August 20th, 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/

When Jesus says “…to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person,” we are reminded that Jesus, while the incarnate Son of God, was not an expert in public health. As Episcopalians we proclaim the books of the Old and New Testament to contain all things necessary for salvation, but this line reminds that in his capacity as a human being, Jesus could only know what he was capable of knowing. This might make us wonder that if Jesus can learn something new, does this endanger our own salvation?

Paul would say, “By no means,” and at least that’s our hope, and the appointed Gospel for this Sunday may bear this out.

After Jesus has his talk with the Pharisees and the disciples about what makes something clean or unclean, that’s it’s not what goes in but what comes out, he has a personal encounter with a Canaanite woman who is crying out to him for help because of her daughter’s illness.

“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!” she cries. Initially, Jesus ignores her, and then his disciples try to shoo her away, but this Canaanite woman is persistent, she cries out again, and pushes back at Jesus when he says, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She will not back down until Jesus offers healing for her daughter, and when he does, he says to her, “Great is your faith,” and her daughter is healed instantly.

This is good news for her, but what’s so difficult here is to understand what is happening with Jesus. Some say he was “caught with his compassion down,” and others suggest the words of the woman changed the course of Jesus’s ministry. Either way, we’re reminded that while there is hope and redemption found in the pages of Scripture, it sure is hard to make sense of it sometimes.

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.  

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Prayer by Thomas a Kempis

God, our Father, we are exceedingly frail and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking. Strengthen our weakness, we beseech you, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts. for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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