February 4th, 2024

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/

As we read through the letters of St. Paul, we begin to realize that he had some favorite churches (maybe the one in Philippi?), and he had one or two that just really set his teeth on edge. As we make our way through the letter to the Corinthians, we begin to see that the people who made up the church in Corinth were, quite likely, the latter.

Corinth was a port city, so there were people from all kinds of places who made up the population there. And as people came from all over the place, they brought their distinct and unusual ways of life and worldviews with them. As we know from our own lives, sometimes those things don’t mix with another, and controversy and discord can arise. In Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, he’s responding to these kinds of disagreements and misunderstandings, whether it is about eating meat sacrificed to idols or how they’re supposed to behave during communion or simply how to welcome people into the community.

In this week’s passage we continue to hear Paul working with these Corinthians. If one reads this text out loud, we can almost hear his frustration! But even in this midst of this frustration, there is a tenderness to Paul’s words:

“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.”

Paul’s continued pleas to the people in Corinth are that they might recognize the needs of those around them: to see where they may be causing one to stumble and to see where they may be able to help another up. This is a teaching about having empathy for one another so that the community may be strengthened and reconciled back to one another. Understand, though, this isn’t a call to “all just get along.” Paul, as a zealous convert himself, expects transformation from the church in Corinth because he believes and trusts that the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls on that from each of us.

2024 Bazaar Workshop Update

The Bazaar Ladies will hold their Start-Up Meeting Tuesday, February 13^th at 10:00 AM, weather permitting. Beginning Tuesday, February 20^th, their weekly workshops will meet from 9:00 AM till 11:30 AM. The ladies will also hold their Annual Pot-Luck Luncheon that day. They are looking forward to creating new and familiar items for this year’s Bazaar. They also enjoy the time they spend together each week. 

The group gladly welcomes new members. If you are interested in joining them, please stop by any Tuesday morning between 9:00 AM & 11:30 AM. We meet in the room at the bottom of the stairs in the Parish Hall. It is a morning filled with fellowship and creativity.  

Don’t Forget to Save Your Zingo’s Receipts

Zingo’s totals the dollars spent and sends St. James’ 1% of that total. Zingo’s is currently accepting receipts dated 2022 to 2024. They will not accept any receipts with a date earlier than 2022.

The funds received are used to purchase supplies for the Bazaar. The tapes may be left in the container, in the foyer closet in the Parish House, marked Zingo’s Tapes. The Bazaar Ladies appreciate your continued support of this project. 

If you have any questions about the Weekly Workshop or Zingo’s receipts, please contact: Nancy Patterson (302) 239-7649 or Shirley Alexander (302) 738-5331

Lenten Soup and Bread Volunteers

This year’s Lenten “Soup and Bread” luncheon will be hosted by Limestone Presbyterian Church. The people of St. James’ will be providing the soup and bread on Wednesday, March 6^th. If you’d like to provide a soup for this luncheon, contact the Parish Office, and we’ll get you in touch with the right people for more details.

Thanks to all of you who have helped with this over the years, and please consider supporting this neighborhood gathering and Lenten tradition that brings our Ministerium together!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Join us on Tuesday, February 13th at 6 PM for our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. This long-standing Christian tradition marks the final feast before the season of Lent begins, and it’s a great time for fellowship, as well. If you’d like to help, please speak with Dick Prettyman or Dave Perry or contact the Parish Office. We hope to see you there!

Ash Wednesday - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes



Wednesday, February 14th , is the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of penitence and fasting. In our tradition we mark this day with a service of Holy Eucharist and an imposition of ashes. This year we will have two services:

•  10:00 AM - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

•  7:00 PM - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

We invite you to the observance of a holy Lent, and we hope that you’ll be able to join us as we begin this formative season of the Church year.

Acolyte and Eucharistic Minister Refresher and Training - February 18th

Licensed Eucharistic Ministers and those who are interested or have previously served as acolytes are invited to join us on Sunday, February 18th for a training and refresher for these liturgical roles. All ages are welcome to serve as an acolyte (processing the cross or helping to prepare the table for communion), and if you are interested in this, please talk to Fr. Ben or contact the Parish Office.

We’ll gather in the church at 11:30 following coffee hour, and we’ll walk through the service and answer any questions you might have. If you feel called this form of ministry in worship, please do join 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.  

Romans 15:4

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

For Joy in God’s Creation

O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

https://dailyoffice.wordpress.com/