October 22nd, 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 the Pharisees and the Herodians ask Jesus, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” one can almost see the smirks on their faces as they think they’ve finally tricked him. It’s a good question, too, one that might be called a “Gotcha!” question in today’s landscape, and it represents the shared contempt that the Pharisees and Herodians have for Jesus and his ministry.

“Bring me a coin,” Jesus says. “Whose head is on here, and what is his title?” Through gritted teeth, they reply, “The emperor.” And Jesus flips the coin back to them and says, “There’s your answer. Give to Caesar what is Caeaser’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Simply put, we give the coin of the realm back to the realm, and we give ourselves to God because we are made in the image of God. But in a more complicated matter, it reminds us that we, as Christians, have a dual citizenship: we are citizens in the kingdoms of this world, and we are citizens of the heavenly kingdom. We are in this world, but we are not of this world, and as people of faith, the ideal and the intent is that our faith, our understanding of God’s grace and mercy, informs how we live in this world.

Indeed, this is a struggle, especially in these polarized and complicated times as powers and principalities seek to make claims on us and divide us one against another. The hope and the promise of the Cross, though, is that we will all be brought into the embrace of God. If our lives are lived with this knowledge, glimpses of the promise of the kingdom of Heaven can become known even in the kingdoms of this world.

Call for Candy!

St. James' is providing lunch (meatball subs, chips, fruit, cookies, and milk) once again at Emmanuel Dining Room on Walnut Street in Wilmington on Tuesday, October 31st. As a special Halloween treat, we’d like to offer Halloween gift bags and peanut butter crackers as "takeaways". Please drop off bags of snack-sized candy or peanut butter cracker at the Parish House or in the basket in the entrance to the church by October 22nd. At Coffee Hour on October 22nd, we’ll fill the bags with sweet treats for our guests for them to take after their lunch on October 31st.

“The Good Book Club” returns in January!

“The Good Book Club” returns in January as we turn our minds and our hearts to the book of Genesis. We’ll read one chapter of day for fifty days, and we’ll come together on Sunday mornings following our 9:30 service to discuss what we’ve discovered in our readings. There is a companion book for this class, and we can get a discount if we order multiple copies! If you’d like to join us as we read through the book of Genesis, call the church office to sign up by November 1st. Please contact Fr. Ben with any questions.

Walk day is almost here St. James – do you want to join the team?

Walk details:

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023

Location: Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park

                 Rosa Park Drive

                Wilmington, DE 19801

Distance: 2 miles (though we won’t tell if you don’t do it all)

Time: The team meets at 8:30 am to take our team picture

           Promise Garden Ceremony starts at 9 am

To join Russ’s Angels, use the link below.

If you still want to donate, here are ways to do it.   

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

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

russmags@hotmail.com

443-945-7230

Garden Committee Announcement:

Final clean-up of the gardens around the church and parish house.

Rain is forecast for Saturday, October 21st. and the rain date will be Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 9:00 am for the final garden clean-up around the perimeter of the church and Parish House. This will allow for the outside of the buildings on the church property to look nice through-out the Fall and Winter months. We are always looking for new members.

Bring your garden tools ie (shovels, clippers and garden gloves). The more people that show up will allow for this project to be accomplished in no more than several hours or sooner. 

Plan:

• Various shrubs or plants, need to be pruned or maybe replanted.
• Final weeding and clean-up of the Memorial Garden and other areas around the church, including the Columbarium and parish house. Weeding and clean-up is perpetual and have been an on-going task through-out the Spring and Summer, taken on by the members of the garden committee.

Please call Carol Bruno at 302-250-3121 or Barbara Anzilotti at 302-267-2276 with any questions or comments. We certainly appreciate any help. Water and snacks will be provided. 

2023 Annual Bazaar



Friday, 11/3 & Saturday, 11/4

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Both Days

Please plan to attend our Annual Bazaar. 

It’s an opportunity to spend time with family and friends and to Support our Church.

Bake Shop News

Please bring your baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, candies, etc.

to the Parish House at the following times.



                       Thursday, November 2nd                      5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

                       Friday, November 3rd                             8:00 am – 2:30 pm

                       Saturday, November 4th                        8:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Bazaar Ladies Will Need Help

Sunday, October 29th

  After the 9:30 Service

Items in the Bazaar Workshop need to be brought upstairs.

They will also need help setting up Monday & Tuesday, Oct. 30^th and 31^st

      We appreciate any help you are willing to provide.

See you at the Bazaar,

The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies

Meals on Wheels Announcement

Our current Meals on Wheels coordinator is moving, and we are in need of someone who can take over coordinating and scheduling. Meals on Wheels is an important charity that helps feed seniors in our community. Without it, many folks would go hungry.

If you are interested in helping, please call Sherry Ceranos at 302 784 4073.

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.  

Philippians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Prayer for the Beauty of the Earth



We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, beseeching you that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen. 

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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