Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
March 20th, 2022

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.


Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.
Whenever something bad happens in our lives or in our world, we always try to make sense of it. We think, “This must have happened because of this” or “If I just do this, then this won’t happen again.” It’s a way of trying to make sense of tragedy or gain control when we feel powerless and we hope that it can give us some sense of comfort and relief. Then, we can go on with our lives.
 
The reality, though, is that sometimes things happen, and no amount of preparation for them could keep them from taking place. Natural disasters occur. People get sick. Bad things just happen, and, sometimes, there’s no one at fault and no one to blame.
 
Why these things happen is the question asked of Jesus by the crowds in this week’s Gospel. It was on their mind because they had just heard of something truly horrible taking place nearby. His response to them, though, is this: Turn back toward God, and control what you can control.
 
That doesn’t mean that everything is going to be simple or easy, but it does give us comfort in making sure we have taken the necessary precautions for those moments when life may go sideways. It’s a teaching from him to make sure we do the things we need to do so that when tragedy strikes we can move forward with a clear mind, an open heart, and a faithful trust in the presence of God.
Episcopal Relief and Development and Aid for the Ukraine

Many Parishioners have asked how to help the people impacted by the war in the Ukraine. St. James' has a long standing relationship with the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) Organization who is currently working to provide relief for Ukrainian refugees fleeing their home country.  If you would like to make a donation, you can write a check, payable to St. James', and write ERD in the memo. St. James' will then send a check for that amount to ERD.  
 
Also, as a reminder, anytime you wish to make a donation to ERD for whatever reason, you can always put a check in the collection plate with ERD in the memo and the money will be sent to them.
 
Thank you for your generous hearts and we will continue to pray for peace in the Ukraine.
A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell
Coffee Hour is back!
 
After a long hiatus we are so happy to announce that Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall is back. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this trying time. You are welcome to join us after church for fellowship and a warm cup of coffee with your friends at St. James’. 
Upcoming opportunities for exploring the Bible, fellowship, and worship!

Please visit our webpage for updates about upcoming activities, including the following:

·      Following Sunday service – The Good Book Club will meet in the lounge. Come for the fellowship and discussion (having completed the readings is NOT required.)

·      Lectionary Bible Study: Monday's at 10:30 in the lounge.

·      Wednesday Holy Eucharist in the church at 10 AM
Bazaar Update

The Bazaar Ladies have returned to their weekly workshops. They are looking forward to being able to have a full year of creating new and familiar items for our annual Bazaar and spending time with good friends.
 
New friends are always welcome. If anyone would like to join the ladies, please contact Nancy Patterson (302) 239-7649 or Shirley Alexander (302) 738-5331. We meet every Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 11:300 AM. Several of the ladies usually go to lunch after workshop. It is a fun group. No skills are required. There’s a variety of tasks to be done. It is a morning filled with fellowship and creativity. 

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies
Serving those in need with dignity and respect…
 
We are grateful for your support that enables us to
serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room
and provide clothing, food, and other items
needed by those being served at the Hope Center.
 
EMMANUEL DINING ROOM
Providing a daily lunch to those in need in Wilmington
 
Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Thursday, March 31, 2022 and we will continue to deliver our lunch items and extra bottles of water. We hope we will be able to serve our guests in the dining room sometime this spring. For now, we offer “take-away” lunches. We will be serving meatball subs, fruit, chips, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. When possible, we’ll also offer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a snack/extra meal (for now--made by youth and adults in their homes.)
 
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)
•      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
·       Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa
 
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 Friendship House about every two weeks.
 
Thank you,
St. James' Outreach Ministry
Prayer Team

One Sunday of every month, the members of the prayer team hold a “virtual” ZOOM prayer service (focusing on the prayer requests shared by parishioners through calls or emails to the church office 994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team.) We lift up these prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world.

Also, weekly we share the prayers and petitions that have been given to us and they are lifted in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to provide their prayer requests and participate in these services.
 
For those who have an immediate prayer need or would like to receive the ZOOM codes and join the prayer team service, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests to Cindy Fauerbach cindyfauerbach@verizon.net or call Cindy at
302-584-8053
 
NOTE: Our next ZOOM prayer team will be Sunday, April 3rd at 5 p.m.
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.
·    For now, in an abundance of caution, our home, hospital, and Eucharistic visits are on hold.
 
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 and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Prayer for Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent

O God, you so loved the world that you gave your only-begotten Son to reconcile earth with heaven: Grant that we, loving you above all things, may love our friends in you, and our enemies for your sake; 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/
COVID-19 Restrictions

 
Our firm desire is to worship our Lord in beauty, holiness, AND safety! Please be assured that the St. James' leadership team has worked hard to have meaningful worship while at the same time making our environment as safe as possible for everyone.
  • Church entry time will be 9:15 a.m.
  • Please sanitize hands before entering the church.
  • Face masks are required. 
  • At communion, please wait until you are back in your seat to consume your wafer.
For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584