October 15th, 2023

We'd love for you to join us!

We would be pleased if you joined us in person or online from the comfort of your home for church services via Facebook Live at 9:30am.

https://www.facebook.com/StJamesEpiscopalChurchMillCreek/

Jesus’s parables continue in an unsettling direction as we hear this week’s “Parable of the Wedding Banquet.” In this story a king is preparing a wedding feast for his child. He invited everyone he knew, but no one came, even as the servants sought them out. Many of them went back to their own work, while some killed the servants who re-extended the king’s invitation. The king’s fury burned hot, and he instructed the slaves to go out into the streets and invite anyone they could find. Both good and bad showed up, and the hall was filled with guests.

One guest, though, did not appear to be dressed appropriately, and the king’s anger burned hot against this guest, too, and the guest was soon bound and cast out to the outer darkness.

There’s a wondering here about hospitality and welcoming and overreactions to what can seem like simple misunderstandings. What this story may really be about, though, is what it means truly live how God calls us to live when we’re called into a community together. Wearing the robe was an expectation, but the guest chose not to put it on. When we choose not to live into a new way of life when we’re called into community by God in Christ, that’s akin to refusing to wear the wedding robe, and it reminds us that when we are called by Christ, we are called to be someone who is made new.

Parish Clean-up a Great Success!

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped with our recent Parish House Cleanup! Many things that had served their purpose for us here were removed, and we made room for what may be next for us at St. James’. The good news is that people noticed more places that could be reclaimed and tidied up, and all of this is a sign of faith in God’s abundance entrusted to us!

Call for Candy!

St. James' is providing lunch (meatball subs, chips, fruit, cookies, and milk) once again at Emmanuel Dining Room on Walnut Street in Wilmington on Tuesday, October 31st. As a special Halloween treat, we’d like to offer Halloween gift bags and peanut butter crackers as "takeaways". Please drop off bags of snack-sized candy or peanut butter cracker at the Parish House or in the basket in the entrance to the church by October 22nd. At Coffee Hour on October 22nd, we’ll fill the bags with sweet treats for our guests for them to take after their lunch on October 31st.

“The Good Book Club” returns in January!

“The Good Book Club” returns in January as we turn our minds and our hearts to the book of Genesis. We’ll read one chapter of day for fifty days, and we’ll come together on Sunday mornings following our 9:30 service to discuss what we’ve discovered in our readings. There is a companion book for this class, and we can get a discount if we order multiple copies! If you’d like to join us as we read through the book of Genesis, call the church office to sign up by November 1st. Please contact Fr. Ben with any questions.

Garden Committee Announcement:

Final clean-up of the gardens around the church and parish house.

Please join the garden committee on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 9:00 am for the final garden clean-up around the perimeter of the church and Parish House. This will allow for the outside of the buildings on the church property to look nice through-out the Fall and Winter months. We are always looking for new members.

Bring your garden tools ie (shovels, clippers and garden gloves). The more people that show up will allow for this project to be accomplished in no more than several hours or sooner. 

Plan:

• Various shrubs or plants, need to be pruned or maybe replanted.
• Final weeding and clean-up of the Memorial Garden and other areas around the church, including the Columbarium and parish house. Weeding and clean-up is perpetual and have been an on-going task through-out the Spring and Summer, taken on by the members of the garden committee.

Please call Carol Bruno at 302-250-3121 or Barbara Anzilotti at 302-267-2276 with any questions or comments. We certainly appreciate any help. Water and snacks will be provided. 

2023 Annual Bazaar



Friday, 11/3 & Saturday, 11/4

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Both Days

Please plan to attend our Annual Bazaar. 

It’s an opportunity to spend time with family and friends and to Support our Church.

Bake Shop News

Please bring your baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, candies, etc.

to the Parish House at the following times.



                       Thursday, November 2nd                      5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

                       Friday, November 3rd                             8:00 am – 2:30 pm

                       Saturday, November 4th                        8:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Bazaar Ladies Will Need Help

Sunday, October 29th

  After the 9:30 Service

Items in the Bazaar Workshop need to be brought upstairs.

They will also need help setting up Monday & Tuesday, Oct. 30^th and 31^st

      We appreciate any help you are willing to provide.

See you at the Bazaar,

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies

Meals on Wheels Announcement

Our current Meals on Wheels coordinator is moving, and we are in need of someone who can take over coordinating and scheduling. Meals on Wheels is an important charity that helps feed seniors in our community. Without it, many folks would go hungry.

If you are interested in helping, please call Sherry Ceranos at 302 784 4073.

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…

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

Prayer Team Updates

The prayer team continues to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails or calls to the church office at 302-994-1584, 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. They are compiled weekly and then these requests are lifted up in the daily prayers of the team members. 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 and request to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675

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.

“Blessful” Meditations

We all know that life can be a little stressful and hectic sometimes. We hope that by reading this short bible passage and watching a relaxing video will help you take a moment and reflect on God’s gifts.  

Philippians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/