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:
** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Summer Solstice Celebration
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Join us as we celebrate the return of the sun on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 pm. We’ll begin with a ritual in the sanctuary, then go outdoors for a bonfire (weather permitting). Bring snacks & beverages to share. Contact Regina Guarino (mailto:regina139@msn.com?subject=summer%20solstice) with any questions, or if you’d like to help with the planning.
** Pride Service and Campfire
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Everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday, June 24th at 6:30 pm for a special Worship Service to celebrate Pride and learn about its history. The service will be followed by a Pride Campfire at 7:30 where we will share stories about Pride, LGBTQIA history and coming out. Contact Jenn Broomfield (mailto:jennbroomfield@gmail.com?subject=Pride%20Service%20%26%20Campfire) with any questions.
** Mill Creek Annual Report
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The 2023 Annual Report is available by clicking the button below.
Read the Annual Report Here (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-mill-creek-annual-report.pdf)
** Wanted: Lead RE Teacher
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Click HERE for specific job qualifications (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/UUSMC-RE-teacher-qualifications-June-2023-1-2.pdf)
Click HERE to contact the Religious Education Team (mailto:dre@uusmc.org?subject=Lead%20RE%20Teacher)
** Reconnect with Nature Every Wednesday
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Navigating our way through life can be incredibly complicated and stressful, especially in the current high-tech age of electronics and social media. The summer months typically provide a respite from our regular day-to-day schedules through vacations and travel, but even that can be hectic and perhaps not as restful as we might like.
Nature is intrinsically healing and reconnecting with it can be one of the most beneficial things we humans can do to restore our spirit and improve our quality of life. And we have nature in abundance here at Mill Creek!
Working in our meadows can benefit everyone by providing an opportunity for exercise and exposure to Vitamin D. But it provides other benefits:
* Combats Loneliness
* Reduces Stress
* Improves Overall Mood
* Cultivates Feelings of Empowerment, Connection, and Creative Calm
* Lessens Feelings of Eco-Anxiety
Our Natural Lands Stewards meet every Wednesday afternoon around 5:30 pm (or slightly later) to water and tend to our young trees and maintain the health and vibrancy of our meadows and grounds. We encourage everyone drop by – no gardening experience or knowledge is required. Bring gardening gloves & tools and a kneeling pad if you have them.
Contact Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or Amy White (mailto:amywwhite@comcast.net) for more information.
** Share Your Love of Music
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Summer is an ideal time for sharing your music with the Mill Creek congregation during Sunday service. Two Sundays in July and most Sundays in August are available for such sharing, and you’ll never find a more enthusiastic, supportive audience than we have here. All musical forms and genres are welcome! Click the button below to connect with the Music Committee.
Share your love of music HERE (mailto:music@uusmc.org)
** Collection for #2, #4 & #5 Recyclable Plastics Continues
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Please keep bringing in your clean, dry, empty plastics stamped with #2, #4, and/or #5 to support our park bench project. See Ann Draper or Janice Buckwalter with questions.
We have placed an order for 9 park benches with Eco Plastic Products of Delaware, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that recycles eligible plastic and transforms it into consumer products. They use recyclable plastic marked #2, #4 and #5 ONLY in their process. Learn more using the buttons below.
Learn more about this organization and the work they do. (https://www.ecoplasticproducts.org/)
What plastics can be used for this project? Click here for a quick guide. (https://www.ecoplasticproducts.org/about-recycling)
**
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 May and June we are supporting:
Urban Bike Project
Located on North Walnut Street in Wilmington, Urban Bike Project (UBP) supports Wilmington communities by providing access to bicycling as a healthy, affordable, and practical means of transportation and recreation. Bicycles provide reliable, healthy, and emissions-free transportation. UBP’s work is guided by three core principles: open access for all Wilmington residents, opportunities for residents to build self-sufficiency, and community-driven programming that is responsive to resident needs. UBP offers a wide array of services: open-shop hours for repairs; retail-only hours; youth-only shop hours; a free bike program; several youth programs including build-a-bike summer camp; instruction classes; and a variety of other services, events, and networking opportunities.
Learn more about UBP here (http://www.urbanbikeproject.com)
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)
** Sunday Worship Service Information
June 18, 2023
10:30 am
Join Rev. Greg for his message:
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Join us this Sunday when we welcome new members to the Mill Creek congregation. Music will be performed by Nicole Magnusson.
Connect With Us In-Person
* 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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** Hot Air Balloons, Anyone?
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Bright and colorful hot-air balloons will be in the air this weekend at the Chester County Balloon Festival in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
The Festival, celebrating its 15th year, features an expanded 3-day schedule with over 20+ hot air balloons taking flight twice per day. Tethered and untethered balloon rides and demos will also be available. A highlight of the event is the Balloon Glow when the balloons are lit up against the night sky. There will be an on-site beer & wine garden, live entertainment, food vendors, arts & crafts, and much more.
Chester County Balloon Festival
at Willowdale Steeplechase
101 East Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Friday, June 16: 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
Saturday, June 17: 2:30 pm-9:30 pm
Sunday, June 18: 2:30 pm-7:30 pm
The CCBF is a non-profit organization. Their annual event provides family fun for all ages with portions of the proceeds going to the Chester County Hero Fund and other community support services.
Click HERE to learn more & purchase tickets (https://ccballoonfest.com/)
** Local Volunteer Opportunity this Saturday
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Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) collects oyster shells from local restaurants; they are dried and bagged, then taken where they can protect shorelines on various waterways from erosion, and for use in other environmental projects. By keeping them from the landfill, this natural resource also creates a habitat for more oysters and other water-loving animals.
They are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bag oyster shells on Saturday, June 17, 9:30 am to 1 pm. Click the button below for more information and to sign up.
Sign up HERE (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-shell-bagging-event-june-17th-delaware-tickets-554684154237)
Can’t make this event but want to receive more information? You can sign up HERE (https://delawareestuary.org/home/contact-us/#join-form) https://delawareestuary.org/home/contact-us/#join-formto receive e-newsletters and alerts (https://delawareestuary.org/home/contact-us/#join-form) about other PDE events, volunteer opportunities, and the latest news.
Did you know…? The Delaware Estuary supplies clean drinking water for millions of people, and supports a booming industrial region; one that contributes $12 billion every year to our local economy. The PDE, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Delaware Estuary, was established in 1996 and is one of 28 National Estuary Programs (https://www.epa.gov/nep/overview-national-estuary-program) designated by Congress. Estuary programs exist throughout the coastal United States to improve the health of estuaries. The PDE is the only organization that focuses on the tidal River, from the head of tide at Trenton to the mouth of the Bay at the Atlantic Ocean.
Learn more about the PDE and the important work they do HERE (https://delawareestuary.org/)
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Use Your Eyes to Feed Your Soul
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We believe in the quest for truth and meaning. Reading is a key element of that quest and an individual spiritual practice. Reading raises your vibrational energy, aligns your spirit with the Divine, sharpens your intuition, helps to develop a spirit of discernment, brings about spiritual development and transformation, and so much more.
The Unitarian Universalist Association has several publishing arms available to everyone: Beacon Press, Skinner House Books, Justice and Spirit: The Unitarian Universalist Book Club, Tapestry of Faith, UU World magazine, and other publications all serve to feed the soul in different ways. Click the link below to learn more.
Publications to Feed Your Soul – click here (https://www.uua.org/publications)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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JUNE 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=b1f62fa99de9f27a048344d55c5ef7a6.6064&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)