August 7th, 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.

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

When our two kids tested positive for COVID-19 after we picked them up from camp, my wife and I drove home, still wearing our masks the whole way in a desperate, ill-fated attempt to avoid this virus for just a little longer. Of course, intellectually we knew that a ten or eleven hour drive with two COVID-positive children was as sure of a way as any for us to get it, too.

We got home the next day; washed all the laundry from camp; went to the store for provisions; and began to wait. I told a friend, “I feel like I’m sitting on the porch, waiting on the hurricane to arrive.” And arrive it did, a day or two later. All things considered, we were lucky that we anticipated the kids being sick and were able to plan for that, and we’ve talked multiple times this week about how nice it is that they are older and more self-sufficient, even able to take care of us a little bit when we were feeling the worst!

Jesus talks in this week’s gospel about the necessity of preparation, the necessity of being ready for both unexpected and anticipated events. The question that comes to mind, though, is “How do we make sure that we’re prepared, and do we know before it’s too late?”

Ultimately, it may simply be about preparation, repetition, and trusting those around us. These past two weeks, as I’ve been holed up waiting to get better and now on a negative test, I’m thankful for all of you who have had the past couple of years of preparation, repetition, and trusting each other so that on those Sundays when we’re not able to gather for communion, we can still gather for prayer, a reminder of the community of faith that remains ready for both the challenges and opportunities of a life lived together.

Bible Study and Wednesday Worship - UPDATE

Our Monday morning Bible Study and our Wednesday Morning Eucharist will remain on hiatus until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Opportunities to Serve on Sunday Mornings

Our rich Anglican tradition has many opportunities for service within the life of our parish. One of those ways is serving within the context of worship as an usher, an acolyte, a lay reader, or as a chalice bearer. Throughout this COVID-tide we have had limited Sunday morning participation in these liturgical roles, but as we move toward fall we invite you to prayerfully consider participation in one of these aspects of worship. If you have questions, please contact Fr. Ben in the Parish Office.

Confirmation Classes - Coming Soon!

Bishop Brown will have his scheduled visitation with us on October 2. With this is in mind, our confirmation classes will be beginning soon. The scheduled dates and times will be determined based upon our participants. Confirmation classes can be a great time for a refresher on life in the Church; a chance to re-connect with fellow parishioners; and ask those questions that have been bothering you since your own confirmation. There’s no obligation to be confirmed if you go through these classes, but if confirmation or re-affirmation has been on your mind and your heart, please contact the Parish Office to sign up and let Fr. Ben know if you have any questions.

Uptick in COVID Cases - Please Be Careful!

As we move deeper into summer, COVID cases continue to increase, especially with this new and more easily transmissible variant. Early indications are that prior infection does not prevent re-infection, and vaccination, while still proven to drastically reduce severe infection and death, offers little protection from contracting and spreading this new variant.

With all of this in mind, we continue to encourage and recommend masking indoors because of our intimate worship space. I also encourage you to re-assess your own risk level and that of our church community. If you are eligible for your second booster, please discuss with your healthcare provider whether it would be appropriate for you to receive that second booster at this time.

Finally, many people are presenting with no symptoms while still spreading this virus; so if you have recently been exposed but are not showing symptoms, please stay home. If you are feeling poorly and still test negative, please stay home. We will certainly miss you, and we will look forward to seeing you when you are feeling better.

Summer Prayer Team UPDATE

During the summer months, the prayer team will continue to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails to the church office at 302-994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team. We collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world. Then these requests are lifted up in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to share their prayer requests and we hope you will consider joining us when our monthly prayer services resume in the fall on Sunday, September 11th. More information to follow.

For those who have an immediate prayer need, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675

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.

St. James' Mission and Outreach updates

Sharing God’s gifts with others.

Thank you all for your generosity and caring that made and make these offerings possible. 

Family Promise

Our next week offering meals and caring to families participating in Family Promise is August 7-14 (This will also be the last offering this year.) At this point, guests continue to live in the cottages at the Jesus House off Milltown Road. We’ll let you know if that changes and we are able to return to providing our families with lodging, snacks, and dinners in our parish hall.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver lunch and some evening meals to our neighbors in Murray Manor. Our next week to deliver meals is August 8-12.

Hope Center and Friendship House

We continue to provide clothing items, snacks, food, toiletries and hygiene items, children's books and toys, diapers, laundry detergent, etc. for those being served at the Hope Center and Friendship House. 

SPECIAL REQUEST:

UNIFORMS NEEDED

Friendship House’s goal is to collect 10,000 school uniform items before the start of the 2022-2023 school year to support 13 local public schools. They need youth khaki pants sizes L, XL, and XXL and youth polo shirts in navy, red, or white, sizes L, XL, and XXL.

Items can be left in one of our St. James’ collection boxes inside the front door of the church or Monday-Thursday a box is outside the Parish Hall on the front porch. And they will be delivered weekly to the Friendship House Clothing Bank as we receive donations.

Or, donations can be brought Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm to the Friendship House Clothing Bank at 1603 Jessup St. Wilmington, DE.

If you have questions, please contact Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053. Thank you!

Emmanuel Dining Room

In the past, we have served from 140-200 lunches to our friends at Emmanuel Dining Room on the 31st of the month (7 times per year). Covid brought new challenges and we were able to provide the lunch “fixings”, but not help in the kitchen OR serve the meals. From March 2020 until April 2022, guests were provided a “take away” lunch that they picked up outside the dining room and had to eat elsewhere.

We are happy to say, WE ARE BACK in the kitchen and serving guests in the dining room.

On our next lunch date—Wednesday, August 31st, our guests will enjoy tuna subs, chips, banana, and homemade cookies and have peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take away for later. 

• Please join us in the Parish Hall kitchen on Tuesday, August 30th at 9 a.m. to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as an extra snack or meal for later for our guests being served the next day. (Masks and gloves, please and will be provided.)
• If you'd like to provide some homemade cookies (or store-bought cookies), please bring them to the Parish Hall kitchen marked EDR by Tuesday, August 30th. Earlier in the month, you are welcome to put homemade cookies into the freezer to keep them fresh. Please label them EDR.
• Questions: please text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053.

Summer Prayer Team           

During the summer months, the prayer team will continue to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails to the church office at 302-994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team. We collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world. Then these requests are lifted up in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to share their prayer requests and we hope you will consider joining us when our monthly prayer services resume in the fall on Sunday, September 11th. More information to follow.

For those who have an immediate prayer need, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests 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.

·        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.

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.  

Jeremiah 17:14

"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."

Prayer On Sunday

O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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