May 21st, 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/

“Do not leave us comfortless.”

We say these words in our opening prayer this Sunday after we acknowledge the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. As with many of our prayers, though, the way we understand them today is different from what their original intent and meaning may have been. For example, “comfortless” in this use may be more appropriately understood as “strength.” With that understanding we might read this prayer as “Do not leave us without strength.”

This Sunday we also hear Jesus pray for the disciples on his last night with them, praying that they may be one as he (Jesus) and the Father are one. Compared to the collect, it sounds a lot like Jesus is calling on them to be strong, to be bound together in unity.

We know enough about the disciples to know that even though they knew each other and had been together for a while and they worked for the same mission and ministry, they didn’t always agree. In many instances there was what might be called “opportunities for creative collaboration” amongst them, and Jesus knew that, and it’s why he prayed for them even until the end.

This wasn’t a prayer for conformity, though. It was a prayer that they would have strength and community, that they would be held close to one another by one another through the power of the Advocate, or Holy Spirit, that he would send to be with them. This prayer was prayed 2000 years ago for the members of the early Church, and while I like to think it is still prayed for us today, we remember that we continue to have strength as a community of the faithful as we play together, pray together, and share in the Sacraments of the Church together.

FLEA MARKET BAKE TABLE

We are looking forward to your donations of goodies for our Bake Table.

 Please plan to bring your baked goods, jellies, jams, pickles, candies, etc. to the Parish House at the following times:

Friday, May 19th           5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

 Saturday, May 20^th      7:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Thank You for Your Support!

Note from Liz Lichtenstein:

As some of you know, the weekly e-Epistle typically goes out on a Wednesday. We're going to try sending it out a little earlier in the week, so if anyone has any announcements that need to go out please email it to me or let me know by Friday so that I can have it ready for the Monday of the following week. Thank you so much!

Calling all Graduates!

Let's take a moment and celebrate all those who are graduating this spring. If you would like to make an announcement on the e-Epistle please email the office at office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net with information of your graduate by May 19. We’ll name and celebrate our graduates of all levels on June 4th, Trinity Sunday. Please mark your calendars, and we hope to see you there!

Pentecost Sunday - Coming Soon!



Pentecost Sunday (falling this year on May 28) marks the end of the Fifty Days of Easter and the moment when the disciples receive the Holy Spirit. This is a day of celebration, and the festival color for our worship is red. If you have something red to wear, set it aside for that day. This year, this feast day also falls on Birthday Celebration Sunday, so we’ll celebrate Pentecost and all of you were born in the month of May on this day. We hope you’ll join us!

Bingo Night Update

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time. The new scheduled date for Bingo Night is June 5^th 2023 at 7PM.

We look forward to seeing you all and enjoy gathering together for a fun-filled evening.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Nancy Patterson at

302 239 7649.

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.  

2 Corinthians 4:18

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Prayer for the Seventh Sunday of Easter

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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