Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
July 25th, 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.
From the Interim Rector


My dear friends, Thank you for a wonderful and most generous celebration last Sunday. I’m so grateful to have served with you!

God’s many blessings on your future.

Kim
Dear All,
 
Last Thursday, in accordance with the State of Delaware’s easing of Covid restrictions, our bishop has also eased Covid restrictions for churches, therefore:
 
The following easing of our restrictions will begin immediately:
 
  • Social distancing will no longer be required.
  • Pew separation will cease.
  • Pews will no longer be assigned.
  • You may choose your own seat!
  • Coming up for Communion will no longer require separation and direction.
  • We will no longer be taking contact information for contact tracing
 
PLEASE NOTE:

  • For the time being, we will continue to require masks in church.
  • If you are not fully vaccinated these changes nay NOT be safe for you!


Peace,
Kim 
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.
·        Also, during this time of transition, if you need a priest, we will help with that, too.
·        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 note: We are not always informed about parishioners entering the hospital. So, please call if you or someone you know has been admitted to the hospital.

Please let us know if you need us or someone you know needs us. We will not know if you do not tell us.
St James' Episcopal Church and The Bazaar Group is proud to announce The Christmas in July Sale!

The ladies have not been idle. We have been holding Zoom Bazaar Meetings, every other Tuesday, since February and have finally been able to meet in person every two weeks. Quite a few of the ladies are working on projects at home. We are planning several virtual events this year. Our goal is to hold a virtual Quilt Raffle in the fall. Laura Gracie, one of our Bazaar Ladies, has made a beautiful quilt for the raffle. 

Thank you so much for your continued support. Be sure to check out our new mini site! 
“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.  

Deuteronomy 31:8


"It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
We are grateful for the support that enabled us to serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room and provide needed clothing and food for those being served at the Hope Center. 

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM

Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Saturday, July 31st, 2021. We continue to deliver our lunch items and extra bottles of water. We hope we will be able to actually serve our guests in the dining room sometime this summer or fall.

New Castle County HOPE Center
for Individuals and Families in need of temporary housing and support services
New Castle County purchased the former Sheraton Hotel on Airport Rd (now named the New Castle County HOPE Center) and Friendship House is running Code Purple programing out of this location to provide housing for individuals and families who are homeless this winter. The County retained the hotel management staff to keep the facility running.
  • What started as temporary housing during the cold weather 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. Through many non-profit organizations coming together, they are working to obtain more significant housing for the individuals and families who come to the HOPE Center and offer medical, psychological, and job skills opportunities as well.
  • The hotel can accommodate 400 and suites and adjoining rooms are given to families and enables 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' can help:
·     Review the list below and see if there are items you could provide.
·     We continue to offer "contactless drop off" at the parish hall Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  
·       Please place your donations in the bin labeled Donations for HOPE Center - CODE PURPLE on the porch of the parish hall.  
    Liz will bring in the bin and any donated items at 1:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and we will take the donations to Friendship House at the end of each week.
Items needed: (Updated needs for SUMMER 2021)

  • Diapers - all sizes - Urgent need for size 5 & 6
  • Uber/Lyft Tickets in $25 increments
  • Washable Mesh Laundry Bags with drawstring
  • individual size creamers for coffee
  • Snack bags - pretzels, chips, or goldfish
  • Powdered Drink Mixes - Iced Tea/Lemonade
  • Small containers of peanut butter and tuna fish (easy open)
  • Microwaveable one dish meals
  • Quart size/ Gallon size and sandwich size Ziplock bags
  • Fruit cups, apple sauce and pudding
  • Individual wrapped crackers, granola bars and cereal bars
  • $5 gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa
  • Hot Chocolate mix
  • Baby wipes
  • Non-alcohol hand sanitizer
  • Non-refrigerated milk and powdered milk
  • NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult
  • New or gently used t-shirts and light jackets
  • New books for adults and children
  • New puzzles, crossword books and puzzle books - adult/children
  • Art kits, adult and children coloring books, colored pencils
  • Sunscreen
  • Umbrellas
  • Hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap (regular and travel size)
  • Tide pods or other laundry pods
  • Containers of ground coffee (the staff brews coffee daily for the guests)


Thank you, 
St. James' Outreach Ministry
Prayer Team

On the first Sunday of every month the members of the prayer team hold a “virtual” ZOOM prayer service at 11:30 a.m. (focusing on the prayer requests shared by parishioners through calls or emails to the church office or to individual members of the prayer team.) We lift up these prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world.
During this time of Covid-19, the prayer team is holding ZOOM prayer team gatherings twice a month. Also, weekly we share the prayers and petitions that have been given to us and they are lifted up daily by members of the team. All are welcome to participate in these services.

Next Prayer: Next meeting will be Sunday, August 4th.


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 Sister BJ Brown at: sisterbjbrown@gmail.com or call Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053
St. James’ Pastoral Care Team is here and wants to help.

If you or someone you know is in need, we send cards, we make phone calls, we will pray with you and/or for you. NOTE: Once safety from the Covid-19 virus permits, we will continue to make home and hospital visits and make 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.

NOTE: once safety from the Covid-19 virus permits, on Sundays there are forms and envelopes labeled “Pastoral Care” next to the prayer requests in the church entrance. Please place your request in the offering plate or the prayer basket.
Please let us know if you need us or someone you know needs us, we won’t know if you don’t tell us.
A Prayer from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book

O Lord support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening come, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen


Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584