Read our latest announcement.
Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
Click on any topic of interest to jump to that particular announcement.
Or…continue scrolling so you don’t miss anything!
Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:
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 and/or email provider.
** Congregational Life
————————————————————
** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
————————————————————
** Sunday Worship Service Information
August 25, 2024
10:30 am
————————————————————
Join us this Sunday as we enjoy the last days of summer and Rev. Christian Schmidt’s sermon, “Summer Sunshine.”
Music for the morning will be performed by the Stomberg Duo, featuring Lawrence Stomberg and Jennifer Crowell Stomberg, cellists. Larry and Jennifer have been performing a wide range of music for two cellos for 30 years, across a variety of styles and genres, from the earliest known works for the instrument to music written specifically for them. Having met as fellow students at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, their work has taken them across the United States and abroad for performances. Having forged a life together as a married couple, now with three adult children, they have dedicated their professional lives to balancing performance, teaching, and community service through music. Larry serves as Professor of Cello and Associate Director for Performance Studies at the University of Delaware School of Music, and Jennifer is a member of the faculty and String Department Head at the Music School of Delaware. They have been members of Mill Creek since 2004.
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)
** William (Bill) Headley Memorial Service
————————————————————
Bill Headley, devoted husband of Mill Creek member Roberta Headley and loving father to member Diana Saunders, died on August 7. (The full obituary can be read HERE (https://www.chandlerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/william-edward-headley/) .)
A memorial service to celebrate Bill’s life will take place at Mill Creek on Sunday, September 1. The service will begin at 1 pm and there will be an informal reception afterwards. All are welcome to attend.
** Judy Cronin Memorial Service
————————————————————
Our dear member, Judy Cronin, died very early on the morning of Tuesday, August 20, with her husband, Dick, and sons Robert and Steven with her. A number of members of Mill Creek had visited Judy in her final days while she was under hospice care. Judy and Dick were founding members of this congregation, and her loss will be felt greatly. (The full obituary can be read HERE (https://www.dohertyfh.com/obituary/Judith-Cronin) .)
Family and friends are invited to visit the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Pike Creek, on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
A Celebration of Life Service for Judy will be held at Mill Creek on Saturday, September 21, at 10:30 am, with luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Delaware Hospice (https://delawarehospice.org/donate/) , Food Bank of Delaware (https://www.fbd.org/onlinedonations/) , or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html?sc_icid=wtg-mm-memorial-giving) .
** Mill Creek School Supplies Drive
————————————————————
This year we are partnering with Breaking Barriers, a nonprofit organization in Newark serving youth, adults, children with physical disabilities, senior citizens, and athletes. Our supplies drive will benefit their partnership with local school districts and community-based organizations. Learn more about this organization HERE (https://breakingbarriersde.org/) .
We are collecting the following basic supplies: loose leaf paper, composition books, spiral notebooks, lead & color pencils, pens, markers, pencil boxes, pocket folders, and binders.
The collection for supplies ends on Sunday, September 8. Look for the collection box and supply lists in the gathering space.
** **Recurring Events**
————————————————————
A fantasy tabletop role-playing game
The Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game is about storytelling in worlds of sword and sorcery. It shares elements with childhood games of make-believe. Like those games, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing the towering castle beneath the stormy night sky and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents.
Unlike a game of make-believe, D&D gives structure to the stories, a way of determining the consequences of the adventurers’ action. Players roll dice to resolve whether their attacks hit or miss or whether their adventurers can scale a cliff, roll away from the strike of a magical lightning bolt, or pull off some other dangerous task. Anything is possible, but the dice make some outcomes more probable than others.
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, September 1 at 12 pm in classroom 1. Occurs every 2 weeks on Sundays. Questions? Contact Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.com) .
Drum Circle: a group of people playing unrehearsed percussion music
A drum circle is a casual gathering where people play drums and other percussion instruments together to create a group rhythm. The goal is to bring people together to experience the positive benefits of playing unrehearsed music in the moment, and to connect with others through the beat. Drum circles are open to people of all ages and abilities, and no musical experience is required.
All are welcome to join in, 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, September 14 at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Occurs monthly on second Saturdays. See or contact Sara Durham (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com) with any questions.
