March 12th, 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 works and teachings often means he has to get on the road to get away from those who may be looking for him. Sometimes it’s the people in charge who want to track him down, and sometimes it’s the crowds who are demanding something from him. These geographic departures also serve a narrative function to put Jesus and the gospel story in a different and unexpected place to help tell the reader something about who Jesus is and what Jesus is up to.

When Jesus meets the woman at the well, this is one of those instances. Also, this story may be so well-known to us that we are no longer shocked by the details that the gospel writer has included. We notice, too, that this encounter holds “opposing parallels” to the story of Nicodemus: they meet in the daylight; they meet outside; and the woman is as different from Nicodemus as she can be. Notice, too, Nicodemus speaks first to Jesus, but Jesus speaks first to the woman.

This story is shocking in its original context because it’s a moment when the most likely kind of person (a Samaritan woman who has been married multiple times!) is told and hears the Gospel message. It’s not just about her accepting the invitation, but about the invitation being extended even and especially to her, someone on the furthest reaches of the outer circle.

We remember that Lent is about returning back to God, a God who is faithful and awaiting our return. We believe that the invitation to return has been extended, and in the season we continue to find our way back, much like the woman at the well helped the people of her community find their way back, too.

St. James’ Family Promise Host Week Special Announcement 

April 9^th Host Week

We are looking for volunteers to provide dinner for our Family Promise guests the week of April 9^th. If you are interested, please let Dave Perry or Val Brunson know.  

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

Return to Service!

While not going back to guests staying in our Parish House, we will return to serving them a family style dinner in the Nazareth Room at Jesus House. This will be a wonderful opportunity to interact with the families again. The Family Promise coordinators will be available to help you set up and get familiar with the new process. Please come to our information session on 3/12 for dinner instructions and to see pictures of the facility. Field trips are available.

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.

Family Promise Information Session: 3/12/23 after Coffee Hour in the Parish House Great Hall for new and returning volunteers

Thank You

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

It’s Finally Time For A Fun Filled Bingo Night

The 2023 Claudia White Memorial Bingo Night will be held

on

Monday, April 24, 2023, in the St. James' Parish Hall

Games will start at 7:00 PM. Please mark your calendars. A detailed invitation will be sent out in a couple of weeks.

As in the past, there will be a $10 donation for 10 Bingo Games.  There will be prizes for game winners, everyone will receive a Door Prize, a 50/50 Drawing will be available, and there will be a variety of refreshments. 

Claudia White was Co-Chair of the St. James’ Bazaar for several years. She also organized the first Bingo Night. Claudia loved organizing and attending social events, especially if it was a fund raiser. After Claudia passed away in 2008 the Bazaar Ladies decided to continue Bingo Night in her memory. It was an annual event each year until the pandemic in 2020. April 24^th will be the first Bingo Night since 2019. 

All proceeds are donated to the St. James’ Claudia White Memorial Fund.  Repairs and renovations to the Parish House were very close to Claudia’s heart and the money raised is used to maintain the Parish House.

If you have any questions contact Nancy Patterson at 302-239-7649.

We hope you will join us for another fun filled evening with family and friends.

The St. James Bazaar Ladies

Millcreek Ecumenical Lenten Lunches

Continuing a longstanding Lenten tradition, St. Philip’s Lutheran Church will be hosting this year’s Lenten lunches. This is a wonderful opportunity to join together with our fellow churches during this holy season.

Our worship service will begin at 12 PM on Wednesdays at St. Philip’s during the season of Lent. Our worship will be followed by a lunch of soup and bread at 12:30 PM. St. James’ will provide the homily, music, and lunch on March 15, and if you’d like to volunteer, please contact the Church Office for more details.

2023 Flea Market

There will be a Flea Market again this year, on May 20th 2023. Kathy Jackson is organizing it. You may drop off items to be sold at the Flea Market. Please leave them downstairs in the room to the right of the stairs.

We Will Accept:

Gently Used Household Items, Appliances, Toys, Jewelry, Hardback & Paperback Books.

We WILL NOT Accept Any of the Following:

Encyclopedias, Computers, TVs, Electronics, Clothes or Stuffed Animals.

Please do not bring in any of the unacceptable items. They can be donated to various local charitable agencies.

Electronic Items are accepted at the following Delaware Solid Waste

Recycle Locations:

Delaware Recycling Center                                   Newark Recycling Center

1101 Lambson Lane                                                470 Corporate Blvd.

New Castle, DE 19720                                             Newark, DE 19702

Monday-Saturday: 8:30am-3:30pm                      Monday-Saturday: 8:30am-3:30pm

Please contact Kathy Jackson (302-690-3513) if you have any questions or would like to help prior to, or during the Flea Market.

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 [email protected] 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.  

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Prayer for the Third Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

Daylight Saving Time

Happy "spring" forward! Don't forget to change the clocks on

March 12th 2023.