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

September 18th, 2022


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Sunday Bulletin (September 18th)

There are many things that we think are in the Bible and that we think Jesus has lots to say about, but one thing is certain: he is very concerned with wealth and our relationship with it.

 

The final phrase in the gospel for this week is the following: “You cannot serve God and wealth.” Prior to this, though, is Jesus’s teaching about the steward who may have been squandering the resources of his master.

 

It can be a troubling text to read or unwind as we hear Jesus say, “Make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth.” This teaching seems so opposed to everything we’ve been told do and how to live for so long, so it makes sense that we might struggle with it.

 

Jesus is encouraging the disciples, and all who hear this parable, to be aware of the realities of the world. There are times when negotiation and compromise are important. It can save someone’s job and someone’s business and someone’s dignity. When someone is too bound to their own wealth, though, problems can arise, and those problems begin to have an impact on every part of the system.

Prayer Team Returns to Monthly Prayer Service


Prayer Team Returns to Monthly Prayer Service Sunday, September 11th at 11 a.m. in the church


Since March of 2020, the prayer team suspended our in-person monthly prayer team meetings and held virtual meetings. As we had for many years, we continued to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails to the church office at 302-994-1584 or shared with individual members of the prayer team. Those who had an immediate prayer need when the office was closed were invited to email their prayer needs and requests to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call or text 302-565-8675. This will continue.


Sunday, September 11th we will return to monthly in-person prayer team meetings in the church. 


Please note along with sharing any prayer requests by calling the office (302-994-1584), sharing a request with a prayer team member, or sharing with Carolyn Mack (see above), the slips for prayer requests are back in the church foyer. So, please feel free to write out a prayer request and put it in the prayer basket.


We continue to collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish (shared with prayer team members or shared with Liz in the parish office), community, and world. All are welcome to share their prayer requests in whatever way meets their needs. Then these requests are lifted up at the monthly meeting and in the daily prayers of the team members.


We hope you will consider joining us as we return to the church and hold a brief prayer service this Sunday, September 11th at 11 a.m. (following the 9:30 a.m. service and enjoying a break for fellowship and a snack during Lemonade in the Circle.)


Please note, that our October service will be on October 9th at 11 a.m.  

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, THIS SUMMER WE WERE BACK in the kitchen and serving guests in the dining room. Thanks to a dedicated core of volunteers, we made about 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the day before we served this summer. 

On May, July, and August 31st, we served sub sandwiches, a banana, chips, cookies, and a cold glass of milk to our guests and each month our numbers increased. 


Since September only has 30 days, we’re not responsible for a meal this month. However, consider supporting our special lunch on our next lunch date-- Halloween--Monday, October 31st our guests will enjoy meatball subs, chips, banana, and homemade cookies and have peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take away for later. 


·        Please join us in the Parish Hall kitchen after the service coffee hour on Sunday, October 30th 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, October 31st. You are welcome to put homemade cookies into the freezer to keep them fresh.

·        We will continue 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.


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 September 19-23.


 

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.  


Matthew 6:14


“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”


Cultivating the Garden

 

Heavenly Father, Your son Jesus guards the gate and is the gardener

You sent to tender the garden of my soul!

He comes in the dawn of the morn with a “gentle cleansing” rain.

Only then… His joy shines and brings forth the blossoms that

Are buried deep in the soil of my heart.

His unfailing love-mercy arrives fresh and sure as the sunrise.

He plants in the spirit and gather from your harvest.

When he planted the bulb in the soil it is; “dormant.”

Sending nourishing rain-sun, it burst through the rich soil-blossoms!

When it ceases-dies to be reborn again – “heaven”!

Diligently cultivate a communion with the gentle loving Gardener Jesus.

Do not be derelict of your garden.

It must be cultivated, nourished-fed and tended to or nothing will survive.

 

So we jointly traverse the path to the garden, “it is well worn”!

He is the vine and I am grafted unto it and it feeds-supports me.

And, there is a waterfall that continuously feeds the stream of life-giving water.

It flows through-around my garden-hydrates-stops the eroding.

You cannot grow good healthy things in poorly attended soil.

So…what’s growing in your garden-greenhouse of your heart?


Faye R. Hart

9/7/22 9:32am



Prayer for the Beauty of the Earth


We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, beseeching you that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.




Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

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

302.994.1584