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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:
Editor’s Note:
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Transition Committee Update
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Thank you to those who have responded to ‘Step 1’ of our “Virtual Dialogue.” You have now received ‘Step 2’. It does not matter if you had time or even ideas about ‘Step 1.’ You are encouraged to participate in ‘Step 2’ because we would like to hear from as many people as possible. The deadline is Sunday, March 26.
Your participation is both valued and appreciated.
** ***DONATIONS NEEDED
FOR OUR SERVICE AUCTION***
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Mark your calendar and plan to attend our annual Service Auction on
SATURDAY, MAY 6th!
We are actively seeking donations for both the live and silent auctions. We need your donations to make this fundraiser a success!
**OUR DONATION LINE IS NOW OPEN**
Click the blue button below
to make your donation today!
* Whatever you choose to donate, there is no such thing as too much information! The more detail you provide in your description, the better.
* If you are unsure about the monetary value of your donation(s), let us know and our auction specialist will be happy to assist you.
* There is no pressure to make wildly unique, high end, super festive, or incredibly creative donations. Have a 1-week time share you’d like to donate? Super, we’ll take it! Want to donate a 2-hour helicopter sightseeing tour? Great, we’ll take it! HOWEVER…we will happily and gratefully accept store gift cards, handcrafted items, baked goods, and monetary donations in lieu of something tangible. The idea of the auction is to garner involvement and participation while supporting the church with this fundraiser – and have some fun while doing it!
*CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW* (mailto:david@dlsk.net?subject=My%20Service%20Auction%20Donations)
If you have any questions about your donations, the process, or anything related to the Auction, feel free to reach out to our Auction Specialist, David Bonner, by CLICKING HERE (mailto:david@dlsk.net) or use the button above.
** Spring Equinox Celebration
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Join us on Monday evening, March 20th at 7 pm to celebrate the return of Spring and the New Moon. We’ll observe this event, also known as Vernal Equinox, with a ritual in the sanctuary and a bonfire outdoors. Bring a small dish or snacks/beverages to share. Also, bring along native plant seeds if you have some. Contact Regina Guarino (mailto:regina139@msn.com?subject=spring%20equinox%20celebration) with questions or to offer your help with this event.
** Yoga For Healthy Aging Class
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Mill Creek member Margaret Bodine, M.A., ERYT200, RYT500, YACEP, invites you to join her and others for an 8-week hatha yoga and mindful meditation class series to benefit the whole body-mind-spirit. This class will include mindful flows, poses and meditation aimed at calming the nervous system and refreshing the whole self. Each week, we will practice with the aim of supporting ourselves as we age through improving strength and flexibility, calming the mind, and cultivating equanimity.
Class Schedule: Tuesday evenings, 5:30 pm to 6:40 pm, March 21 through May 9
Location: Mill Creek Sanctuary
Registration Required: YES (see link below)
What to bring: yoga mat, blanket, towel (for knee poses), yoga bolster or second blanket, yoga strap or band, and an open mind and heart
Suggested donation: $10 per session – all proceeds to benefit Mill Creek
About Our Instructor
Margaret Bodine has been practicing yoga for 35 years. She started the Yoga program at the West Grove YMCA 29 years ago and taught there for 5 years. She then taught at The Light Within Yoga studio, West Grove, PA for 10 years and started and taught yoga and mindful meditation to children at Penn London Elementary School for 4 years as part of her curriculum in Pro-Social Skills. She loves practicing and teaching mindful, gentle yoga and meditation for all the benefits it brings to herself and others. Yoga is a wonderful way to calm and center, reducing excess stress, and increasing a sense of peacefulness in one’s life experience. Have questions about the class? You can email Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net?subject=Yoga%20class%20at%20Mill%20Creek) .
REGISTER HERE: Yoga For Healthy Aging class (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net?subject=Yoga%20Class%20Registration&body=Hi!%20Here%20is%20my%20registration%20info%3A)
** Thinking about membership?
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We invite all who have been considering officially joining the church to take part in Rev. Greg’s series of virtual classes designed to introduce visitors, friends, and anyone interested in learning more about the UU faith and the Mill Creek congregation.
Introduction to UUism
Wednesday, March 22 @ 6:30 pm on Zoom
Rev. Greg will lead a brief, terribly incomplete, kinda cheeky, but mostly true introduction to Unitarian Universalism history, theology, and polity (with a minor tangent to decoding all those abbreviations).
Intro to Mill Creek
Wednesday, March 29 @ 6:30 pm on Zoom
This session is an introduction about the Values, Beliefs, and Mission of Mill Creek with the intention of helping new folks get to know who we are as a religious community.
The Meaning of Membership
Wednesday, April 5 @ 6:30 pm on Zoom
This session is a conversation about what it means to be a member of Mill Creek. It will provide information and establish our shared expectations for membership.
These classes will prepare you to participate in our New Member Ceremony on Sunday, April 16. Contact Rev. Greg (minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) ) with questions or interest.
** Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music: final concert in the series
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David Davis & the Warrior River Boys
Friday, March 24, 8 pm
Alabama native and member of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, David Davis has traveled and performed as front man for the Warrior River Boys since 1984. He is recognized as one of the foremost practitioners of the Monroe mandolin technique. His interest in old-time and bluegrass music grew organically from a musical family; his uncle, Cleo Davis, was Bill Monroe’s original Blue Grass Boy. The group’s latest release is a masterful and exciting collection of songs originally recorded in the 1920’s by the legendary Charlie Poole and his North Carolina Ramblers.
