September 10th, 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/

We like to think that the Church is a place where everyone is happy, where everyone gets along, and where there are never any disputes of any kind. Again, we like to THINK this, but we know that the reality is that the Church is much like any other institution that is made up of human beings: we tend to miss the mark, get upset, and can act in hurtful ways to one another.

Please note, this is NOT directed toward us or you or this parish; it’s simply an observation related to Jesus’s teaching in this week’s Gospel message: “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when you are alone.” This is not an invitation to corner someone at coffee hour because none of us want that. Instead, it’s a teaching about the importance of trust and communication as a means of holding together and strengthening a community.

For Jesus’s disciples and for us, this guidance can help us hear God’s call to us because we are being encouraged to openly discuss what’s on our minds and on our hearts, making sure that our concerns and worries come from a place of love and respect and not a place of power and control. Jesus wants the disciples and us to know that when these conversations are open and honest, His presence is made known, and then we become witnesses and symbols of God’s grace in the world.

2nd Annual Health Fair at St. Thomas

The Second Annual Health Fair at St Thomas is will be on this Saturday, September 9th from 10am until 2pm. We have a wide variety of organizations committed to come and provide health education and information, there will be flu and COVID shots available and Narcan (Naloxone) administration training at 11am.

We need your help to make this event a success. Most importantly we invite you to attend and support the event, but we also need help getting the word out to the wider community. Please consider inviting a friend to join you in visiting the event. If you can think of anywhere that would hang a flier for us or help spread the word electronically please let the office know. 

We also need people to help the day go smoothly. If you can help, please use this link to sign-up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449ADAE29A6F49-stthomas

If you signed up to donate water or snacks, please drop them at the church on Friday or between 9 and 10 am on Saturday.

We are also providing out door children’s activities. If you have any lawn games you could lend us for the day please let the office know.

If you would like to learn about how Narcan administration can save a life, please use this link to sign-up for the training: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449ADAE29A6F49-narcan

Thank you for your support.

Coffee Hour - Sundays after Church beginning September 10th

As “Lemonade in the Circle” comes to a close, Coffee Hour resumes on September 10 in the Great Hall. Please plan to come over after the service and enjoy coffee, tea, treats, and fellowship!

Greetings from Russ's Angels team captain, Margaret Russ.

As I mentioned back in June- Russ’s Angels will be walking again this year, hard to believe it’s our 13^th year. 



If you want to join our team the walk is Saturday 10/28/23. Use the link below to join. Once you click on my page you will see where you can join the team.

Would love to have you. The walk is at the Wilmington River Front.

Many of have already donated to the team, THANK YOU. For those of you have been waiting here are the ways you can donate.   

There are three ways to do it.

1.  Use the link to my page http://act.alz.org/goto/margaretruss
2.  You can mail/hand me a check, written to Alzheimer's Association 
3.  Or hand me cash at Church.  

Please feel free to reach out to me, Margaret Russ with any questions or to chat.  

russmags@hotmail.com

443-945-7230

ALTAR FLOWER MEMORIALS

Giving altar flowers is a wonderful way to give special thanks at various times in our lives. The flowers beautify the church and help us all to remember and thank God for our many blessings. 

Anyone is welcome to give altar flowers in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving or celebration of a special event . The cost is $46, and the Flower Guild will order the flowers and place them on the altar. You may send a check to the parish office along with a note for the date you wish to give flowers and the person or event you are remembering. Liz will add your remembrance in the worship bulletin for the appropriate Sunday.

Any questions, please call Pat Minor at 302-738-3753 

*Picture by Larry Heinold

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.  

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer for Agriculture



Almighty God, we thank you that you made the earth fruitful, so that it might produce what is needed for life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all share the fruits for the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

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