Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
April 10th, 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.


Here is a PDF of this Sunday's bulletin for you to enjoy.
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday is one of the most emotionally complicated Sundays in the life of the Church. We cheer Jesus at his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we jeer at his trial. We weep while he is tortured on the cross, and we are silent at the moment of his death. More than any other Sunday, this day puts us in a time and place where we can feel and experience the Gospel in a different kind of way.
 
As we hear this story read on Sunday morning, we might realize that we're hearing it in a different way that we've heard it in the past. This is because we are different now than we were this time last year or the year before that. Our personal lives and our spiritual lives are not the same as they were, so pay careful attention as the story unfolds, and you may just get something new out of it, something that will help you get through Holy Week in a new way.
 
Come and be with us on Sunday as we prepare to walk the way of the Cross, beginning our observance of Holy Week. Make time during Holy Week for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, too. Know that an investment of time into these moments, these holy and unique liturgies, prepares us for the hope and the promise of the Resurrection.
Holy Week at St. James’ Episcopal Church
 
Palm Sunday - April 10 - 9:30 AM
We begin in the Carriage Circle with the Liturgy of the Palms where we celebrate Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. After processing into the church we will hear together a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel.
 
Maundy Thursday - April 14 - 7:00 PM
On this night we remember Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Following the service we will strip the altar in preparation for Good Friday.
 
Good Friday - April 15 - 12:00 PM
We gather with our fellow churches from across the Mill Creek Ministerium to sing hymns, say prayers, and hear meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross.
 
Easter Sunday - April 17 - 9:30 AM
A festival service of hymns and a celebration of the Holy Eucharist breaks our Lenten fast as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and His victory over the powers of this world.
 
COVID-19 Taskforce Update

 
The COVID-19 Taskforce continues to watch pandemic metrics and monitor the latest public health guidance to ensure we are making the best decisions we can to keep our St. James’ parishioners and visitors safe. After careful consideration and agreement with Public Health guidance, we will be easing restrictions starting with the Maundy Thursday service. However, anyone exhibiting symptoms, having a positive COVID-19 test, or that has been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19 should refrain from attending services in person until the situation is resolved.
 
Beginning April 14th use of face masks will be preferred but optional for all who are in attendance. 

Choir members will be asked to continue wearing KN95 masks. Our historic church does not have the same ventilation and air exchanges that some of the more modern church sanctuaries have. Therefore, our HVAC system is not as effective at reducing the dispersal of airborne particles/respiratory droplets, thus increasing the potential risk of transmitting respiratory viruses. In support of Public Health guidelines, it is recommended that people be up-to-date with their vaccinations, as this is the best means of preventing serious illness/complications if infected by the COVID-19 virus. 

Furthermore, proper hand hygiene, social distancing, and the cleaning of commonly touched surfaces are additional ways to prevent infection. We will continue to follow cleaning protocols and provide alcohol hand sanitizer at the entrances to the sanctuary. Please sanitize your hands before entering and exiting the sanctuary.
 
We will continue to monitor the community situation and adjust precautionary measures if there is an increase in the COVID-19 metrics. 

As always, our hope and intention is to make worship at St. James’ Mill Creek a safe and worshipful experience for all.  
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

April 24th in the Parish Hall after 9:30am service
 
Nominations for Vestry:

Val Hall
Ed Burdick
Carolyn Joynt
Dave Niehaus
Chuck Haywood
St. James’ Family Promise Host Week Special Announcement 

Family Promise will continue to house families at the Hospitality Center at Jesus House to reduce exposure to volunteers and guests. Congregations are still needed to provide support in the form of evening meals, and other supplies, including breakfast and lunch.

 April 10th Host Week - We are looking for volunteers to provide dinner for our Family Promise guests the week of April 10th. There are currently no families, but we expect that to change. We will keep you updated when that changes. If you are interested, please let Dave Perry or Val Brunson know.  
Donations of money or gift cards to restaurants are always welcome. Money will either be used to buy dinner or other supplies. 

Thank you to our volunteers. You are the reason we are able to do this worthwhile ministry. Every family we support gets us that much closer to ending family homelessness. Thank you for all you do.

Other Donations – Family Promise is also in immediate need of pots and pans (may be used), laundry baskets, cleaning buckets, and shower curtains.  Please let Val know if you would like to donate any of these items.            
        
Dinner Delivery Details- 

Location Details:
·      Families are staying at Cottage 1 at the Jesus House at 2501 Old Milltown Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808.
Meal Drop-off:
·      Meal delivery is between 5:30-6:30 PM. 
·      Do not separate meals by family. Meals and supplies are for the whole Cottage to share.
·      When pork is an issue, please label meals without pork as “no pork”. Families may not be able to tell by looking and will not eat a meal if they suspect that it contains pork.
·      Families have use of the kitchenette in their cottage (refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, two burner cooktop, sink, coffee pot, dishes, utensils), but it is not a large area. 
·      You will be serving Cottage 1. That is the one on the left as you’re facing them. 
·      Leave the food on the table outside and knock to let the families know the food is there. If no one answers, please call Val Brunson at 302-476-5067. 
Easter Memorials

Making a donation for Easter flowers not only beautifies the church as we rejoice in the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this is a fitting way to remember loved ones who have passed on and/or to celebrate the people and events in our lives.
 
Below you will find a form for your use in making a memorial contribution. Envelopes will also be inserted in the Sunday service bulletins through Palm Sunday. Contributions may be mailed or placed in the offering plate. Please note that they must be received by Palm Sunday in order to be listed in the Easter bulletins. Thank you!
The Garden Committee Announcement


The Garden Committee is beginning with clean up. If you are interested in volunteering that would be great. All are welcome!

This is the schedule from now until May. If you have any questions please email or call Lynn Morgan at 302 593 4431 or gnurse33@verizon.net

               3/30 1pm – 4pm Clean up
               4/6 1pm – 4pm Clean up
               4/18 9am – 10am Garden Committee Meeting
                        10am – 12pm Weeding and Clean up
               4/30 9am – 10am Plant Blue Salvia
               5/2 9am – 11am Weeding
               5/16 9am – 11am Weeding
               5/29 Weeding
6/13 Weeding and then every two weeks after that Monday.
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, May 1st 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.  

John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Prayer for Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent

Almighty God, through the incarnate Word you have caused us to be born anew of an imperishable and eternal seed: Look with compassion upon those who are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant that they may be built as living stones into a spiritual temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen.



Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/
For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584