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Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James'
Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
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If the “blessings and woes” of the first half of Jesus’s sermon on the plain didn’t make people squirm a bit, the directions that he has for those who will listen present a direct challenge to the way many of them might have wanted to respond to both the oppressive Roman rulers and the perceived to be out-of-touch Temple leadership. Somehow, Jesus can sense the mood of the crowd (it’s not always hard to do!), and so he tries to re-direct their energy into something more constructive and edifying.
“Love. Do good. Bless. Pray. Give.”
And all of these are to be done to the person who may be opposed to the one Jesus is preaching to. If we live into this way of life, it’s a radical rebuke of the ways of the world. It’s a sign of God’s kingdom breaking into the world of the empire of man, and as the incarnate Son of God, Jesus is trying to help those who will hear him to see this and make this way of life a reality.
Living like this can be a challenge even for the most faithful among us. As with most of Scripture, though, it’s why we get a chance to hear these stories over and over. As a community, it’s why we confess our shortcomings each week, and it’s why we try again to hear Jesus’s words to be a reminder of God’s presence in the midst of the world’s violence.
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Wednesday Evenings at 6 PM During Lent | |
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Beginning March 12 at 6 PM, we'll join together to read through
Life in Christ - Practicing Christian Spirituality by Julia Gatta
This book studies the spiritual wisdom of the past while exploring common Christian practices and their underlying theology through an Episcopal lens.
Books are available through Church Publishing and Bookshop.org.
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Office Hours Update
During this interim period between office administrators, there will be changes to our regular office hours in order to accommodate the schedules of our volunteers.
The parish office will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 9 AM until 1 PM. The parish office will be closed for administrative work on Thursdays until the role is filled, but the voice mail will continue to be checked.
Thank you for your patience and understanding and for your prayers for our next office administrator, wherever they may be!
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A Note about Flu Season
Recent conversations with people around the community and the parish indicate that flu season this year is hitting some people harder than in recent memory. With this in mind, please remember that if you're feeling ill, please worship with us remotely. If there's something you need, let the Parish Office know, and we'll try to assist.
As always, if you'd feel more comfortable worshiping while masked, that remains an option, as well.
Thank you for your attention and care of one another, and please stay well!
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Post-Christmas Graveyard Clean-up
If you left a Christmas decoration or special memento on the grave of a loved one for Christmas, please have the items removed before February 28th. If you are unable to pick them up in person please call the office at 302-994-1584, and we can make arrangements for them to be picked up at a later time.
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2025 Bazaar Workshop Update
The Bazaar Workshop held its start-up meeting on Tuesday, February 18th. There was much fellowship and catching-up after our hiatus. Attendees shared a delicious Pot-Luck luncheon as well as their ideas for creating both new and familiar crafts and offerings for the 2025 Bazaar.
Regular weekly workshops will begin February 25 and will run every Tuesday (unless otherwise noted) from 9:00 AM until 11:30 AM.
The group gladly welcomes new members.
Contact the Parish Office with any questions, and we'll get you in contact with Shirley or Nancy!
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Keep those Zingo’s Receipts!
Zingo’s totals the dollars spent and sends St. James’ 1% of that total. Zingo’s is currently accepting receipts dated 2023 to 2024. They will not accept any receipts with a date earlier than 2023.
The funds received are used to purchase supplies for the Bazaar. The tapes may be left in the container in the foyer closet in the Parish House marked Zingo’s Tapes. The Bazaar Ladies appreciate your continued support of this project.
If you have any questions about the Weekly Workshop or Zingo’s receipts, please contact Nancy Patterson or Shirley Alexander via the Parish Office.
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Everyone Flips for the Pancake Supper!
The men of St. James will be hosting the annual Pancake Super on Tuesday, March 4th at 6 PM. If you have any questions, speak to Dick Prettyman or Dave Perry, and we hope
you'll join us this year!
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Ash Wednesday - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
The holy season of Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5th. This is a season of penitence and fasting, and in our tradition we mark this day with a service of Holy Eucharist and an imposition of ashes. This year we will have two services:
10:00 AM - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
7:00 PM - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes with Choir
We invite you to the observance of a holy Lent, and we hope that you will join us as we begin this formative season of the Church year.
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The Annual Meeting this year will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 following the 9:30am service. The Vestry will provide brunch, and more details will be forthcoming.
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St. James' Mission and Outreach updates
Sharing God’s gifts with others
Reaching out to those in need
And serving them with dignity and respect…
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New Castle County HOPE Center-for Individuals and Families in need of temporary housing and support services.
What started as temporary housing during the cold weather of 2020-2021 has grown into a permanent center that provides housing and support services for individuals and families who are without adequate housing in New Castle County. New Castle County (NCC) purchased the former Sheraton Hotel on Airport Rd (now named the New Castle County HOPE Center) and kept the hotel management staff to keep the facility running. Working together, many non-profit organizations including Family Promise provide various services and support for individuals and families to obtain emergency and more significant housing and medical, psychological, and job skills opportunities as well. The hotel can accommodate 400 and suites and adjoining rooms are given to families and enable households to stay together. Housing is coordinated through the Delaware Housing Alliance.
If you know of anyone who needs this housing, please ask them to call 1-833-FIND-BED (1-833-3463-233) and leave a message.
How can you help?
Review the list below and see where you might be able to help.
Current items needed:
- Hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo, and soap (regular and travel size)
- Individual sized peanut butter crackers, tuna, microwavable meals (pastas, soups, etc.)
- Non-alcohol hand sanitizer
- Tide pods or other laundry pods
- NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult
- New or gently used t-shirts and light jacket
- New books for adults and children
Please drop the items off:
· Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the parish hall porch
Please place your donations in the bin labeled Donations for HOPE Center on the porch of the parish hall. Liz will bring in the bin and any donated items at 12:30 p.m.
· On Sunday, there is a container in the foyer of the church.
We take the donations to the distribution center about every two weeks.
Thank you,
St. James' Mission/Outreach Ministry
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Prayer Team Updates
Sunday Prayers of the People. If you would like someone to be lifted in prayer at our Sunday service, please call the church office at 302-994-1584. The person's name will remain on the list for three weeks. If at that time you would like the person's name to remain on the list, please call the office again.
The parish prayer team continues to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails or calls to the church office, to individual members of the prayer team, or requests left in the prayer basket in the church foyer. We collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world. All are welcome and encouraged to share their prayers.
For those who have an immediate prayer need, we invite you to email your prayer needs & request to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675.
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St. James' Pastoral Care Team
St. James' Pastoral Care Team continues to support our parish family and our community.
If you or someone you know is in need, we:
· send cards, make phone calls, and pray with you and/or for you.
· Make home, hospital, and Eucharistic visits.
Please call the office (302-994-1584) and leave a message. Someone will get back to you. Messages are retrieved daily, seven days a week.
Please let us know if you need us or someone you know needs us. We will not know if you do not tell us.
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St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
302.994.1584
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