Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
August 29th, 2021

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.


Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.
Special Announcement from St. James' Episcopal Church

After significant prayerful work, St. James’ Mill Creek Hundred welcomes its 42nd Rector, the Reverend Reuben (Ben) Rockwell III.  His first Sunday with us will tentatively be October 3.

Ben and his family come to St James’ from St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mobile, AL, where he has served first as Curate and then as Associate Rector since 2008. He received his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and his AB in Religion from the University of Georgia. Prior to his time at St. Paul’s, Ben served as Vicar of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Valdosta, GA.

Ben said, “From the first conversation I had with the Search Committee, I felt like St. James’ could be a special place to share in ministry. We are excited about this opportunity, and I look forward to being with all of you soon!”

We all look forward to welcoming and working with Ben as St. James’ moves into the future with energy and optimism.
Upcoming Visiting Clergy
 
Sunday, September 5th          Chaplain John "Jay" Hutchinson
 
Sunday, September 12th        The Rev. Margaret Sterchi

Sunday, September 19th        The Rev. Margaret Sterchi

Sunday, September 26th        Sister Julian Wilson & Sister BJ Brown
Morning Prayer*
COVID-19 Restrictions

 
Our firm desire is to worship our Lord in beauty, holiness, AND safety! Please be assured that the St. James' leadership team has worked hard to have meaningful worship while at the same time making our environment as safe as possible for everyone.
  • Church entry time will be 9:15 a.m.
  • Please sanitize hands before entering the church.
  • Face masks are mandatory. 
  • At communion, please wait until you are back in your seat to consume your wafer.
It's time for Lemonade in the Circle! We are looking for hosts/hostesses to provide refreshments and an opportunity for fellowship following the Sunday service. We ask that you provide beverages. If you wish to provide some kind or sweet or savory snack, we ask that it be individually wrapped. We provide anything else that is needed. Please contact Eileen Marvel at 302-994-6803 or thekittysmom@comcast.net to sign-up or with any questions.

Thank you! 
St. James’ Family Promise Host Week Special Announcement 
 

For everyone’s safety, Family Promise will continue to house families at one location, the Hospitality Center at Jesus House, to reduce contact for guests and volunteers. Guests will still receive all the same case management services they would have received previously, just not at the Day Center. Congregations are still needed to provide support in the form of evening meals, and other supplies, including breakfast and lunch.
 
August 29th Host Week -

We are looking for volunteers to supply dinner to our guests the week of August 29th. There are 2 families in network, one in Cottage 1 and one at Red Roof Inn as they have a service dog. We will keep you updated as things change. If you are interested, Dave Perry will send an email shortly or you can contact him directly to sign up.  
 
At this time, we are not asking for other donations. Supplies will be purchased after the coordinators have been in contact with families to determine their needs. 
 
If you would like to participate but do not feel comfortable, monetary donations or gift cards to restaurants that deliver are always welcome.
 
As always, many thanks to our volunteers. You are the reason we are able to do this worthwhile ministry. Every family we support gets us that much closer to ending family homelessness. Thank you for all you do.
                           
Dinner Delivery Details-
 
Location Details:

·        Families are staying at Cottage 1 at the Jesus House at 2501 Old Milltown Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808.
Meal Drop-off:
·        Meal delivery should occur between 5:30-6:30 PM. 
·        Families are expected to be at dinner on Sundays! Volunteers may choose to serve outside and utilize outdoor dining, or allow families to take meals inside. You can eat dinner with families only if they are eating outside, but that is your choice. There are picnic tables on the grounds. If you do not feel comfortable staying and eating, then feel free to just deliver food.
·        Meals no longer have to be separated by family. Meals and supplies are for the whole Cottage to share. You may absolutely set aside a meal for anyone missing dinner.
·        The families have use of the kitchenette in their cottage (refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, two burner cooktop, sink, coffee pot, dishes, utensils), but it is not a large area. 
·        The families will stagger their meal times to be able to distance. You will be serving Cottage 1. That is the one on the left as you’re facing them. 
·        Leave the food on the table outside and knock to let the families know the food is there. If no one answers, please call Val Brunson at 302-476-5067.  
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.
·        Also, during this time of transition, if you need a priest, we will help with that, too.
·        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 note: We are not always informed about parishioners entering the hospital. So, please call if you or someone you know has been admitted to the hospital.

