Sunday service, an active music program, programs for children and youth, and a Saturday food pantry that has become a fixture across east Multnomah County.
A Church Built from a Family's Generosity
The story of Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church begins long before its sanctuary was built. The Lewis and Clark expedition landed in the area that would become Fairview on November 3, 1805. By 1834, Methodist missionary Jason Lee had been sent to Fort Vancouver to spread the gospel across the Columbia. Around 1845, families began settling in what would become Fairview, and in 1853, Emsley Scott invited his neighbors to worship together. Dr. John Crosby offered his home as a meeting place, and the Methodist Episcopal Church became the first religious community in Fairview. That congregation eventually merged into Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1929.
The church's namesake family arrived in the region as part of the same pioneer story. Hiram and Hannah Smith came from Ohio, settled in Portland, and established a general store in 1850. In 1869, they purchased 3,000 acres of land in Fairview, including the same land where the Methodist church met. The Smiths gave a couple of acres and $100 to help build a sanctuary for that congregation. After Hiram died, Hannah agreed to give the Presbyterians a parcel of land and $1,000. The Presbytery of Oregon then sent Rev. Ingle to organize a Presbyterian congregation, and the first worship service on what would become Smith Memorial's property was held on October 19, 1890.
Both the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations were financed by the Smith family, and the two sanctuaries sat almost next door to each other on Fairview Avenue. When Rev. Ingle resigned in March 1891, the Presbyterian church found itself with a new building but no pastor. Members of the Methodist church proposed alternating worship between the two buildings every other week, freeing each pastor to spend the alternate weeks out in the community. That arrangement continued after a new Presbyterian pastor, Winfield Scott, arrived, and it shaped a ministry pattern Smith Memorial has carried forward ever since: a church that sends people out to serve.
Centered on Christ, Sharing God's Love
Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), within the Cascades Presbytery and the Synod of the Pacific. The PCUSA's heritage reaches back to 1640 in America, with theological roots in the Reformation of 1519, the theology of grace taught by Martin Luther, and the representative democracy articulated by John Calvin.
The church teaches that God's love in Jesus Christ is a gift, not something to be earned. As a congregation, Smith Memorial reads scripture in light of Jesus and identifies with the affirmations of the Protestant Reformation - the rediscovery of God's grace in Christ and the priesthood of all believers. The church affirms that both women and men can serve in every leadership role, balances social justice with evangelism, and holds itself to be "reformed and always reforming" according to the Word of God and the call of the Spirit.
The congregation has historically grounded itself in the historic creeds and confessions of the wider church: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter Catechism, the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the Confession of 1967, and A Brief Statement of Faith (1983). The Westminster Shorter Catechism opens with the question, "What is the chief and highest end of life?" and answers, "To glorify God and to fully enjoy him forever."
The motto printed across the church's communications is "Centered on Christ - Sharing God's Love - For the Community."
A Blended Sunday Morning
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and usually ends around 11:00 to 11:15 a.m. Greeters and ushers welcome visitors at the doors, hand out a worship bulletin, and answer questions. The service is intentionally blended: piano, organ, choir, soloists, a praise team, handbells, flute, guitar, and children all contribute to worship, though usually not all at once. Words of scripture and song, sometimes accompanied by images and videos, appear on large screens. The sermon is Christ-centered and aims to connect the Bible with daily life.
Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month. The table is open to anyone who loves Jesus, regardless of age or background. The bread is gluten-free and is served with grape juice.
Visitors are welcomed just as they are; there is no dress code. Many people dress in business casual, others dress up or come more casually. After the service, everyone is invited to the fellowship hall for coffee and cookies, a good place to meet others in the congregation. When a month has a fifth Sunday, the church typically gathers for a potluck lunch after worship.
Sermons can be watched online through the church's YouTube channel and Vimeo page, including both a short five-minute and a longer 15-minute video option.
Children and Youth at the Center of the Family
Smith Memorial welcomes children as full members of the family of God. Children's bulletins, crayons, and a clipboard with age-appropriate activities are available for children who stay in the service. Halfway through the service, children are invited forward for a children's sermon prepared especially for them.
After the children's sermon, children in kindergarten through fourth grade who wish to attend Children's Chapel are escorted downstairs by trained, background-checked teachers. Children's Chapel weaves together elements of worship and Sunday school and is intended to help children encounter and give thanks to the God who loves them. On Communion Sundays (the first Sunday of the month), Children's Chapel does not meet, so that the whole family of God can be together for the Lord's Supper. Fifth graders are encouraged to remain in worship, with special activities offered throughout the year for students in grades 5 through 8 to build Christian relationships with their peers.
Family Fellowship takes place on the second Sunday of each month. After worship, families gather for lunch and a shared activity - sometimes a hike, bowling, or silly games, and sometimes a service project such as visiting a retirement community or helping those experiencing homelessness. All children and youth with parents and guardians are welcome.
The high school youth group meets Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Gatherings include games, a snack, a Bible lesson, and prayer, with a focus on relational ministry. Each summer the church hosts a free Vacation Bible School for kindergarten through fifth graders, usually in mid to late July. Youth may also take part in summer mission trips, retreats, or a triennium.
Music in Many Forms
Music is a major part of Smith Memorial's blended worship. The community choir is open to church and community members and rehearses on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. The praise team, a group of singers and instrumentalists, helps lead congregational singing on Sunday mornings and welcomes new vocal or instrumental talent.
