Weekly Invitation - August 17, 2023 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on August 20, 2023 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
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This week, we invite you:

Editor’s Note:
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** School Supplies Drive
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Now Through Sunday, August 27th

Our School Supplies Drive, a Mill Creek annual tradition, is underway with our support of a local K-5 school — Etta J. Wilson Elementary School (https://www.christinak12.org/WilsonES) in Christina School District.

In previous years we included backpacks in this project; we asked the congregation to take one and return it filled with the items on the included supply list broken down by grade.

This year we are focusing solely on providing the supplies needed for each grade at the school. This way, participants may buy whatever items they choose from the list which is categorized by grade. Click the button below for the complete list. Printed copies will be available in the gathering space.

Just two more weeks remain for the collection of supplies, with Sunday, August 27th as the final date for bringing in your donations. Thank you to everyone who has already supported this project.
Complete supplies list – CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Supply-List-2023-24-Grades-1-5.pdf)

** Family Promise Host Week
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Family Promise of Northern New Castle Count (https://www.familypromisede.org/) y (https://www.familypromisede.org/) is a non-profit organization that works to prevent and end homelessness by engaging an interfaith hospitality network. Mill Creek is a support congregation in this network, and we are committed to assist in this effort by donating, preparing, and helping to serve meals a few times a year at Jesus House (2501 Milltown Road, Wilmington) for families currently receiving assistance from Family Promise.

Our next turn to provide this assistance is next Tuesday and Thursday, August 22 and 24.
You can help in one or more of the following ways: prepare a salad, side dish and/or dessert; donate food items for the meals; or help serve the meals at Jesus House. Let us know how you’d like to help by contacting Chitra Vaidy using the button below.
Contact Chitra HERE (mailto:cvaidy226@gmail.com?subject=Family%20Promise)
*Special Note*
For many years now, Chitra Vaidy has been the primary contact and organizer for our involvement with Family Promise. While she plans to remain involved in this effort, she is stepping down from the leadership position. If you’d like to help lead this project, please contact Chitra using the button above.

We are grateful to Chitra for her significant contributions of time and effort with Family Promise, and appreciate her tireless commitment to provide outreach and assistance to the families who are engaged with this organization. Thank you, Chitra!

** Our Asian Pear Crop is IN!
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Help yourself to some Asian Pears that have just been picked from our meadow. These are chemical free, organic, and so very good for you! Asian Pears are high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins C and K, potassium, copper, and help with blood sugar control. They also will keep for several weeks in your refrigerator. If you wish to make a donation in kind, any proceeds will go to our current “Share Our Plate” recipient, the Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network (UUDAN).

** Singers Wanted for Ingathering Performance
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The choir event we had back in June was so much fun, we’re having another one, this time at the Ingathering service on Sunday, September 10.

Whether you participated in the previous choir performance or not – if you’d like to be a part of this one, let us know by clicking on the button below. We’d love to have you, the more the merrier!
I want to sing! (mailto:hansonbd65@gmail.com?subject=choir%20performance)

** Facility and Office News
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Keyring Missing: the keyring kept in the janitor’s closet is missing. Our cleaning service uses the keys when they’re here for weekly cleaning on Fridays. If found, please return – no questions asked!

Help with Recycling: we have several used toner cartridges that need to be recycled. Contact the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org?subject=help%20with%20recycling) if you can help.

** Lunch with the Minister
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Come and have lunch at church with Rev. Christian on Tuesday, September 12 at 12 pm. He’ll prepare a main dish (usually soup or a casserole), or you can bring your own bag lunch. It will be a low-pressure time to be together, talk, and share a meal. After this date, it will be a recurring event on the first Tuesday of every month (beginning in October). All are welcome!

** Autumn Equinox Celebration Next Month
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Everyone is welcome to join us on Friday, September 22nd at 7:00 pm when we recognize the end of summer and welcome the beginning of fall. Bring snacks or beverages to share if you like. Contact Regina Guarino (mailto:regina139@msn.com?subject=autumn%20equinox) with questions.

** 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 July and August we are supporting:

Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network (UUDAN)
UUDAN brings together the five Delaware UU congregations to engage in legislative action in the state of Delaware. Their mission is to inform, recruit and mobilize UU advocates to work, in partnership with other advocacy organizations, for the many social justice issues we face today. It provides a vehicle to research and draft legislation and lobby for reform measures in Dover.
Learn more about UUDAN here (http://www.uudeladvo.org/wp/sample-page/)
Support this organization with your online donation HERE. Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund. (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give)
Thank you for your support!

** Sunday Worship Service Information
August 20, 2023
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Rev. Christian Schmidt shares his first sermon:

Enter, Rejoice, and Come In

Welcoming in new people and new ideas is key to our concept of embracing continued revelation: the idea that our knowledge can never be complete and final because there are always new information and new perspectives to add to our wisdom. In Rev. Schmidt’s first service as our minister, we’ll explore what that means and why it matters.

Music for this service will be performed by flutists Melinda Bowman and Paula Nelson.
Connect With Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s RE programming is available for ages 4 and up
* We are currently unable to offer Child Care (infant/toddler, ages 0 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 & easy access on Sunday morning), OR
* Get the link by accessing the church calendar (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=a404d3fb3e&e=9e32ea5753) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/ (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=3386b49cce&e=9e32ea5753) )

Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)

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 an in-person, teleconference, or Zoom meeting with Rev. Christian, use the link below to schedule:
Schedule an Appointment 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

** Happening in Our Local Community
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** It’s Still Farmers Market Season!
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Visit the New Castle County Farmers Market every Friday at beautiful Carousel Park. Enjoy fresh produce, bakery items, honey, jams, prepared foods, handmade items, and more.

Carousel Park Equestrian Center
3700 Limestone Road
Wilmington DE 19808
Fridays: 2-6 pm

** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** UU Common Read
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When we do a UU Common Read together, we share in reflection, learning, and action. A UU Common Read can take us on a powerful journey into what it means to be human and accountable in a world filled with both pain and joy.
Announced at General Assembly 2023, On Repentance and Repair, Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Danya Ruttenberg offers a glimpse into one of our faith’s foundational sources, Judaism. Readers explore our own call to be accountable in these modern times as we follow Rabbi Ruttenberg into a framework for making amends offered by the 12th century Jewish physician and scholar, Maimonides.
Learn more about the book HERE (https://www.uua.org/read)
Buy the book HERE (https://www.uuabookstore.org/On-Repentance-and-Repair-P19405.aspx?_gl=1*dyzt56*_ga*MTgyODU4MjYyOC4xNjkwODI0MzM3*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*MTY5MjI5MDQzNi45LjEuMTY5MjI5MDgxOC4wLjAuMA..)
https://www.uua.org/central-east

**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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AUGUST 2023

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.

This month: Board Training Resources, Leadership Skill Ups, and more.
Opportunities for Connection – click here to learn more (https://uua874.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=177540c7bcb8db31697b601642eac8d4.6191&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)

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Weekly Invitation – August 17, 2023

Weekly Invitation – August 17, 2023