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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** Diaper Drive Ends this Sunday
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The Social Justice Committee concludes their Diaper Drive, supporting Catholic Charities Diaper Bank.
Catholic Charities Diaper Bank – an affiliate of the National Diaper Bank Network – helps low-income families keep their young children clean, dry, and healthy by providing much needed supplies at their monthly diaper distributions in Wilmington.
We are collecting the following items & supplies:
* Diapers, all infant sizes; especially toddler sizes (4, 5 & 6 and pullup styles)
* Wipes
* Bath Wash
* Bath Cloths
1498 individual diapers have been collected so far, plus wipes and other supplies, and were delivered to a very grateful and appreciative staff at Catholic Charities.
Last day for donations: Sunday, March 1.
Thank you for your participation!
** Service Auction 2026:
7 weeks away!!
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Mark your calendar NOW for Saturday, April 18 so you don’t miss our largest fundraiser.
Our auction team is hard at work planning an entertaining and successful event, and tickets will be on sale soon. In the meanwhile, now is the time to consider what you will be donating this year. After all…without items to bid on, there would be no auction!
To assist you with your endeavor to determine what you will donate, we’ve compiled a never-before-seen list of more than 50 donation ideas! Click the button below to check it out.
Be sure to scroll down to the very bottom of the list to find out what the number one most popular item is!
50+ AWESOME AUCTION DONATION IDEAS – CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/50-auction-item-ideas.pdf)
Need a little more inspiration? Gift baskets are a popular silent auction item, they’re fun to create and the possibilities are endless! We’ve compiled a list of over 100 gift basket ideas, including what to put inside each one. Check it out!
100+ FABULOUS GIFT BASKET IDEAS – CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/100-plus-gift-basket-ideas.pdf)
How to be a champion and bolster the funds raised:
Consider offering one item (or more) from each list!
** Handy Person Wanted
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Are you handy with tools? Able to climb a tall ladder? If so, Rev. Christe is looking for you to assist with a few small projects. If you’re interested, click the button below.
Hey, Rev. Christe – I can help! (mailto:revchriste@gmail.com)
** Sunday Worship Service Information
March 1, 2026
10:30 am
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In a time of political battle lines, it is harder to see the humanity of the other, but when we fail to do so, we begin to lose our own. If we acknowledge some of our own darkness and humble ourselves in the face of our own flaws, we can open more fully to seeing the inherent value in even the most challenging people. Join us for guest speaker Steve Mortenson’s message, “Shadow, Humility, and the Inherent Value of Everyone.”
Steve Mortenson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Communications at the University of Delaware where he teaches courses in emotional awareness and skilled communication. Steve has been working with ECAN (End Child Abuse and Neglect) in Tanzanian Africa for several years. His work there focuses on empowering youth (especially women and girls), combatting gender-based violence, and training educators in skilled confrontation.
Music for this service will be offered by Maria Rusu. Born in Brasov, Romania, Maria Rusu attended a music school for twelve years there before coming to the U.S. to continue her musical studies. She is on staff as Core Faculty at the Music School of Delaware in Wilmington, serving as Senior Student Services Manager, teaching violin, viola, and jazz voice, as well as string coaching, and serves as the assistant conductor of the Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra. Maria is also a member of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and Newark Symphony Orchestra, playing in both the violin and viola sections.
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://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=7e2744c3f8&e=9e32ea5753) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=938e123965&e=9e32ea5753) )
Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419
** Daylight Saving Time Begins Soon
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Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 am. Plan to set your clocks and timepieces AHEAD one hour before you go to bed the night before.
** Weekly Work in the Meadow Resumes – Pizza Offered!
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Regular Wednesday work times in the church meadow begin on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30pm. To kick off the new season, the land stewards invite you to join them when they host pizza & beverages after the work concludes. They would love for everyone to come out, learn about the work they’re doing, and possibly lend a hand.
All are welcome to see what the crew is up to and why they think our meadow is an important model of native habitat restoration. It’s also a great way to celebrate our UU value of interdependence.
(Even the Canada Geese love our meadow!)
In Summary – here’s what’s happening In the meadow through October:
* Weekly work sessions: every Wednesday at 5:30pm
* Monthly pizza & social time: second Wednesdays at 6:30pm
** Spring Equinox Celebration
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Contact Regina HERE with questions (mailto:regina139@msn.com)
** Book Discussion Group
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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 (two remaining) 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. The discussions, led by Tracey Crook, occur on the last Wednesday of the month, January through April, and will last approximately 60-90 minutes.
Book 3 of 4:
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
Wednesday, March 25
Book 4 of 4:
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
Wednesday, April 29
Each book discussion is available in the following formats:
Afternoon: 2:00 pm in the conference room
OR
Evening: 7:00 pm via Zoom
Click HERE to participate in one or more discussions, and indicate your attendance option (afternoon in-person or evening via Zoom) for the session you’re interested in. (mailto:tacrook@swbell.net)
** Yoga Extended through June
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Join Margaret in the library, 8:30am-10am, for gentle yoga & meditation on Fridays through June – except the last Friday of each month:
March 6, 13 & 20
April 3, 10 & 17
May 1, 8, 15 & 22
June 5, 12 & 19
To register or with questions, contact Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net) .
