August 13th, 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/

After the feeding of the multitude in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus and the disciples are wiped out. He sends the disciples on ahead of him "to the other side," and then he dismisses the crowds. From there, Jesus goes up the mountainside for some time alone and to be by himself to pray.

While Jesus is away praying, the disciples are in a boat going across the sea. That boat is being battered by the winds and the waters on the outside and shaken by the nerves and fears of the disciples on the inside. We don't get a direct account of what goes through their minds in the midst of the storm, but when they see Jesus, their first response is one of fear, crying out, "It is a ghost!” And then they hear the reply from Jesus, "Do not be afraid."

Fear is a funny thing. It makes us think that shadow on the wall is a monster behind the chair or that the sound we just heard is something nefarious outside or that the stranger coming toward us may mean us harm. Diligent awareness is important, but fear can turn us into a shell of ourselves, into something God never intended for us to be.

I don't know what fears may be keeping you up at night or what fears have come to inform the way you live, but we do know each of us carries some kind of fear along this journey of life. Jesus, though, calls us to live without fear. Getting there is as bumpy as a boat ride on choppy waters, but the hope that we have is that through the love of Christ and the community surrounding us, we'll all get to the other side.

Upcoming 200th Anniversary of Church Consecration

Monday, August 14 will mark the two hundredth anniversary of the consecration of our church building. To think of all the prayers that have been said and the hymns that have been sung in that space over the past two centuries is humbling and overwhelming and a cause for great joy. Because this date falls in the middle of August in a time when many people are still coming and going, we won’t truly celebrate and mark this day until after Labor Day, but we will give thanks on Sunday, August 13 for symbol of Christ’s presence that our parish has been in this community for so long as we look forward to many more years of service at St. James’.

Confirmation Classes - Starting August 20!

Confirmation classes for our upcoming Bishop’s Visitation will commence on August 20th. We’ll meet on Sunday mornings in the lounge of the Parish House following coffee hour. August 20th will be an introductory meeting, and we’ll have five sessions following that with Confirmation Sunday taking place on October 1st.

If you’ve been already been confirmed and would like to “reaffirm” your confirmation promises, this class is for you, as well! Contact Fr. Ben in the Parish Office to sign up, and we look forward to seeing you on August 20th for our introductory session.

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.  

Proverbs 23:18

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

Prayer for Sunday, from A New Zealand Prayer Book

God,

you are our beginning and you will be our end;

we are made in your image and likeness.

We praise and thank you for this day.

This is the day on which you created light

and saw that it was good.

This is the day in whose early morning light

we discovered the tomb was empty,

and encountered Christ, the world’s true light.

This is the day you have made;

we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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