Connect With Us - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on July 9, 2021 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

Read our latest announcement.
http://eepurl.com/hCSACb

Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
Sunday Virtual Worship
July 11, 2021

Join us this Sunday when Rev. Greg shares his message,
“friction”
Connect with us: check your inbox on Sunday morning for links!
IN THIS ISSUE
Click on any topic of interest to jump to that particular announcement. Or, continue scrolling so you don’t miss anything!

*Editor’s Note: if you do not see ‘Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update’ as the very last section of this email (look for the little purple map), you’re not seeing the whole email. You may need to click on ‘view entire message’ ‘view in browser’ or something similar, depending on your device.

** Congregational Life
————————————————————

** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
————————————————————

** Saturday Campfire Events in July
————————————————————
We continue to hold a campfire in the Memorial Grove every Saturday evening (unless otherwise noted, and weather permitting). We gather around 7:30-ish. Bring all your comforts (lawn chairs, blankets, refreshments, etc.) and feel free to invite your family, friends, and neighbors of all ages!

If you haven’t yet joined us for a campfire, consider one (or more) of these Saturdays in July when we have some fun themed events planned for the whole family:

New Moon Watch – July 10^th
Bring your telescope or binoculars and any other astronomy gear/apps for a showing of the new moon.

The new moon marks the start of a new lunar cycle and symbolizes new beginnings. Some people use the energy of a new moon to achieve their goals or start on a new project, while others may use the new moon as a time to reflect on their old goals and set themselves new ones. Still others simply enjoy gazing at it. We will be turning off the parking lot lights to darken the area, so we should get some nice views of the night sky if the weather cooperates.

Ice Cream Social – July 17^th
We all scream for it, right? We’re excited to celebrate at Mill Creek with some ice cream! Members, visitors, kids, family, friends and neighbors are all welcome. We will set up a tent and have the event even if it rains (we may cancel if there are dangerous storms in the area). We will pass around the hat to cover the costs and any extra money will be donated to the church. Please RSVP to Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) so we get enough of the frozen stuff for everyone.

Ode to Shakespeare – July 24^th
We may have missed his birthday (April 23^rd) but it’s never too late to celebrate The Bard! Though Mill Creek is a far cry from Stratford-upon-Avon, we plan to spend a little time enjoying some of Shakespeare’s writings. Bring your favorite verse and share it with us during the full moon (memorization and costumes not required!).

We hope to see you at a campfire soon!
All of our campfire events are open to everyone!! The Memorial Grove is to the left of the main (back) parking lot as you drive in. (Note: there is a slight incline on a grassy area leading up to the area.) Please note that the church building will be closed except for restroom use (by one person or family at a time). Contact Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) (302-369-2712) with questions.

** Share Our Plate:
July & August
————————————————————

We regularly donate a portion of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization. Although we aren’t meeting in person for Sunday services for the time being, contributions are still being received to support this fund and are donated entirely to the selected recipient. For the months of July and August, we have selected Independent Living for Young Adults (https://firstuuwilm.org/connect/independent-living-for-young-adults-ilya/) (ILYA), a social justice program led by members of First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, to be the recipient of this fund.

In Delaware, young adults age out of the foster care system at age 18 or upon graduation from high school. Often, youth in the foster care system have lived through multiple traumas and disruptive events by the time they begin their transition to adulthood. This can include abuse and/or neglect, multiple foster home placements, lack of continuity in education, and an array of losses of important relationships. These challenges impact the emotional and social development of foster care youth as they transition into adulthood and greatly affect their chances for a successful, healthy future.

ILYA is a program serving underserved and often vulnerable young adults who are transitioning from the foster care system into independent living. In partnership with the Delaware’s Division of Family Services (DFS), the ILYA program offers a wide array of services to support these young adults, such as Student Care Packages, New Apartment Kits and Furnishings, Holiday Giving, Educational Supports, Emergency Grants, and more. Since 2005, ILYA has providing support to help young adults feel part of a caring community and offering resources to increase their chances for future success.

Use the links below to learn more, and to donate.
LEARN MORE about ILYA (https://firstuuwilm.org/connect/independent-living-for-young-adults-ilya/)
DONATE to Share Our Plate (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
**Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund**
We donated $1100 to Wings for Success, the Share Our Plate recipient for May and June. This organization, located in Kennett Square, PA, empowers women in need to pursue employment and economic security through apparel, advice and advocacy. They provide immediate clothing needs for a variety of jobs and industries; offer one-on-one support for resume writing, job seeking tips, interview skills and more; and offer workshops and employment resources.
We believe that generously sharing our gifts and receiving the gifts of others grows our compassion. We find our gifts flow from discerning the intersection of our heart’s deepest yearning and the world’s deepest hunger. We know ourselves to be most alive when we honor the earth and all humanity upon it. – from Mill Creek’s Values, Beliefs and Mission statement

** Your pledge dollars at work!
————————————————————

During fiscal year July 2020 through June 2021, we paid $2200 for grass cutting.

We have approximately one acre dedicated to grassy areas, located in separate sections around the property. These areas are cut bi-weekly.

