Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:
** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Your FINAL Service Auction Checklist
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✓ Proxy Bidding: If you’re unable to attend the auction but would still like to bid, email David Bonner HERE (mailto:david@dlsk.net) with the item number(s) you’re interested in (view the final catalog below), and your maximum bid amount.
✓ Tickets: Available at the door, $20 cash or check.
✓ We are UNABLE TO ACCEPT deliveries of donated items – the drop-off window has CLOSED.
✓ Auction Catalog: Click the link below for the final catalog with all items, gatherings & services available for bidding at the silent and live auctions. Paper copies will be available at the auction.
✓ 50/50 Tickets: Sold at the auction – CASH ONLY.
✓ How to make payment: Purchases at the auction MUST be made with CASH or CHECK ONLY – remember to bring your checkbook!
Click HERE for the FINAL Service Auction Catalog! (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Service-Auction-Offerings-FINAL.pdf)
Thank you for participating in this year’s auction! We have received a fantastic array of donations including interesting and unique services, creative gatherings and experiences, and tempting, one-of-a-kind items. Without your generosity, this event would not be possible. We are truly grateful for your support of our fundraiser.
Thank you.
** The perfect time of year to pull out Garlic Mustard is NOW
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Highly invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata (https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/garlic-mustard) ) has popped up all over our meadows. Fortunately, it’s easy to pull out, which is the best way of keeping these plants from producing billions and billions of seeds.
Join us any Wednesday evening for our Lands Stewards work detail, or come out any time on your own to give us a hand with this task. You can pull out just one plant, or you can pull out a hundred plants. We will love you either way. And it’s easy – just drop the plant where you pulled it and nature will do the rest.
We welcome everyone to pitch in — and sing along to the old Andrews Sisters song with the tongue in cheek lyrics shown below:
I’ll Be With You in Garlic Mustard Time
(sung to the tune of “I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4gyB-IWU00) ”)
I’ll be with you in Garlic Mustard Time,
We will pull as many as we find.
One day in May, I’ll come and say
Happy the UU that the sun shines on today.
What a wonderful weeding there will be,
What a wonderful day for you and me.
Church bells will chime,
You will be mine,
In Garlic Mustard time.
** Free Little Library Service Project: Complete!
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As reported previously, 8th grader Brandon Teague received Board approval for his service project: constructing and installing a free library to serve not just our church but the local community and surrounding county park.
Click HERE (https://littlefreelibrary.org/) to learn more about Free Little Library.
With the assistance of his father Dan, and his classmate Sophia, the project was completed on Monday, April 13.
Well done, Brandon!
** Sunday Worship Service Information
April 19, 2026
10:30 am
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Dust off your most festive pajamas and come celebrate with us!
On Sunday, April 19, we’ll be trading our usual Sunday best for something far cozier — a joyful Pancake & Potluck Pajama Breakfast Service!
Yes – you can wear your pajamas to church!
In fact, we’re counting on it!
We’ll begin our service at 10:30am in the sanctuary by singing in a new day and lighting our chalice, followed shortly thereafter with our community potluck breakfast. Rev. Christe, Margaret Borror, and our Faith Exploration children will be at the griddle, flipping pancakes for the whole congregation.
It’s a potluck, so bring a breakfast favorite to share — egg bakes, fresh fruit, pastries, juice, etc. — and help us turn the Sanctuary into one big, delicious community table.
We will celebrate this congregation, its generosity, and the wild success of our auction.
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)
**NOTE**
There will will be NO LIVESTREAM for this service.
** Book Discussion Group
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Join us as we explore the last of four powerful books that shed light on racism in America and how we can work toward achieving equity and justice. Together, these books reveal how racism shapes our society through denial, injustice, economic harm, and backlash, and invite us to imagine and work toward a more just and equitable future as we uphold our Unitarian Universalist values.
Book 4 of 4:
White Rage:
The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
by Carol Anderson
Wednesday, April 29
Discussion occurring afternoon @ 2pm in the conference room, or evening @ 7pm via Zoom.
