Weekly News - December 18, 2025 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on December 18, 2025 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:

** Sunday Worship Service Information
December 21, 2025
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday as we gather for a beautiful, earth-centered celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Through song, story, ritual, and reflection, we will honor the gifts of the longest night and welcome the returning sun. Guided by Rev. Christe Lunsford, together we’ll call the Four Directions, share in meditation and music, and explore the many midwinter traditions—ancient and contemporary—that remind us of hope, renewal, and the rich tapestry of cultures that shape our UU spiritual lives. Come share in the warmth, find your grounding, and enter this season of quiet reflection and gentle light. All are welcome. Welcome Yule!

Music for this service will be offered by Sharon Sable and E. Shawn Qaissaunee. These award-winning musicians create a beautiful soundscape that is bold yet understated, appealing to music lovers of all kinds. The musical paths that have brought them together are rich and varied and weave elements of jazz, R&B, world, pop and much more into their memorable and engaging performances. They are both based in Wilmington, Delaware and are fixtures on the region’s music scene. Sharon is known for her sincere and exquisite vocal prowess. Shawn is known for his musical virtuosity, sensitivity and spirited creative energy in the jazz tradition. Sharon and Shawn are both passionate musicians and educators, dedicated to their shared path of inspiration, hope, humor and love.
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

** Holiday Food Drive Ends this Sunday
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The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a Holiday Food Drive to benefit the Ministry of Caring (https://www.ministryofcaring.org/) in Wilmington. Since 1977, this organization has been living their mission to serve the poor of our local community with dignity, respect, and love.

Sunday, December 21 is the final day we can accept the following items:
* boxed stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, dry cereal, pancake mix, rice, pasta, gravy mix
* canned vegetables, soup, fruit & cranberry sauce, pie filling, sweet potatoes, meats & tuna
* jarred/bottled peanut butter, jelly, pancake syrup, spaghetti sauce

Thank you for your support and generosity!

** Office Closure
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The church office will be closed from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2, and will reopen on Monday, January 5.

** Wonderful Winter Wonderland Party
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Our Winter Wonderland Party, held on Saturday, December 13, ushered in a significant snowfall but didn’t deter Mill Creek members and friends from enjoying a wide array of appetizers, desserts and punch. There were table games, trivia, carols, New Year poppers, and a white elephant gift exchange featuring some good-natured stealing and much laughter. The event was well attended by 46 adults and 7 children.

The Fellowship & Fun Committee (Margaret Bodine, Fran Gulino, Laura Bonner, and Chris & Bill Reynolds) wishes to thank all who attended, prepared and/or brought food, and assisted with setup and/or cleanup.

If you have an idea for an activity or outing (or would like to thank the FCC for coordinating another fantastic social event), we want to hear about it! Reach out to the team HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org) .

** Winter Solstice Celebration
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See or contact Regina (mailto:regina139@msn.com) with questions.

** Volunteers Needed!
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With the increased attendance in the Faith Exploration classroom on Sunday mornings, (while very encouraging), comes the very real need for volunteers.

Help is needed on Sunday mornings:
* supervising play in the nursery (no diapering required!)
* engaging with the kids and helping out with simple projects in the classroom

Please see Margaret with your interest, or email dre@uusmc.org (mailto:dre@uusmc.org) .
Thank you for considering your involvement in this important ministry.

“If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.”

** Book Discussion Begins in January
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Join us as we explore four powerful books that shed light on racism in America and how we can work toward achieving equity and justice. Together, these books (see below for the list) reveal how racism shapes our society through denial, injustice, economic harm, and backlash, and invite us to imagine and work toward a more just and equitable future as we uphold our Unitarian Universalist values. Tracey Crook will facilitate these book discussions. The discussions will start in January 2026. We will meet on the last Wednesday of the month at 2 pm in the conference room. Sessions will last approximately 60-90 minutes.

January 28
Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm by Robin DiAngelo
February 25
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
March 25
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
April 29
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
Sign up HERE to participate on one or more discussions. (mailto:tacrook@swbell.net)

** Church Cancelation Procedures & Notification Methods
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Board policy leaves the decision to cancel church service with the minster and the board president. We always endeavor to make such decisions in a timely fashion.

If the decision to cancel is made we will: send out an email to all congregants (if possible and time allows), and post notice on Facebook (both the public and private UUSMC pages).

We are also linked with the local SnoWatch system. SnoWatch reports are broadcast on 1150 AM WDEL and 93.7 FM WSTW and are available online at wdel.com (https://www.wdel.com/features/wdel-stormwatch/) and wstw.com (https://www.wstw.com/wstw-stormwatch/) . These links will also be available on the church website, uusmc.org.

So, particularly now through March, if the weather calls for any kind of dangerous precipitation, please check your inbox and/or the above media or call the church before heading out. We want everyone to be safe this winter!

** 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 November & December we are supporting:

YWCA Delaware
The YWCA is proud to be one of the oldest and largest organizations supporting women in the United States, providing services for women and their families in our community.

This organization is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. This is done through:

* Community housing program which provides supportive services in a safe and stable environment for unhoused individuals with children and two-parent families. These services teach life skills and assist families in becoming gainfully employed, permanently housed, and completely self-sufficient.
* Client economic development through counseling, education and training in personal finance management, homeownership, work readiness, and self-employment.
* College and career preparation and diversity and leadership workshops for at-risk youth, gives students an opportunity for an accomplished future. The program challenges youth to become independent thinkers, advocate for their own success, and build self-esteem, social competence, and employability skills.
* Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) provides comprehensive, free and confidential rape crisis services to sexual assault survivors and domestic violence survivors aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends, and partners.

Learn more about YWCA Delaware HERE (https://www.ywcade.org/)
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, December 21; January 4 & 18
(every 2 weeks)
12:00 pm, Classroom 4
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 classroom 4. Occurs every 2 weeks 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
Sundays, when preaching: 9am – 3pm
Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 4pm
Thursday by appointment only, click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ08wOXSmX5fNN_vySxfpLP9VL2QqSZF5spIx5_9rxZm3e25LNywCGk4WoIlyFMvdn84osyy8XZl)
Or email minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
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
dre@uusmc.org (mailto:dre@uusmc.org)
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region

** UUA President’s Holiday Message
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Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President, shares a message of hope this winter holiday season, knowing that we come to this time after a difficult year. May our songs of joy, our teachings of the dying of the light, and our stories of birth into the world remind us all to hold fast to a posture of hope that drives our commitment to action in this season and beyond.

We are not waiting passively on a miracle, beloveds. We are working together for our shared values. May those values be a guiding light for this season.
–Rev. Dr. Betancourt
View the message HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWv44qzZ2sw)

** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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2025 in Review

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.
News in the Central East Region – click HERE (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/news)

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Weekly News – December 18, 2025

Weekly News – December 18, 2025