Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
Editor’s Note:
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** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** UPDATED COVID PROTOCOL
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We have updated our Covid protocol and are now following Federal CDC guidelines for COVID restrictions and subsequent security measures. The criteria is based on CDC community risk levels and guidance for both Chester County, PA, and New Castle County, DE. Our security posture will align with the higher risk category of those 2 counties.
Risk levels are as follows:
Green: Low. Masking optional.
Yellow: Moderate. Masking optional. Recommend social distancing.
Red. High. Masks required for entry and observance of social distancing guidelines.
At the present time risk levels are at the Green/Low level, meaning masking is optional due to low risk.
Some members may opt to continue masking regardless of our current protocol, and we understand and accept this as a personal choice. Please respect any mask wearer’s personal 6′ bubble. Masks will always be available in the gathering space.
As a member of the Mill Creek spiritual family, we trust you to have taken all prudent medically necessary precautions (vaccines, quarantine as necessary) to ensure safe gathering, and to restrict yourself to Zoom attendance if you are experiencing any symptoms of contagious illness, or have been recently exposed.
Updated: 7/10/22
** Connect with Rev. Greg
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Rev. Greg has returned from sabbatical and is available by phone (302-369-2712) or email (minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) ). However, if you would like to schedule a specific time to meet or talk with Rev. Greg, he continues to use the Calendly application to manage his appointments.
To request an in-person visit, teleconference chat, or Zoom meeting, use the link below. Calendly is interfaced with Rev. Greg’s personal calendar; only his available dates and times will be visible.
Schedule time with Rev. Greg here (http://calendly.com/gpelley)
** Summer Campfires are Back!
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Everyone is welcome to join us in the Memorial Grove on select dates for a relaxing campfire.
Our first gathering will be:
Saturday evening, July 23^rd at 6:30 pm
* The theme for this event is Poetry! Bring along a poem or two to recite or share with the group (participation in this part of the evening is optional)
* Everyone is welcome: members, friends, neighbors, youth & kids…bring a guest!
* Bring all your comforts: blanket, lawn/camp chair 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
* Unable to join us? Plan to attend our next campfire scheduled for Saturday, August 6th
* 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
Our campfire location is at a good vantage point to view the sunset and we have seen magnificent displays in the past (the view seen here is from June 2020). While we can’t guarantee a colorful sunset, we CAN guarantee warm and welcoming fellowship.
** How to Find a UU Church During Your Summer Travels
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Pictured above: UU Church of St. Petersburg, FL (https://uustpete.org/)
If you’re traveling this summer but would still like to connect with a UU church, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has made it easy to find one.
You can view all of the 1000+ member congregations, or you can browse by state, region or even country. You can filter the results by LGBTQ Welcoming, ADA compliant (wheelchair accessible), assistive listening devices available, and more. You can connect with the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a UU congregation with no geographical boundaries, and view The Hub Google Map which displays young adult and campus ministry group across the country. And it’s all in one place! Click on the button below to find out more.
Find a UU church anywhere – click here (https://www.uua.org/find)
**
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, July 17, 2022
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Rev. Greg returns to the pulpit with 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
* Mask wearing is optional (see our updated Covid protocol outlined above)
* 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) and bookmark it on your preferred device, OR
* Get the link by accessing the church calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/)
Remember: the link remains the same from week to week.
Click here for Sunday LIVESTREAM (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
**
Wednesdays are for Meadow Maintenance!
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Join our Natural Lands Stewards when they gather every Wednesday around 5:30 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.
This is a wonderful time for anyone to reap the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and a little exercise. It is also a worthwhile educational opportunity particularly for young adults, teens, and children to learn about the work we do and why it is so important. It’s an open-air classroom!
Bring your gardening gloves and join us next Wednesday, July 20th!
(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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** Delaware State Fair Opens in Harrington TODAY
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Thursday, July 21
to
Saturday, July 30
When people talk about a ‘state fair’, images of carnival rides, cotton candy and fried dough usually come to mind. And the Delaware State Fair is all of that – but so much more.
Did you know that the Delaware State Fair is a diverse, volunteer supported non-profit community-based organization that is committed to educating and promoting agricultural heritage and values? There are educational exhibits, demonstrations, and competitions aimed at the advancement of livestock, horticulture, and agriculture with special emphasis placed on educational activities such as 4-H, FFA and similar youth development programs.
The annual Fair also highlights the heritage of the community, its ties to agriculture, industry, and businesses that are the backbone of Southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Fair’s central Delaware location provides a gathering place for nearby communities to showcase their best resources – their youth, agriculture, and a sense of community in addition to their products and skills. Additionally, during the Fair, other community based non-profit organizations benefit from fund-raising opportunities.
This year’s Fair features a full concert line up, carnival rides, a beer garden, exhibits, and so much more. Check it all out using the link below.
“Meet me in Harrington, Harrington…
Meet me at the Fair!”
DE State Fair – learn more here (https://www.delawarestatefair.com/)
Delaware State Fair
18500 S. DuPont Highway
Harrington, Delaware 19952
302-398-3269
Email: info@thestatefair.net (mailto:info@thestatefair.net)
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Delmarva UU Cluster Family Day
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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.
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)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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JULY 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://uua874.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=39d352b0395ba768e18f042c6e2a8621.5799&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)
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** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UUSMC)
** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu)
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