Weekly e-Epistle from St. James' Mill Creek

Weekly e-Epistle

from

St. James' Mill Creek

Wilmington, Delaware

October 9th, 2022

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/

Sunday Bulletin (October 9th)

Jesus’s healing of the ten lepers is an account that appears only in Luke’s Gospel. This story gives an image of Jesus and the lepers in the middle of nowhere shouting back and forth at each other from across a great distance. If we allow ourselves while reading it, we can see this as quite a humorous moment.

They ask for healing, Jesus sends them away, telling them to go and show themselves to the priests so that they can be declared clean and restored back into the life of the community. One of those who has been healed turns around, comes back to Jesus, throws himself on the ground, and gives thanks for his healing.

“And he was a Samaritan.”

It’s an interesting note that the Gospel includes, but I don’t think it’s meant to cast judgment on those who didn’t return. Instead, it’s meant to note that the power and mercy of Jesus’s healings overcome and overwhelm the superficial boundaries that we often put up between us and others. It’s a reminder again of the great reversals that take place when the power of God encounters the ways of the world.

Bishop’s Visit and Reception “Thank You”

On October 2 we welcomed the Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown to St. James’ for his annual visit and the reminder of our connection to the larger Church in Delaware and the world. Thank you to Nancy Prettyman and all of the Parish Life Committee that came together to prepare and host a wonderful reception. Being able to gather in the Great Hall was a wonderful treat! And thank you to Dave Perry and Dick Prettyman who spent the week prior tidying up by finding storage for tables and replacing various ceiling tiles throughout the building. And thank you for you offerings to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, which we are able to make a contribution of $150 to thanks to your generous gifts.

St. James' Reading Group

Conversations at Wednesday Morning Church and Monday Morning Bible Study have led to forming a book group at St. James'. Our first book will be Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill. This book is available through Amazon, and if you'd like us to order a copy for you, let us know by October 1. To join, contact Fr. Ben. Our first meeting will be the week of October 23. Date and time to be determined by those who are interested. This group is open to all!

Please join us!

Link for book on Amazon

Sunshine Plein Air Artists

Sunshine Plein Air Artists is a group of area seniors who meet every week, spring through fall, to create art “en plein air” which means in the fresh air or outdoors. Most members are amateur artists who ignore aches and pains to just enjoy the outdoors, making art, & each other’s company. The group has been meeting since 2002 with a few of the original members still participating and passing on the tradition to new members throughout the years.

They will be here at St. James on October 29^th from 9AM to Noon.

2022 Annual Bazaar

November 4^th & November 5^th

The Bazaar Ladies have worked all year to create items for our Bazaar.

There are still some tasks to be done that the Ladies are unable to do.

Your help is needed to complete those tasks.

Please Plan to Help on the Following Dates

Sunday, October 30^th

After the 9:30 Service

Items in the Bazaar Workshop need to be brought upstairs to the Dining Hall.

Bazaar Bake Shop

We will have Homemade items this year.

Please bring your baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, candies, etc. to the

Parish House at the following times.

Thursday, November 3^rd 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Friday, November 4^th 8:00 am – 2:30 pm

Saturday, November 5^th 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Don’t Forget to Sign-Up to Help During the Bazaar

Sign-Up Sheets are Posted in the Parish House

Please stop by and see how you can contribute to the success of this year’s Bazaar.

Bazaar Preview

Some of the handcrafted items made for this year’s Bazaar are on display in the

glass case in the foyer of the Parish house.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Shirley Alexander (302-738-5331)

Nancy Patterson (302-239-7649)

Any amount of time you are available to help will be appreciated.

THANK YOU!

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies

The Psalms - Sunday Morning Adult Class - Beginning October 9

Each week and whenever we gather for worship, we read (or sing) one of beautiful songs passed down to us throughout the time. In this five week session we'll look at a few different psalms, learn about the different kinds of psalms with the Bible, and gain a new appreciation for how the psalms are used in worship.

No reading or preparation is required for participation!

Contact Fr. Ben for more information or with any questions.

Please support hurricane recovery efforts

Episcopal Relief & Development mobilizes in coordination with local partners to provide assistance to those affected by hurricanes. Please contribute to the Hurricane Relief Fund to support relief and recovery efforts.

St. James' Mission and Outreach updates

Sharing God’s gifts with others.

Thank you all for your generosity and caring that made and make these offerings possible.

Our next Emmanuel Dining Room lunch is Halloween--Monday, October 31st

Our guests will enjoy meatball subs, chips, a banana, and homemade cookies and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a small “goodie” bag to take away for later. Looking for ways to help? Please consider one of the options below:

· Join us to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the Parish Hall kitchen after the service coffee hour on Sunday, October 30th. This is an extra snack or meal for later for our guests being served the next day. (Masks and gloves, please.)

· Provide some homemade cookies (or store-bought cookies) please bring them to the Parish Hall kitchen marked EDR by Sunday, October 31st. You are welcome to put homemade cookies into the freezer to keep them fresh.

· Bring a bag of candy. We are continuing our tradition of making “goodie” bags with some extra treats for Halloween. If you’d like to provide snack-sized individually wrapped candies, please leave them in the parish hall kitchen marked EDR by Sunday, October 31^st.

· Questions: please text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053.

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.

· 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 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.

Proverbs 10:12

“Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.”