Weekly e-Epistle from St. James' Mill Creek

Weekly e-Epistle

from

St. James' Mill Creek

Wilmington, Delaware

April 16th, 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 (April 16th)

So much of the first century writings that make up our New Testament are about trying to make sense of both the Resurrection of Jesus and his anticipated and eventual return. The book of Acts is one piece that is concerned with the actions of Jesus’s disciples and the movement of the Holy Spirit following the Ascension of Jesus, and we hear that this week in the first portion of Peter’s Pentecost sermon.

His sermon is a drastic difference from what we saw from him during Jesus’s last three days that we heard about during Holy Week, and we have to assume that it was a change that took place over those forty to fifty days of post-Resurrection experiences with Jesus. There’s a confidence in his proclamation that was so sure that it convinced many of those hearing him to convert to this new of understanding God through Christ’s death and resurrection.

In Peter’s first letter, which we also hear from this week, he’s writing to a group who didn’t hear his Pentecost sermon, but it’s a group who has continued to hear the good news of the Gospel as it has spread far and wide. His words remind them through this new life found in Jesus, they’ve found a new way of seeing and being in the world, a way that says something about the love and power of God to make things new. When so much of the world still seems the same following Easter Sunday, this is a good reminder to us that there’s still a call to proclaim Christ crucified and resurrection as a way to point to God’s power to conquer death.

Annual Meeting - 2023

The St. James’ Annual Meeting will take place following the 9:30 AM service on April 23rd. At our Annual Meeting we hear ministry reports, financial reports, and elect our Vestry for the upcoming year. Those standing for election this year are the following:

Carol Bruno

Cathy Coppol (second term)

Jim Craig

Dave Perry

Jenny Vrana

These five nominees have been elected to fill five slots that are available for the next Vestry class.

Lunch will be provided for us by our Vestry members, and we look forward to having you join us!

2023 Flea Market

There will be a Flea Market again this year, on May 20^th 2023. Kathy Jackson is organizing it. You may drop off items to be sold at the Flea Market. Please leave them downstairs in the room to the right of the stairs.

We Will Accept:

Gently Used Household Items, Appliances, Toys, Jewelry, Hardback & Paperback Books.

We WILL NOT Accept Any of the Following:

Encyclopedias, Computers, TVs, Electronics, Clothes or Stuffed Animals.

Please do not bring in any of the unacceptable items. They can be donated to various local charitable agencies.

Electronic Items are accepted at the following Delaware Solid Waste Recycle Locations:

Delaware Recycling Center Newark Recycling Center

1101 Lambson Lane 470 Corporate Blvd.

New Castle, DE 19720 Newark, DE 19702

Monday-Saturday: 8:30am-3:30pm Monday-Saturday: 8:30am-3:30pm

Please contact Kathy Jackson (302-690-3513) if you have any questions or would like to help prior to, or during the Flea Market.

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.