Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
January 16th, 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.
At the wedding feast at Cana, we see Jesus perform his first “sign,” as it’s called in John’s gospel. It’s a story of both knowing and revelation. His mother knows the need of the moment, and Jesus says, “It’s not time for that to be revealed.” However, his mother insists that the stewards do what he says, and at the end, the water is changed to wine, the people give thanks, and “his disciples believed in him.”
 
That last line may be difficult because it makes us wonder, “Why didn’t they believe in him earlier?” Remember, though, that this moment is only a few days into his ministry. The disciples are doing their own discernment about whether to stay with Jesus or maybe follow John the Baptizer. This “sign,” though, reveals to them, and to those reading this Gospel, that Jesus is the real deal.
 
We know that as the story unfolds there will be trouble for both Jesus and the disciples, just as know that as our story unfolds we will experience trouble and heartache. This sign, though, at the beginning of his ministry, reminds us of the abundant grace of God that overflows into the story being told. Our opportunity, it seems, is to look for those times when water is being turned to wine in our own lives because it’s those moments that can sustain us when the signs seem to disappear.
The Episcopal Church in Delaware, the Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, and Christian leaders across the state join together in extending an invitation to this ecumenical service of racial reconciliation and healing, scheduled on, the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, January 16.

Preacher:
The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Dr. Lewis is Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church in New York City. In her activism, preaching, speaking, writing, and teaching, Dr. Lewis advocates for racial justice, gun control, economic equity, and LGBTQIA+ rights. She has written several books, including the most recent, Fierce Love. Website: jacquijlewis.com

For more information please visit https://delaware.church/healing-service/

Coffee Hour Remains on Hiatus
 
Because of the surge in COVID cases our coffee hour will remain on hiatus. Please feel free to visit in the carriage circle following church (if weather permits), and we look forward to being back indoors for coffee and fellowship soon.
From Liz Lichtenstein

The parish office will be closed on January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Thank you very much for your kindness and understanding.


Gentle reminder to the folks that have left any Christmas decorations or special mementos that were left to a loved one in the cemetery, you have some time to pick them up. If you are unable to pick them up in person please call the office at 302-994-1584 and we can make arrangements for them to be picked up at a later time.
2022 Bazaar Update
 
This year the Bazaar will be held Friday & Saturday, November 4th & 5th. We are looking forward to another successful Bazaar. Be sure to mark your calendars.
 
The Bazaar Ladies are hoping to return to their weekly workshops in February. They are looking forward to being able to have a full year of creating new and familiar items for our annual Bazaar and spending time with good friends.
 
If anyone would like to join the ladies, please contact Nancy Patterson (302) 239-7649 or Shirley Alexander (302) 738-5331. We meet every Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 11:300 AM. Several of the ladies usually go to lunch after workshop. It is a fun group. No skills are required. There’s a variety of tasks to be done. It is a morning filled with fellowship and creativity. New friends are always welcome.
 
The St. James’ Bazaar Ladies
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.
 
January 16th Host Week -
We are looking for volunteers to provide dinner for our Family Promise guests the week of January 16th. There is currently one family of three. We will keep you updated if that changes. If you are interested, Dave Perry or Val Brunson know.  
 
Donations of money or gift cards to restaurants that deliver are always welcome. Money will either be used to buy dinner or other supplies.
 
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.                    
 
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.
 
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 should occur between 5:30-6:30 PM. 
·        Families are expected to be at dinner on Sundays! Volunteers may choose to serve outside and utilize outdoor dining, or allow families to take meals inside. You can eat dinner with families only if they are eating outside, but that is your choice. There are picnic tables on the grounds. If you do not feel comfortable staying and eating, then feel free to just deliver food.
·        Meals no longer have to be separated by family. Meals and supplies are for the whole Cottage to share. You may absolutely set aside a meal for anyone missing dinner.
·        The 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. 
·        The families will stagger their meal times to be able to distance. 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.  
 
St. James’ Mission and Outreach ~Sharing God’s gifts with others.
Thank you all for your generosity and caring that made and make these offerings possible. We ended 2021 in generosity and we’re starting the new year off in the full spirit of giving ~

·       We helped make Christmas a little brighter for our those in our Adopt-a-grandparents outreach by providing a warm sweatshirt, warm bootie socks, a blessing cross, a huggy stuffed animal, and room decorations to each of our twenty residents of the Coral Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.) 
·       Our Adopt-a-family ~ mom and two children who had been burned out of their apartment before Thanksgiving, received funding for their deposit for a new apartment and Christmas gifts: new coats, bedding, clothing, and sports equipment. 
·       We provided over 100 pair of socks, 50+ hats, scarves, and gloves (and a few t-shirts) to our friends at Emmanuel Dining Room on New Year's Eve along with their favorite meal of lasagna, green beans, a roll, banana, and homemade cookies and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as an extra snack or meal for later! Our next lunch offering will be Monday, January 31st.
·       Just in December, we have provided over 30 coats and jackets, many other clothing items, snacks, food, toiletries and hygiene items, children's books and toys, diapers, laundry detergent, etc. for those being served at the Hope Center and Friendship House. See more about this ongoing ministry below.
·       We start the new serving Meals on Wheels to our neighbors the week of January 10th.
·       And we will offer meals and caring to families participating in Family Promise the week of January 16th.
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 Monday, January 31, 2021 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 Cindy Fauerbach cindyfauerbach@verizon.net or call Cindy at
302-584-8053
 
NOTE: Our next ZOOM prayer team will be Sunday, February 6th 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.  


Proverbs 23:18


"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."
Prayer from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book

Prayer for Discernment from Daily Prayer for All Seasons
Insistent God, by night and day you summon
your slumbering people: So stir us with your voice
and enlighten our lives with your grace that we
give ourselves fully to Christ’s call to mission and
ministry. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/
COVID-19 Restrictions

 
Our firm desire is to worship our Lord in beauty, holiness, AND safety! Please be assured that the St. James' leadership team has worked hard to have meaningful worship while at the same time making our environment as safe as possible for everyone.
  • Church entry time will be 9:15 a.m.
  • Please sanitize hands before entering the church.
  • Face masks are mandatory. 
  • At communion, please wait until you are back in your seat to consume your wafer.
For Access to the News of the Diocesan Publications
St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584