The Blessing of the Log at Portland’s World Forestry Center

FEBRUARY 16, 2025 – PORTLAND, OR: Jim Serrill (Timber Jim), recites The Blessing of the Log at the Oregon World Forestry Center (photos by Diego G Diaz).

The Portland Timbers are starting a very special season, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary and the club’s 10th anniversary of their MLS Cup Win in 2015. The ceremonies started this past Sunday, February 16th, exactly a week from the opening of the stadium doors for their first match of the season against Vancouver Whitecaps. The traditional Blessing of the Log was hosted at Portland’s World Forestry Center for the first time, located in the wonderful Washington Park, in the hills that overlook the city from the West, also home to the Oregon Zoo, the world acclaimed International Rose Test Garden, and the Japanese Gardens.

Newcomers, for more perspective, any who have watched any games hosted at Providence Park will recognize the log that sits at the North End that sees the club’s mascot, Timber Joey, take a chain saw and cut a slice every time the Timbers score a goal, and every time the local goal keeper manages to keep his wall undefeated. The original celebration has given the Timbers worldwide recognition and every season brings a new log that is blessed in a ceremony at the start of every new season for already several decades.

FEBRUARY 16, 2025 – PORTLAND, OR: Coach Phil Neville during the Blessing of the Log at the Oregon World Forestry Center (photos by Diego G Diaz).

The ceremony involves the Timbers Army supporters group gathering around the season’s brand new Victory Log, a fresh cut tree provided by Hampton Lumber, sustainably sourced just an hour’s drive from the stadium. Those gathered recite and old Irish blessing, and take turns touching and placing their team scarves on the chosen felled wood. The ceremony could be labeled as religious, but only for the unconditional believers in the green and gold, fanatics who scream at the start of every fresh new season “this is the year!”.

The ceremony itself is rather quick, but the event is always filled with speeches from Timbers Army personnel, Timber Joey, and his predecessor and log blessing OG, Jim Serrill AKA “Timber Jim”, both lumberjacks in real life. Head coach Phil Neville was invited to the ceremony, and showed that his relationship with the fans had surged over the initial resistance by the club’s most fervent supporters. Phil recalled talking to her mother back in Manchester, about news that he was going back to America to coach in Portland, with her saying “the team of the guy with the chainsaw”. Many who travel, including myself, can relate to similar stories.

The moment turned emotive when Timber Jim, adored by the fans, had words to remember and honor some who had departed, and evoked old USL days when he used to climb a pole higher than the stadium stands, or hang from north end’s roof with the chain saw to fire the crowd. Then brought out Patch Adam Perryman, renowned Timbers Army capo, to accompany him in the reciting of the blessing.

FEBRUARY 16, 2025 – PORTLAND, OR: Fans take turns to touch the Victory Log during The Blessing of the Log at the Oregon World Forestry Center (photos by Diego G Diaz).

This ceremony has grown since the early the days of Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum, near the Oregon coast in the heart of logging country. In the words of Timber Jim, “it has grown too big for Camp 18” and the new location promises to be able to host larger crowds in the future, while still promote learning about Oregon forests history and stewardship.

The event didn’t have to finish there, the Forestry Center had the museum’s doors open for free to the public for the rest of the Sunday, and attendees were invited to engage in the parks offerings, the many food carts, and the numerous parks and hikes like the nearby Hoyt Arboretum, even under a stereotypical Portland relentless rain, and with the city still thawing from previous snow days that painted the streets and parks in a thin layer of white.