July 3rd, 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/

Now that Jesus has “set his face toward Jerusalem,” he is sending the disciples out to prepare the way for their travels. They may be doing some scouting work to see about friendly places that they can stay over, but they’re also going out and preaching and teaching to anyone that will hear their message. Compared to the previous part where James and John wanted to bring down fire on those rejected them, the work of these disciples is received much better.

As much as James and John were frustrated with the response they received, the seventy rejoice in their success. It’s a reminder that it’s good to celebrate good news; it’s good to take joy in doing well the work God gives us to do. We see here that Jesus, too, rejoices in their hard work and their good news.

The turn, though, comes with this: we don’t rejoice and celebrate because it makes us look good. We rejoice and celebrate because the work we’ve done glorifies God. All of the work each of you do here is part of that glorifying of God, whether it’s in our worship, the care you offer one another, or the outreach ministries so many of you are a part of. Give thanks for that work and rejoice in that work because it’s important work for reminding of God’s grace and presence in our midst.

New Ministry Note of Thanks

Thank you to all of you who joined us for our Celebration of New Ministry. The evening was made possible by the work and energy of a great host of people. At the risk of forgetting someone, my first “thanks” goes to the chairs of the Search Committee for being willing to call their committee together one more time to help with the planning for the celebration.

Thank you to Liz, our office manager, for her work each day and each week, especially in those times when we just need to figure out how to add something to the bulletin. Hers is the voice you hear when you call, and it’s her joy that keeps a light on in the office.

Thank you to the choir who has practiced so diligently and to our organist for helping them and us learn a new hymn for our service. Thank you, also, for the energy and creativity you give us each week. Their well-deserved summer break begins soon!

Thank you to the Flower Guild and the Altar Guild for your ongoing work making sure that our sanctuary is always beautifully prepared and appointed. Thank you, also, to our Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Readers for their good and faithful work each time we gather together. And in a crowded sanctuary with two aisles and a balcony, thanks to our ushers for keeping everyone moving.

Thank you to our Garden Committee who make sure the flowers are always blooming and in season, and thank you to Borden Adams for keeping the grass and grounds looking nice. And thank you to the Property Committee for you constant and ongoing work.

Thank you to the Mission Support Office for helping to plan and coordinate for the service.

Thank you to our Parish Life committee who prepared a wonderful reception for us in the Parish House.

And finally, thank you to my family, who is so often full of patience and understanding of the life of a parish priest. Thank you, and I love you. And I’ll be home soon. :)

Peace,

The Rev. Ben Rockwell

Last week, Father Ben shared a reflection on the Feast of St. Alban as a contributing writers for Grow Christians. Click on the link below to read the article. 

Greetings from Russ's Angels team captain, Margaret Russ.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in church, June is Alzheimer's and Brain awareness month.

Three things to do to help your brain:

1. plenty of regular sleep

2. eat a healthy diet

3. stay active - I'll go on a walk with you.  

St. James has been a great support over the years, I want to give you the chance to help again this year.  

If you can donate there are three ways to do it.

1.  Use the link to my page http://act.alz.org/goto/margaretruss
2.  You can mail/hand me a check, written to Alzheimer's Association 
3.  Or hand me cash at Church.  

If you want to join our team the walk is Saturday 10/29/22 . Use the link above to join. Would love to have you.  

Please feel free to reach out to me, Margaret Russ with any questions or to chat.  

russmags@hotmail.com

443-945-7230

Monday Morning Bible Study Takes a Summer Break!

Our Monday Morning Bible Study will be taking a brief break during the month of July. We’ll resume our meetings on August 1. Enjoy your break, and we hope you’ll rejoin us when we resume!

Wednesdays at 10 AM - Off For July

Our Wednesday morning services will take a hiatus during the month of July. Wednesday services will resume on August 3 at 10 AM.

The parish office will be closed Monday, July 4th for Independence Day. Thank you very much for your kindness and understanding.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

St. James’ Night at the Ballpark!

Are you a baseball fan? Would you like to spend the night at the ballpark with members of our St. James’ family? Or would you just like to see fun fireworks show one Friday evening?

If you’d like to join us for a night at the Blue Rocks on July 29th, please contact the office at 302-994-1584 or Jerry Clark at 302-354-4839. Tickets will be around $14/person, and transportation will be dependent upon the number of people who sign up.

Please let us know by July 6 if you’d like to join us, and we hope to see you there!

Summer Prayer Team UPDATE

During the summer months, the prayer team will continue to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails to the church office at 302-994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team. We collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world. Then these requests are lifted up in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to share their prayer requests and we hope you will consider joining us when our monthly prayer services resume in the fall on Sunday, September 11th. More information to follow.

For those who have an immediate prayer need, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675

Serving those in need with dignity and respect…

We are grateful for your support that enables us to

serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room

and provide clothing, food, and other items

needed by those being served at the Hope Center.

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. 

Emmanuel Dining Room

In the past, we have served from 140-200 lunches to our friends at Emmanuel Dining Room on the 31st of the month (7 times per year). Covid brought new challenges and we were able to provide the lunch “fixings”, but not help in the kitchen OR serve the meals. From March 2020 until April 2022, guests were provided a “take away” lunch that they picked up outside the dining room and had to eat elsewhere.

We are happy to say, WE ARE BACK in the kitchen and serving guests in the dining room.

On our next lunch date—Sunday, July 31st, our guests will enjoy tuna subs, chips, bananas, and homemade cookies and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take away for later. 

• Please join us in the Parish Hall kitchen on Saturday, July 30th at 9 a.m. to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as an extra snack or meal for later for our guests being served the next day. (Masks and gloves, please.)
• If you'd like to provide some homemade cookies (or store-bought cookies), please bring them to the Parish Hall kitchen marked EDR by Sunday, July 31st. You are welcome to put homemade cookies into the freezer to keep them fresh.
• Questions: please text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053.
• 
  

Hope Center and Friendship House

We continue to provide clothing items, snacks, food, toiletries and hygiene items, children's books and toys, diapers, laundry detergent, etc. for those being served at the Hope Center and Friendship House. Collection boxes are inside the front door of the church and Monday-Thursday a box is outside the Parish Hall.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver lunch and some evening meals to our neighbors in Murray Manor. Our next week to deliver meals is June 27-July 1.

Family Promise

Our next week offering meals and caring to families participating in Family Promise is August 7-14. At this point, guests continue to live in the cottages at the Jesus House off Milltown Road. We’ll let you know if that changes and we are able to return to providing our families with lodging, snacks, and dinners in our parish hall.

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.  

ROMANS 15:1

"We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves."

Prayer for Independence Day

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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