Weekly e-Epistle from St. James' Mill Creek

Weekly e-Epistle

from

St. James' Mill Creek

Wilmington, Delaware

February 11th, 2024

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/

Sunday Bulletin (Feb. 11th)

The moment of the Transfiguration is one of the most mysterious parts of the Gospel story. It’s one of those stories that doesn’t add up, and when we compare it’s telling in the different Gospel accounts, there are different details and explanations about what might be happening in this surreal moment. It’s weird and odd, and no matter how we try make sense of it, we tend to fall short.

One bit that’s common to all accounts, though, is Peter’s proclamation: “It is good for us to be here,” and then he tries his best to capture the moment, to keep the moment, so that he might be able to revisit the moment into perpetuity. In a bit that shouldn’t surprise us, though, Peter is interrupted by a voice from a cloud: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.”

And while that’s true and an important point to make, Peter’s also right. It is good for them to be there. The question that follows, though, is why is it good for them to be there? What do they learn in that brief and bizarre encounter with the divine, and how will it change them for their ministry in the future? Or, how did it change how they understood who they were before that moment?

The Transfiguration is literally a transforming moment for those disciples, and when we encounter this passage each year, we can ask, too, “How has our life been transfigured by an experience with the Divine?”

Graveyard clean-up announcement

Gentle reminder to the folks that have left any Christmas decorations or special mementos that were left to a loved one in the cemetery, you have some time to pick them up. If you are unable to pick them up in person please call the office at 302-994-1584 and we can make arrangements for them to be picked up at a later time.

Lenten Soup and Bread Volunteers

This year’s Lenten “Soup and Bread” luncheon will be hosted by Limestone Presbyterian Church. The people of St. James’ will be providing the soup and bread on Wednesday, March 6^th. If you’d like to provide a soup for this luncheon, contact the Parish Office, and we’ll get you in touch with the right people for more details.

Thanks to all of you who have helped with this over the years, and please consider supporting this neighborhood gathering and Lenten tradition that brings our Ministerium together!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Join us on Tuesday, February 13th at 6 PM for our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. This long-standing Christian tradition marks the final feast before the season of Lent begins, and it’s a great time for fellowship, as well. If you’d like to help, please speak with Dick Prettyman or Dave Perry or contact the Parish Office. We hope to see you there!

Ash Wednesday - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

Wednesday, February 14th , 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.

Acolyte and Eucharistic Minister Refresher and Training - February 18th

Licensed Eucharistic Ministers and those who are interested or have previously served as acolytes are invited to join us on Sunday, February 18th for a training and refresher for these liturgical roles. All ages are welcome to serve as an acolyte (processing the cross or helping to prepare the table for communion), and if you are interested in this, please talk to Fr. Ben or contact the Parish Office.

We’ll gather in the church at 11:30 following coffee hour, and we’ll walk through the service and answer any questions you might have. If you feel called this form of ministry in worship, please do join us!

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.