February 25th, 2024

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/

A potential pitfall with a familiarity of Scripture, or at least an assumed familiarity, is that when we read these texts we sometimes miss the power that rests underneath these words. For example, the Lord renames Abram and Sarai after they’ve had their birth-names for close to a century. Paul unspools a compelling case for Christianity and Judaism as a sign of God’s faithfulness throughout history. And Jesus and Peter get into a near-shouting match about what it means to be the Christ and what it means to be a disciple.

This is a striking moment because it represents a turn in the narrative, away from the fun and joy of traveling around to heal people and cast out demons and toward the very real purpose of Jesus’s time on Earth: to suffer; to be rejected; to be killed; and to rise again.

For the Christ to undergo such an end is unconscionable to Peter. As the second-in-charge among this group of disciples, he can’t bear to let this happen to Jesus. In this moment, we also see how close Jesus might be to giving in to those temptations as he cries out, “Get behind me, Satan!”

So often, we are more like Peter, telling Jesus who He is or what we expect of Him. This text reminds that we don’t get to do that. Instead, Christ calls on us to give up these images of power and superiority and turn, instead, to his calls for humility and healing, reconciliation and grace. This is the cross we are called to bear in a life of discipleship. It’s not a glamorous or powerful one, but it’s a necessary one if we intend to do God’s will on Earth, bringing that kingdom ever closer.

Soup and Bread Success!

Thank you to everyone who provided soup and bread to share for our annual Soup and Bread Lunch on Sunday, January 28th. Thanks, also, to Pat Minor, with the assistance of Nancy Prettyman, Jerry Clark and the Members of the Parish Life Committee for helping to organize this event and to everyone who helped serve and clean up afterwards. There were many delicious soups available, and there was even more good fellowship to enjoy. 

Shrove Tuesday “Thank You”



Our recent Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was another good night of food and fellowship. Thanks to Nancy and Dick Prettyman and Dave Perry for leading the charge and gathering together the Men’s Group of St. James’ and to all those who helped prepare pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrapple, and everything else it takes to enjoy breakfast for dinner, and thank you to all of you who came out to enjoy the evening. What a wonderful way to end the season after Epiphany and look toward the season of Lent!

Lenten Soup and Bread Volunteers

This year’s Lenten “Soup and Bread” luncheon will be hosted by Limestone Presbyterian Church. The people of St. James’ will be providing the soup and bread on Wednesday, March 6^th. If you’d like to provide a soup for this luncheon, contact the Parish Office, and we’ll get you in touch with the right people for more details.

Thanks to all of you who have helped with this over the years, and please consider supporting this neighborhood gathering and Lenten tradition that brings our Ministerium together!

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.  

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

A Prayer for the Second Sunday in Lent

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.