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Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
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Luke’s telling of Jesus’s parables continues this week, and there’s another vexing one as the Pharisee and the tax collector go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee says, “I fast twice a week, and I give back ten percent of all of my income,” and the tax collector says, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
We think we know what Jesus is getting at here, but we also know and remember how complicated the parables can be. If they appear to be too simple, we could be missing something obvious. Or, if we go in with too many assumptions, we read into it what we expect to get out of it, which is a struggle with any piece of Scripture.
In this particular parable, though, the tell may be at the end: “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” It gives an image of reversal (a continuing theme in this Gospel), yet we all know that what is up today may be down tomorrow, and vice versa.
Like most of us, neither of them is fully good or fully bad. They both try to live in this world, and they both present themselves to God in the way that they think God wants to see them. Notice, though, that the Pharisee is not condemned for his actions; Jesus simply notes that it was the tax collector who got it right this time. Like the rest of us, the Pharisee gets another chance next time to get it right.
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A Pastoral Announcement
from the Episcopal Church in Delaware
The Rev. Margaret 'Margie' Pumphrey, passed away in the early morning of Saturday, October 15, 2022, after experiencing a sudden medical event two days earlier. She was ordained as a priest on December 4, 2003 and took a vital role in many diocesan functions and committees throughout her priesthood in the Episcopal Church in Delaware. After serving as a chaplain at Christiana Care, she later became the rector of St. Albans Church. From 2011 to its closing, Margie was the beloved priest for the people of the Church of the Nativity. She was currently serving as the president of the Disciplinary Board. We offer our prayers for her husband, the Rev. John B. Pumphrey, and family during this time of grief and sorrow.
More information will be announced when it is available.
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All Saints Sunday Memorial Altar Frontal
You may remember last fall Father Kim introduced us to creating a St. James Memorial Altar Frontal. The congregation was invited to send the names of departed loved ones to be handwritten on the frontal. It was used on All Saints Sunday. It turned out to be a beautiful, personal way to remember our family and friends who have died.
We will be adding names to the frontal this year and using the memorial frontal on All Saints Sunday, November 6th. You are again invited to submit any additional names you would like to have added to the frontal.
You may send them to Liz via email at office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net . There will also be an opportunity in church for you to submit names for the frontal. The names will be added to the frontal by Liz and the Worship Team.
Thank you.
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Puzzle Library at St. James’
Do you have some puzzles leftover from COVID lockdown? Are they between 300-500 pieces? Drop them off at the church for our Puzzle Library for others to use, and pick up a new one to try next!
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FALL GARDEN CLEAN UP HELP
We plan to do our fall clean up day on Saturday, Oct. 22....rain date on 29th Start time...9:30am.
So come add your hands to effort...and help put our flower gardens to "bed' for the winter.
We will be removing the blue salvias, cutting back perennials in the front Kathy K's garden and the back Memorial Garden.
So bring your garden tools....See you then.
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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 29th from 9AM to Noon.
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2022 Annual Bazaar
November 4th & November 5th
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 30th
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 3rd 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday, November 4th 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Saturday, November 5th 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)
or
Nancy Patterson (302-239-7649)
Any amount of time you are available to help will be appreciated.
THANK YOU!
The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies
To add to the fun on Oct. 30th after the service, we’ll be in the parish hall kitchen making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room on Monday, October 31st.
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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.
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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 31st.
· Questions: please text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053.
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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
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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.
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'Trunk or Treat' at St. Thomas Episcopal Church
On October 30, 2022 from approx. 12-2 pm, families with children and/or youth of St Thomas, St. Nicholas, and the surrounding community are invited to share an afternoon of fun and fellowship. Parishioners are invited to decorate their cars, share treats, play games and craft for an afternoon. Parishioners with no children, who do not want to decorate a car can still get in on the fun by donating goodies or decorations for the event, by running a game or craft table, or by helping with set up or clean up!
Please sign up below to indicate you will attend, to reserve your parking spot (so you can park your decorated car), to donate edible or non-edible goodies, to run a craft or game table, and/or to help clean up or setup.
Date: 10/30/2022 (Sun.)
Time: 11:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
Location: St. Thomas Parking Lot
Click here to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4caaa62cab9-2022
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“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 4:19
"We love because God first loved us."
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Prayer of St. Patrick (387-461)
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation. Amen.
Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/
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For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications | |
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
302.994.1584
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