Weekly e-Epistle from St. James' Mill Creek

Weekly e-Epistle

from

St. James' Mill Creek

Wilmington, Delaware

July 9th, 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/

Sunday Bulletin (July 9th)

So much of what’s written in the Gospels becomes lost to us over time because there are local and cultural references that we no longer recognize, and in an attempt to seem relevant or wise we might attribute these references to something greater than they actually are. This example from Jesus this week, though, may be as simple as it appears: it’s about children bickering because one group won’t do what the other wants them to do.

He uses this example because he notices that people both think there’s something wrong with John the Baptizer because of his ascetic lifestyle and that there’s something wrong with him because he is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” What he goes on to say, though, is that there’s only so much any of us can understand about the will of God, often only seeing portions of it at a given time and never the whole picture.

It’d be nice to assume this was a part of life that was left back in the days of Jesus, that we all learned our lesson from this short illustration and that we no longer bicker amongst ourselves about the right way to be faithful to the Gospel, but we know that’s not the case.

In the midst of what Jesus sees happening in the marketplaces, he calls on those who will hear him to share in the yoke that he is already wearing, and in doing so, the wearer (us) will learn how to walk the same way, plow the same field, as Jesus. As he calls on us to share in this work, he reminds us that it will require gentleness and humility. When we learn how to walk and work with gentleness and humility, the hope is that we won’t be like the children in the marketplace. Instead, we will be doing the important work that Jesus requires of us, which is each of us serving God in a way that brings wholeness to our world.

Monday Morning Bible Study Takes a Summer Break

Monday Morning Bible Study will take a break during the months of July and August. Enjoy your break, and we hope you’ll join us when we resume on Monday, September 11^th at 10:30 AM.

Wednesday’s at 10AM – Off for July and August

Our Wednesday morning services will be on a hiatus during the months of July and August. We’ll resume on Wednesday, September 13^th, and we hope we will see you there.

Greetings from Russ's Angels team captain, Margaret Russ.

Thank You for wearing purple on June 25^th. I loved the earrings, nail polish, shirts, and pants. Way to represent Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month.

If you would like to learn more about Alzheimer’s please their website ALZ.org

St. James has been a great support over the years, I want to give you the chance to help again this year.

If you can donate there are three ways to do it.

Use the link to my page http://act.alz.org/goto/margaretruss
You can mail/hand me a check, written to Alzheimer's Association
Or hand me cash at Church.

If you want to join our team the walk is Saturday 10/28/23. Use the link above to join. Would love to have you.

Please feel free to reach out to me, Margaret Russ with any questions or to chat.

russmags@hotmail.com

443-945-7230

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.