November 5th, 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/

The Feast of All Saints’ is one of our principal feasts in the Church, meaning that even if it falls in the middle of the week (as it does this year!), we are still able to move it to a Sunday so that we can make time to celebrate this day. Over the course of Christian history this day has been celebrated on a number of different days, but eventually it has settled on November 1st. Coupled with “All Hallows’ Eve,” this feast day is a reminder of how local customs and Christian traditions have informed and influenced one another throughout the ages.

As we well know at St. James’, our annual bazaar often falls on All Saints’ weekend. This long tradition has been supported by the saints who have come before us and the saints who work amongst us. This is a time when St. James’ opens our doors to the community and talented members of our parish share their gifts for the work of the Church.

As we mark All Saints’ Sunday this weekend, I encourage you to remember the saints who have gone before us at St. James’ who have helped bring us to this point and the many good gifts they have offered to us and to your community. In this remembering we can recall the good begun in them and see how the good can and does continue in the work we all are doing now.

After many years our original All Saints' altar frontal has been filled with the names of those we love and see no longer. Lovingly crafted by members of our parish, this new altar frontal includes the original one as part of it and will allow us to add more names in the years the come. If there is anyone you'd like to include on this this new frontal, please call the Parish Office this week. These names will be added as we look toward our celebration of the Feast of All Saints' on Sunday, November 5th.

“The Good Book Club” returns in January!

“The Good Book Club” returns in January as we turn our minds and our hearts to the book of Genesis. We’ll read one chapter of day for fifty days, and we’ll come together on Sunday mornings following our 9:30 service to discuss what we’ve discovered in our readings. There is a companion book for this class, and we can get a discount if we order multiple copies! If you’d like to join us as we read through the book of Genesis, call the church office to sign up by November 1st. Please contact Fr. Ben with any questions.

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Hi, Everyone! Just a gentle reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends on November 5th.

Fun facts about daylight savings.

1. Ben Franklin was an early advocate of changing the clocks.

2. It happens at different times in different countries.

3. Candy makers and the barbecue industry enjoy it.

4. Arizona and Hawaii don't participate.

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 34:18

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Prayer for Perseverance and Renewal, from Daily Prayer for All Seasons



Source of life and blessing,

of garden, orchard, field:

Root us in obedience to you

and nourish us by your ever-flowing Spirit

that, perceiving only the good we might do,

our lives may be fruitful,

our labor productive,

and our service useful,

in communion with Jesus, our brother. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

Faith

The fiery seraphs guard Your throne on high

He’s watching…

He’s waiting…

Knock and He will answer

Seek and you will find

Jesus with His arms unfurled

Brought with the price of His blood

The “key” to your salvation, so divine!

My heart, my soul cleaves to Your loving spirit

For I know Your mercy and compassion are great

When I cry unto You, You heard my cry

My every word!

You know what’s in my heart before I utter a sound!

You fulfill my every need

I marvel at Your mystery, the suspense

Once a cherub born of Your love

I know not from whence I came

or the path to where it leads.

I come to Your house

Rejoicing, singing Your praises, hearing of Your promises

the serenity I feel is so great

Truly blessed and thank God daily

He gave and has given me so much

A life full of suspense, full of love

knowing He’ll be there for me

Trusting in Him

Holding my hand as I walk in the valley of darkness

And when I stumble and fall

Smooth my tears, quiets my fears

Through faith and trusting my Lord, my savior

He will never leave me

He will never forsake me

And He is my constant friend!

I believe in Your Holy Spirit, Your Everlasting Love, Your

Forgiveness of Sins

I humbly bow at Your feet!

by Faye Hart