We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:
** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Sunday Worship Service Information
April 6, 2025
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Mill Creek member Rose Arlene Zink shares her sermon, “Backstories.” Rose was a member of the First Unitarian Society of Westchester (NY) until her move to Delaware in December 2021 with her spouse, Ewa Iracka, after she retired. They happily reside in Newark with their 2 dogs and 2 cats. Rose and Ewa joined Mill Creek in April 2022.
Music for this service will be performed by Marty Lassman and Diana Saunders. Marty Lassman is a retired music teacher, having taught instrumental music at Wilmington Friends School, and choir at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts. He taught private and public school for 48 years prior to retiring. He is currently the director of the Small Wonder Jazz Singers jazz choir at the Music School of Delaware. Diana Headley Saunders has played the flute since age 9, and has performed in a variety of ensembles over the years including the New Jersey Youth Symphony, the Dartmouth College Symphony, a flute trio, and a woodwind quintet. She joined Mill Creek in 2004 with her two young daughters. Diana’s activities at church include being on the Search Committee to find a minister, teaching RE classes, and singing in the church choir. She enjoys her newfound freedom after a career as a classroom teacher in independent schools in DE, NY and VA.
Connect with Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s RE programming is available for ages 4 and up
* Child Care available (infant/toddler, ages birth 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 and easy access on Sunday morning); OR
* Get the link by accessing the church calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) )
Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419
** Fun & Fellowship Meeting This Sunday
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If you count on this beloved community for camaraderie and social experiences, the Committee wants your input.
All are welcome to join us after church service on Sunday, April 6 to help us map out the church social calendar for the next 3 months.
** Pizza in the Meadow
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Again this year!
We will be having a Pizza & Beverage Social every second Wednesday around 7:00 pm. Join us Wednesday, April 9 – all are welcome. We’ll enjoy a few slices and each other’s company after meadow chores. You can pitch in with chores beforehand or just come for pizza – no judgement!
** Have you made your donations yet?
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***DONATIONS NEEDED FOR SERVICE AUCTION***
Last year we had a wide array of items, services, and experiences offered in both the live and silent auctions. We need your support to make this year’s auction another great success! Our donation line is open – click the pink ‘donate here’ button below to make your donation(s) today!
Did you know…?
The most popular items in the live auction are themed or group dinners at private homes or restaurants.
Why? It allows for a relaxed opportunity for socialization and fellowship. It’s also one of the easiest things you, as a donor, can contribute! If you like to entertain, plan a fun menu at your house for 8-10 people. Aren’t up to it? Plan a gathering at a nice restaurant!
DONATE HERE (mailto:david@dlsk.net)
Need more ideas or inspiration?
Gift baskets are fun to assemble and themes and/or ideas for one (or more!) are limitless. For a list of 500 gift basket ideas,
CLICK HERE (https://www.fundraiserhelp.com/500-silent-auction-basket-ideas.htm) .
If gift baskets aren’t your thing, we found a source of over 150 auction ideas, separated by category. To view that list,
CLICK HERE (https://www.winspireme.com/silent-auction-item-ideas/) .
Have a question and not sure who to ask? Access our Auction FAQ page! CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/FAQ-Service-Auction-2025.pdf)
♥Without fun, festive, interesting and creative items to bid on…there would be no auction. We are grateful for your participation in our fundraiser, and we thank you for your generosity.♥
Only THREE Sundays Remain for Purchasing Tickets in Advance !
Tickets will be on sale after church service this Sunday, April 6. When purchasing tickets at the reduced price, please be prepared to let us know what category you will be donating:
FOOD (specify cold appetizer, vegetarian dish or dessert) OR…
BEVERAGE (specify red wine, white wine, or beer).
Note: Buying tickets in advance helps us to purchase and prepare enough food for everyone.
** Hands Off March this Saturday
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Join your fellow UUs in support of Hands Off 2025 when they join forces this Saturday with Indivisible Newark First State – a local political action/social justice branch of Indivisble.org. They are dedicated to standing up for Justice, Democracy, Empathy and Integrity and plan to take to the streets:
Saturday, April 5
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
E. Main Street & S. College Avenue
Newark, Delaware
This peaceful march is an opportunity to support your commitment to UU values of honesty, integrity, and equality. To learn more about the Hands Off movement, click HERE (https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/766510/) . To learn more about the Indivisble organization, click HERE (https://indivisible.org/) . To learn more, or see/contact Suzanne Smith (mailto:suzannedsmith3@gmail.com) for more information.
