Weekly News - July 3, 2025 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on July 3, 2025 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.

** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Sunday Worship Service Information
July 6, 2025
10:30 am
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In the afterglow/aftermath of Independence Day, we will examine some of the myths and realities of our nation and it’s founding holiday. Join us for Rev. Christian Schmidt’s sermon, “Patriot Dream.”

Music for this service will be performed by Son Nguyen. Son is a graduate of Christiana High School in Newark, Delaware. He began studying the cello in fifth grade and started private lessons in ninth grade with Dr. Lawrence Stomberg, professor of cello at the University of Delaware. As an orchestral performer, Son was a member of the Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra’s cello section for three years and won the 2024 DYSO Concerto Competition. He served as principal cellist for the Delaware All-State Orchestra in both 2023 and 2024 and has performed in the pit orchestra for Christiana High School as well as various University of Delaware ensemble programs including UD Symphony Orchestra and the UD Pit Orchestra. Additionally, he was appointed as principal cellist for the Music and Mindfulness Camp in Shenandoah, Virginia, from 2022 to 2025. For the 2024-2025 season, Son was a member of the cello section of the prestigious Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, performing at Marian Anderson Hall in
the Kimmel Center under the direction of Louis Scaglione. Beyond music, Son is a Scholastic Art Award winning photographer. He was also named to the 2024 and 2025 Delaware High School Men’s Volleyball All-State Team, ranking among the top 20 high school boys’ volleyball players in the state. Son plans to major in Music (Performance) at Case Western Reserve University (OH), studying under Cleveland Orchestra cellist Bryan Dumm.
Connect with Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s RE programming is available for ages 4 and up
* Child Care available (infant/toddler, ages birth to 3)

We regret to announce that livestreaming for this Sunday, July 6, is unavailable.

Join us in person!

Livestreaming will resume next Sunday, July 13.
We apologize for this inconvenience.

** Fellowship & Fun Meeting this Sunday
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Everyone is welcome to attend our meeting this Sunday, July 6, in the conference room after service. We will discuss the results of our interest survey conducted in May. Your input is needed – help us plan some new & exciting activities for everyone to enjoy.

** A Note of Thanks from Margaret Borror
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** Potluck AND Food Bank Sunday: July 13
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Plan to remain with us next Sunday, July 13 for a potluck lunch. You are welcome to bring a main or side dish, salad, an appetizer, desserts, or beverages to share if you wish.

It is also Food Bank Sunday – a special day set aside to support this much needed local resource. Everyone is encouraged to participate by bringing one or more of the following items with you to church next Sunday: canned tuna, vegetables, beans, fruits & soups; pasta & rice; peanut butter; and dry cereals & oatmeal. Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.

** Lands Stewards Activities
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* Wednesday Meadow Maintenance Come and see what the gang is doing to improve the biodiversity and natural habitat in the meadow areas. Join them next Wednesday, July 16 around 5:30 pm.
* Meeting Everyone is welcome to learn about the work that is both planned and ongoing for the acres we manage by attending the meeting on Sunday, June 20 after coffee hour.

** Current Share Our Plate Recipient
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We regularly donate a half of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization. For the months of July and August we are supporting:

Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network (UUDAN)

This organization supports Delaware state legislation that aligns with UU principles. This includes affordable housing, criminal justice, protection for marginalized groups, environmental protection, climate justice, and more. UUDAN’s operating budget of approximately $1000 per year is shared by the 5 UU congregations in the state of Delaware in a rotating cycle. This is Mill Creek’s year to offer support.
Learn more about UUDAN HERE (https://www.uudeladvo.org/wp/sample-page/)
Support this organization with your online donation HERE. Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund. Thank you! (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give)
During the months of June and July we supported The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/) with a donation of $1294. This organization is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They offer crisis services, advocacy, research, peer support, education, and public awareness, with the ultimate goal of preventing suicide – helping to create a world where all LGBTQ+ young people see a bright future for themselves.

** Sock Hop
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So far we have collected 45 pounds of socks, bypassing the landfill. You can help us reach our year-end goal of 100+ pounds. Look for the collection bin in the gathering space. Your participation in this project is an easy way to help the environment.

The SmartWool company is giving old products new life to eliminate the need for new materials and keep perfectly good materials from being thrown away and destined for a landfill. They have developed Second Cut, a process to refabricate discarded socks into new products they sell on their website. We are collecting clean, unwanted socks of any type, any condition, and any kind of material. We will then send them to the SmartWool company, giving them new life.

** Recurring Events
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Wednesday Evening Meadow Maintenance

The Land Stewards continue their weekly evening work efforts every Wednesday around 5:30pm, weather permitting. You don’t need to be a meadow worker bee to come out and enjoy some social time with us in the meadow. – everyone is welcome to simply walk around and enjoy our natural native habitat.

It’s not all about pulling weeds – there are many opportunities to get involved! We’ve put together a list of suggestions for ways anyone can help – from minimal effort, to moderate activity, to using shovels and pulling weeds. Check it out by clicking the button below.
Learn more – click HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Support-Our-Natural-Lands-1.pdf)

The D & D role-playing game is about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery.
In the Dungeons & Dragons game, each player creates an adventurer (also called a character) and teams up with other adventurers (played by friends). Working together, the group might explore a dark dungeon, a ruined city, a haunted castle, a lost temple deep in a jungle, or a lava-filled cavern beneath a mysterious mountain. The adventurers can solve puzzles, talk with other characters, battle fantastic monsters, and discover fabulous magic items and other treasure. All are welcome to join the group on Sunday, July 6 & 20 at 12 pm in classroom 1. Occurs every 2 weeks on Sundays. Questions? Contact Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.com) .

Realm is our church management software program. We use it exclusively for accounting, pledge data, membership, registration events, and more. Use the button below to access your Realm profile to make sure we have your most recent contact information, and make pledge payments and contributions.

Access your Realm profile HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/SignIn)
Fun fact: you can use Realm to set up recurring online monthly pledge payments using a credit card or your checking or savings account!
Mill Creek Staff
Rev. Christian Schmidt, Minister
In Office: Sundays & Tuesdays
minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
979-450-2477 (cell)
To request a teleconference, or a Zoom or in-person meeting, click the button below:
Connect with Rev. Christian HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ1ETx17XToDEx3GC5293hfnHTj-VJpBMu_m7SpHkuCcHozb-ceUiT3H-hDGLbziPku9hYBquodp)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 9 am to 2 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712

Margaret Borror, Faith Exploration Teacher
Sundays, and by appointment
dre@uusmc.org (mailto:dre@uusmc.org)
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region

** Thousands of UUs attend General Assembly
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More than 3,279 Unitarian Universalists from 592 congregations in forty-eight states and four countries—Canada, France, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands—participated in Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly (GA) this year. There were 2,483 attendees onsite, as well as 143 children, according to UUA Secretary John Simmonds. Click the button below to read UUWorld’s coverage of this event.
Read the full article – click HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-ga-2025-recap-vote-results-statements-actions-unitarian-universalism?_gl=1*7xz8hl*_ga*NzE1NDE5MTk0LjE3NDU0MjM1MDM.*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*czE3NTEzMDA2MjMkbzM2JGcwJHQxNzUxMzAwNjIzJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..)

** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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JUNE 2025

Featured Resource:
Congregational Board Resources
The 1000+ Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America are grouped into 5 regions: Pacific Western, MidAmerica, Southern, Central East, and New England. The Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek (UUSMC) is part of the Central East Region. To learn more about what’s happening in our region, click the button below.
Opportunities for Connection: click HERE (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-625)

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Weekly News – July 3, 2025

Weekly News – July 3, 2025