January 15th, 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/

The collect appointed for Sunday includes the following phrase: “Grant that thy people, illumined by thy Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory.” This collect, with an emphasis on /word/ and /sacrament/ seems to be quintessentially Anglican, illuminating the middle way between our trust in the Word of God and the sacramental acts that draw us closer to Christ.

This collect reminds us, too, that there is a richness in our time together in worship. As Episcopalians, we don’t only read the Bible to see where God might be calling us to. As Episcopalians, we don’t only rely on sacraments such as Baptism and Holy Eucharist to feel the presence of Christ. For us, Word and Sacrament are necessarily entwined so that we can be drawn closer into community and drawn closer to God through Christ. And this prayer reminds us that it’s through these acts that Christ can fully shine through us.

As we continue through this season after the Epiphany, take time in your worship to engage in both Word and Sacrament. Listen to the words of Scripture more closely, and try to hear the words of the Eucharistic Prayer more freshly. Take this season as a time to be more aware of the radiant light of Christ, and through our worship together, may we be drawn ever closer to Him.

Soup and Bread Luncheon ~ January 29th

Soup and Bread returns on January 29thth following the morning service. You may bring soup or bread or just yourself to enjoy fellowship and a great meal!

If you bring a crockpot of soup or bread, please drop it off in the kitchen before the service. Please make sure the soup is WARM as the crockpots will not heat cold soup in time for lunch. The "soup ladies" in the kitchen will be sure the soup is nice and hot by lunch time.

We look forward to a warm and wonderful time with all the St. James' Family!

Gentle reminder to the folks that have left any Christmas decorations or special mementos that were left to a loved one in the cemetery, you have some time to pick them up. If you are unable to pick them up in person please call the office at 302-994-1584 and we can make arrangements for them to be picked up at a later time.

Office Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The parish office will be closed on January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Thank you very much for your kindness and understanding.

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…

A heartfelt THANK YOU!!

to all who helped in our outreach at the end of the year and start of 2023.

Your generosity provided many blessings to many adults, seniors, and children.

Adopt-a-family – We adopted a family of five and we were able to provide them with their Christmas dinner, new warm outfits, coats, gloves, and hats, and each child received a new bike! The children were so excited that they can now ride all around.

Adopt-a-grandparent – We adopted 24 individuals who live at the Coral Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. We provided each person with much needed and appreciated person items, sundries, headphones, games, hats, scarves, and gloves and a fun photo holder. Each person received their own calendar as well.

Emmanuel Dining Room – We were able to serve our guests a festive meal of lasagna, green beans, fruit cup, roll, milk, and homemade cookies on New Year’s Eve. And, to start their new year off in warmth, guests were able to take a gift or two of donated new socks, hat, gloves, and scarves.

Friendship House/Hope Center - We continue to take in your donations of sundries, individual meals, person items for the Hope Center and clothing that is distributed through the Friendship House Clothes closet.

And, starting off the new year serving families in the Family Promise network – We offered nutritious meals and hospitality to two families with children. These families were very appreciative of their meals, spending time together, and sleeping in warm beds, without the fear and worry of wondering where their next meal would come from and where they might find shelter.

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.  

Ecclesiastes 7:8

“The end of something is better than its beginning. Patience is better than pride.”

Prayer for Sunday from A New Zealand Prayer Book

God our creator,

yours is the morning and yours is the evening.

Let Christ the sun of righteousness

shine for ever in our hearts

and draw us to that light

where you live in radiant glory.

We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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