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Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
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Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:
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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
July 14, 2024
10:30 am
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In this age of inevitable climate disasters, it is difficult to know what to do. How do our faith and conscience inform our actions? Can we help ourselves and others find ways towards climate action by tapping into our emotions and celebrating existing skills? Mill Creek member Anna Hull answers these questions and more with her message, “Finding Climate Hope.”
Music for this service will be performed by Elise Ruggiero. Elise is a 21-year-old violist from Chatham, New Jersey. She is a rising senior majoring in both viola performance and psychology at the University of Delaware. She just recently returned from the University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s Greece Tour, where she sat principal viola. Although Elise has a love for performing with her viola, her career goals involve working in the research field, trying to make music more sensory friendly for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Along with making music at UD, Elise is also an Access: Ability Scholar, where she works with those with disabilities to make the world more accommodating. She has been working on her research project, Music for Listeners with ASD, for the past three years, where she, along with students and faculty in the School of Music and Department of Computer and Information Sciences, have developed a device that allows people to modify the sound and speed of children’s
songs so that they reflect their preferences and needs. Elise has conducted sessions with kids aged 4-20 at the Route 9 Library in New Castle, The Brennan School in Newark, and Marbrook Elementary School in Wilmington. After she graduates from UD, Elise plans to continue her research in graduate school, and also would love to continue studying music along with doing her research. The hymns will be led by Mill Creek member Brian Hanson.
A potluck lunch follows this service.
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)
** Potluck Lunch this Sunday
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July 14th – after church service
Plan to stay with us after church service this Sunday, July 14 for a potluck lunch. Bring a main or side dish, salad, appetizer, dessert or beverages to share if you wish.
**Note: this will be the last potluck event prior to Ingathering (Sunday, September 8); the previously scheduled Saturday potluck on August 10 has been canceled.
** The Work Begins
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The Ministerial Search Committee has begun their work and, as a first and very important step, they are collecting information from our congregation.
This Sunday’s order of service will include a third and final questionnaire with just two short questions.
If you’re not able to attend church this Sunday, July 14, but would like to participate in week 3 of the questionnaire, you may contact the committee HERE (mailto:search@uusmc.org) .
** Dick Burgess Memorial
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A memorial for our beloved member Dick Burgess will be held in the memorial gardens next Sunday, July 21 at approximately 11:45 (after church service). The Burgess family invites Mill Creek members and friends to attend a short ceremony and scattering of the ashes.
** A Meadow a Day Keeps the Doctor Away – Part II
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Last week we focused on the many health benefits of working in a garden, yard, or meadow: exposure to vitamin D, decreased risk of dementia, opportunity for plentiful exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, more restful sleep, reducing stress, and avoiding loneliness. But there is one more benefit we didn’t include…
Did you know that yard work can help to manage feelings of eco-anxiety? Eco-anxiety, climate anxiety or climate grief, are terms used to describe the feelings of distress, hopelessness, despair, or even fear when confronting the very real effects of climate change and global warming.
There is growing recognition in the field of psychology that an increasing number of people are experiencing distress over climate change, known as eco-anxiety. This presents a rising threat to mental health, spawning a subspecialty of eco-therapy, where therapists are trained specifically to integrate environmental awareness into their work with clients. It is a well-accepted fact that gardening can help combat the negative health effects of eco-anxiety because you can do some hands-on work with the aim of mitigating climate change.
There are several other ways to help with feelings of eco-anxiety. By incorporating sustainable practices into your daily life, you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future. Even small efforts can make a difference. Consider the following actions which can reduce carbon on your own:
* Use manual or electric tools instead of gas-powered
* Install drip lines and rain barrels for outdoor water use, and use natural ground cover to cut water consumption
* Compost to reduce waste and decrease methane production
* Wash clothes in cold water, and try using a clothesline instead of the dryer
* Turn your yard into a Certified Wildlife Habitat and encourage your neighbors to do the same
* Switch out your incandescent lightbulbs with LED’s
* Plant trees to absorb carbon dioxide
Here are some lifestyle changes which can be made to help reduce your environmental anxiety:
* Shop secondhand
* Rethink your commute
* Cut back on social media as a news source
* Educate yourself on environmental issues from credible sources
* Join volunteer or environmental groups
Here at Mill Creek, we welcome everyone to take advantage of our natural resources by including our meadows and grounds as part of your own eco-therapy – free of charge!
