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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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** Habitat Presentation and Meadow Tour this Saturday
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Natives Nurture: Supporting Heath, Wildlife,
and Combat Climate Change, One Garden at a Time
Habitat Presentation and Meadow Tour
Saturday, September 7, 9 -11 am
Join us in the Mill Creek Meadow!
This family and kid friendly event is presented by the Delaware Nature Society and the Newark Interfaith Green Team. Native plants have been growing in popularity in recent years. Learn about why there is a call to action to garden with native plants and how you can make a difference by creating a wildlife habitat. Hear about the function and application of native plants in our environment and in various scenarios from urban pollinator gardens to schoolyards and the certified wildlife habitat program. Discuss practical ways to begin and maintain a native garden and expand the habitat over time.
Let us know you’ll be there by clicking the email link below to RSVP
(not required to attend, but very helpful – thank you!)
RSVP here (mailto:newarkinterfaithgreenteam@gmail.com)
** Sunday Worship Service Information
September 8, 2024
10:30 am
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Water circulates through the sky, the rivers, the ocean, and back again, over and over and over. What can it teach us about beginning again? Join us this Sunday for our Ingathering celebration and Rev. Schmidt’s sermon, “Beginning Again.” This annual service marks the official start of a new church year. We will celebrate with our water ceremony – all are invited to bring a small amount of water from our home, travels, or other meaningful place, to be poured into a common bowl and blessed.
Music for this service will be performed by a special volunteer church choir led by Margaret Love, featuring Emma Hull and Karen Berrie, sopranos; Kris Tosh-Morelli and Jeanne Hanson, altos; Jamie Kegerise and Brian Hanson, tenors; Joseph Tosh-Morelli, Thom Remington, Rudy Nyhoff and Gordon Roth, basses; and Diana Saunders, flute accompaniment.
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)
** School Supplies Drive: final collection day is this Sunday!
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Our annual school supplies drive is winding down. The final day to bring in donations is this Sunday, September 8.
This year we are partnering with Breaking Barriers, a nonprofit organization in Newark serving youth, adults, children with physical disabilities, senior citizens, and athletes. Our supplies collection and donation will benefit their partnership with local school districts and community-based organizations. Learn more about this organization HERE (https://breakingbarriersde.org/) .
We are collecting the following basic supplies: loose leaf paper, composition books, spiral notebooks, lead & color pencils, pens, markers, pencil boxes, pocket folders, and binders.
Last day for collection: Sunday, September 8
Thank you for your support!
** Ways to Get More Involved at Church
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The Board of Trustees is actively searching for people to coordinate and/or participate in two very important areas of church life: Membership Committee, and the 2025 Generosity Campaign.
The Membership Committee plays an important ongoing role in welcoming visitors and new members, helping them feel involved, and promoting participation. Committee members greet visitors each Sunday and follow up, hold New Unitarian Universalist (UU) classes as well as membership ceremonies at least twice a year, help visitors and members find places to connect within the congregation, and maintain contact with friends and members who come irregularly.
The 2025 Generosity Campaign, the annual church pledge drive, requires a limited investment of time. It involves setting a goal and creating a plan for the campaign, promoting the drive, creatively engaging members and friends to make a pledge of support, and developing a plan for follow-up.
If you have an interest in either of these areas, or have questions, please see any board member, or send an email to board@uusmc.org (mailto:board@uusmc.org)
Why does the church need volunteers?
* volunteers are crucial to the operation and development of church communities
* volunteers provide essential support for many church operations, by…
* helping to maintain a welcoming and dynamic church atmosphere
* promoting spiritual growth
* ensuring the church lives its mission, AND…
* meeting the needs of the congregation
What will volunteering do for you?
* help boost your self esteem
* expand your connections with others
* teach new skills or allow you to use and sharpen the skills you already have
* set a good example by encouraging others to volunteer, AND…
* will make you feel good!
Simply put:
WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU
** Judy Cronin Visitation and Memorial Service
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Our dear member, Judy Cronin, died on Tuesday, August 20, with her husband, Dick, and sons Robert and Steven with her. Judy and Dick were founding members of this congregation, and her loss will be felt greatly.
Family and friends are invited to visit the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Pike Creek, on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
A Celebration of Life Service for Judy will be held at Mill Creek on Saturday, September 21, at 10:30 am, with luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Delaware Hospice (https://delawarehospice.org/donate/) , Food Bank of Delaware (https://www.fbd.org/onlinedonations/) , or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html?sc_icid=wtg-mm-memorial-giving) . Read the full obituary can be read HERE (https://www.dohertyfh.com/obituary/Judith-Cronin) .
