Weekly e-Epistle
from
St. James' Mill Creek
Wilmington, Delaware
January 31st, 2021

We'd love for you to join us!

We would be pleased if you joined us 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.
NEW INFORMATION – ZOOM MEETING FOR PARISHIONERS
***from the Rector Search Committee***

On Sunday, January 31st  at 1 PM, the results of the Holy Cow survey will be presented to the congregation via a Zoom meeting by David Miron, our survey consultant. David will report back to us on the information that we provided to Holy Cow and what the general trends are for St. James. The presentation will take place via Zoom using the link below. If you are not able to participate via Zoom, we have also provided a call-in phone number for people to use. If you are not available on January 31st , we will record the session and run it again at other times so you don’t miss it (phone-in only available for live presentation).

An important part of this process will occur after the presentation when you will be given the opportunity to give feedback on whether you feel the results accurately reflect who we are as a Parish. Please plan to join us for the sharing of information on January 31st.

Thank you for being active in this process. It will tell us who we are and what we are looking for in our new Rector.

Carolyn and Jenny

David Miron is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: D Miron--St. James Millcreek Summary Presentation
Time: Jan 31, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 954 2668 3282
Passcode: 278768

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From Father Kim

Ash Wednesday

At 7:00 pm on February 17th we will live-stream the Liturgy for Ash Wednesday. During the week prior to this service, anyone who wishes, may pick up a container with palm ash. The ash will have been blessed but our intention is that you join our worship on that day.

The ash and container will be safely handled throughout the preparation and blessing process and can be picked up at 10:15 am on Sunday 2/14 in our parking lot OR at the church office Monday through Wednesday 2/15/ - 2/17 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

As part of our Liturgy I will invite those participating to administer ashes to themselves and any family members who reside in the same house.
Dear All,

St. George’s College in Jerusalem (yes Jim’s favorite place) has produced a Lenten Study that I want to invite you to join me by participating in. Attached to this email are two pdf files one is a complete course description and the other is the week 1 reflection

The Title of the program is “A River Through the Desert – A Lenten Pilgrimage”

  • Each week there will be a short video on Youtube and a brief reading followed by discussion questions
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTuGZ1HTLcc&feature=youtu.be
  • This link is for the week one video “The Desert”
  • The necessary materials will be sent out on Monday of each week
  • We will then have a Zoom discussion each Thursday at 6:00 pm beginning on Feb. 18th lasting no more than 45 minutes

PLEASE REPLY IF YOU WISH THE MATERIALS SENT TO YOU EACH WEEK. The Thursday Zoom discussion is optional

Peace,
Kim
For many years, St. James' supported the African Team Ministries by offering their crafts for sale in our parish hall. They have asked for our support again this year.  

This season we are offering a virtual display of the African Crafts in place of the normal display we send to you.
Please use this link for the Virtual display and order directly from them.  https://africanteamstore.square.site/

Please consider purchasing a few gifts or donate to provide an irrigation kit for communities in need to support their mission:  African Team Ministries is a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches. With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, we provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions and evangelism in East Africa. The support we receive is sent directly to our partnering Bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms. This support ensures that the children receive an education and a measure of stability needed to rebuild their minds. We currently have children registered for sponsorship in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Thru our support we are giving the gift of HOPE! 


COVID-19 Vaccine News from
Delaware Health and Social Services

If you are 65 years and older, request an appointment for an upcoming COVID-19 vaccination event.

Requests for appointments for DPH vaccination events are now being taken at https://vaccinerequest.delaware.gov/ It is HIGHLY recommended that the online system be used!

For those without computer access call the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-643-1715 and a call center operator can assist you in making the initial request.

Both the call center and website are already experiencing high volumes of visitors and callers at this time so we encourage people to be extremely patient and keep trying.

For Delaware residents 65 years and older: After you make a request, you will receive a confirmation email that we received your request to be vaccinated. Due to limited supply, there will not be enough vaccination slots in the early days for everyone who requests an appointment to get one immediately. When there is a slot available to you, you will receive an invitation email with instructions to make an appointment for a specific time and location. Not everyone will immediately receive an invitation email because of the limited slots available. If you do not immediately receive an invitation email and appointment, your request will be held to receive an invitation for future vaccination events.

Please note: At this time, the vaccination events are for individuals 65 years and older. Anyone not 65 years and older will not be able to complete a request at this time. Additional information will be made available when Delaware nears future phases of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
If you are a frontline essential worker, look for information about vaccination opportunities from your employer.

