SHARE:  
Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
December 26th, 2021

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.


Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.
2022 - Christmas 1C
 
We’ll sing together the following line this weekend, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
 
We know, intimately, that hope and fear are bound together. Our hope was that this Christmas we’d have no concern of COVID-19, and our fear may be what the weeks ahead will hold. Our Christian siblings throughout the world hope to worship in peace, but there is that fear of persecution in many places.
 
As we gather together, online or in person, continue to remember the words the angel Gabriel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid.” And remember, it’s likely a line Mary repeated to herself as she and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem as the crowds pressed in on them; as they desperately sought a place to stay; as she could feel herself drawing closer to giving birth.
 
“Do not be afraid.”
 
This doesn’t mean that we become cavalier, and it doesn’t mean we stop being concerned for the well-being of those around us. What it does mean, though, is that in Christ, we are empowered to live a life in the assurance of God’s faithfulness and love for us, remembering His promise to be with us until the end of the age.
 


The Good Book Club at St. James’!
 
Beginning on January 6, the Good Book Club will begin reading the book of Exodus. The Good Book Club is an offering from Forward Movement and the Episcopal Church, and it offers us a simple way to encounter and engage with Scripture. On Sunday mornings following church, we’ll join together in the lounge to discuss what we’ve read and learned!
 
Sign up below for more information!
 

Monday Morning Bible Study - Beginning January 10 at 10:30 AM
 
Beginning Monday, January 10, we’ll meet in the lounge at 10:30 for a Lectionary Bible Study. We’ll look at the readings for the upcoming Sunday, and we’ll see what we can learn together and enjoy some fellowship. No sign-up necessary, but come as you are and bring a Bible with you!
 
Midweek Eucharist - Wednesdays at 10 AM
 
Beginning Wednesday, January 19, we will gather in the Church at 10 for a celebration of Holy Eucharist. This short, spoken service will often commemorate a feast day and will include a brief homily. We hope you’ll be able to join us!

Christmas Services at St. James’ Episcopal Church
 
December 24 - 3:00 PM - Daylight Christmas Eucharist
December 24 - 7:00 PM - Christmas Eve Eucharist
December 24 - 10:00 PM - Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Holy Eucharist
 
December 25 - 10:00 AM - Christmas Day Eucharist (No Music)
 
December 26 - 9:30 AM - Christmas Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist
 
Mark your calendars, and more details on each of these offerings will be coming soon!
From Liz Lichtenstein

The parish office will be closed December 27th & 28th in lieu of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Thank you very much for your kindness and understanding.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!
Reaching out to those in need this holiday season

Adopt-a-grandparent and Adopt-a-family
 
Thank you for your amazing response to those in need and for making Christmas a little brighter for our Adopt-a-grandparents and Adopt-a-family. We were able to give a warm sweatshirt, warm bootie socks, a blessing cross, a huggy stuffed animal, and room decorations to each of our twenty residents of the Coral Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.) 
Our family received funding for their deposit for a new apartment and Christmas gifts: new coats, bedding, clothing, and sports equipment. 


Emmanuel Dining Room

Warm socks, gloves, and hats anything to help keep warm are needed for the winter season. 
 
While most of our guests are adults, we do serve children during the holiday season. So, all sizes are appreciated!  
 Items can be dropped off at the parish hall in the bin on the porch from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Or there will be a box in the entry to the church where you can drop off items.
 
Collected items will be given to our Emmanuel Dining Room guests on New Year’s Eve, December 31st along with their delicious lunch.
 
Questions-text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053
Thank you for considering this request.
 
With thanks and blessings,
St. James’ Mission Outreach team  


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.
 
EMMANUEL DINING ROOM
Providing a daily lunch to those in need in Wilmington
 
Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Friday, December 31, 2021 and we continue to deliver our lunch items and extra bottles of water. We hope we will be able to serve our guests in the dining room sometime this spring. For now, we offer “take-away” lunches. We will be serving lasagna, green beans, fruit, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. And we will distribute the socks, hats, gloves, etc. that are collected this month.
 
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 St. James' IS helping:
In the past month, we have provided over 30 coats and jackets, many other clothing items, snacks, toiletries, children's books and toys, diapers, laundry detergent, etc. 
 
The dedicated staff at Friendship House sends thanks and wishes for a blessed Christmas and new year to ALL!
 
Current items needed:
 
•      Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa
•          Non-alcohol hand sanitizer
•      NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult
•          New or gently used t-shirts and light jackets
•          New books for adults and children
•      Hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo, and soap (regular and travel size)
•          Tide pods or other laundry pods
 
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.
·       We take the donations to Friendship House about every two weeks.
 
Thank you,
St. James' Outreach Ministry

Prayer Team

One Sunday of every month, the members of the prayer team hold a “virtual” ZOOM prayer service (focusing on the prayer requests shared by parishioners through calls or emails to the church office 994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team.) We lift up these prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world.

Also, weekly we share the prayers and petitions that have been given to us and they are lifted in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to provide their prayer requests and participate in these services.
 
For those who have an immediate prayer need or would like to receive the ZOOM codes and join the prayer team service, we invite you to email your prayer needs/requests to Cindy Fauerbach cindyfauerbach@verizon.net or call Cindy at
302-584-8053
 
NOTE: Our next ZOOM prayer team will be Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 at 5PM and include an evening prayer led by Gwen Gerety-Hayes.
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.  

John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Prayer for Christmas Eve

Eternal God, in the stillness of this night, you sent your almighty Word, to pierce the darkness with the light of salvation: give to the earth the peace that we long for and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven, through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 


Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/
COVID-19 Restrictions

 
Our firm desire is to worship our Lord in beauty, holiness, AND safety! Please be assured that the St. James' leadership team has worked hard to have meaningful worship while at the same time making our environment as safe as possible for everyone.
  • Church entry time will be 9:15 a.m.
  • Please sanitize hands before entering the church.
  • Face masks are mandatory. 
  • At communion, please wait until you are back in your seat to consume your wafer.


For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584