Sunday Worship Service Information
August 17, 2025
10:30 am
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Meeting the Moment:
Our Takeaways from General Assembly
Join us this Sunday as we share insights from the UUA General Assembly, highlighting the importance of data analysis, new ways our UU faith can meet today’s challenges, and fresh approaches to member engagement. Together, we’ll explore how these learnings can inspire our congregation’s future.
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)
Connect with Us Virtually
Here’s how to get the Zoom link for livestreaming the service:
* Click the link below: ‘Sunday Livestream’ (bookmark it on your preferred device for quick and easy access on Sunday morning); OR
* Get the link by accessing the church calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) )
Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419
** In Case You Missed It:
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Rev. Christe’s First Sermon in the Mill Creek Pulpit
A Commemorative Poem: This Is Me
I come to you through paths both rough and bright,
from fields of bluegrass kissed by morning light,
where matriarchs with steady, knowing hands
taught grace and will while shaping shifting lands.
I’ve walked in towns where fences marked the ground,
yet love still bloomed in spaces I had found.
I’ve felt the weight of silence, kept the score
of truths unspoken, knocking at the door.
The body holds the tales the heart has spun —
the joys hard-won, the battles never done.
From music’s call to voices raised in prayer,
from histories we’re brave enough to share.
I’ve learned that every story shapes the soul;
we’re stitched from many threads that make us whole.
I’ve carried dreams from kin, from friends, from place,
and woven them with courage, care, and grace.
Now here I stand — your minister, your friend,
to start a walk whose path we can’t pretend.
We’ll grieve, we’ll laugh, we’ll listen, we’ll explore;
we’ll learn the truth in each other’s core.
For this is me — my journey, here and now,
with open heart and ever-willing vow:
to hear your tales, to tend them as my own,
to plant new seeds from all the love we’ve grown.
Together we will shape the years to be;
your story joined with mine — and this is me!
Created in fellowship by Diane Hofer and ChatGPT
** OWL Program for 8th & 9th Graders
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What: OWL is a program designed to help teens learn to make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, sexual health, and behavior.
Why: Because honest and accurate information about sexuality dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, and improves decision making.
When: Class begins on Sunday, September 21; important parent meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 17, 12:15-1:15 pm.
Where: All classes and meetings take place at First Unitarian Church of Wilmington (https://firstuuwilm.org/) .
Who: 8^th and 9^th graders in the local community – membership at First U not required.
How: Click the button below.
Click HERE to learn more and to register (https://sites.google.com/firstuuwilm.org/firstuuwilmcyre/about-our-programs/owl)
Have more questions or need more information? Click HERE to access the OWL information page on the UUA website (https://www.uua.org/lifespan/re/owl)
** Art Class
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Everyone is welcome to get creative in the Art Lab this Wednesday, August 20 at 7:00 pm and make a one-of-a-kind jewelry box. Keep for yourself or give as a gift. We have all the beads and other materials. Contact Jo Redbird (mailto:redbirdartlab@gmail.com) for more information or 302-747-6055.
** Sock Update
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93 pounds of socks have been collected so far, inching ever closer to our goal of collecting 100+ pounds by the end of the year. Help us bypass the landfill by cleaning out your sock drawer and bring in clean, unwanted socks: any type, condition, any material.
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.
** Church Pool Party
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Fran Gulino & Joe Snader welcome everyone to their home in New London, Pennsylvania on Saturday, August 23 at 3pm for a potluck pool party!
Fran and Joe have a big backyard with an inground pool and a beautiful new gazebo they built themselves – a must-see! They look forward to a relaxed gathering poolside with church members and friends.
Who can come: Everyone – adults AND kids!
What to bring: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a dish (or dishes) to share.
RSVP: Click the button below to connect with Fran – let her know the number of people in your group and what food item(s) you plan to bring; Fran will respond with their home address & phone number.
YES – I/We will be there! (mailto:frangu302@gmail.com)
** Join us for a celebration!
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Everyone is welcome to join us in the gathering space after church service on Sunday, August 24 when we celebrate Mill Creek member Kathie Stamm’s 90th birthday. We’ll have cake, ice cream, and plenty of good wishes for the birthday girl.
The celebration is not a surprise, and Kathie requests ‘No Presents Please.’ Instead, in Kathie’s honor you may make a donation to UU Society of Mill Creek by clicking HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/form/give/now) ; or St. Michael’s School and Nursery, 700 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington DE 19801, or by clicking HERE (https://www.signup82north.com/beventLive.aspx?EventID=NBI95542700) .
** Mental Health Resource
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Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network (UUMHN), a UUA-related organization founded in 2018, promotes mental health awareness, advocacy, and inclusion within the broader Unitarian Universalist community.
Their mission is to empower the Beloved Community to honor everyone’s unique mental health journey toward wellness. They envision a world where the Beloved Community is a place where all members feel welcomed, understood, and held in love; they engage in respectful curiosity to understand emotional distress; they welcome open, authentic, and fearless sharing about mental health; and passionately commit to mental health justice. They do this through education, worship, support groups, social justice, companionship training, and more.
Click HERE to learn more about the services they provide and get on their mailing list. (https://www.uumentalhealth.org/)
** 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)
** 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, August 17 & 31 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. Christe Lunsford, Minister
Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 3pm
minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday-Thursday 9 am to 2 pm
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
** The Gathering: a new monthly virtual event – check it out
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The Gathering is a new monthly virtual event (second Mondays) from Side With Love, designed to offer:
* Spiritual Grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
* Political Analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
* Collective Action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.
Next session: Monday, August 18.
Click HERE to learn more and register. (https://sidewithlove.org/the-gathering)
** “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
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–William Makepeace Thackeray
As featured in UUWorld.org, Natalie Briscoe, Lead for the Southern Region, shares secrets for congregational success, at any size.
“I’m going to give it to you straight: people want to go where it is fun to be. They don’t want to go where they are asked to serve right away. They don’t want to go where people don’t laugh, don’t celebrate, don’t love out loud. They don’t want to go to a space that is exactly the same as the harsh world they stepped in from. People want hope. They want beauty. They want joy. They want their spirits uplifted. There is no magic formula: people want to go where they can leave the world behind and make a better one.” – Natalie Briscoe
Read the article HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/congregation-success-advice-natalie-briscoe-unitarian-universalism?_gl=1*lrbo17*_ga*MjEyNzEyODA0NC4xNzUzNzIwNzMw*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*czE3NTQ0OTE3NjckbzEyJGcxJHQxNzU0NDkyMzU4JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..)
** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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AUGUST 2025
Featured Resource:
Helpful Board Habits Training
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-824)
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