** Mill Creek Meadow & Grounds Spotlight:
6.5 Acres
————————————————————
In a previous article we pointed out that out of the 6.5 acres of land we occupy – roughly 4 of those acres require regular maintenance from March through September. This includes, but is not limited to:
* continual removal of aggressive and invasive plant species and assorted weeds from the meadows, flower beds and other areas
* twice yearly cutting of meadow areas to maintain overall health
* pruning and general maintenance of newly planted and existing trees
* overall grounds care

This is an incredible amount of work for our small but dedicated group of Natural Lands Stewards. Jamie Kegerise and Amy White are overwhelmed this time of year and can use some help.
Won’t you consider lending a hand? They gather every Wednesday afternoon around 5:30 pm to tend to our meadow and grounds. All are welcome…no gardening experience or knowledge is required. Bring your gardening gloves – we’ll show you what needs doing. Drag the kids away from their electronics and bring them!! OR – come any day of your choosing! More interested in the scenery? We happily encourage anyone who might be curious about the work we do to stop by at any time for a walkabout and reconnect with nature.

Jamie (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) and Amy (mailto:amywwhite@comcast.net) are always happy to answer any questions you might have about the work they do – feel free to reach out to one or both of them.
Gardening requires lots of water
— most of it in the form of perspiration.
– Lou Erickson
The Mill Creek Meadow and Grounds – for everyone to enjoy!

Distinguishing Normal from Complicated Grief
Part of a series shared by
Rev. Bob Broesler

Making a distinction between grief which is “normal” and that which is “complicated” can be challenging. Part of the reason is that most people who grieve express a full range of emotions and behaviors, from slight to extreme. Certainly, any thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that grievers share with us or that we sense when in their presence are care-eliciting. Yet when are we seeing a need for a trained companion/counselor?

The only realistic answer is for each family member, friend and/or minister to trust their own instincts and inner reaction to the expressions of grief they sense and observe. If a loved one’s actions or words cause you concern, it is always wise to encourage the person to seek a counselor/companion on their journey. What is most important is to remember that grief, of any nature, is a manifestation of a soul-centered experience which, whether accompanied by an empathetic companion and/or community, will result in a deepening and enriching of an individual’s humanity and spirituality. Though you and I might wish it, or misunderstand it, to be otherwise, the human condition will inevitably include both genuine suffering and awesome wonder and delight. Both are rooted in love, and both are causes and manifestations of the deepening of our spirit.
-The Rev. Bob Broesler

Rev. Broesler is a Grief Counselor and a member of Mill Creek. Connect with him using any of the following methods:
Email (mailto:bob@bobbroesler.com)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/robert.broesler.52)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/griefcounselorrobert-broesler)

** Book Group’s August Read
————————————————————
There will be no meeting in July, but plan to join us on Thursday, August 12th at 7 pm when we discuss Justin Cronin’s The Summer Guest. (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/33717/the-summer-guest-by-justin-cronin/) We will meet on Zoom; look for the link in future communications.

** Wilmington rally to support the For the People Act
————————————————————
The primary focus of the rally is to demonstrate support for the For the People Act. UUDAN (Unitarian Universalists of Delaware Advocacy Network) is behind these efforts and their members want Senators Coons and Carper to do whatever it takes to get the FTPA passed, even if that means fixing the filibuster!

The Our country cannot make meaningful progress without ending the Senate filibuster. For decades, the filibuster has been used to protect racist policies and block progress in the Senate, giving a minority of senators the ability to hold legislation hostage. We need to get rid of this antiquated procedural hurdle and open the door to meaningful progressive change.

Join members of UUDAN at the rally: 11:00 am on Saturday, July 17th, Rodney Square, Wilmington.
Contact Mill Creek member Jack Guerin with questions here (mailto:jackguerin7@gmail.com)
https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/SignIn

CLICK HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/SignIn)
to access your Realm profile!

We encourage you to continue your financial support of Mill Creek during the closure by using one of the following methods:

1. Mail a check: 579 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark DE 19711 (staff is present in the office and the mailbox is checked daily). Please indicate on the subject line if this is a pledge payment, a general contribution, or a contribution to a specific giving fund.
2. Give electronically through REALM: https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give or use the link below (remember to select a giving fund).
3. Text-to-Give: text MillCreek and the amount [e.g. MillCreek 50] to 73256.

We sincerely appreciate your support of Mill Creek, especially now while we are unable to gather together for the time being. But the work of the church continues! We gratefully acknowledge that there would be no Mill Creek without YOU. Thank you.
**Click here to GIVE now** (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)

@millcreekuu
Mill Creek Staff office hours & contact information

Rev. Gregory S. Pelley
minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Hours by appointment – use the link below to schedule:
– Click here to schedule time with Rev. Greg – (https://calendly.com/gpelley)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 8 am to 1 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712

** Upcoming events in our local community
————————————————————
https://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/

** Weekend Fun in Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley
————————————————————

Looking for something to do this weekend? The Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau has combined events happening in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley and features them all in one place. Whether you enjoy cinema, art, dance or Black History, events like these and so much more can be viewed by clicking the button below.
Click here for more information (https://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/events/this-weekend/)

** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
————————————————————

** How to find a UU church during your summer travels!
————————————————————
If you’re traveling this summer but would still like to connect with a UU church, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has made it easy to find one.

You can view all of the 1000+ member congregations, or you can browse by state, region or even country. You can filter the results by LGBTQ Welcoming, ADA compliant (wheelchair accessible), assistive listening devices available, and more. You can connect with the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a UU congregation with no geographical boundaries, and view The Hub Google Map which displays young adult and campus ministry group across the country.

And it’s all in one place! Click on the button below to find out more.
Find a UU church anywhere near you! (https://www.uua.org/find)
https://www.uua.org/central-east

**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
————————————————————

July 2021

Opportunities for Connection – click here to learn more (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-0721)

Our mailing address is:
*|LIST_ADDRESS|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (*|UNSUB|*)
.

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|REWARDS_TEXT|* *|END:IF|*