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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:
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Souper Bowl Sunday Food Drive –
Now through Sunday Feb. 12
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Help us replenish the shelves at the Food Bank of Delaware by participating in our Souper Bowl Sunday Food Drive. Look for the collection box in the gathering space.
Items needed by the food bank include all varieties of canned food – like soup, fruit, vegetables, beans & tuna; plus other non-perishable foods like boxed pasta; peanut butter; spaghetti sauce; dry cereal & oatmeal; dried (bagged) beans; rice; and personal care items.
You may bring in your donations on Sunday, February 5th and 12th (deadline). Or you may bring to the church during regular office hours. Feel free to contact the church office at administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org?subject=Souper%20Bowl%20Food%20Drive) to coordinate.
During the 12 months of 2022, we paid $809.92 for trash and recycling pick up.
** Shared Pulpit Workshop Offered
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You have a story. Each of our stories is part of a larger narrative of being human in this world, in this time. One of the most powerful spiritual practices we have is in the sharing of our stories and reflecting on the ways those stories awaken us to love, illuminate our humanity, connect us to the holy and ineffable – and common – experience of life.
We invite you to join Rev. Greg for a Shared Pulpit Workshop, which will guide you in developing your story into a sermon and worship experience that you may share with the congregation.
Using a series of small group meetings, this program aims to deepen connection and trust among you — the seeking minds and caring hearts of Mill Creek. The workshop contains advice, tools, and a process designed to equip you to be even more skilled, confident leaders (because anyone brave and curious enough to share their journey publicly with a congregation is, in fact, a leader). Along the way, you’ll discover your authentic voice by writing a sermon to deliver to the congregation.
This program is pulpit-and-pew tested, producing dozens of graduates who report hat it transformed their relationship to their congregation and to Unitarian Universalism. As a participant, you don’t need to think of yourself as a writer. You don’t have to know what you want to say. You don’t even need to be a visible leader in your congregation. As you had five to seven others navigate your way through the eight sessions — under the guidance of Rev. Greg – you are invited to do three things:
* commit your time and energy to the program — including doing the required writing between sessions
* create and uphold a group covenant so that those in your group can risk being vulnerable
* trust that the first two steps will reveal your voice and truth
The workshop will meet on Saturdays from 9:00 – 12 noon:
Feb. 18, 25; Mar. 18, 25; Apr. 15; May 6, 20, 27*
(*depending on number of participants)
Contact Rev. Greg (minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) ) with questions or to reserve your spot in the workshop.
** Mill Creek Woodlands & Meadows Planning Meeting
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This Sunday, February 5th
Photo: Amy White
Because there is an inter-dependent web of life (refer to the UU 7th Principle (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles/7th) ) then perhaps we have an obligation to help the critters and plants around us. We maintain most of our church property in meadow and woodlot habitat – it’s better for the environment and for our spirit. If you have an interest or would like to learn more about this effort, please join us on Sunday, February 5th in Classroom 1 after church service. Contact Jamie Kegerise or Amy White with questions.
** Mid-Winter Natural Lands and Gardens Work Day
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Saturday, February 11th
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Photo: Amy White
Imbolc Shona Daoibh, is Irish for “Happy Imbolc,” and Imbolc is the halfway point of Winter. What better way to celebrate than giving some love to our gardens and grounds? Come out to learn and help with a variety of tasks, including: pruning fruit and nut trees; caring for the other trees we’ve planted, and; identifying and removing invasive plants from the meadows and garden beds. Please bring gardening gloves, pruning shears or clippers, a kneeling pad, and dress for the weather. We’ll meet in the Memorial Grove/Campfire Area. Everyone is welcome! Contact Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or Amy White (mailto:amywwhite@comcast.net) with questions.
** Charm City Junction to Perform at Mill Creek
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Friday, February 24
8:00 pm
Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music continues their concert series at Mill Creek with the next event featuring Charm City Junction. Mark your calendar for Friday, February 24, 8 pm.
From dance-inducing Old Time rhythms and foot-stomping Irish Melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they’ll go next. Featuring fiddle, claw-hammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places – but always with an eye on tradition. Lean more about the band here: www.charmcityjunction.com
Tickets sold at the door!
General Public, $25; Seniors, $20; Students with ID, $15;
Ages 17 & under, free.
TAKE A LISTEN to Charm City Junction’s music HERE! (https://youtu.be/LAN2EXzQbKU)
** Mobile Food Pantry Coming to Mill Creek
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The Food Bank of Delaware will be on-site on Saturday, February 25th from 11 am to 1 pm to distribute food to local residents. This will be a drive-thru event and is being advertised to several large apartment complexes near our church.
If you would like to help with this event by volunteering your time to assist with food distribution, please arrive at 10:30 am.
Thank you to Frank Burns (mailto:cynwydb@aol.com) for coordinating this effort.
** Save the Date: Mill Creek Annual Service Auction
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Saturday, May 6th
Mark your calendar today!
Details to follow soon….