** Dinners (or Lunches!) for 7
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The Fun & Fellowship Committee is pleased to announce the return of a favorite social activity. Dinners for 7 are potluck dinners or lunches hosted by members of the church at their home. Each gathering will have 7 participants and can be a mix of couples, singles, or families. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to better acquainted with each other in an intimate setting.
Our first dinner will take place on Friday, September 27. If you are interested in hosting or attending a dinner or lunch for 7, see the sign-up sheet in the gathering space (please be sure to write ‘lunch’ or ‘dinner’ on the form) or reach out to the committee (click HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org?subject=Dinners%20for%207) ). See or contact Laura Bonner (mailto:laura@dlsk.net) with any specific questions.
** Come to Our Autumn Equinox Celebration
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All are welcome!
Questions? Contact Regina Guarino. (mailto:regina139@msn.com)
We celebrate the September Equinox as the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere. It signifies a milestone in Earth’s orbit around the sun. At an equinox, the sun appears directly above Earth’s equator. At the September equinox, it’s crossing from north to south. The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). At the equinox, days and nights are said to be equal in length for everyone across the globe.
** Climate Justice Revival
at Mill Creek
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Join us for the first-ever UU Climate Justice Revival
Saturday and Sunday, September 28 & 29
Saturday will include about four hours of facilitated discussions and small breakout groups to imagine what our congregation can do in our work for Climate Justice. Sunday will include a multigenerational worship celebration and completion of our work that will describe the steps our congregation will take. Note that our work will mirror that of some 300 Unitarian Universalist congregations across the nation.
Please take a moment to listen and view to a brief invitation from our UUA President, the Reverend Dr. Sofia Betancourt – click the button below:
View Rev. Dr. Betancourt’s invitation HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI1x1T88j4g)
Our church leadership is investing time and energy to create a successful and fulfilling weekend. To that end, we request that you RSVP for this event – click the button below. It is not a requirement to attend, but it would be very helpful for planning purposes. We hope you will attend this very important and collaborative experience!
RSVP here – thank you! (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfg00bKPZVcBhO7czDZjC9cPaHPPEpc7cPe2qeUtYJgePMidA/viewform?pli=1)
** 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.
** 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)
Share Our Plate – July and August
For the months of July and August we supported Black & Indigenous Birthworkers of Delaware with our donation of $1657.50. This mission of this organization is ‘Supporting Families Throughout the Cycle of Life.’ They provide education, advocacy, and support to the entire family and community in the areas of fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, self-care healing, end of life, and herbal & nutritional wellness. Learn more HERE (https://traditionaldoula.com/) .
** **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. Like those games, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing the towering castle beneath the stormy night sky and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents.
Unlike a game of make-believe, D&D gives structure to the stories, a way of determining the consequences of the adventurers’ action. Players roll dice to resolve whether their attacks hit or miss or whether their adventurers can scale a cliff, roll away from the strike of a magical lightning bolt, or pull off some other dangerous task. Anything is possible, but the dice make some outcomes more probable than others.
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 15 & 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 to join in, no matter what your skill level is. Please bring your own instrument or use what we have available. Open to all ages from 0-94. Join the group on Saturday, September 14 at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Occurs monthly on second Saturdays. See or contact Sara Durham (mailto:saradurham88@gmail.com) with any questions.
** Sound Bath Meditation
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Sound Bath Meditation is an ancient practice using instruments (gong, singing bowls, chimes and more) to create a soundscape that can help you relax and meditate. The power of the sound will bathe you and reverberate through your body, awaken your senses, help restore balance, relieve stress and anxiety, and create a soundscape that is both soothing and uplifting.
Jeff Brown returns to Mill Creek on September 16 at 7 pm for a one-hour sound experience that is personal to each participant. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and a small pillow for your comfort. Seating is also available. Cost is $25 per person. Contact Jeff with questions HERE (mailto:sotsministryde@gmail.com) , or check out his website HERE (https://sotssoundjourney.com/) .
Register and make payment HERE (https://app.ubindi.com/Jeff.Brown)
** 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 for 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)
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
** An Ingathering Message from Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt
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Sofia Betancourt, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), shares greetings and welcome, as well as some of her deepest hopes for meeting the moment in the coming year. As Unitarian Universalists come together again in this time ingathering and renewal, may we remember that joining together in community is a significant expression of faithfulness in such divided times.
View and share the video, “Meeting the Moment”, HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcVF1pDMPlQ)
Rev. Dr. Megan Foley, Regional Lead of the Central East Region, welcomes all to the new church year. View her message HERE. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL0JJmfwuic)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
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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