January 8th, 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/

There are about four instances in the latter portion of book of the prophet Isaiah that are referred to as “Servant Songs” or “Servant Poems,” with the first one being Isaiah 42:1-9, which is one of our appointed readings for this Sunday. As we read this passage on Sunday, you’ll notice there are two parts: the first part introducing the servant, and the second part addressing the servant.

Next week we’ll hear from the actual servant, but this initial introduction gives an image to us of what the Lord envisions an ideal servant for the purposes of the Lord. As we read these descriptions, we can tell that the hopes and intentions of the Lord for the servant are not what is normally viewed in our world as signs of strength and power.

For the prophet, the servant is someone who will be heard from shortly. For some Christians, the assumption may be that the prophet is speaking of Jesus. For all of us, though, it’s a reminder that a life of faithfulness to God’s call for us is a life of humility and gentleness, careful to care for those in need and remembering that the Lord is always working to bring about a new thing.

Soup and Bread Luncheon ~ January 29th

Mark your calendars everyone! The Soup and Bread Luncheon is coming back on January 29th after church. We've missed you these past couple of years due to COVID-19 and the social distance restrictions, but we're looking forward to seeing you all and warming up with a nice meal once again.

Jesse's Gift

A true Christmas story

by the Rev. James M. Bimbi

"On that Holy day I saw the image of God in a young Native American boy who touched my very soul. His simple gift of gratitude reflected the unlimited love that God has for humanity" Read full article here.

Beginning January 8: The Good Book Club Returns

On January 8 we’ll resume our weekly Sunday morning discussion of the books from the Good Book Club. This year’s featured books are Ruth and Ester. Sign up here (Good Book Club – Ruth and Esther | Epiphany 2023), and we hope you’ll join us after church on Sunday, January 8!

New Instagram Page

Be sure to check out our brand new Instagram page!

www.instagram.com/st.james_mill_creek

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM

       New Year's Eve 2022

    Please consider hosting a table of 8 for $25

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

o   We hope you will consider offering a donation of $25 (to cover the cost of a table of 8 guests) and/or by making homemade cookies, cupcakes, or cakes.

o   Donations for the lunch can be made by check to St. James' or cash (please indicate EDR on your check or envelope) and will be used to purchase the lasagnas, green beans, milk, and bread/rolls in bulk.

o   If you are donating cookies or cake, please wrap and mark them EDR and place them in the St. James’ kitchen freezer by Thursday, December 29th.

And, then….in the New Year~2023 - Mark your calendars for our January lunch!



Our first lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Tuesday, January 31^st.  We hope you’ll join us in the St. James’ kitchen on Monday, January 30^th from 9 am to 11 am to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and/or serve lunch on the 31^st.

Thank you for your support of our brothers and sisters in need.

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

St. James' Mission and Outreach updates

Sharing God’s gifts with others.

Reaching out to those in need

Serving those in need with dignity and respect…

We are grateful for your support that enables us to

serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR)

and provide clothing, food, and other items

needed by those being served at EDR, the Hope Center, and our community.

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 Saturday, December 31, 2022.For their New Year’s Eve lunch, we will be serving lasagna, green beans, fruit, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. And, as noted above, we will distribute the socks, hats, gloves, etc. that are collected this month.

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 and Christiana Care 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-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 or the box in the foyer of the church. Please note, Liz will bring in the bin and any donated items at 12:30 p.m. 

Items needed:

•            NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult

•            New or gently used t-shirts and light jackets

•            New books, puzzles, crossword books, and puzzle books - adult/children

•            Art kits, adult and children coloring books, colored pencils

•            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)

•            Diapers - all sizes - Urgent need for size 5 & 6

•            Baby wipes

•            Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa

•            Non-alcohol hand sanitizer

•            Powdered Drink Mixes - Hot Chocolate mix or Iced Tea/Lemonade

•            Small containers of peanut butter and tuna fish (easy open)

•            Microwaveable one-dish meals

•            Fruit cups, apple sauce, and pudding

•            Individually wrapped snacks-crackers, granola bars, and cereal bars

•            Non-refrigerated milk and powdered milk

 Thank you,

St. James' 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.  

1 JOHN 3:30

“And all who have this hope in him purify themselves even as he is pure.”

Prayer for the First Sunday after the Epiphany,

the Baptism of our Lord



Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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