This year’s Service Auction is being held a bit earlier than last year (May 22, 2022) and will be an INDOOR event (yay!). More details will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the planning process has begun. If you’d like to help out in any capacity, please see Janice Buckwalter, or send an email to the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org?subject=Service%20Auction) and let us know how you can help. Thank you!
https://youngmomschestercounty.org/
**
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 January & February we are supporting the following charitable organization:
YoungMoms
Serving Southern Chester County
This non-profit organization, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, provides the academic, employment, parenting and relational support pregnant and parenting young mothers need to achieve their life goals and improve their lives and those of their children. Many of the individuals they serve face huge challenges as they navigate adolescence and parenthood simultaneously, including incomplete education, poverty, language barriers, isolation, and a general lack of options and opportunities. YoungMoms offers individualized, comprehensive, and long-term support to these young women who remain in the program between two and four years, allowing the program to assist them in overcoming obstacles which might normally derail their progress in achieving goals. This long-term investment makes YoungMoms unique and life changing.
LEARN MORE about YoungMoms HERE (https://youngmomschestercounty.org/)
Support this organization with your online donation HERE. Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund. (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
** Worship Service Information
Sunday, February 5, 2023
10:30 am
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Join us as Rev. Greg shares his sermon:
Music for this service will be performed by local singer songwriter Darnell Miller.
Connect With Us In-Person
10:30 am
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Masking protocol will be posted at each entrance
* 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. Gregory S. Pelley, Minister
minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
To request an in-person, teleconference or Zoom meeting with Rev. Greg, use the link below to schedule:
Request a meeting with Rev. Greg – click HERE (http://calendly.com/gpelley)
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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** TONIGHT:
*Mill Creek Youth* Stars in Local Production of
“The Music Man”
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**FOUR PERFORMANCES THIS WEEKEND**
FIRST SHOW: TONIGHT at 7:00 pm
Newark Charter High School proudly presents their production of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man – starring Mill Creek youth Joey Tosh-Morelli. Tickets for all four shows are available at advance discount prices using the link below: $12.50 adults; $10 students; children age 4 and younger are free. (Tickets will be available at the door for slightly higher prices.)
Come and enjoy the show!
Performance Schedule:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, February 2–4, 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 5, 2:00 pm
Newark Charter High School
200 MacIntire Drive
Newark, Delaware 19711
302-369-2001
See Joey live on stage- purchase tickets HERE! (https://newarkcharterschool.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200432260)
** New Castle County’s 2023 Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration
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A Celebration of African Culture, New Castle County’s 2023 Black History Month kick-off celebration, will explore the deep roots of African culture through performances, demonstrations, history displays, and food tastings. This event will also feature information tables, and authentic merchant vendors offering a variety of items: jewelry, fashions & clothing, natural shea butter products, soaps, artworks, and more. This event is free for all ages.
Saturday, February 4 – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Walnut Street YMCA (https://www.ymcade.org/locations/walnut-street-ymca/)
1000 N. Walnut Street
Wilmington, Delaware
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** A Statement from UUA President
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The UUA has issued a statement from President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray in response to the devastating death of Tyre Nichols, a 29 year old Black man beaten to death by police in Memphis, TN.
This is a time in our country when so many insidious forces seek to divide us and give us false and empty dichotomies that only lead to more destruction. We need to remember our Unitarian Universalist values in this time. To remember that we are one in creation, one in God, as our Universalist forebears said.
-Rev. Frederick-Gray
READ Rev. Frederick-Gray’s statement here (https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/tyre-nichols)
** Article II Study Commission – Resources to Help Understand this Important Work
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The Unitarian Universalist Association is currently in a multi-year process to consider changes to the UUA Principles and Purpose. This process began in 2020 when the UUA Board appointed an Article II Study Commission – a name given to reflect the fact that Principles, Purpose, covenant and Sources are contained in Article II of the UUA Bylaws (see ‘Current UUA Bylaws’ below).
Current UUA Bylaws (https://www.uua.org/files/2022-10/uua_bylaws_10312022.pdf)
The Commission was given a broad charge (see ‘Charge to the Commission’ below) to review, change, or reimagine Article II to “enable our UUA, our member congregations, and our covenanted communities to be a relevant and powerful force for spiritual and moral growth, healing, and justice.”
Charge to the Commission (https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission/charge)
After two and a half years of study and conversations with thousands of Unitarian Universalists, the Article II Study Commission submitted their report and proposal (see ‘Article II Study Report’ below) to the UUA Board of Trustees for its January 20th meeting.
Article II Study Report (https://www.uua.org/files/2023-01/a2sc_rpt_01172023.pdf)
This spring, congregation delegates and the Board can propose amendments to the proposal. The proposal and amendments will be considered at General Assembly (https://www.uua.org/ga) this June and a majority vote is required to continue consideration at GA 2024. If any of the delegate amendments are accepted, and if the proposal receives majority approval, then the Article II Study Commission will make any necessary changes to create a final draft for consideration at GA 2024. The final proposal will require a two thirds majority vote at GA 2024 to be adopted.
This is an historic time of change and possibility for Unitarian Universalism. Learn how a team charged to study and revise key statements of UU faith developed new language to carry our living tradition into a new era. Learn more about the Commission’s process and approach to their work in this video (see ‘Article II Commission Intro Video’ below) presented collaboratively by all current Commission members.
Article II Commission Intro Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPQmvlMBUOg)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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FEBRUARY 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.
Opportunities for Connection – click here to learn more (https://uua874.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=1b79b52d1bf6f71b2b1eb7ca08ed0776.5978&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)
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** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu)
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