Click HERE to participate, and indicate your attendance option (afternoon in-person or evening via Zoom). (mailto:tacrook@swbell.net)
** Newark Garden Tour
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Saturday, May 16
We’re hosting!
On Saturday, May 16, 10am to 3pm, we will be hosting a garden tour in our meadow and welcome the musicians and artists of our congregation who are willing to share their talents. Groups and singles are welcome to set up in a nice spot to showcase their music and art in any way they choose. Self-promotion is encouraged! See or contact the music committee (click HERE (mailto:music@uusmc.org) ) or Jamie Kegerise (click HERE (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) ) with any questions.
** Yoga Extended through June
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Join Margaret in the library, 8:30am-10am, for gentle yoga & meditation on Fridays through June – except the last Friday of each month:
April 17
May 1, 8, 15 & 22
June 5, 12 & 19
To register or with questions, contact Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net) .
** 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 March & April we are supporting:
Sierra Club – Delaware Chapter
The Sierra Club dates back to 1892 and is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in North America. Their mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. Since 1992, the Delaware Chapter has blazed trails to protect the environment and to provide opportunities to enjoy and explore the natural beauty of our state.
As a volunteer-run grassroots organization, they work to protect our air and water quality and supporting state legislation and policies to reduce the negative impacts from climate change on those precious resources now and in the future.
Learn more about Sierra Club – Delaware Chapter HERE (https://www.sierraclub.org/delaware)
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)
** Dungeons & Dragons
A Recurring Event
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Sundays: April 26; May 10 & 24
(every other week)
12:00 pm, Classroom 4
D&D is a role-playing game about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. 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. No registration required – just drop in. All are welcome to join the group in classroom 4. Occurs every other week on Sundays.
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
* Mondays & Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in the office; calls and by email after 2pm.
* Thursdays: by appointment
* Sundays (when I preach): 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
* My regular days off are Friday and Saturday, unless I am scheduled for special congregational duties. I answer calls and emails Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Any non-emergency calls or emails outside of those hours will be answered during the next work day.
* Other times may be arranged by mutual agreement via email: minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) or click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ08wOXSmX5fNN_vySxfpLP9VL2QqSZF5spIx5_9rxZm3e25LNywCGk4WoIlyFMvdn84osyy8XZl) .
* I joyfully participate in committee meetings when I am able, with particular focus on the Board, Finance, and Worship teams.
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
dfe@uusmc.org (mailto:dfe@uusmc.org)
Rob Sylvester, Collaborative Accompanist
Sundays, and by appointment
** Connect with the UUA, Central East Region, and Delmarva Cluster
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** UUA State of the Association Message
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The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is trying a new format – a State of the Association message meant to update you on the work of your UUA, invite you into further collaboration, and offer the kind of transparency that is required for all of us to hold the heart of the faith together. This 39-minute video from President Sofía Betancourt offers an unprecedented view into programs and planning happening at the UUA, with an invitation into deeper partnership. The message is a reflection on this moment in the faith, the challenges and possibilities that lay ahead, and what it means to hold the heart of Unitarian Universalism today.
Watch the video via YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc4DQH3Ig70)
UU World magazine brings the full written text of Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt’s State of the Association message together with the full video content to mark the midpoint of her six-year presidency. We hope it can serve as a resource to congregations and leaders in their own planning for programs and ministry.
Read more in UU World (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-president-sofia-betancourt-update-unitarian-universalism)
The UUA’s In Good Faith blog offers a summary of the key highlights of the full State of the Association message. This format is a simple way to share the essential points widely so all congregation and community members can be part of the ongoing conversation about the future of our faith.
Explore the Key Themes (https://www.uua.org/pressroom/ingoodfaith/state-association-key-themes)
** Central East Region News Update
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APRIL 2026
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.
Central East Region Update – click HERE (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/news/cer-news-0426)
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