September 25th, 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/

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, we see the intersection of two worlds: the lavish life of the rich man on the inside of the gate and the poor life of Lazarus on the outside of the gate. The rich man wore purple and fine linen, and Lazarus just wanted to eat some of the crumbs that would fall from his table. They lived a parallel existence, and their paths never crossed.

In death their fortunes are reversed. Lazarus is resting comfortably alongside Father Abraham, and the poor man is being tormented in depths of Hades. The rich man just wants a little bit of comfort from Lazarus, but Abraham can’t let that happen because the rich man didn’t offer the same to Lazarus in life. Finally, the rich man says, “Just send Lazarus to tell my brothers so that they don’t end up like me!”

We hear this story, and we see where we might be implicated if we’re the one who has ignored the suffering that exists in the world around us. Conversely, we might feel that the rich man is getting what he deserves because of his poor treatment, or his lack of treatment, toward Lazarus during his life.

We see that in the next life their fortunes are reversed. If we remember the stories from earlier in Luke’s account, Luke’s ongoing message is one of reversal of fortunes, of the proud being brought low and the lowly being exalted. It’s a recurring theme that the ways of this world do not have the last word and that God will always find a way to lift up the lowly. 

Bishop’s Visit

The Right Reverend Kevin S. Brown will have his annual visit with us on October 2 at our 9:30 AM service. 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 to hear about what is happening in our diocese. Join us for a day of celebration and the reception to follow.

St. James' Reading Group

Conversations at Wednesday Morning Church and Monday Morning Bible Study have led to forming a book group at St. James'. Our first book will be Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill. This book is available through Amazon, and if you'd like us to order a copy for you, let us know by October 1. To join, contact Fr. Ben. Our first meeting will be the week of October 23. Date and time to be determined by those who are interested. This group is open to all!

Please join us!

A time for you to discover something new within yourself!

Diocesan Day of Discernment, Saturday, October 1 

9am-12:30pm, St. Peter's Church, Lewes, online and in-person

Sponsored by The Episcopal Church in Delaware's Commission on Ministry, the Diocesan Day of Discernment is an opportunity for all to come together to discern their Baptismal call of service to our church whether it be to lay ministry or potentially to ordained ministry. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about our new partnership with the Stevenson School for Ministry in raising up new leaders for our parishes. RSVP by September 25 to COM@delaware.church. For more information contact the Rev. Jeffrey A. Ross Chair of the Commission on Ministry: jross@stpeterslewes.org  

The Psalms - Sunday Morning Adult Class - Beginning October 9

Each week and whenever we gather for worship, we read (or sing) one of beautiful songs passed down to us throughout the time. In this five week session we'll look at a few different psalms, learn about the different kinds of psalms with the Bible, and gain a new appreciation for how the psalms are used in worship.

No reading or preparation is required for participation!

Contact Fr. Ben for more information or with any questions.

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. 

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, THIS SUMMER WE WERE BACK in the kitchen and serving guests in the dining room. Thanks to a dedicated core of volunteers, we made about 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the day before we served this summer. 

On May, July, and August 31^st, we served sub sandwiches, a banana, chips, cookies, and a cold glass of milk to our guests and each month our numbers increased. 

Since September only has 30 days, we’re not responsible for a meal this month. However, consider supporting our special lunch on our next lunch date-- Halloween--Monday, October 31st our guests will enjoy meatball 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 after the service coffee hour on Sunday, October 30th 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.)

·        If you'd like to provide some homemade cookies (or store-bought cookies), please bring them to the Parish Hall kitchen marked EDR by Sunday, October 31st. You are welcome to put homemade cookies into the freezer to keep them fresh.

·        We will continue our tradition of making “goodie” bags with some extra treats for Halloween. If you’d like to provide snack sized individually wrapped candies, please leave them in the parish hall kitchen marked EDR by Sunday, October 31^st.

·        Questions: please text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053.

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. Collection boxes are inside the front door of the church and Monday-Thursday a box is outside the 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 September 19-23.

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.  

Isaiah 43:19

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Prayer for Sunday, from A New Zealand Prayer Book



God our creator,

yours is the morning and yours is the evening.

Let Christ the sun of righteousness

shine for ever in our hearts

and draw us to that light

where you live in radiant glory.

We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Amen

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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