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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
September 29, 2024
10:30 am
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Our two-day Climate Justice Revival has been organized by Mill Creek members Anna Hull, Becky Varlas, Ann Draper, Terrianne Lavin, and Jamie Kegerise. It is part of a national effort by UUA congregations to generate positive action and outreach as we work together to reduce the effects of Climate Warming.
During this service we will hear special prayers and reflections, and participate in a Blessing of Our Hands ritual. After the completion of the service we will share the results of our discussions from the Saturday portion of the Revival.
We welcome back musician Carlos Espinoza who will be performing the music for this service. Carlos is a graduate of Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington; he now attends the University of Delaware.
Special Share Our Plate Collection for this Service
We are designating half of Sunday’s collection to support Sierra Club, Delaware Chapter. Founded in 1892, the Sierra Club is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in North America. Since 1992, the Delaware Chapter has blazed trails to protect the environment and to provide opportunities to enjoy and explore the natural beauty of our state. As a volunteer-run grassroots organization, they work to protect our air and water quality and support state legislation and policies to reduce the negative impacts from climate change on those precious resources now and in the future. Learn more about this organization, the important work they do, and how you can get involved at www.sierraclub.org/delaware.
A word about Covid-19 Precautions: now that the weather has turned nicer, we are planning on opening the windows in the sanctuary each Sunday morning. (Even on warmer days, the sanctuary will be fairly cool as a result of cooler evenings.) This will bring fresh air into the space while reducing our energy costs. On cooler mornings, we recommend you bring a sweater or jacket. Masking is optional but certainly welcome should anyone feel the need to wear one. We have a small supply of masks located in the gathering space. As always – if you feel sick, we encourage you to consider staying home and participate in our Sunday service via livestream.
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)
** Sanctuary Art Exhibition
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The new artworks featured in our sanctuary are from Mill Creek member Diane Hofer’s April 2024 trip to Arizona locations including the Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, and Sunset Crater Peak. Diane has been an amateur photographer for half a century but the advent of the digital camera age, photo editing software, and the educational resources on YouTube have allowed her to pull together, in her words, some “pretty nice images”. Diane uses a Lumix G85 digital camera with three zoom lenses covering a lens range of 12 to 300mm, allowing for wide close-ups and long-range telephoto shots. It is her pleasure to share the images with you. Matted unframed photos are available for sale, and half of any proceeds will be donated to the church. Contact Diane HERE (mailto:dianehofer3@hotmail.com) if interested.
** Vision Board Crafting Event
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The Fellowship & Fun Committee invites you to get crafty at our October event! Participants will make a vision board – a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations that represent your dreams and desires. Make your vision board a source of inspiration and motivation for living your life. Scissors and glue skills required, along with a playful, creative attitude. Please bring old magazines if you have them. All are welcome to participate in this fun and creative gathering, including kids 12+.
Mark your calendar and join us on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary. See or contact Regina Guarino (mailto:regina139@msn.com) with questions & RSVP.
** October Social Event – Save the Date!
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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 to scan the QR code).
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 committee by email – CLICK HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org)
** Old Time Music Concert Series at Mill Creek
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Series Opener: Steam Machine
Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music returns to Mill Creek with another concert series featuring Steam Machine, a bluegrass band from Minnesota, as the series opener. While not purists, Steam Machine listens closely to the “old stuff” and strives to capture the essence of what makes these tunes and songs special, as they hear it.
Friday, October 4 – 7:30 pm
Tickets sold at the door: general public, $25; seniors, $20; students w/ID, $15; ages 17 and under, FREE
Learn more about the band and take a listen to their music HERE (https://www.steammachinemusic.com/watch-and-listen)
** Holiday Craft Fair
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We’re hosting another Craft Fair:
Saturday, November 9
10:00am — to 2:00pm
All of our vendors will be selling locally made items such as pottery, art work, jewelry, irresistible crochet plushies, holiday wreaths, and more. There will be a make-and-take craft activity for children and those just plain young at heart. Baked goods and hot chocolate/tea will also be for sale from a local chef. Mark your calendar to attend and peruse a variety of one-of-a-kind items.
Vendors: spaces are still available, contact Sara Durham HERE (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com?subject=craft%20fair) .
Shoppers: get your holiday shopping off to a festive start – bring your wallet and enjoy!
** 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, September 29 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, October 12 at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Plan to participate in our themed potluck dinner, a Chili Cook Off (see announcement above). 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
** Read: The Generosity Path
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Finding the Richness in Giving
Financial giving can be a spiritual path. We have a deep potential for meaning-making and life satisfaction when we transform ourselves from occasional, haphazard donors to deliberate, ambitious philanthropists. With easy-to-read guidance, The Generosity Path by Mark V. Ewert sheds new light on our finances—connecting money to our values, beliefs, and loves and promoting skills and strategies in charitable giving.
Available now at inSpirit: UUA Bookstore and Gift Shop, click the button below.
Learn more about the book and purchase it HERE (https://www.uuabookstore.org/The-Generosity-Path-P17380.aspx)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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SEPTEMBER 2024
Featured Resource:
Sermon of the Month Series
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-924)
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