February 26th, 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/

As we begin the season of Lent, after a wonderfully full and joyful pancake supper, our minds turn to the forty days ahead and the moments of temptation that Jesus faces after being “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” This is a strange phase, and it calls to mind this image of Jesus being forced into these situations by the Spirt of God in order for him to be tempted by the devil.

What Jesus faces here are “temptations to rise,” which have the potential to be worse than “temptations to fall.” “Temptations to rise” are built on the backs of others and show our thoughts that we may be more powerful and better-knowing than God, and these temptations often come when we try to wrestle control of a situation that is just outside of our grasp.

The struggle with Lent for many of us is acknowledging that so much in our lives is out of our control. Lent calls us into a season of repentance of this desire for control, and in this repentance, we find humility. This repentance and humility can free us from carrying unnecessary burdens, and instead it encourages us to deal with what we can deal with, knowing that our work in the corner of the Kingdom of God that’s been entrusted to us will be made good and blessed by God.

Millcreek Ecumenical Lenten Lunches

Continuing a longstanding Lenten tradition, St. Philip’s Lutheran Church will be hosting this year’s Lenten lunches. This is a wonderful opportunity to join together with our fellow churches during this holy season.

Our worship service will begin at 12 PM on Wednesdays at St. Philip’s during the season of Lent. Our worship will be followed by a lunch of soup and bread at 12:30 PM. St. James’ will provide the homily, music, and lunch on March 15, and if you’d like to volunteer, please contact the Church Office for more details.

2023 Flea Market

There will be a Flea Market again this year. Kathy Jackson is organizing it. A date hasn’t been set yet. 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.

Ash Wednesday - Livestream Update

We invite you to the observance of a holy Lent, and we hope that you’ll be able to join us as we begin this formative season of the Church year. If you are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to watch it through Facebook Live at 7PM.

facebook.com/StJamesEpiscopalChurchMillCreek

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 4:8

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Prayer for the First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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