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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** Help Preserve Democracy – Join Our Letter Writing Campaign
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The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a letter writing campaign for the midterm elections through Vote Forward, a UUA sanctioned organization.
This campaign is slightly different from the postcards we have done in the past, so we’ll have a brief orientation session in the sanctuary after church service this Sunday, August 16. This session (10-15 minutes + questions) will contain information explaining the differences between this campaign and the postcards.
To give everyone an opportunity to participate in the effort, we have created the following schedule:
Tuesday, August 18
Wednesday August 26
Thursday, September 3
Tuesday, September 8
Thursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 23
All gatherings will be held from 6:30 to 8:00pm in Classroom 3, with spillover to the sanctuary if necessary.
Everyone is welcome to join us to learn more about this campaign – and to help us promote and preserve our democracy through encouraging others to vote. Join us for one, join us for some, join us for all!
** There’s always something to see in our meadows!
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After I finished weed trimming* the other morning in the meadow, I was drenched with sweat but still took time to look around me. I always check out our Joe-Pye Weed plants, because they are usually loaded with pollinators. Hopefully you can see the Monarch Butterfly in the picture above, but if I were a better photographer, you would also see dozens of Bumblebees, Skippers, and maybe even a Praying Mantis or two. Like coral reefs of the oceans, the life on some of our meadow plants is amazingly rich and busy if you take time to look. And don’t forget to look up! I usually see several cool birds, like Bluebirds, Gold Finches, Vultures, King Birds, and Hawks.
*I usually hit the weeds with the weed trimmer a few times a week. The church has a battery powered trimmer with a carbide saw blade attachment, which enables us to cut invasive plants and saplings with some precision. If you take a close look at the row of trees on our property along Polly Drummond Hill Road you will see they are mostly free of vines. That is not the case with most tree stands next to roadways. These tend to be covered in invasive vines that very often kill the native trees, and that is a growing problem in our forested land throughout the region. Here at Mill Creek we are blessed that several of our Land Stewards are willing to fight these invasive vines, like Peg Duffy who has single-handedly reduced Poison Ivy vines climbing our trees. Thank you, Peg!
-Jamie Kegerise
** Faith Exploration Summer Activities
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Summer fun continues in the faith exploration classrooms!
August 16 – Potato Day
Our potato crop has been harvested, so this Sunday the kids will have fun making potato dishes and enjoy other potato-themed activities.
August 23- Water Day Everyone’s favorite – come with sunscreen applied and swimsuits on (or other clothes you won’t mind getting wet).
August 30 – Tie-Dye Day Another messy but fun activity. We will provide a white t-shirt and all the colors.
WISH LIST:
We are looking for woodworking tools. If you have any that you would like to donate, bring them in any Sunday. Thank you!
Soap Day (August 9) – talk about squeaky clean fun!!
** Chalice Circles at Mill Creek
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Chalice Circles are small covenant-based groups that provide a supportive environment for people to meet and discuss topics relevant to our lives as well as share our stories, our experiences, and our ideas.
Circles are an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level and develop a more meaningful spirituality. They help foster deep listening, build meaningful personal connections, and reflect on religious themes, with some circles adopting service projects. Circles meet regularly, gathering during the day or evening, at church or someone’s home.
This is the typical time of year for Circles to evolve; some members come and others go, for various reasons. If you’re thinking about joining or changing a circle, or if your circle is looking to add members, contact Jeanne Hanson (mailto:jeanne.m.hanson@gmail.com) .
** Sunday Worship Service Information
August 16, 2026
10:30 am
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Our Worship Team has created another interactive worship experience for all to enjoy. Join us for Big Poetry Sunday, when members and friends of our congregation will read poems centered around three themes: Nature, Transformation, and Survival; Lighthearted, Funny, and Love; Democracy and Social Justice.
Music for this service will be offered by Rob Sylvester, our collaborative pianist.
Connect with Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s Faith Exploration programming is available for ages 4 and up (see below for what’s coming up)
* Child Care available (infant/toddler, ages birth to 3)
Connect with Us Virtually
* Click the link below: ‘Sunday Livestream’ (bookmark it on your preferred device for quick and easy access on Sunday morning).
Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419
** 2nd Annual Interfaith Picnic & Potluck
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Love Your Neighbor
Newark Interfaith Leaders are sponsoring their second annual “Love Your Neighbor” Interfaith Picnic and Potluck on Sunday, August 23, 5:30-7:30pm at Paper Mill Park. Our church will be available to host in case of bad weather. View the Facebook post HERE (https://www.facebook.com/events/1039680475391259/?rdid=5I6z5tsM5gqStq2C&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1EwNc6vzRc%2F) .
** 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 July & August we are supporting:
Meals on Wheels – Newark, Delaware
Coordinated by the Newark Senior Center and operated by volunteers, this program provides dependable weekday meal delivery so older adults can continue living at home with support. With a focus on consistency, dignity, and community connection, this program helps ensure no one is left without a proper meal.
Learn more about Meals on Wheels, Newark HERE (https://www.newarkseniorcenter.com/transportation-services)
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)
** Yoga Offered on Select Dates during the Summer Months
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Join Margaret in the library, 8:30am-10am, for gentle yoga & meditation on the following Fridays:
August 14 & 21
To register or with questions, contact Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net) .
** Dungeons & Dragons
A Recurring Event
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Sundays: August 16 & 30
(every other week)
12:00 pm, Conference Room
D&D is a role-playing game about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. 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. No registration required – just drop in. All are welcome to join the group in the Conference Room. Occurs every other week on Sundays.
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. Christe Lunsford, Minister
* Mondays & Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in the office; calls and by email after 2pm.
* Thursdays: by appointment
* Sundays (when I preach): 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
* My regular days off are Friday and Saturday, unless I am scheduled for special congregational duties. I answer calls and emails Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Any non-emergency calls or emails outside of those hours will be answered during the next work day.
* Other times may be arranged by mutual agreement via email: minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) or click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ08wOXSmX5fNN_vySxfpLP9VL2QqSZF5spIx5_9rxZm3e25LNywCGk4WoIlyFMvdn84osyy8XZl) .
* I joyfully participate in committee meetings when I am able, with particular focus on the Board, Finance, and Worship teams.
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday-Thursday 9 am to 2 pm
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Margaret Borror, Faith Exploration Teacher
Sundays, and by appointment
dfe@uusmc.org (mailto:dfe@uusmc.org)
Rob Sylvester, Collaborative Accompanist
Sundays, and by appointment
** Connect with the UUA, Central East Region, and Delmarva Cluster
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** How UU Ministers Find Clarity in a Rapidly Changing World
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As back-to-back crises occur locally and globally, faith leaders are increasingly faced with a balancing act: providing support and moral clarity to their congregants while simultaneously fostering their own understanding of events and nurturing their personal peace, grounding, and perseverance.
Read the article HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/unitarian-universalist-ministers-adapt-find-balance?_gl=1*w9qoxm*_ga*NjI0ODgyMDUzLjE3Nzc0ODUwMjY.*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*czE3ODUyNjAwNjAkbzI0JGcxJHQxNzg1MjYwNDAyJGo3JGwwJGgw)
** Central East Region News Update
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August 2026
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.
The Central East Region helps congregations of all shapes and sizes connect with each other and with resources that help them best express their Unitarian Universalist faith in a changing and hurting world. We believe that we’re at our best when we work together–and we Central East Region staff work together to help your congregation be its best. To learn more about what’s happening in our region, click the button below.
Central East Region August Update – click HERE (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/news/cer-news-0826)
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