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Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
This week, we invite you:
** 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” regarding our transition time frame.
For those who haven’t yet, the deadline for this step is Sunday, March 12. If you did NOT receive the previous email, please contact Tracy Morgan (mailto:TMorgan@North-Star-Strategies.com) .
Your participation is both valued and appreciated.
** Rev. Greg Out of Office
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Rev. Greg is away now through Sunday, March 12. He will be unavailable by phone, text or email during this time. He will be back in the office on Monday, March 13.
In his absence you can contact the church office, 302-369-2712 or email administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) . For pastoral issues, contact pastoralcare@uusmc.org (mailto:pastoralcare@uusmc.org) .
** Weekly Deadline for Church Communication Submissions
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If you have an announcement you’d like featured in the Thursday email or Sunday Order of Service, it must be submitted to the church office by Wednesdays at 10:00 am. This gives us adequate time for editing, formatting, printing/folding, inserting, etc. Any submissions received after this timeframe will be featured the following week, unless approved by Steve Selph.
All submissions can be sent to administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) .
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
** Daylight Saving Time Begins Soon
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Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 am. Plan to set your clocks and timepieces FORWARD one hour before bed the night before. We’ll lose an hour of sleep but gain an hour of daylight!
** 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) .
REGISTER HERE: Yoga For Healthy Aging class (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net
** 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) with questions or to offer your help with this event.
** 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)
** 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)
** Mill Creek Annual Service Auction: UPDATE ———————————————————— This year’s Service Auction is scheduled for SATURDAY, MAY 6th. We will soon begin the process of gathering donations. Watch your inbox next week for a separate email which will provide the procedure for making a donation. The email will include an easy email link for you to let us know what you are donating. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind: ITEMS: most items (gift baskets, handcrafted goods, retail gift cards, etc.) will be offered on our online auction portal. Therefore we would like at least one photo (but preferably several) of the item suitable for featuring on the portal, plus a detailed description. If you are unable to provide a photo of the item, let us know and we will be happy to assist you. SERVICES: most services (lawn care or tree trimming, airport/medical/therapy transportation, baby or pet sitting, personal IT consultation, cooking/dancing lessons, etc.) will be included in our live auction. Please provide a detailed description of the service you are providing. EXPERIENCES: just like services, most experiences (guided hikes, museum trips, themed dinners, wine tastings, etc.) will be included in our live auction. Please provide a detailed description of the experience you are offering. Please note: in all cases, there is no such thing as too much information! The more detail you provide in your description, the better. Please also note: 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. And one more note: there is no pressure to make wildly unique, 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 support the church with this fundraiser and have some fun while doing it.
Current Share Our Plate Recipient ———————————————————— 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) **
Ways You Can Help Our Meadow and Grounds Efforts at Mill Creek ———————————————————— Maintaining our native meadow and grounds requires dedication, plus a lot of work and effort. But did you know that not all of it involves pulling weeds and digging in the dirt? There are many different ways we all can help to keep our natural lands healthy and vibrant. Consider these: * Research: gather pricing data for cutting down at least two of our Ash trees that we are likely to lose to the Emerald Ash Borer; submit to the team * Find us a new or used but reliable gas-powered push mower for meadow cutting/trimming * Plan, promote, and host a themed campfire * Photograph our volunteers in action, events occurring outdoors or in the meadow, and/or our flora and fauna; send to the team * Donate nice wood or metal gardening stakes at least 3′ long * Publicize our efforts to the surrounding community: share on your own social media platforms * Organize an effort to collect Ash Tree seeds this fall to freeze and replant in the future * Refurbish, repair or replace our Bluebird houses 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) Next week: we will share even more ways you can help. **
Worship Service Information Sunday, March 5, 2023 10:30 am ———————————————————— Join our guest speaker Caroline Bright as she posits this question: Is love enough to get us where we want to be? Music for the day will be performed by Aaron McCloskey, with Brian Hanson, soloist. 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 ————————————————————
** Community Climate Conversation ———————————————————— Energize Delaware, in cooperation with Creation Care of Newark UMC and Delaware Interfaith Power & Light, will be hosting a Community Climate Conversation at Newark United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 19, from 3 to 5:00 pm. Join us for an open and respectful discussion of issues related to climate change; to share individual beliefs, confusions, observations, fears and hopes; and to explore ideas and available resources for creating a healthier planet that are less divisive and political and more unifying and practical. Topics to be explored related to climate change include: Where does it rank among your issues of concern? Where do you turn for information? Whose voices do you trust? Have you experienced the impacts? What capacity do we have as individuals, communities, states, or nations to affect the outcome – for better or for worse? All are welcome to attend and contribute to this important community discussion. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided. Click here for more information and to reserve your spot at the roundtable! (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-climate-conversation-tickets-537485673117) Newark United Methodist Church (https://newark-umc.org/numc/) 69 East Main Street Heritage Hall Newark, DE 19711 302-368-8774 **
News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster ———————————————————— ** Solidarity with Ukraine ———————————————————— A Prayer for People in War As we mark the solemn one-year anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the UUA shares Rev. Eric Cherry’s prayer of comfort, courage, wisdom and compassion. We hold our siblings in Ukraine near our hearts and in our prayers at this time and always. Read the Prayer HERE (https://www.uua.org/justice) https://www.uua.org/central-east ** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update ———————————————————— 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) ============================================================ ** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UUSMC) ** Website (https://www.uusmc.org) ** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu) Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|LIST_ADDRESS|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can ** update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*) or ** unsubscribe from this list (*|UNSUB|*) . *|IF:REWARDS|* *|REWARDS_TEXT|* *|END:IF|*