Weekly e-Epistle from St. James' Mill Creek

Weekly e-Epistle

from

St. James' Mill Creek

Wilmington, Delaware

May 15th, 2022

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/

St. James Mill Creek Facebook page

Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.

Sunday bulletin (May 15)

As the Church began to spread in the post-Resurrection world there were times when the question of ”Who do we preach this Gospel to?” would crop up. There was the thought that this new movement should stay within what Jewish community, and there were others who felt compelled to open up this message to the Gentile world around them. When the first Gentiles “had also accepted the word of God,” leaders like Peter had to answer for this, with people asking, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”

In response, Peter lays out a fantastic and unbelievable vision involving something like a picnic blanket, all kinds of animals, and the voice of the Lord. In typical Petrine fashion this happens to him three times, and he’s then told to go and visit the Gentiles, only to realize that those Gentiles had a similar vision, leading Peter to ask, “Who was I that I could hinder God?”

As Peter is telling this story, we learn the importance of telling our story, of looking back through our life and our experiences, to see where God has been active in our life. In the moment, we may not realize this presence, but with careful prayer and reflection, and conversation in community, we can discover that God has been active in ways we didn’t expect and is calling us to do things we couldn’t foresee.

Celebration of New Ministry

On Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 6:00pm, we will come together to celebrate the new ministry between St. James’ Episcopal Church and our new Rector, the Rev. Ben Rockwell. At this celebration, the Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown will join us, along with visiting clergy from around our diocese, in a liturgical celebration. COVID willing, a reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Please mark your calendars, and we hope you’ll join us!

Calling all Graduates!

Let's take a moment and celebrate all of the graduates in your life. If you would like to make an announcement on the e-Epistle and/or the Monthly Newsletter please email the office at office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net .

Flea Market Announcement

Thank you to everyone that has made a donation for this year's Flea Market. We wanted to let you know that the Flea Market will now move to it's rain date of May 14th .

NOTE: We don't need anymore plastic bags. Thank you so much to everyone that donated them to us.

Serving those in need with dignity and respect…

We are grateful for your support that enables us to

serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room

and provide clothing, food, and other items

needed by those being served at the Hope Center.

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM

Providing a daily lunch to those in need in Wilmington

Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Tuesday, May 31, 2022 and we will continue to deliver our lunch items and extra bottles of water. We hope we will be able to serve our guests in the dining room sometime this spring. For now, we offer “take-away” lunches. We will be serving meatball subs, fruit, chips, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. When possible, we’ll also offer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a snack/extra meal (for now--made by youth and adults in their homes.)

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)

• 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

· Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa

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 Friendship House about every two weeks.

Thank you,

St. James' Outreach Ministry

Prayer Team

One Sunday of every month, the members of the prayer team hold a “virtual” ZOOM prayer service (focusing on the prayer requests shared by parishioners through calls or emails to the church office 994-1584 or to individual members of the prayer team.) We lift up these prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world.

Also, weekly we share the prayers and petitions that have been given to us and they are lifted in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome to provide their prayer requests and participate in these services.

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 Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675

NOTE: Our next ZOOM prayer team will be Sunday, June 5th at 5 p.m.

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.

· 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 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.

Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

A Prayer for Discernment, from Daily Prayer for All Seasons

Jesus, our way, our truth, and our life: As the gift of this new day unfolds, open our hearts and minds to you, that we may see you clearly and follow where you lead; to you, risen Savior, we offer praise, now and always. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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

For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications

The Net

COVID-19 RESPONSE

May Calendar

Visit our website

St. James' Mill Creek

2106 St. James Church Road

Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584