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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:
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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
November 24, 2024
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday for a special collaborative service, featuring several members of our congregation who will share their reflections about what they are grateful for this season.
Music for this service will be performed by E. Shawn Qaissaunee and Skyler Cumbia. Berklee College of Music Alumnus E. Shawn Qaissaunee (“Q”) has been in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger and music instructor for over thirty years. Known for his talents on guitar, bass, piano, percussion and the rubab and dutar, two instruments from his native Afghanistan, Shawn is sought after for his musical virtuosity, sensitivity, lyricism and spirited creative energy in the jazz tradition. His constant devotion to musical traditions, while at the same time striving to bring new energy and relevance to his live performances has made him a beloved and admired artist in the greater community and beyond.
Skyler Cumbia is a Wilmington based singer-songwriter, known for her heartfelt performances and recordings as well as rich harmonies, multi-instrumental artistry, and intimate song delivery of originals and covers. Skyler can often be found performing in various settings around the area, recording her original compositions, and spending time in nature where much of her musical creation is inspired.
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)
** Fall Food Drive Ends
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This Sunday, November 24 is the final day to bring in your food donations to support St. Stephen’s Food Pantry (https://www.saintstephenslutheranchurch.org/food-pantry) and the Food Bank of Delaware (https://www.fbd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Most-Wanted-List.pdf) .
Thank you for your support of this project.
** 2025 Generosity Campaign Update
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Thank you to all those who have made a pledge of support for this Campaign. If you haven’t yet made your pledge of support, it’s not too late! You can return the pledge card mailed to you, send an email to generosity@uusmc.org (mailto:generosity@uusmc.org) , or click the button below. The Finance Team is working now on the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year; decisions will be based on current pledging data. We are grateful for your support.
Pledge now! Click HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/AddPledge/2025pledgecampaign)
** In Case You Missed It…
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If you were unable to attend last week’s Transgender Day of Remembrance Service led by Mill Creek member Diane Hofer, or would simply enjoy experiencing the service again, videos are available for viewing by clicking the buttons below.
Start of Service (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G2AaxtNVM8)
Intro & Ritual (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS9Vq01ayN8)
Meditation & Sermon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR51OxP5JBU)
** Holiday Potluck – mark your calendar and join us!!
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Plan to join us for a holiday potluck party on Saturday, December 14 at 5:00 pm. We will enjoy connecting with fellow members and friends in a winter wonderland-themed sanctuary featuring paper snowflakes made by our own Faith Exploration kids. Feel free to bring your own winter wonderland-themed decorations (look for the labeled box in the office).
We’ll have coffee, tea, juice and water; feel free to bring other beverages, as well as a main or side dish or dessert to share. If you’d like to participate in a White Elephant gift exchange, bring a small, wrapped gift item ($20 or less in value). Let the Fellowship & Fun Committee know what you’ll bring to the party by clicking the button below.
All are welcome – we look forward to celebrating food, fellowship and fun with you!
Here’s what I will bring! (https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/7717655040123/false#/invitation)
** Adult RE Opportunity with Rev. Christian Schmidt
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**SPACES STILL AVAILABLE**
Adult RE Opportunity Rev. Christian will be leading a book reading group using the text See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by the activist and author Valarie Kaur (https://valariekaur.com/about/) .
It will be 10 sessions on Zoom at 7:30pm on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, now through March. Books are available! Let Rev. Christian know you’d like to be included – click the link below to register.
Register for this series HERE (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
** Winter Solstice Celebration
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Join fellow revelers in celebrating the darkness which gives birth to light. All are welcome to take part in our ritual, feasting, drumming and campfire. Contact Regina Guarino (mailto:regina139@msn.com) with any questions.
** Know Your Rights: Plan for Consequences of Activism
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First Unitarian Church of Wilmington invites everyone to an online program designed to inform of potential consequences resulting from social justice activism.
When: Sunday, November 24, 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Where: Online
Registration: required, click link below
As we bring our social justice activism to the public, whether through social media, street marches, rallies or protests, we open ourselves to consequences. Learn what you can and cannot legally do in your campaigns. Understand unexpected reactions may occur. Have a plan to keep yourself out of potential trouble and know what to do if you are challenged by law enforcement. Bring the questions you have about civil liberties and about the ACLU in Delaware.
Featured speaker: Dwayne Bensing. Dwayne joined the ACLU of Delaware in 2020, after serving three years with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and two years with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Register for this event: click HERE (https://firstu.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2544952)
** 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 November & December we are supporting:
Kingswood Community Center
Supporting the Riverside neighborhood in Wilmington since 1946
This organization offers a wide array social services: education programs, food assistance, financial literacy workshops, virtual healthcare, emergency supports, and much more. Their planned state-of-the-art community facility will feature a modern senior center, new health center, fitness and recreational facilities, youth engagement opportunities, community health initiatives, and a world-class Early Learning Academy.
Learn more about Kingswood Community Center HERE (https://kgwcc.org/)
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)
** Recurring Events
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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. 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, November 24 and December 8 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! Please bring your own instrument or use what we have available. Join the group on Saturday, December 14 at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Occurs monthly on second Saturdays. See or contact Sara Durham (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com) with any questions.
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
** Moment of Reflection
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“All is not lost.”
As we make sense of the presidential election results, just breathe. “Do not let go of faith and hope and love.” From uuworld.org (https://www.uuworld.org/)
Read the reflection HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/election-poem-reflection-mindfulness-spirituality-unitarian-universalism)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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NOVEMBER 2024
Featured Resource:
UU Community Resilience Hub
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-1124)
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