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Weekly e-Epistle
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St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware

November 27, 2022


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Sunday Bulletin (November 27th)

Advent is a season that calls to mind all kinds of preparation. In our secular lives, people are preparing for Christmas. In our liturgical lives, we’re preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation of God. In our spiritual lives, we are preparing for the Second Advent, which just seems so far away that we might not really know to prepare for it to begin with.

 

The thing about preparation, though, is that you just can’t account for all the variables. What if the store runs out of that thing you need? (It might.) What if the copier breaks before printing the bulletins out for the Christmas Eve services? (We hope it doesn’t!) What if the Second Advent comes when we least expect it? (About that time, not even the Son of Man knows.)

 

Sometimes, all the preparation in the world can go for naught. Certainly we need to take care of the things that we need to do in our everyday life, lest we lose the opportunity to do so, but the season Advent reminds us that, ultimately, God is in control. So as we move through these next few weeks, take time to remember this truth. Take time to rest in God’s mercy. And take time to see how God is preparing you to continue the good work of Christ in the world.

Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service – November 23 at 7PM



Our annual Thanksgiving ecumenical service will be held at Marshallton United Methodist Church at 7 PM on November 23. Our musical offering will be from the combined choirs of the Mill Creek Ministerium, and our preacher will be the Rev. Ben Rockwell from St. James’ Episcopal Church. We hope you will join us for this celebration of the abundant gifts of God!

Parish Advent Party


The Parish Advent Party will be on Sunday, Dec. 11th after the 9:30 AM service.

Come to the Parish Hall to enjoy coffee, tea, hot cider and Christmas cookies. Hope to see you there! 

Thanksgiving Day - November 24th


Our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24th in observance of Thanksgiving Day.


Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

Extra Refrigerator in the kitchen


As some of you know we got a brand new refrigerator and stove in the kitchen. For a while we had a used one to tide us over until the final purchase was made. If you know someone who could use a fridge please call or send an email and let us know.


Special thanks to Jerry Clark and Borden Adams for their hard work on getting us this new equipment!

Lighting the Advent Candle

 

Advent is quickly approaching, the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th. 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 or send her an email at 302 994 1584 or office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net


Photograph by Larry Heinold

Advent Services at St. James’

 

As the season of Advent approaches, you may notice a couple of small changes to our Sunday liturgy. We’ll move to Rite I on Sundays at 9:30, and we’ll chant the psalm each week. These seasonal changes, along with the change of liturgical color, help us realize that this season in the Church year is different, and we are more intentional in our preparation for our celebration of the Incarnation at Christmas.

 

You will also notice that our liturgy for the lighting of the Advent wreath takes place after the prelude and before our opening hymn. This is another small change to mark an instance of “preparation” as we imagine that we are lighting the wreath before worship instead of during worship.

 

Thank you for being with us during this Advent season, and we hope it’s a holy one for you as we mark this time together.

Advent and Christmas at St. James’

 

Sunday, November 27 - The First Sunday of Advent

 

Sunday, December 11 - Parish Advent Party following 9:30 AM Service

 

Thursday, December 15 - 6:30 PM - Advent Service of Light

 

Saturday, December 24 - 3:00 PM - Daylight Christmas Eve Service with Choir and Holy Eucharist

 

Saturday, December 24 - 7:00 PM - Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Choir and Holy Eucharist

 

Sunday, December 25 - 9:30 AM - Christmas Day Eucharist

 

Sunday, January 1 - 9:30 AM - The Feast of the Holy Name with Holy Eucharist



Photograph by Larry Heinold

St. James' Mission and Outreach updates

Sharing God’s gifts with others.

 

Reaching out to those in need this holiday season

 

In our St. James’ tradition, we ask you to consider how you might brighten someone’s holiday season. The state of the economy and remnants of the Covid pandemic have taken an even greater toll on so many, especially the elderly, those with limited finances, and those without homes.

 

Please consider if one or more of these opportunities for giving might fit in your holiday giving plans this year:

 

Emmanuel Dining Room and HOPE Center

 

We are collecting new warm socks, gloves, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and underwear. (Anything needed to help keep warm for the winter season)

 

All sizes are appreciated!  Items can be dropped off at the parish hall in the bin on the porch from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Or the box in the foyer of the church. Please donate your items by Thursday, December 22nd.

 

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM New Year's Eve 2022

Please consider hosting a table of 8 for $25

 

For the first time in three years, (due to Covid), we will serve our guests in the dining room the meal they have called their "favorite meal “~ lasagna, green beans, roll, fruit (bananas and clementines), and homemade desserts. 

 

Questions-text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053

 

Adopt-a-grandparent and Adopt-a-family

 

We “adopted” 20 individuals without a family member to remember them or send a gift at Christmas and are residents of the Coral Springs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (formerly Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center), and individuals and families who are part of the Hope Center network to purchase gifts from their “wish list” and to ensure these individuals receive gifts.

Please send your contribution in the form of a check to the St. James’ parish office or drop it in the collection plate:

 

St. James’ Church

Attn: Adopt-a-grandparent/family

2106 St. James’ Church Road

Wilmington, DE 19808

(Please mark: Adopt-a-grandparent/family in your check memo.)

Deadline for contributionsTuesday, December 20, 2022

 

Thank you for considering this request.

 

With thanks and blessings,

St. James’ Mission Outreach team   

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.  


1 Timothy 4:4-5


“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent


Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.




Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

Prayer for Thanksgiving Day


Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

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St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584