Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Livestreaming Resumes this Sunday
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We are pleased to welcome back the members of our tech team and Zoom hosts who took a well deserved break last Sunday. We recognize their efforts and remain grateful for their volunteerism and dedication, making it possible for us to offer an inclusive worship service via the livestream.
Tech Team: Vicky Tosh-Morelli, Kristen Tosh-Morelli, Joey Tosh-Morelli, David Bonner, Adam Kegley, and Diane Hofer.
Zoom Hosts: Anna Hull, Karen Rege, and Joe Snader.
** School Supplies Drive
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Now through August 28th
Last Sunday we launched our School Supplies Drive, a Mill Creek tradition. This effort supports local elementary schools where the need is greatest,
specifically grades 3, 4 and 5. The drive runs now through Sunday, August 28th. We have remaining bookbags we need to fill.
Here’s how to participate:
* Pick up an empty bookbag this Sunday from the table in the gathering space; the bags were donated so there is no additional cost. Inside each bag is a complete list of requested supplies for a specific grade (3, 4 or 5). Take the bag home, purchase all of the supplies on the list if possible, and bring back to church on August 28th.
Or…
* Pick up a list of general supplies. Take home the list, purchase the supplies of your choosing, and bring them in to church on August 28th.
Or…
* Use the link below to request a list of general supplies by email.
I want to help the school supplies drive! (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org?subject=school%20supplies%20drive&body=Please%20send%20me%20the%20list%20of%20general%20school%20supplies%20-%20thanks!)
All supplies will be delivered the week of August 29th. Thank you Chitra Vaidy and Ann & Roy Draper for coordinating this effort!
** Your Pledge Dollars at Work
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During the last fiscal year, 7/1/21 to 6/30/22, we paid our janitorial service $8925 for routine/weekly cleaning of our church building.
** Come to a Summer Campfire
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Join Us in the Memorial Grove this Saturday
We are welcoming all to a series of campfires on select dates through October.
Our next gathering is this Saturday evening, August 6th at 6:30 pm.
* The theme for this event is a Hymn Sing-Along using our UU hymnals (singing is optional)
* Everyone is welcome: members, friends, neighbors, youth & kids…bring a guest!
* Bring all your comforts: lawn/camp chair or blanket for those in your group, bug spray, etc.
* The Memorial Grove is adjacent to the main parking lot and is reasonably accessible on a slight grassy incline; we are happy to provide assistance to anyone who needs it
* The church building will be available for restroom use
* Feel free to reach out to Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) (or 302-367-2712) with any questions
COME EARLY
COME LATE
BRING A DATE
** Out of Office
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Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator, will be out of the office next week, Monday through Thursday, August 8th-11th and will return on Monday, August 15
** Pool Party – You’re Invited!
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Mill Creek members Fran Gulino and Joe Snader invite everyone to their home on Saturday, August 27th at 5 pm for a pool party.
Tacos will be served! If you’d like, bring your favorite taco topping, side dish, or beverage. This event is open to all members, friends, and visitors to our church and will be a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company, and perhaps meet a few folks you may not know. There’s plenty of room for everyone!
Use the link below to let Fran & Joe know you’re coming along with the number of people in your group. RSVPs will receive an email response with Fran & Joe’s address. We hope you can make it!
Count me in! (mailto:frangu302@gmail.com?subject=pool%20party)
Who are Fran Gulino and Joe Snader…??
Members of Mill Creek since 2017, Fran took her first turn at the microphone as auctioneer at our Service Auction held in May, and now serves on our board of Trustees; and Joe recently completed his service as a board member. They are looking forward to opening their home to all who would like to attend!
**
Share Our Plate:
July & August
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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 July & August we are once again supporting the following charitable organization:
Independent Living for Young Adults
(ILYA)
ILYA is a social justice program serving young adults who are transitioning from the foster care system into independent living. This program is led by members of First Unitarian Church of Wilmington and is in partnership with the Delaware’s Division of Family Services (DFS). Since 2005, the ILYA program has been offering a wide array of services to support these young adults to help them feel part of a caring community. Participation in the program offers resources to increase their chances for future success.
Learn more about ILYA here (https://firstuuwilm.org/connect/independent-living-for-young-adults-ilya/)
Support this organization with your online donation today!**
DONATE to Share Our Plate HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
**Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund**
** Worship Service Information for Sunday, August 7, 2022
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Rev. Greg shares his sermon:
Connect With Us In-Person
10:30 am
We are pleased to welcome all to our sanctuary for gathering in-person this Sunday!