** Habitat Presentation and Meadow Tour
————————————————————
Natives Nurture: Supporting Heath, Wildlife, and Combat Climate Change, One Garden at a Time
Habitat Presentation and Meadow Tour
Saturday, September 7, 9 -11 am
Join us in the Mill Creek Meadow!
This family and kid friendly event is presented by the Delaware Nature Society and the Newark Interfaith Green Team. Native plants have been growing in popularity in recent years. Learn about why there is a call to action to garden with native plants and how you can make a difference by creating a wildlife habitat. Hear about the function and application of native plants in our environment and in various scenarios from urban pollinator gardens to schoolyards and the certified wildlife habitat program. Discuss practical ways to begin and maintain a native garden and expand the habitat over time.
Let us know you’ll be there by clicking the email link below to RSVP
(not required to attend, but very helpful – thank you!)
RSVP here (mailto:newarkinterfaithgreenteam@gmail.com)
** Dinners for 7 are Back!
————————————————————
The Fun & Fellowship Committee is pleased to announce the return of a favorite social activity. Dinners for 7 are potluck dinners hosted by members of the church at their home. Each dinner will have 7 participants and can be a mix of couples, singles, or families. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to better acquainted with each other in an intimate setting.
Our first dinner will take place on Friday, September 27. If you are interested in hosting or attending a dinner for 7, please see the sign-up sheet in the gathering space or reach out to the committee (click HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org) ) by September 1. See or contact Laura Bonner (mailto:laura@dlsk.net) with any specific questions.
** A word about scheduling meetings…
————————————————————
A busy rental season will soon be upon us. We are contracted with the Music School of Delaware for private music lessons in the evenings throughout the week, beginning after Labor Day, with instructors and students in the building most evenings in different locations. We also have several private rental events scheduled.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting you’d like to have in the church building, it is very important that you contact the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) for scheduling in advance.
Thank you for your cooperation!
** Come to Our Autumn Equinox Celebration
————————————————————
Questions? Contact Regina Guarino. (mailto:regina139@msn.com)
We celebrate the September Equinox as the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere. It signifies a milestone in Earth’s orbit around the sun. At an equinox, the sun appears directly above Earth’s equator. At the September equinox, it’s crossing from north to south. The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). At the equinox, days and nights are said to be equal in length for everyone across the globe.
** Current Share Our Plate Recipient
————————————————————
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: New Sessions
————————————————————
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.
If you missed the first opportunity to enjoy the benefits of this type of meditation, Jeff Brown returns to Mill Creek on *Monday, August 26 at 7 pm for a one hour sound experience that is personal to each participant. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and a small pillow for your comfort. Seating is also available. Cost is $25 per person.
*Can’t make this session? The next one is scheduled for Monday, September 16.
Register and make payment HERE (https://app.ubindi.com/Jeff.Brown)
Have questions? Contact Jeff Brown HERE (mailto:sotsministryde@gmail.com)
** October Social Event – Save the Date!
————————————————————
The Fellowship and Fun Committee is pleased to announce some exciting new procedures for Mill Creek’s bi-monthly Saturday night potluck dinners!
The committee will be assigning a theme to each of the 6 dinners. For each event, participants are asked to use a Sign-Up template to indicate what food item/s they will be contributing. [Note that this is free software, so there will be lots of ads to ignore.] Event posters will also have a QR code linking you to the template.
A CHILI COOK-OFF, our first themed potluck, takes place on Saturday, October 12 at 5 pm. We hope to have at least 4-6 participants prepare their signature chili dishes in hopes of winning our coveted 2024 Chili Master Extraordinaire bragging rights. There will be voting! Please register your dinner contribution by clicking the button below (or see the poster in the gathering space for the QR code).
**ALERT**
If you will be attending the Drum Circle scheduled for the SAME DAY at 4 pm, please plan to stay for this exciting contest – and for good food and fellowship!
Register your Potluck Dish HERE (let us know what you will bring) (https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/781484364064/false#/invitation)
Have questions? Don’t want to bother with an online sign-up form? Contact the Fellowship & Fun Committee by email – click the button below.
Contact the committee HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org)
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
————————————————————
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
————————————————————
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)
============================================================
** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UUSMC)
** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu)
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*
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|*