Mill Creek Weekly News - August 1, 2024 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on August 1, 2024 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

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Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
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Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:

Editor’s Note:
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Sunday Worship Service Information
August 4, 2024
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Mill Creek member Kathie Stamm shares her thoughts about volunteerism with her sermon, “Volunteerism – What It Can Mean.”

Kathie has been a member of Mill Creek since March of 2005. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended Case Western Reserve University and later graduated from the University of DE with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies. She has long been a very involved volunteer, especially with organizations focused on education, beginning with her own children’s schools and religious education. After volunteering for 2 years with The National Conference of Christians and Jews’(NCCJ) Green Circle Program, Kathie became Youth Programs Director and through her colleagues learned what being a UU could mean in her life—joining First Unitarian in March 1998. Later, she served as a Family Court CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and represented abused and neglected children in court. She also volunteered for Children and Families First and was hired as Volunteer and Intern Placement Coordinator in 2003, retiring a second time in 2015. Today Kathie is an active volunteer with Delaware Hospice; Mill
Creek Worship Committee Chair; St. Michaels School and Nursery, Board member; First Unitarian, ILYA Leadership Team and Pastoral Care Committee.

My years of volunteering have made me a believer in the value volunteer activities have to all communities and the great personal fulfillment gained by those who volunteer their time and talents to assist others. -Kathie Stamm

Music for this service will be performed by FishCastle Music featuring Cyril Everett Caster and Catherine Braik Selin. Catherine, mezzo-soprano and multi-instrumentalist, is also a published writer, poet and composer/songwriter. Cyril, a songwriter and composer in several forms, has performed on major and minor labels and in countless live venues using a variety of instruments and voice. He is a published author, poet and erstwhile journalist. The two have been performing and recording together as FishCastle since 2011. “We All Live Downstream” and “FishCastle Kids” are available on CD and in all digital formats.

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)

** Mobile Food Pantry at Mill Creek
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Our next Mobile Food Pantry distribution for those in need will be Wednesday August 7 from 10 to 12 noon. Volunteers wishing to help should arrive by 9:30 and let Frank Burns know you are coming by clicking HERE (mailto:cynwydb@aol.com) .

Share the registration link below with anyone who might need it.
Mobile Food Pantry registration link – click HERE (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unitarian-universalist-society-of-mill-creek-mobile-pantry-tickets-952738876627?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)

** Recurring Events
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Dungeons & Dragons – This is a tabletop role-playing game where players explore fantasy worlds and embark on epic quests. All are welcome to join the group on Sunday, August 4 at 12 pm in classroom 1 (note the corrected date!). Will occur every 2 weeks thereafter. Questions? Contact Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.com) .

Drum Circle – This is a great way to create rhythm and energy, no matter what your skill level is. Please bring your own instrument or use what we have available. Open to all ages from 0-94. Join the group on Saturday, August 10 at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Occurs monthly on second Saturdays. See or contact Sara Durham (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com) with any questions.

** Weekday Kayak Paddle and Hike
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Join your fellow congregants for a fun 1-hour kayak paddle followed by a 1–3-mile hike at beautiful Lums Pond State Park on Thursday, August 22. We will meet at church at 9:00 am with the goal of carpooling as space permits.

Bring your own kayak or you can rent one (rental fees are $10/hour for a single kayak and $12/hour for a tandem; rental is on a first come, first served basis; ID is required). Wear a bathing suit or shorts and sturdy water shoes/sneakers you don’t mind getting wet, sunscreen, and a hat. Remember to bring your hiking shoes for the hike, plus a bag lunch and water. Lums Pond State Park parking fees: $4 in-state, $8 out-of-state, free for annual parks passholders.
Reserve your spot for this event – click HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net)
Did you know…? Lums Pond is Delaware’s largest freshwater pond! Learn more about the pond, the park, and the surrounding area HERE (https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/LumsPond) .

** New Church Entrance Sign
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In case you needed ONE MORE REASON to come to church this Sunday… come and check out our new entrance sign!

Thanks to Diane Hofer who, along with input from others, coordinated the design and production of this new feature. The next phase of this project will include the revision of the glass case section to the right. Reach out to Diane (mailto:dianehofer3@hotmail.com) with any thoughts or suggestions.

** Habitat Presentation and Meadow tour
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Save the Date! We will be hosting a presentation and meadow tour of our property on Saturday, September 7, 9:00 – 11:00 am. The discussion and tour will be led by Kerry Wilson, Habitat Outreach Manager for the Delaware Nature Society, and is being co-sponsored by the Newark Interfaith Green Team.

The purpose of this event is to promote the importance of planting native trees and plants and learn strategies to transform lawn areas to native habitat and pollinator gardens. This will be a free event, open to the public, and kid-friendly with activities to encourage their learning and interest in nature.

We need help to make this event a success: welcome table, kids programming, AV needs, refreshments, and more. See or contact Jamie Kegerise if you can help – click the contact button below.
Contact Jamie HERE (mailto:jamie.newarkcoho@gmail.com)

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

Black & Indigenous Birthworkers of Delaware
Supporting Families Throughout the Circle of Life
This organization believes that supporting mothers and future mothers from a whole perspective and connecting families to the lost traditional modalities will create an environment of peace. It is their mission to educate, advocate and support the entire family and community in the areas of fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, self-care healing, end of life, herbal & nutritional wellness.
Learn more about Black & Indigenous Birthworkers of DE HERE (https://traditionaldoula.com/)
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)

** Sound Bath Meditation
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Sound Bath Meditation is an ancient practice using instruments (gong, singing bowls, chimes and more) to create a soundscape that can help you relax and meditate. The power of the sound will bathe you and reverberate through your body, awaken your senses, help restore balance, relieve stress and anxiety, and create a soundscape that is both soothing and uplifting.

Join meditation leader Jeff Brown here at Mill Creek on Monday, August 12 at 7 pm for a one hour sound experience that is personal to each participant. Bring a yoga mat or blanket with a small pillow for your comfort. Seating is also available. Cost is $25 per person.
Register and make payment HERE (https://app.ubindi.com/Jeff.Brown)
Have questions? Contact Jeff Brown HERE (mailto:sotsministryde@gmail.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 an in-person or Zoom meeting with Rev. Christian – CLICK HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/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
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region

** We Are Unitarian Universalists
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Are you new to the UU faith? Or would you like to share information about it to family or friends? Perhaps you’d like a refresher, or maybe you’re just curious?

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) Outreach and Public Witness Office (https://www.uua.org/offices/staff/communications/outreach) uses communications methods to advocate for an equitable world and spread the inclusive, healing messages of Unitarian Universalist values, while equipping others within the UU community to do the same. They have produced “We Are Unitarian Universalists,” a short but informative video as a tool to help UUs show who we are, what we do, and why it matters.
View and share the video HERE (https://vimeo.com/344862790)
https://www.uua.org/central-east

**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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AUGUST 2024

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 to learn more (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-824)

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Mill Creek Weekly News – August 1, 2024

Mill Creek Weekly News – August 1, 2024