September 24th, 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/

Something many of us get caught up in over time is the idea of what is fair and what isn’t fair. Sometimes when hearing someone’s story about how things in their life just aren’t going the way we’d hope they would go, we say, in response, “Well that just doesn’t sound fair.” Or, if you’ve ever overheard a conversation on the playground between kids, you’ve probably heard someone cry out, “Nuh-uh! That’s no fair!”

In Sunday’s gospel Jesus takes on the idea of “fairness” as he tells the story of the landowner looking for workers for his vineyard. Throughout the day he goes to the town square and brings back at least a few workers at a time, agreeing to pay them “the usual daily wage” and “whatever is right.”

At the end of the day, he’s got a full complement of workers, and his manager goes out and pays them all the same amount despite the fact that they all worked a different number of hours. Of course, the ones who worked all day are annoyed and frustrated, and the ones who got there near quittin’ time probably wonder if there’s been a mistake. And yet, they all receive the same amount.

This parable teaches us that fairness as we understand it is turned upside when it comes to what “the kingdom of heaven is like.” God’s fairness is not like our fairness; God doesn’t play by the rules we see imposed on the world; God is willing to give the one who shows up at the end of the day the same amount as the one who showed up at the beginning. The good news in this parable is that it’s a good thing for each of us that God doesn’t follow our expectations of fairness because that means there’s an opportunity for each of us no matter when we hear God’s invitation toward us.

Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation - October 1

The Right Reverend Kevin S. Brown will have his annual visit with us on October 1st at our 9:30 AM service, and a great multitude of our members will be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed into the Episcopal Church! Bishop Brown’s visit with us is a wonderful way to enjoy our connection to the Episcopal Church in Delaware and the greater Episcopal Church, and we hope you will join us for a day of celebration and the reception to follow.

Parish House Clean-Out - October 7th

The Vestry of St. James’ has marked October 7th as a day for a “Parish House Clean-Out.” This is an opportunity to gather together and dispose of some of the “stuff” that has accumulated over the years and that has outlived it’s usefulness and to set us on a path forward for what God may be calling us to do next. We’ll plan to gather at 9 AM on Saturday, October 7th, and we’ll go until the dumpster is full or we don’t have anything else to toss! So, dress for a mess and we’ll enjoy the time together!

Birthday Sunday Celebration - This Sunday

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate all of our September birthdays, whether it’s your own or someone else in your life. As always, we’ll say a birthday prayer at the offertory, and we’ll sing “Happy Birthday” to you in the Great Hall of the Parish House at coffee hour. We’re glad you were born, and we hope you’ll be with us this Sunday!

2023 St. James’ Annual Bazaar

We hope you plan to attend this year’s Bazaar

Friday, November 3rd, and Saturday, November 4th

In the Great Hall in the Parish House

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Both Days

There Will Be

Door Prizes, Gifts, Baked Goods, Bagged Lunches, and Drinks Available

The ladies are in the final stages of finishing projects for this year’s Bazaar. Before we know it, it will be our annual Dipping Day. That’s the day we gather in the kitchen to make all the chocolate dipped items that are popular with our shoppers. 

We will also have homemade goodies in our Bake Shop. You will be able to purchase many of your favorite items made by our parishioners and friends.

We have received a nice assortment for the Raffle Tables, including a Money Tree. There is still room for additional prizes. We will accept donations for the Raffle Tables until November 1^st.  

Our painters have been busy painting Christmas ornaments and other gift items.  There are several new creations from our very creative group. The Bazaar Ladies continue to come up with new creations each year.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Shirley Alexander (302-738-5331)

or

Nancy Patterson (302-239-7649)

Please Plan to Sign Up to Help



Sign-Up sheets for Helpers will be posted in the Parish House starting

September 24th.

See you at the Bazaar,

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies

“Instructed Eucharist” - September 24th at 9:30 AM

Have you ever wondered why we do certain things on a Sunday morning? Or why we may do something differently at St. James’ than you’ve seen at another place? If you have, use the form below to submit your question to us, and you may get an answer at our Instructed Eucharist on Sunday, September 24th. You can also drop your question in the offering plate on Sunday, September 17th. This will be a fun time to learn about our traditions and customs, and we hope to see you there!

*Picture taken by Larry Heinold

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.  

Psalm 86:5

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Prayer for Sunday



O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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