February 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/

We know that every now and then we can get loose with our interpretations of laws and norms and what we can get away with. We think, “That speed limit is a suggestion” or “No one ever actually stops at a STOP sign” or “Green means go, red means stop, but yellow means hurry up!” It’s not until we experience an accident or see the blue lights that we remember or appreciate that those laws are in place for a reason, and we realize that there is a net benefit for the community if we can agree on the norms that we will live by.

As we continue through the Sermon on the Mount, we’ve gotten to the point where Jesus is speaking about some of the laws of Moses, laws that were put in place for the good of the community, laws that Jesus didn’t come to abolish but to fulfill. With each one of these, Jesus says, “You have heard it said…; but I say to you…” As he does this, he expands on each of these Mosaic laws, giving reason and explanation for their presence and their importance.

Each of the commandments given to Moses was meant to help the community thrive, and Jesus reminds us that full understanding and living of the law gives us life. Christ fulfills these laws by showing us how to live by them and reminding us of the importance of life together.

Ash Wednesday - Imposition of Ashes

Wednesday, February 22, is the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of penitence and fasting. 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

We invite you to the observance of a holy Lent, and we hope that you’ll be able to join us as we begin this formative season of the Church year.

Ash Wednesday Guest Musician - Warren Ulaner

Warren Ulaner will provide beautiful music for us at our 7 PM Ash Wednesday (February 22) service at St. James Episcopal Church, Mill Creek Hundred. Warren studied at Juilliard Pre-College and the Juilliard School with major teachers including Homer Mensch, David Walter and Robert Brennan. His orchestral experience includes the Casals Festival Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra, the Florida Symphony, the Filharmonica de las Americas in Mexico City, the Filharmonica de Caracas in Venezuela, along with the New York String Orchestra. He has also had the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall.

The string bass he will be playing is the instrument Susan and Keith St. John purchased for their son Andrew, who had an interest in learning how to play the string bass. Warren is offering his time with on at this service as an offering of thanksgiving to the St. John family. May this beautiful instrument and musician serve as a loving memory of Andrew’s presence among us and as an offering back to God.

Kitchen Update

In a effort to keep things nice and organized in the kitchen we would really appreciate it if you could label food and/or containers in the refrigerator and freezer. They will be cleaned out every 3 weeks. Thank you so much.

2023 Bazaar News

The Bazaar Ladies are back. We held our Start-Up Meeting Tuesday, February 7^th at 10:00 AM. We were fortunate to welcome three new members to our group. Everyone is anxious to get started on their various projects. Their regular weekly workshops will start on Tuesday, February 14^th, at 9:00 AM. They will also have their traditional Pot Luck Luncheon following their workshop on February 14^th.   

The ladies enjoy their break after each year’s Bazaar, but are glad to be back to their weekly workshops with good friends. The fellowship we share each week is very important to all of us. 

If you are looking for something to do on Tuesday mornings, consider joining the Bazaar Ladies in the room at the bottom of the stairs in the Parish House. Newcomers are always welcome. Even if you think you aren’t crafty, there will be something you can do. We meet every Tuesday morning from 9:00–11:30.    

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Patterson at (302) 239-7649 or Shirley Alexander at (302) 738-5331.  Nancy and Shirley are the co-chairs of the Bazaar again this year.

The dates for the 2023 Bazaar are: 

Friday, November 3^rd & Saturday, November 4^th – Be sure to mark your calendars.

Remember to save your Zingo receipts. Zingo’s reimburses us 1% of the total receipts we submit to them. We average about $150 yearly from Zingo’s. The funds are used to purchase supplies for the projects the ladies make. There is a container marked “Zingo’s Receipts” in the foyer closet of the Parish House.  

Thank you for your continued support.

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies

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…

Meals on Wheels

Thanks again to Sherry Cernos, volunteer coordinator for St. James' Meals on Wheels program, (Sherry took over after her dad, Ed Clark, served for many years!) for her leadership and thanks to those who are supporting this ministry.  January 23-27 is our first week to serve our neighbor's in Del Park Manor. 

We provide individuals and couples with a hot lunch and a smile. Many times we are the only people they see in their day. Please keep those we serve and the staff at the Mid-County Senior Center, who make these meals, in your prayers. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please call Liz in the church office (302-994-1584) and she'll get you connected with Sherry.  

Emmanuel Dining Room

Tuesday, January 31st is our next day to serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR) in Wilmington. 

We'll be serving our meatball subs, fruit, chips, and cookies with milk to our guests who come for their noon lunch. Most of our guests are without housing or living in low-income housing in the city. And, for many this is their only meal of the day.

    If you'd like to help by making cookies, please bring them to the parish hall kitchen and put them in the freezer by Monday, January 30th and mark them EDR. 

    If you'd like to make a donation to help in the purchase of food items, please indicate EDR in the memo section of your check and put it in the Sunday collection plate or send into the office.

  If you'd like to learn more about this ministry, please call Liz in the church office (302-994-1584) and she'll connect you with Pat Minor or Cindy Fauerbach.

We are taking a hiatus from making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches this time and will resume on Thursday, March 30th the day before our March 31st lunch.

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.  

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

A Covenant Prayer, by John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. 

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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