December 31st, 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/

An Epiphany Celebration!



After the twelve days of Christmas we will celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, 2024 at 3 PM. We will gather together in the Great Hall for a covered dish dinner, and you’re invited to bring a favorite dish or desert to share. We’ll hear the story of the Epiphany and learn about an ancient house blessing that we can call do at our own homes, as well. Please mark you calendars and plan to join us for this joyful feast!

A Christmas Break



The parish office will be closed the week of Christmas, but we will be around for any pastoral needs or emergencies. There will be no Wednesday service this week, and we will re-open on Tuesday, January 2.

Good Book Club Books - Now Available



If you’d like to read along for our next Good Book Club, the books will be available in the office the week of January 2nd. Please know that you don’t need the text book to participate! We’ll begin our read-through of Genesis on January 7th following our morning service, and and if you’d like to make an offering to offset the cost of the books, talk to Fr. Ben or Liz when you pick up your copy.

Too many 2024 Calendars?

If you have received extra 2024 calendars (from any of the organizations you have supported) and wondering what to do with them, they are needed by residents of our local nursing homes. Please drop them in the box in the parish hall foyer or in the church entryway and we'll be sure they are distributed! Thank you, Parish Outreach 

St. James’ Family Promise Host 

The week of December 31st, St. James’ will be hosting and providing meals for Family Promise. We are looking for volunteers to provide dinner for these guests. If you are interested, please let Dave Perry or Val Brunson know.  

Donations of money or gift cards to restaurants are always welcome, and this money will be used to buy dinner or other supplies.

If you can provide a meal, but cannot stay for dinner, let Val or Dave know and we will find someone to serve dinner for you.

Thank you to our volunteers who continue to support this worthwhile ministry. You are the reason we are able to continue to do this, and every family we support gets us that much closer to ending family homelessness. Thank you for all you do.

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.  

Ephesians 4:31-32

“Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”

The Serenity Prayer, attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971



God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next. Amen.  

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

Photo by Larry Heinold