** Congregational Name Change Study Group
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At the Mid-Year Meeting, Diane Hofer introduced a proposal inviting the congregation to explore whether a public-facing name change (such as Unitarian Universalist Church at Mill Creek) could help make our community more visible and accessible to spiritual seekers.
The Board is now forming a broad, representative study group to listen deeply, gather congregational input, and thoughtfully assess this possibility—with no predetermined outcome.
LEARN MORE: all are welcome to attend a short informational meeting in the sanctuary after church service on Sunday, March 1.
Click HERE to view the name change proposal presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V8GI3zCZo8)
** 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 & April we are supporting:
Sierra Club – Delaware Chapter
The Sierra Club dates back to 1892 and is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in North America. Their mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. Since 1992, the Delaware Chapter has blazed trails to protect the environment and to provide opportunities to enjoy and explore the natural beauty of our state.
As a volunteer-run grassroots organization, they work to protect our air and water quality and supporting state legislation and policies to reduce the negative impacts from climate change on those precious resources now and in the future.
Learn more about Sierra Club – Delaware Chapter HERE (https://www.sierraclub.org/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)
** Mill Creek Delegates for UUA General Assembly
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Rev. Christe is looking to engage a group of delegates to participate in the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly.
GA 2026 is designed as a primarily virtual experience, with optional ways to gather through community gatherings, satellite sites, and a studio site. From Sunday, June 14 to Tuesday, June16, delegates will engage in fully virtual General Sessions focused on the business of the Association. Programming resumes Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 with worship, featured speakers, and Meet the Moment themed programs that can be experienced online.
Contact Rev. Christe HERE with your interest (mailto:revchriste@gmail.com)
Click HERE to learn more about GA 2026 (https://www.uua.org/ga/program/schedule#:~:text=GA%202026%20is%20designed%20as,experienced%20together%20across%20many%20locations.)
** Reminder: Church Cancellation 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.
Once the decision is made to cancel Sunday service we will: send an email blast – if possible and time allows (will come from news@uusmc.org), and report closure information to the local SnoWatch system.
SnoWatch reports are available online:
wdel.com (https://www.wdel.com/features/wdel-stormwatch/)
(https://www.wdel.com/features/wdel-stormwatch/)
and
wstw.com (https://www.wstw.com/snowatch-weather-center/)
(https://www.wstw.com/snowatch-weather-center/)
NOTE: we will use the SnoWatch notification method for building closures pertaining to all scheduled meetings and classes held during the week. This includes chalice circles, committee meetings, art classes, music rehearsals, etc.
If the weather calls for any kind of dangerous weather, please check your inbox and/or the above media PRIOR TO any meeting, class, event, or worship service. We want everyone to be safe this winter!
** Volunteers *Still* Needed
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(Yes, that might mean YOU)
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
Thank you for considering your involvement in this important ministry. Please see Margaret with your interest, or email dre@uusmc.org (mailto:dre@uusmc.org) .
“Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” — Rita Pierson
** Unitarian Partnership Pilgrimage
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June 23 – July 3, 2026
Experience the birthplace of Unitarianism and be part of ongoing international partnership with the Unitarian communities of Transylvania.
Join Rev. Andrew Weber, of Main Line Unitarian Church, Pennsylvania, for a transformational opportunity to make deep personal and faith connections with a multi-congregational trip planned by the Hungarian Unitarian Church. All are welcome: clergy, laity, those with partner churches or not. There will be times for spiritual growth in addition to historical education.
Most pilgrimages include a few of the following basic elements:
Kolozsvár/Cluj – János Zsigmond Unitarian High School, Bishop’s Office, statue of Francis David (Dávid Ferenc), Unitarian Church and House of Religious Freedom (Vallásszabadság Háza).
Torda/Turda – Church where the Edict of Torda was debated in 1568 and the Monument of Religious Freedom was erected to celebrate the Edict’s 450th anniversary in 2018. Possible trip to salt mine.
Gyulafehérvár/Alba Iulia – Cathedral of St. Michael, the resting place of notable historical Unitarian figures: John Sigismund Zápolya and his mother, Queen Isabella Jagiellon.
Déva/Deva – Citadel of Déva, where Francis David was imprisoned and martyred.
Specifics can be modified depending on who joins, including possible village church visits.
Click HERE to contact Rev. Andrew with interest or questions (mailto:weberandras@yahoo.com)
For reflections on the power of pilgrimage, click HERE to view a recent worship service from Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, PA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUaClkLTc-U)
** Dungeons & Dragons
A Recurring Event
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Sundays, March 1, 15 & 29
(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
dfe@uusmc.org (mailto:dfe@uusmc.org)
** Connect with the UUA, Central East Region, and Delmarva Cluster
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** UUA Announces GA Ware Lecturer
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The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, who gained national attention when she directly addressed President Trump during a 2025 prayer service and asked him to have mercy on transgender children and immigrant families, will deliver the Ware Lecture at General Assembly 2026. General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
Read the complete article HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/ware-lecture-mariann-edgar-budde-uua-ga?_gl=1*1aqxwmm*_ga*MjA1ODA4Mzk0MC4xNzYzMDU5ODE2*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*czE3NzE0MzA1MDAkbzI3JGcwJHQxNzcxNDMwNTAwJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..)
** Central East Region News Update
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MARCH 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. To learn more about what’s happening in our region, click the button below.
Central East Region Update – click HERE (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/news/cer-news-0326)
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