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Masking protocol will be posted at each entrance
* Children’s RE is on hiatus throughout the summer months and will resume in the fall
* 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=d601645514&e=9e32ea5753) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/ (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=2d81ea390b&e=9e32ea5753) )
Remember: the link remains the same from week to week.
Sunday Livestream (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
** Wednesdays are for Meadow Maintenance
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Pictured above: Monarch butterfly on a Milkweed plant in the meadow
Join our Natural Lands Stewards when they gather every Wednesday around 6:00 pm for weekly meadow & grounds maintenance. The meadow always needs tending, invasive plants need pulling, and our young trees need attention. The crew works for just about an hour or so and could really use a few more hands. Do as much or as little as you want – any help is greatly appreciated.
Bring your gardening gloves & clippers,
and join us next Wednesday, August 10th
(Set a reminder on your phone!)
Have a question about the meadow or the work we do? Ask it here! (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.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!
How to make pledge payments, donations, and other contributions:
1. Mail a check: 579 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark DE 19711. Please indicate on the subject line if this is a pledge payment, a general contribution, or a contribution to a specific giving fund.
2. Give electronically through REALM using your credit card or bank account (checking, savings, etc.): https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give or use the link below (remember to select a giving fund).
3. Text-to-Give: text MillCreek and the amount [e.g. MillCreek 50] to 73256.
**Click here to GIVE NOW** (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
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 here (http://calendly.com/gpelley)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 8 am to 1 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Rachel Sabella, Music Director
Hours by Appointment
music@uusmc.org (mailto:music@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
** Happening in Our Local Community
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** Twilight on the Terrace
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Friday, August 19
5-8 pm
Unwind from the week with a bite to eat while enjoying live music (The Bickel Brothers (https://www.facebook.com/BickelBrothersBand) ) on the terrace and evening access to the gardens at Mt. Cuba. Local food trucks will be on-site (Bucky’s BBQ (https://www.getbuckysbbq.com/) and The Box Lunch (https://boxlunchde.com/) ), and beer and wine will be available for purchase. Click the link below for tickets and more information.
Mt. Cuba Center (https://mtcubacenter.org/)
3120 Barley Mill Road
Hockessin, DE 19707
302-239-4244
Mt. Cuba Center, located in Delaware’s scenic Brandywine Valley, is a beautiful botanic garden committed to the conservation of native plants and their habitats. Gardens are open now through Sunday, November 20.
Click here for details (https://mtcubacenter.org/twilight-on-the-terrace/)
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Delmarva UU Cluster Family Day this Saturday
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Spend a summer day with your family along with other UU’s in the Delmarva region at the beautiful Killens Pond State Park located south of the town of Felton in Kent County, Delaware. This is a fun and relaxed way to reconnect with folks you may already know – or take the opportunity to meet some new ones.
DETAILS:
Saturday, August 6^th – 8:00 am to Sunset
Killens Pond State Park
2025 Killens Pond Road
Reserved Pavilion 2
Felton, Delaware
(15 miles south of Dover on Rt. 13)
Park Admission:
$4 per vehicle, in-state; $8 per vehicle out-of-state; free for those with annual DE State Parks pass
Killens Pond State Park: general information (https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/KillensPond)
Pavilion 2 is reserved for our group for the entire day. It is a covered area with plenty of room for all; includes tables and a large charcoal grill. Bring a cooler with enough picnic foods & drinks for your family.
Things to do: visit the park’s nature center; fish from the Spillway; walk the park’s plentiful trails; enjoy the pond on a kayak, canoe or paddle boat; visit the Water Park** (requires tickets/reservations – see below for more info).
**Visit the Water Park! Two Sessions are available by reservation: 9:30am – 1:30pm; 2:00pm – 6:00pm.
Use the link below for more information.
Water Park: details and reservations (https://destateparks.com/GoPlay/KillensPondWaterPark)
If you have additional questions or need more specific information, contact event coordinator Mac Goeckler here. (mailto:socialjustice@uussd.org?subject=Delmarva%20Cluster%20Family%20Day)
What is the Delmarva UU Cluster?
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA (https://www.uua.org/) ) has established areas or regions within the Association for organizational purposes. Mill Creek is included in the Central East Region (CER (https://www.uua.org/central-east) ). This region is the largest within the UUA and includes over 34,000 members. Within our region there are 22 clusters, or about 200 UU congregations. We are one of eight congregations making up the Delmarva Cluster.
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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AUGUST 2022
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://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-822)
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