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Support the Food Bank of Delaware with Your Donations
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The recent cuts to the USDA have resulted in the cancellation of 750,000 pounds of food, or about 900,000 meals, meant to be delivered to the Food Bank of Delaware between April and July 2025. In response, Newark-area members of the Delaware House Democrats teamed up with the Food Bank of Delaware to host a donation drive. They’re asking members of the public to join them in donating some of the Food Bank’s most-needed items, including hot & cold cereals; peanut butter; canned fruits, meats, and vegetables; rice; and pasta.
The Social Justice Committee has provided a bin in the gathering space to collect the items mentioned above. Please help us to help our less fortunate neighbors.
** Red-shouldered Hawk Visits Mill Creek
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Thanks to Kristen Miller, a local resident, for capturing and sharing this wonderful photo! The Red-shouldered Hawk perched on our sign is a frequent visitor to the church meadows and wooded edge, and is a great example of why we are managing our lands to maximize native biodiversity. Often seen in a tree or flying overhead, the hawk is likely hunting for small mammals or other prey that live in our meadows. Perhaps you’ve seen it, too?
Kristen is an aspiring nature photographer and noticed the hawk while driving by on March 24. She stopped to capture photos on her cellphone, and later posted the photos on both the Delmarva Nature and Wildlife Facebook page, and the Delaware Birding Facebook page, where they have been viewed and “liked/loved” by more than 1,700 Facebook users, to date. Many viewers posted positive comments about our sign!
** What does ‘Dinner for 7’ look like?
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The Bonners welcomed church members to their home and hosted a recent Dinner for 7 (or in this case, 9). It was, by all accounts, a wonderful evening with good company, delicious food, and lively conversation.
Pictured above, left to right: Terrianne Lavin, Eileen Selph, Steve Selph, Bob Varlas, Becky Varlas, Christine Reynolds (partially visible), Bill Reynolds, and David Bonner. Not pictured (but also in attendance) Laura Bonner.
** Wednesday Evening Meadow Work Resumes
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The Land Stewards have resumed their weekly evening work efforts every Wednesday around 5:30pm, weather permitting. You don’t need to be a meadow worker bee to come out and enjoy some social time with us in the meadow. – everyone is welcome to simply walk around and enjoy our natural native habitat.
You don’t have to pull weeds either! We’ve put together a list of suggestions for ways anyone can help – from minimal effort, to moderate activity, to using shovels and pulling weeds. Check it out by clicking the button below.
Learn more – click HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Support-Our-Natural-Lands-1.pdf)
** Current Share Our Plate Recipient
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We regularly donate a half of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization. For the months of March and April we are supporting:
Moms Demand Action – Delaware Chapter
A Volunteer Chapter in Every State
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots volunteer movement of Americans working for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They work to pass stronger gun laws and close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. Moms Demand Action is a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly 11 million supporters. Our donation will support the legislative advocacy fund, “Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.”
Learn more about Moms Demand Action HERE (https://www.everytown.org/state/delaware/)
Support this organization with your online donation HERE. Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund. Thank you! (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give)
** Recurring Event: D & D
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A fantasy tabletop role-playing game
The Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game is about storytelling in worlds of sword and sorcery. It shares elements with childhood games of make-believe. In the Dungeons & Dragons game, each player creates an adventurer (also called a character) and teams up with other adventurers (played by friends). Working together, the group might explore a dark dungeon, a ruined city, a haunted castle, a lost temple deep in a jungle, or a lava-filled cavern beneath a mysterious mountain. The adventurers can solve puzzles, talk with other characters, battle fantastic monsters, and discover fabulous magic items and other treasure. All are welcome to join the group on Sunday, April 13 & 27 at 12 pm in classroom 1. Occurs every 2 weeks on Sundays. Questions? Contact Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.com) .
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
Rev. Schmidt is on leave now through Sunday, April 13. For immediate concerns, you may contact the pastoral care team (mailto:pastoralcare@uusmc.org) , the board of trustees (mailto:board@uusmc.org) , or the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) .
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 9 am to 2 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region
** Where to Find UU-focused Books & Other Resources
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inSpirit is the online counterpart to the UUA bookstore, located at 24 Farnsworth Street in Boston. Through a curated selection of hardback, paperback and e-books, pamphlets and other printed materials, plus merchandise and gifts, inSpirit focuses on the progressive issues of justice/equity, diversity, spirituality, and community relevant to our unique time and place in the world. Click the link to view their expansive offerings, and consider signing up to receive the inSpirit newsletter.
Click HERE to learn more (https://www.uuabookstore.org/Default.aspx)
** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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APRIL 2025
Featured Resource:
The Gathering
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 (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-425)
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** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
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