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.  

2 Corinthians 4:18

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Death Has "No" Hold


In His word; "I have His Assurance!"
In my Father's house are many rooms.
I go and prepare a place for you and come to receive you unto me.

Though I lie here beneath the sod.
It's cold-musty-fall of dampness-emptiness.
The earthly grave houses-hugs the shell that holds my Spirit.
In the stillness my spirit hears the beckoning voice of God.
Beckoning my spirit to come to Him.
An unseen hand touches the stone rolling away the darkness of the tomb,
the tomb of death!
Lying here waiting, off in the distance I see the "Bright Morning Star".
My faith in Christ Jesus - His promise; "Saveth me!"
My ascension on the highway to Heaven begins.

Heaven's door opened wide, I step inside.
An avalanche of His love - Peace cascades down upon me.
To the place full of beauty-peace-rest.
For I was sprinkled-doused-reconciled with His life giving waters long ago.

The place that's perfect and filled with "His Amazing Grace!"
Then I found myself kneeling at His throne, clutching the feet of
My Master-My God!
Thanking Him for my Salvation-Resurrection through the blade of His Son, Jesus!

Faye R. Hart
July 6th 2021
11:01 am
We are grateful for the support that enables us to serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room and provide needed clothing and food for those being served at the Hope Center.
 
EMMANUEL DINING ROOM
Providing a daily lunch to those in need in Wilmington

Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Tuesday, August 31st, 2021. We continue to deliver our lunch items and extra bottles of water. We hope we will be able to actually serve our guests in the dining room sometime this fall.

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 St. James' can help:
Review the list below and see if there are items you could provide.
 
Drop the items off:

·        Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 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 1:30 p.m.
·        Weekly, we will take the donations to Friendship House
 
Items needed:
 
  • Diapers - all sizes - Urgent need for size 5 & 6
  • Uber/Lyft Tickets in $25 increments
  • Washable Mesh Laundry Bags with drawstring
  • individual size creamers for coffee
  • Snack bags - pretzels, chips, or goldfish
  • Powdered Drink Mixes - Iced Tea/Lemonade
  • Small containers of peanut butter and tuna fish (easy open)
  • Microwaveable one-dish meals
  • Quart size/ Gallon size and sandwich size Ziplock bags
  • Fruit cups, apple sauce, and pudding
  • Individually wrapped crackers, granola bars, and cereal bars
  • $5 gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa
  • Hot Chocolate mix
  • Baby wipes
  • Non-alcohol hand sanitizer
  • Non-refrigerated milk and powdered milk
  • NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult
  • New or gently used t-shirts and light jackets
  • New books for adults and children
  • New puzzles, crossword books, and puzzle books - adult/children
  • Art kits, adult and children coloring books, colored pencils
  • Sunscreen
  • Umbrellas
  • Hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap (regular and travel size)
  • Tide pods or other laundry pods
  • Containers of ground coffee (the staff brews coffee daily for the guests)
 
Thank you, 
St. James' Outreach Ministry
Prayer Team

On the first Sunday of every month the members of the prayer team hold a “virtual” ZOOM prayer service at 11:30 a.m. (focusing on the prayer requests shared by parishioners through calls or emails to the church office or to individual members of the prayer team.) We lift up these prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world.

During this time of Covid-19, the prayer team is holding ZOOM prayer team gatherings twice a month. Also, weekly we share the prayers and petitions that have been given to us and they are lifted up daily by members of the team. All are welcome to participate in these services.

Next Prayer: Next meeting will be Sunday, August 29th.


For those who have an immediate prayer need or would like to receive the ZOOM codes and join the prayer team service, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests to Sister BJ Brown at: sisterbjbrown@gmail.com or call Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053
A Prayer for Today

O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.




Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584