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

May 5th, 2024

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Sunday Bulletin (May 5th)

As Jesus continues the imagery of the vine and the vine grower, we hear the following phrase repeated: “Abide in my love.” Abide is a word we don’t use much, and it’s one of those funny words that in English can mean a couple of things. It can mean to accept something or to tolerate something or to continue in something.

 

As Jesus talks to the disciples, though, the meaning isn’t about accepting or tolerating his love. Another translation of that word is “remain” or “dwell,” which gives us an image of resting in the love that Christ has for us. The love that he talks about is a kind of self-giving and sacrificial love, sometimes written in English as agape love. It’s the kind of love that God has for his people, and the kind of love we’re called to have for God. It’s the kind of love that gives up something for the sake of someone else.

 

Dwelling in that love helps us understand and live into the commandments that have been passed down to us, which, as he reminds us, are as simple as loving one another as we have been loved by Him. The challenging part, though, is that we continue to live in a world where we are told that there are people we shouldn’t love, who aren’t worthy of love, and that leads to pain and brokenness and death, which grieves the heart of God. However, dwelling in the knowledge of God’s love for us reminds us can help change the way we see those around us, remembering that if God has room for us, God has room for them, too.

Annual Meeting 2024 - Recap  


The Annual Meeting for St. James’ Episcopal Church, Mill Creek Hundred, was held on Sunday, April 28, following the 9:30 AM service. There was a nice brunch hosted by our Vestry, and we heard a number of reports from different ministries in our parish. A copy of the Annual Meeting book is available in the office along with a copy of the Rector’s report, if you’d like that. The following were all elected to a second term:


Ed Burdick

Val Hall

Chuck Haywood

Carolyn Joynt

David Niehaus

 

Following the Annual Meeting, the newly elected Vestry elected David Niehaus as Senior Warden and Carol Bruno as Junior Warden.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their “joys” of and “hopes” for St. James’, and we look forward to going through them and to the year ahead.

Prayer List Refresh

 

As the new month begins, please remember that our Sunday prayer will be refreshed at the beginning of each month. Names called in to the office will be prayed for beginning the first Sunday in May, and as names are added, they will be prayed for in succeeding weeks. When the next month begins, the prayer list will refresh again, and we invite you to call and add your requests at the first of next month.

 

As always, we invite you to add your own prayers either silently or aloud during the Prayers of the People each Sunday. Thank you for your continued and prayerful support of one another and all whom you hold in your prayers. 

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 15:13


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Prayer for the Poor and the Neglected


Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


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

302.994.1584