Working in our meadows can also benefit your physical strength, heart health, weight, sleep, and immune systems; and can cultivate feelings of empowerment, inclusion, connection, and creative calm. Getting dirty is good for you!
Our Natural Lands Stewards meet every Wednesday around 5:30-6:00 pm to work on pulling weeds and invasive plants, and general yard chores. No gardening experience or knowledge is required. Bring your gardening gloves and we’ll show you what needs doing. Feel free to contact Jamie Kegerise or Amy White with any questions you have about the 6+ acres we maintain.
** Fellowship & Fun Committee – the name says it all!
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The Fellowship & Fun Committee is offering the congregation a variety of social event opportunities with the goal of gathering together outside of Sunday worship services. Events held previously included a 3.6-mile hike in White Clay Creek State Park in June, and a crafting gathering earlier this week when beaded bracelets were made. And there’s more to come!
See below for information about two more events the committee is planning. We hope you can attend!
Weekday Kayak Paddle and Hike
Join your fellow congregants for a fun 1-hour kayak paddle followed by a 1–3-mile hike at beautiful Lums Pond (https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/LumsPond) 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)
Have you heard of it? Have you played it?
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game where players explore fantasy worlds and embark on epic quests. If the idea of exploring castles, casting fireballs, fighting monsters, avoiding traps and so on sounds fun to you, come to an introductory meeting on Sunday, June 21st from 12:00 noon to 2pm in the library. If you have questions in the meantime, see or contact event coordinator Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.com) .
** Call for Artists
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We are looking for artwork from our local community to exhibit in the sanctuary and gathering space. Seasonal themes are encouraged as we are displaying artwork to coincide with the equinox and solstice calendar. Larger sizes are preferred for the bigger walls.
Contact Jo Redbird HERE (mailto:redbirdartlab@gmail.com) for more information.
** 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)
** OWL Program for 8th-9th Graders
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Cassie Lengel, Director of Lifespan Faith Development the Unitarian Congregation in West Chester, Pennsylvania is inviting Mill Creek 8th and 9th graders to their OWL program. Parents who are interested in this program may contact Cassie directly.
Cassie Lengel (she/her/hers)
Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Unitarian Congregation of West Chester (UCWC) (https://ucwc.org/)
501 South High Street
West Chester, PA 19382
Contact Cassie by email HERE (mailto:dlfd@ucwc.org)
Click HERE to learn more (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBgJzF0isPm72XiXTRJlENN6oVOBvl8bdG7_n0GqCV1kOtug/viewform)
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
** Delmarva Cluster Family Day this Saturday
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You and your family are invited to join other UU churches in the Delmarva Cluster for the annual Family Day at Killens Pond State Park this Saturday, July 13. Bring your cooler with picnic foods and drinks for those in your group. There’s a water park, a nature center, plenty of trails, and lots of shade to relax and catch up with old friends, or make some new ones. Contact event coordinator Mac Goekler (mailto:denomaffairs@uussd.org) for more details, or click the blue button below.
Killens Pond State Park (https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/KillensPond)
Reserved Pavilion 3
5025 Killens Pond Road
Felton, Delaware 19943
15 miles South of Dover on Rt, 13 in Kent County
Park Admission: $4 in state or $8 out of state; parks passholders park for free
Click HERE for more information (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/DELMARVA-UU-CLUSTER-FAMILY-DAY-2024-1.pdf)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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JULY 2024
Featured Resource:
Chalice Lighter Program
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-724)
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