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Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
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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
October 20, 2024
10:30 am
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When the powers that be aren’t listening to the needs of the people, protest is a way to give the voiceless a voice. We’ll look at protest as means of justice-seeking, what historical protests have accomplished, and what we are or aren’t called to do. Join Rev. Schmidt this Sunday for his sermon, “Protest, or How to Make Them Listen!”.
Music for this service will be performed by Maria Rusu. A native of Romania, born in Brasov, Maria Rusu comes from a family of musicians. (The opening music she will perform for us, Nostalgia, was composed by Romeo Cozma, Maria’s uncle who lives in Romania.) She began her musical studies at the age of six learning the violin with her mother, Teodora Rusu, and later studied viola. Maria attended a music school for twelve years in Brasov, Romania before coming to the U.S. to continue her musical studies. She currently serves as Senior Student Services Manager and Faculty at The Music School of Delaware leading the student services department. She also teaches violin, viola, jazz violin, jazz voice lessons, and works with the Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra. Maria plays often in the tri-state area (MD, DE & PA) on both violin and viola, most recently with Vox Ama Deus Ensemble in Pennsylvania, with whom she performed in the viola section at the Perelman Theatre in the Kimmel Center in
Philadelphia several times this year. For more information about Maria and her performances, visit www.mariarusu.com
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)
** In Appreciation: Worship Team
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We are proclaiming this Sunday, October 20, as Thank Your Worship Team Volunteers Day!
Every Sunday we come together to worship – to nurture our spirits, to further our search for truth and meaning, to give honor and reverence for the wonder of nature and of being, and to provide a warm, open, and supportive atmosphere for everyone. The worship service is significant to the life, well-being, and future of our congregation – it defines us as a community.
It is a substantial responsibility to provide inspiration, intellectual challenge, spiritual nourishment, community belonging, intergenerational connections, and continuity with the Unitarian Universalist faith all in a pleasing and welcoming environment in the form of a Sunday worship service. So how does this wonderful, shared, and essential experience happen every week?
We have but a small but very dedicated group of people to thank – our Worship Team: Anna Hull, Stephen Janick, Stephen Petersen, Karen Rege, and Committee Chair Kathie Stamm.
Working under the guidance of Rev. Christian, our church worship team members meet monthly to coordinate all of the elements that make up a Sunday service; they maintain a schedule to fill the pulpit every Sunday; they rotate the responsibilities of worship associate and select chalice lighting words and/or readings when required; they communicate with guest ministers, speakers and musicians; they oversee the creation of the weekly cue sheet assuring all elements in the service are covered with proper flow, coordinating these elements with the tech team; and make certain all worship materials are at hand and sanctuary décor is consistent with seasons and themes. Be sure to express your gratitude to a team member this Sunday – they deserve it!
** Seed Collecting and Shrub Planting this Sunday
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Join us after Coffee Time this Sunday, October 20, for sunshine and fellowship as we collect some native flower seeds that you can use in your garden to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Bill Reynolds has created an easy-to-use guide so you will know what seeds to look for, and the regular meadow crew will be around to assist. We also have some wonderful shrubs we will be planting including the native Elderberry seen in the photo above. Please come out and lend a hand.
In other meadow news…
Our next regular Wednesday “Meadow Maintenance” session will be next Wednesday, October 23, from 5:30 until dark, and then the final work evening of the season will be the following Wednesday, October 30.
You are also invited to attend our next “Land Stewards” meeting on Sunday, November 10 following the Pot Luck lunch (we’re usually in the conference room). Please check with Amy White or Jamie Kegerise for more information.
** Holiday Craft Fair
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We regret to inform you that our Holiday Craft Fair, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 9, has been cancelled. All vendor fees paid to date will be refunded. Please direct any questions you have to Sara Durham (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com) .
** Chili Cook-Off a Big Success!
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Pictured above: Fellowship Committee member Chris Reynolds presents first place winner Gladys Smith with her prize.
This event, held on Saturday, October 12, was a fun gathering of about 60 members and friends. There was a whole lot of food including 10 pots of chili, 6 corn breads, 2 dishes of mac & cheese, plus other salads, side dishes, desserts and beverages. Fun games were played, including an entertaining chili trivia game.
The winners went home with their prizes – a printed apron and wooden spoon:
Gladys Smith – 1^st Place (pictured center)
Kate Nolan – 2^nd Place (pictured right)
Susan Klugerman – 3^rd Place (pictured left)
Thank you to everyone who attended, participated and assisted with this event, but especially Fran Gulino, Bill & Christine Reynolds, and Roy & Ann Draper.
** You’re Invited to Play Bunco!
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The Fun & Fellowship Committee invites you to our first Bunco Game Night
Saturday, November 16 at 7pm
BUNCO is a fun and simple dice game that allows you to socialize with everyone present. It’s purely a game of chance, and no skills are required. Make sure to register early – participation is limited to 24. See the sign-up sheet in the gathering space or email us at fellowship@uusmc.org (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org)
** Concert at Mill Creek: Friday, November 1st
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Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music presents….
A Life of Sorrow: The Life and Times of Carter Stanley featuring Gary Reid
Performed by award winning actor and musician Gary Reid, this unique performance is a one-man play with songs about a mountain music legend.
Carter Stanley, a gifted songwriter and expressive singer, and his brother, famed Appalachian Mountain banjoist Ralph Stanley, helped lay the foundations for what is today known as bluegrass music. Gary Reid’s performance touches on the lighthearted aspects of Stanley’s life, including his childhood days on the family farm in rural Southwestern Virginia, to the turbulent side of his life including his jealousies and insecurities, and his struggles with alcohol which eventually cut short his life at the age of 41 in 1966.
Friday, November 1 – 7:30 pm
Tickets sold at the door:
$25 general public; $20 seniors; $15 students w/ID; free for kids aged 17 & under
Learn more about this upcoming performance HERE (https://www.alifeofsorrow.com/index.php)
** 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 September & October we are supporting:
Kennett Area Community Service
Strengthening the Southern Chester County community through food, housing, crisis services, and education
From their humble beginnings with a small food closet to their current campaign for a newly constructed building, this non-profit organization has been providing essential life-sustaining services to those in need for 70 years. This new building will feature conference rooms for a variety of workshops, respite services for the community, an expanded food distribution center, and more.
Learn more about Kennett Area Community Service HERE (https://kacsimpact.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 October 27 and November at 10 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, November 9 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
** Support the UUA Disaster Relief Fund
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Destruction in the wake of recent hurricanes has been devastating for many in the southeastern United States. You can help support Unitarian Universalists and their communities as they recover by giving generously to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is part of a covenant between the Unitarian Universalist Association and congregations, between congregations who give generously and those in need, and with community partners. Through aiding our congregations, their members and their community partners, we are able to embody our faith and values.
Click HERE to learn more about the fund and to donate (https://www.uua.org/giving/areas-support/funds/disaster-response)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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OCTOBER 2024
Featured Resource:
Primary Contacts
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-1024)
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