Tickets sold at the door!
General Public, $25; Seniors, $20; Students with ID, $15;
Ages 17 & under, FREE
Take a listen to David Davis & the WRB HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oLl0Sc3fR8)
** UU Delaware Advocacy Network: Upcoming Meeting
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There is a new group of legislators representing constituents after Delaware’s November 2022 local elections. Paul Baumbach, member of UUFN and the lone UU serving as a legislator, will inform us about the bills that touch on our UU values. This meeting will help us organize our advocacy work to make the most impact this session. Everyone is welcome to join us at this virtual meeting.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
4:00 – 5:30pm on Zoom
Click HERE to sign up for the Zoom link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3QqOoIunbfvlbloQfrqZqh_j2qxdWAOe91HYLvJbir6MU3w/viewform)
UUDAN, the Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network, brings together the five Delaware UU congregations to engage in local legislative action. Their mission is to inform, recruit and mobilize UU advocates to work, in partnership with other advocacy organizations, for the many social justice issues in the state of Delaware. CLICK HERE (http://www.uudeladvo.org/wp/) to learn more about UUDAN and the work they do.
** Rainbow Chorale Returns to Mill Creek!
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The Chorale returns to perform one of their popular Cabaret-style shows with individual acts and group numbers.
This Showcase explores the similarities and differences of life experiences of different generations with music evocative of the the ages and stages our members have gone through.
Seating is General Admission, table seating for 4, and live-stream tickets. Use the link below for more information and for tickets!
— > Tickets! Get your tickets here! <— (https://therainbowchorale.org/ages-stages-showcase-tickets)
**
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 March and April we are supporting:
Conscious Connections, Inc.
Conscious Connections (CCI) is a black-owned urban farm located in Wilmington, Delaware. Their mission is to uplift underserved and marginalized populations through exposure, education, and economic opportunities in the arts and agriculture.
They offer a variety of youth programs and engage young adults in farm-based training and experience which is designed to prepare them for work in agriculture, landscaping, and maintenance. They also offer seasonal Market Fresh Boxes during the summer months, host community workshops such as candle-making using wax procured from their beehive and sell the honey it produces. They give back to the community by having clothing and meal giveaways coordinated with local residents. By their outreach efforts and offering a safe place for local youth, CCI is contributing to the quality of life for many.
Learn more about CCI here (https://www.consciousconnectionsinc.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)
** Hands-On Ways to Help Our Meadow and Grounds Efforts
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We have previously shared numerous ways you can help to keep our natural lands healthy and vibrant with minimal time and effort. We now offer more hands-on suggestions which may require a bit more physical exertion. Don’t mind getting a little dirty? Consider these:
* Adopt and care for one or more of the garden beds.
* Pull or clip Honeysuckle, Oriental Bittersweet, and/or Porcelain-berry vines to your heart’s content!
* Assist with the care of our planted trees and/or shrubs.
* Help to manage our six Asian Pear trees, including winter pruning, spring thinning, and August/September harvesting.
* Kill the weeds and fill in the cracks in our parking lot.
* Clean out and organize the shed.
* Participate in the removal of the invasive ornamental pear trees that have infested our meadows.
* Help out during the annual meadow mowing day this month – date will be announced soon!
* Pitch in during a weekly Wednesday afternoon/early evening work time – these weekly sessions will be resuming soon!
Let the team know if you have any questions or how you can help by reaching out to Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or Amy White. (mailto:amywwhite@comcast.net)
Involvement in this meaningful and rewarding work supports our
7th Principle (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles/7th) :
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence
of which we are a part.
** Sunday Worship Service Information
March 19, 2023
10:30 am
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Rev. Greg returns to the pulpit to share his sermon:
Music for the morning will be performed by returning guest musician E. Shawn Qaissaunee.
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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** DSO: Delaware’s Only Professional Orchestra
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The Delaware Symphony Orchestra makes a joyous return with their first full season in three years as they celebrate Maestro David Amado’s 20th anniversary season. This season’s Chamber Series continues to honor David’s milestone year with a special performance from the Maestro himself, accompanied by talented friends from the DSO.
Click HERE to Learn More (https://www.delawaresymphony.org/)
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Exploring Black Women’s History
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In centering Black women’s stories, two award-winning historians seek both to empower African American women and to show their allies that Black women’s unique ability to make their own communities while combatting centuries of oppression is an essential component in our continued resistance to systemic racism and sexism. Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross offer an examination and celebration of Black womanhood, beginning with the first African women who arrived in what became the United States to African American women of today.
A Black Women’s History of the United States reaches far beyond a single narrative to showcase Black women’s lives in all their fraught complexities. Berry and Gross prioritize many voices: enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law. The result is a starting point for exploring Black women’s history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation. The book is available through inSpirit: the UUA book and gift shop.
Buy the book HERE (https://www.uuabookstore.org/A-Black-Womens-History-of-the-United-States-P18780.aspx?_gl=1*peft1y*_ga*MTA5NDQ4NjE5Ni4xNjc3MDA2NDky*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*MTY3ODgxNTU2Ny43LjEuMTY3ODgxNTU5NC4wLjAuMA..)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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MARCH 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=b887d8d5e65ac4dec3934028fe23ad72.6001&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)
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** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UUSMC)
** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu)
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