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Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
February 27th, 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.


Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.
We’ve all heard the phrase “mountaintop experience,” and most of us have our understanding of what that means. In Scripture, a “mountaintop experience” means that someone’s life is about to get changed, and not always for the better. Think of Abraham and Isaac or that time Moses got the tablets or Elijah experiencing the still, small voice of God. In our lives, though, a “mountaintop experience” often refers to a moment of transcendence, like a trip to a renewal weekend such Cursillo or Happening or an extended time of reflection and contemplation or a transformative pilgrimage.
 
Those are great moments, and they make us feel close to God, closer to the divine, and in some cases, they help us to see the world in a different way and understand what we think God is calling us to do in a clearer way.
 
When we descend from the mountaintop, though, we often find the world much as we left it; the muck and the mire and the chaos of life are still present, and while we might feel that we’ve changed, sometimes we can feel frustration that everything else has not.
 
That’s the thing about God, though. God’s presence isn’t simply located on a mountaintop; that’s why Peter was scolded for wanting to build three booths up there! If we look carefully and live with open hearts and open eyes, we can see Christ and the opportunity for Christ’s mercy especially in the muck and the mire and the chaos of our lives, and it’s a good thing, too, because we’re down there in that more often than we’re on the mountaintop, and it helps us to remember, too, the ever-present nature of God’s mercy.
Experiencing Technical Difficulties
 
Good afternoon, Everyone:

Our phones have been down for a while and we're still working on getting them fixed. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. If you need to get a hold of us here at the church please try via email.

office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net
or
rector@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net

We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Ash Wednesday Services

10 AM - Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist
7 PM - Imposition of Ashes and Choral Holy Eucharist
Upcoming opportunities for exploring the Bible, fellowship, and worship!

Please visit our webpage for updates about upcoming activities, including the following:

·      Following Sunday service – The Good Book Club will meet in the lounge. Come for the fellowship and discussion (having completed the readings is NOT required.)

·      Lectionary Bible Study: Monday's at 10:30 in the lounge.

·      Wednesday Holy Eucharist in the church at 10 AM
St. James' Flea Market

Saturday May 7th from 8AM until 1PM, May 14th is the rain date. We are currently looking for volunteers that wish to help during this event. If you are interested in volunteering speak with Chuck Haywood or contact the office to sign up.

We are also accepting donations for the Flea Market. We only ask that things be in good and working condition, and appropriate to be sold at a church function.

Thank you so much!
Register by March 1st to get a free t-shirt!

Trail 2 Truth
Eyes Wide Open &
Hearts Ready to Move
April 2, 9th Grade and up

The Episcopal Church in Delaware invites all high school youth to this Province III event

This event will encourage a deeper understanding of Christ’s call to justice, examining our own unconscious biases and listening for God’s direction within us to respect the dignity of every human being through the work of racial reconciliation. The Province is providing a virtual keynote speaker and morning worship, in which we will all participate together at the Church of Sts. Andrew & Matthew, Wilmington. Lunch will be provided. After lunch, the Delaware Historical Society will be giving us a walking tour (weather permitting) of some important civil rights sites in Wilmington. For full agenda see here
 
Please register by March 1st to get a Free t-shirt:
 
If there is enough need, we may provide transportation from Sussex and Kent counties. Please reach out to YouthSupport@Delaware.Church with any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone in person!


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 Thursday, March 31, 2022 and we will 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 meatball subs, fruit, chips, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. When possible, we’ll also offer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a snack/extra meal (for now--made by youth and adults in their homes.)
 
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)
•      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
·       Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa
 
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 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, March 6th at 5 p.m.
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 15:4


"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

Prayer by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our loving Father, from Thy hand have come all the days of the past. To Thee we look for whatever good the future holds. We are not satisfied with the world as we have found it. It is too little the kingdom of God as yet. Grant us the privilege of a part in its regeneration. We are looking for a new earth in which dwells righteousness. It is our prayer that we may be children of light, the kind of people for whose coming and ministry the world is waiting. Amen.


Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/
My 23rd Psalm


The Lord is my good shepherd.
He is all I need or desire,
He lets me find rest in the cool green pasture of His love.
He accompanies me along the stream of life's giving waters,
by His sacrifices my wounds and transgressions, "are healed!"
He keeps and teaches me as we traverse on the road to my salvation.
Even through the darkest of life's treacherous storms He is with me, "I am safe!"
He holds my hand and I fear not!
Wherever life takes me His rod and staff bring everlasting peace to my soul.
He invites me to His banquet table for which He hath prepared for me.
He anointed me with His sacred oil.
My cup runneth over the brim as He continually fills it.
He submerges me in the sea of His abundance of goodness and mercy all
through my earthly life.
As we traverse together hand in hand, He reveals His secret to me.
Remain faithful in His love and forgiveness to receive the crown that awaits.
He invites, I accept; to reside with Him and my Heavenly Father for all eternity.

Amen.

Faye R. Hart
12/1/20 9:47am

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