Jubilant Bells, the adult handbell choir, is directed by Music Coordinator Michael Day. The ensemble has four full octaves of bells plus most of a fifth, three octaves of handchimes, padded tables, and other equipment. Ringers practice Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. between September and June, and periodically share their music in worship. New ringers are always welcome.
Volunteers from the congregation fill the other worship roles: greeters at the front entry doors, ushers in the narthex handing out bulletins, acolytes, Children's Chapel leaders, nursery helpers, sound system technicians, projection screen operators, and liturgical arts designers. Serving as a greeter or usher is open to everyone, including families with children.
Small Groups and the Habits of Discipleship
The congregation places a strong emphasis on small groups as the core of Christian fellowship. A small group and Bible study meets Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m., sharing coffee, tea, and treats while discussing life-relevant Bible study books, reflecting on God's presence, and praying for one another and the community.
The Outriggers is a group of middle-age couples and singles who enjoy fellowship, devotional time, and supporting local missions. They meet on the third Saturday of each month, usually in the Fellowship Hall, with teams taking turns coordinating four gatherings a year.
Other ministry teams give members additional ways to use their gifts: the Communications Team produces materials that help people come together and worship; the Fellowship and Outreach Team builds relationships within the congregation and beyond; the Buildings and Grounds Team cares for the physical environment; and the Worship Team helps shape the Sunday service.
The Session - the church's governing body of elected elders - sets the church's vision and works with the pastor to ensure the Word is preached, the sacraments are given, and the congregation is nurtured in its growth as disciples. The Board of Deacons nurtures the entire congregation in ministries of compassion, witness, and service.
Smith Memorial frames its life around five habits of discipleship. Members are encouraged to read at least one verse of scripture and pray every day, participate in a small group with Christ-centered relationships, invite someone they do not know well to share a meal once a month, volunteer in an area where they have a God-given passion, and worship regularly. Groups are encouraged to read at least one verse of scripture at every gathering, allow time for personal prayer, share life updates, plan at least two activities a year with people outside the congregation, and intentionally develop new leaders.
The East County Food Pantry
The most visible outreach of Smith Memorial is the East County Food Pantry, which the church houses and operates. The pantry is staffed by a team of volunteers and public servants dedicated to providing free food to anyone in need while building positive relationships across the community.
The pantry is open on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when clients can shop for the food their families need. It partners with the Oregon Food Bank and sister organizations such as the Clackamas Service Center and area businesses to keep shelves stocked. The Walk for Your Neighbor 5K is one of the pantry's annual fundraisers, drawing walkers from across the community.
Pastor Brad Busiek's 2024 Doctor of Ministry dissertation at Fuller Theological Seminary focused on "Building Community at a Faith-Related Food Pantry," and the food pantry remains a defining ministry of the congregation. Donations to the pantry can be made through the church's online giving portal.
Reaching Out Beyond the Walls
Smith Memorial maintains a wide circle of partnerships that put its faith into action. The elementary school across the street from the property sits on land that was also part of the Smith family's original gift, and the church has been involved in volunteering at Fairview Elementary since its beginning.
Long-standing partnerships include SnowCap, which serves people in eastern Multnomah County; My Father's House, which equips homeless families with life skills; Zarephath Ministries, which runs a kitchen and pantry in Gresham; Human Solutions, which helps low-income and homeless families work toward self-sufficiency; SOLV Oregon, a statewide non-profit that keeps Oregon clean and green; and Mount Hood Hospice. The church also supports the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s four special offerings - One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost Offering, the Peace and Global Witness Offering, and the Christmas Joy Offering - as well as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian missionaries serving in 71 countries.
A small Deacon Fund offers help to people in the community who have a Fairview address and are in need.
Becoming Part of the Story
Anyone who desires membership is welcome at Smith Memorial. People can join through baptism and profession of faith, affirmation of faith, transfer of membership from another Christian church, or reaffirmation of faith. Baptism is recognized from any Christian denomination by any method, and previous baptisms do not need to be repeated. New membership classes are offered but are not required.
The vows members make include professing belief in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; confessing the need for the forgiveness of sins; intending to be Christ's faithful disciple; and committing to share in the church's worship, ministry, prayers, gifts, study, and service.
Office hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The church office is at 2420 NE Fairview Avenue, and the mailing address is PO Box 69, Fairview, OR 97024. Online giving is available through a secure portal, and checks may be mailed to the church office.
The Millar Scholarship
One of the most tangible gifts the church carries forward is the Millar Scholarship Fund. It was established in 1968-1969 from the estate of Jessie May Zimmerman Millar and has helped Reynolds District high school seniors pay for college every year since 1970. The scholarship is given to students who have shown desire and ability but lack the financial means to attend a university, with representatives from Smith Memorial and the high school deciding the awards. Some years the fund has helped as many as sixty students with college expenses.
The story behind the scholarship reaches back to 1851, when Jacob and Lena Zimmerman joined a wagon train to the Oregon Territory and settled on land near Fairview Lake. They became one of the founding families of Fairview. Their granddaughter Jessie May Zimmerman grew up in the Zimmerman farmhouse, which still stands on Sandy Boulevard and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The Millar Scholarship is one way the pioneering spirit of Fairview continues to find new expression through the church.