November 19th, 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/

During the Reformation, the Christian Church found a renewed and rekindled interest in the Holy Scripture. Out of this movement comes our appointed collect for this Sunday. Initially composed for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, the collect currently reads, in reference to Holy Scripture, “Grant us so to hear them, read, make, learn, and inwardly digest them.”

These words remind us of the image of Ezekiel eating the scroll and saying, “It tasted as sweet as honey in mouth,” and it reminds us that Scripture isn’t simply meant to be read and perused. It’s meant to be chewed on and swallowed, consumed within us to strengthen and empower us for the work of God.

But every now and then, we get a piece of Scripture that’s more like hardened gristle, a piece that no matter how long we chew on it, we can’t quite deal with it, and story of the talents, at least in this preacher’s opinion, is one such passage. As each was given to according to their own abilities, each was expected to do something with the talents they received, and two of the three met those expectations, while the third was cast into the outer darkness.

What would it be like, though, if we see this story not as one about investment and returns and making a buck for the master. What if, instead, we read this as a story about abundant grace and the ways that grace is multiplied as it’s poured out into others? And the outer darkness is not a literal place where someone is sentenced but a place we create for ourselves out of our own fear of receiving these graces?

Hearing it this way gives us hope because it helps us remember the abundant grace we’ve already received and it encourages us to make sure it’s given out in multitudes as means of sharing the message of God’s mercy that continues to be made known to us.

Service of Lessons and Carols with St. James, Newport

As a special celebration of the 200th anniversary of our church building, we will have a Service of Lessons and Carols with our sibling parish St. James, Newport, at 3 PM on Sunday, December 10th. Join us as we sing Advent and Christmas hymns and hear the stories that prepare us for the celebration of Christmas. Afterwards, we will gather in the Parish House for a light reception hosted by the Parish Life committee. We hope to see you there!

Lighting the Advent Candle

Advent is quickly approaching, as it has been our tradition we will light the candle on the advent wreath and light an additional candle each week. We are asking if you would like to participate in lighting the advent candle and read a prayer.

If so, please call Liz in the office at 302 994 1584 or send her an email at

office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net

Stewardship Reminder

Hopefully you all received your annual stewardship mailing by now and have had time to think and pray about your annual giving for 2024. We’ve received 27 pledges so far, and we’re hoping to have a majority of them in by November 12th so that we can begin budget preparations for the upcoming year. If you didn’t receive a card and a mailing by now, or have misplaced yours, contact the Parish Office, and we’ll get you taken care of! Thank you to everyone for continuing to help us remember that we are “rooted in abundance” at St. James’ Episcopal Church!

Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service - November 22nd

This year’s Mill Creek Ministerium Thanksgiving service will be on November 22nd at 7 PM. Our service will be hosted by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and the Reverend Gail Stallings Minor from Marshallton United Methodist will be our preacher. Music will offered by a choir made up of members of all of our fellow Mill Creek churches, and we hope you will join us as we continue this tradition of joining together with our neighbors to give thanks for all that God has given 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.  

Matthew 13:16



"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."

Prayer for Knowledge of God’s Creation



Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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