NOTE: If you are having trouble navigating the website and require additional assistance please call the office at 302-994-1584. We will do our best to help you.

Here is an additional information through link that Cindy Fauerbach provided that has additional information through Christiana Care.
UPDATE-- New Castle County HOPE Center
for Individuals and Families in need of temporary housing
Winter 2020-2021 Code Purple Plan for Wilmington
New Castle County purchased the former Sheraton Hotel on Airport Rd (now named the New Castle County HOPE Center) and Friendship House is running Code Purple programing out of this location to provide housing for individuals and families who are homeless this winter. The County retained the hotel management staff to keep the facility running.
  • Code Purple started with the first snow on December 15th and will run through the end of March. The County will continue working to obtain more significant housing for the individuals and families who come to the HOPE Center.
  • Code Purple will be every day and night this winter (not just when temperatures drop below freezing). Being able to offer 24 hour/7 day a week winter shelter during the pandemic is a huge gift and opportunity for our friends living on the streets.
  • In the first four weeks, the program has grown from about 70 to 100 guests and includes some families. The hotel can accommodate 400 and suites and adjoining rooms are given to families and enables 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 St. James' can help:
·     Review the list below and see if there are items you could provide.
·       Starting Monday, January 11th we will offer "contactless drop off" at the parish hall Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  
·       Please place your donations in the bin labeled Donations for HOPE Center - CODE PURPLE on the porch of the parish hall.  
    Liz will bring in the bin and any donated items at 1:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and we will take the donations to Friendship House at the end of each week.


Items needed: 

·       Hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap (regular and travel size). 
·       Non-perishable food items such as bottled water and individually wrapped snacks (pretzels, granola bars, fruit snacks, etc.) 
·       Tide pods or other laundry pods 
·       Containers of ground coffee (the staff brews coffee daily for the guests)
·       Gift cards for UBER or LIFT (for transportation to and from the hotel for medical or other appointments)
·       Clothing items:
o  NEW socks and underwear
o  NEW or gently used winter items (coats, gloves, and hats)

Thank you, 
St. James' Outreach Ministry

Remembrance

We talk openly of life.
Of the joyful times we had.
And the joyful times we will have together.
Death gives no joy.
It has no voice.
We have muted it because there are no more
times to have together.
While the remembrance of death is painful,
the remembrance of those who lived,
those we loved, is joyous.
They have left footprints implanted in our minds,
in our hearts, and in the very essence of our being
that shall remain forever.
Death is sad.
Remembrance is not.
So let us remember their lives.
Forever.

-Patrick Cunningham
Dear All,

How do we grieve the loss of someone who has meant so much to you and to many during this time of Covid? Normally, when someone we know dies, we would gather to support each other and their family, to gain strength from our family and community and to share stories of the one(s) we loved. But as we are all tired of hearing, “these are not normal times” and gathering “together” is not prudent due to the extent of the Covid-19 virus. However, remembering is an essential part of our healing process.

If you would like to share a story of someone who has passed, please send it via email to office@stjamesmillcreek.comcastbiz.net or Cindy at cindyfauerbach@verizon.net or by letter to St. James’ church office: 2106 St. James’ Church Road Wilmington, DE 19808. Liz and I will compile the stories and share them with the parish family and the family of the deceased.

This will hopefully be an ongoing opportunity, but we need to begin somewhere so let us start with Fr. Bill Archer.

Peace, Cindy Fauerbach
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.
Join the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew for their 25th Anniversary Launch Party via Zoom
A Prayer for Trust

O God of all the prophets, you knew us and chose us before you formed us in the womb: Fill us with faith that speaks your word, hope that does not disappoint, and love that bears all things for your sake, until that day when we shall know you fully, even as we are known by you. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit
Join us for ZOOM Coffee Hour

You are invited to a virtual coffee hour following worship at St. James’ Mill Creek, beginning approximately 15 minutes after service concludes. So after service is over, grab a beverage or snack and connect to your church family. All are welcome.

For those who have not used Zoom previously, this page has a video and instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting from various devices (PC, Mac, iOS device, Android, regular telephone with a toll call, etc.): https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting- . You do not need to sign up for a Zoom account to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 931 0834 7195
Password: 766583
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St. James' Mill Creek
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE 19808

302.994.1584