Read our latest announcement.
Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
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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
October 27, 2024
10:30 am
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Have you ever heard of Michael Servetus? He was a theologian who dared to think and write books in the face of the Spanish Inquisition and Calvinist Geneva of the Protestant Reformation. He was hated by both for his radical words about God and Jesus. He was one of the first unitarian and universalist proponents and helped lay the foundation for our modern faith. Come and learn about our rich history of following the free and responsible search for truth and meaning during guest speaker Rev. Dr. Richard Speck’s sermon, “The Martyred Heretic.”
Music for this service will be performed by The Nearly Valentines: Chris and Jeanmarie Braddock. Chris works as a soloist and also with several area ensembles, including Mosaic String Duo, Second Opinion, and The Nearly Valentines. He teaches at The Music School of Delaware, where he serves as Master Faculty and Guitar Department Head. Chris received his classical guitar performance degree from the University of Delaware and is a past recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship in music composition from the Delaware Division of the Arts. Jeanmarie is active as a violinist throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. She has taught string music in northern Delaware for over twenty years and is currently a director of elementary school orchestras in the Brandywine School District. A graduate of West Chester University, Jeanmarie holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from the University of the Arts. Chris and Jeanmarie have performed together since 2002.
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)
** 2025 Generosity Campaign Underway
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Pledge cards for the 2025 Generosity Campaign are in the mail.
Pledging is the primary way we fund this congregation – it allows Mill Creek to have a constant and predictable source of income. This is important because our expenses are predictable even if our income is not. Pledging allows us to make sure that we can pay our staff, utilities, mortgage, and other financial obligations in a timely way, whether we have reserves in our bank account or not. Pledging reflects our covenant with this place and its people.
We encourage you to give this Campaign serious consideration and contemplation, and give from the intersection of your resources and the value this church has in your life and the life of the community.
To make your pledge of support, you may:
* return your pledge card by mail in the envelope provided, or
* place your card in the offering plate or collection box, or
* email your pledge to generosity@uusmc.org (mailto:generosity@uusmc.org) , or
* access your Realm giving profile – or click the button below
The Finance Team is hoping to have all pledges received by Sunday, November 17 – this gives the team adequate time to prepare the budget for 2025. Let us know if you have any questions – use the email address above.
Thank you for your support!
Pledge now! Click HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/give/2025pledge)
** Adult RE Opportunity with Rev. Christian Schmidt
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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/) .
How do we love in a time of rage? How do we fix a broken world while not breaking ourselves? Valarie Kaur—renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer—describes revolutionary love as the call of our time, a radical, joyful practice that extends in three directions: to others, to our opponents, and to ourselves. It enjoins us to see no stranger but instead look at others and say: You are part of me I do not yet know. Starting from that place of wonder, the world begins to change: It is a practice that can transform a relationship, a community, a culture, even a nation.
It will be 10 sessions on Zoom at 7:30pm on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, beginning November 6. Dates: November 6 and 20; December 4 and 18; January 8 and 23 (note: second and fourth Wednesdays for January only); February 5 and 19; and March 5 and 19. The church can provide free copies of the book to those interested, or you can purchase it HERE (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525509119?tag=randohouseinc7986-20) . 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)
** Church Social Event
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The Fun & Fellowship Committee invites you to our first Bunco Game Night!
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 click the link below to register.
Register HERE for Bunco Game Night (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)
** In case you missed it…
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The Fellowship & Fun committee planned a fun day at Lums Pond State Park on a beautiful and sunny August day. There was kayaking, lunch, and a short hike enjoyed by all.
Did you know…?
The Fellowship and Fun Committee meets regularly to plan a diverse schedule of entertaining outings, gatherings and activities for everyone to enjoy. Have an idea for a future event? Let the team know: fellowship@uusmc.org (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org) .
** 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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