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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** School Supplies Drive a Big Success
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Our school supplies drive supported TJ’s Boxing Academy – owned and operated by our cleaning contractor, Ted Johnson – when they had a well-attended community event on Saturday, August 15.
Local families came out and enjoyed food & refreshments and activities for kids.
Every kid went home with needed school supplies, with smiles all around. Mill Creek’s donations toward this event helped to make it happen. Ted says…
“Thank you for your support!”
** 2nd Annual Interfaith Picnic & Potluck this Sunday
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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) .
** Volunteer Opportunity: Help Serve Dinner at Family Promise
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Come join a dedicated team of Mill Creek volunteers as we prepare and serve dinner at the beautiful new Family Promise facility on Milltown Road. No special skills are needed—all food is prepared onsite under the guidance of the kitchen manager. Just bring your willingness to help.
Dates and Time:
* Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), 4-7pm: 2 volunteers needed
* Wednesday, September 9, 4-7pm: 6 volunteers needed
Family Promise (https://www.familypromisede.org/) is the only agency providing shelter for unhoused families in northern Delaware. Volunteers help staff the kitchen, prepare and serve meals, and assist with clean‑up. All you need to do is show up. You won’t be disappointed!
See or contact Chris Reynolds (click here (mailto:reynoldschistine0@gmail.com) ). Carpooling can be arranged.
** Adult RE Class
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New this fall:
Building Our Own Theology
What is it you actually believe? What UU values do you actually live by?
This fall, Rev. Christe is offering Building Our Own Theology, an original eight-week course — no textbook to buy, no single “menu” of belief options, just real material to think, feel, and argue with. The course builds toward something concrete: a personal credo you’ll write, revise, and share with the group in the closing week.
The class begins Wednesday, September 16 and meets first and third Wednesday evenings through January, 6:30–8:30 pm, at church. Registration is required, click the button below. Space is limited to keep the circle small. Contact Rev. Christe (mailto:revchriste@gmail.com) with questions.
Building Our Own Theology – register HERE (https://uusmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3831722)
** Help Preserve Democracy – Join Our Letter Writing Campaign
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Support our democracy by participating in the Social Justice Committee’s “Vote Forward” campaign! If you missed the orientation, click the button below for all information.
Join us on Wednesday, August 26 at 6:30 pm in Classroom 3 for a group writing session, or pick up a packet from Becky Varlas on Sunday after the service in the back of the sanctuary, or send questions via email HERE (mailto:rebeccavarlas@gmail.com) .
SEPTEMBER SESSIONS:
Thursday, September 3
Tuesday, September 8
Thursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 23
Write on, Mill Creek!
Vote Forward: how it works – click HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Vote-Forward-2026-1.pdf)
** Faith Exploration Summer Activities
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Summer fun continues in the faith exploration classrooms!
August 23- Water Day Everyone’s favorite – kids should come with sunscreen applied and swimsuits on (or other clothes that can get 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!
** 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 23, 2026
10:30 am
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There’s an old line attributed to Augustine: qui cantat, bis orat — whoever sings, prays twice. This Sunday, we’re taking that seriously — and we’re doing it with our new hymnal. We’ll be learning several songs from it together, led by Rev. Christe Lunsford.
We’ll also touch on what music does to us that words alone don’t — how a tune can lodge itself in memory in a way a sermon rarely does, and why singing together can reach us in places speech can’t quite get to.
Come as you are, whether you read music or not. Your body already knows what to do.
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
** Yoga Continues this Fall
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Join Margaret in the MacArtor Library, 8:30-10am, for gentle yoga and meditation on the following Fridays this fall:
September 18
September 25
October 2
October 9
October 16
October 23
Contact Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net) with any questions.
** 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)
** 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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** Welcome to Unitarian Universalism
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We are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. We create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in the world.
Unitarian Universalism draws from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. We covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:
* Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
* Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
* Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
* Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
* Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
* Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
Refresh your faith or share with others! CLICK HERE (https://www.uua.org/beliefs)
** 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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