
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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** 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.
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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**
For the months of May and June, we supported Urban Bike Project (UBP) with a donation of $710.81.
UBP, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is a non-profit community bike shop bringing the joys of bicycling to Wilmington residents, both youth and adults. Learn more about this organization here (http://www.urbanbikeproject.com/) .
** Worship Service Information for Sunday, July 10, 2022
10:30 am
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Join us for Mill Creek member Diana Headley Saunders for her message:
As the world around us changes, so too do the experiences of both students and teachers. The school environment is noticeably different today than it was even ten years ago. What have educators learned in recent years about how students learn? How does social and emotional growth fit (or not fit) into the school curriculum? What types of values, are or could be part of a child’s school experience?
Diana Headley Saunders has been a member of Mill Creek since 2004, and she has two daughters, ages 24 and 22. Her mother, Roberta Headley, is also a member of this church. Diana has been a full-time teacher for 22 years in four different independent schools. Her teaching experiences have primarily been with middle school and upper elementary students. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College and a Masters of Science in Education degree from Bank Street Graduate School in New York City.
Music will be performed by Rachel Sabella, with hymns led by Brian Hanson.
Connect With Us In-Person
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 13th!
(Set a reminder on your phone!)
Ninety percent of the insects that eat plants can develop and reproduce only on the plants with which they share an evolutionary history.
-Douglas Tallamy, American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist
Have a question about the meadow or the work we do? Ask it here! (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com)
** Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (UUSD) Hosts Voter Education Forum
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Everyone is welcome to join a Voter Education Forum on Tuesday, July 26 at 7 pm in a hybrid format held at Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (UUSD). The forum is free and open to all.
The 2022 Delaware elections (Primary: Tuesday, Sept. 13; General: Tuesday, Nov. 8) include many important issues on the ballot – Voting Rights, Reproductive Rights, Immigration Rights, Environmental concerns, and Smart Justice. It is critical to be an informed voter and make certain that your candidates are committed to the kind of change you are about. The Forum is co-sponsored by UUSD; ACLU of Delaware; UU the Vote; League of Women Voters Delaware; Delaware Interfaith Power and Light; Votamos; and Common Cause Delaware.
Registration is encouraged for in-person attendance and required for Zoom attendees. Use the links below to register.
Register here for IN-PERSON attendance (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voter-education-forum-tickets-370538248877)
Register here for ONLINE (Zoom) attendance (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voter-education-forum-online-tickets-370543885737)
Have questions about the event? Click here. (mailto:socialjustice@uussd.org?subject=Voter%20Education%20Forum)
30486 Lewes Georgetown Hwy.
Lewes, Delaware 19958
302-313-5838
View map (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voter-education-forum-tickets-370538248877#listings-root__event-location-map)
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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** Best of Delaware Party
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Each year, DelawareToday (https://delawaretoday.com/) magazine reaches out to their readers to find out their favorites in dozens of categories. The award winners – shops, restaurants, businesses, fun & leisure locations, and individuals who make the First State a wonderful place to call home – are invited to showcase why they are worthy of their titles at the annual Best of Delaware celebration. This event offers fabulous food, creative cocktails, live music, dancing, and the opportunity to sample incredible offerings from the participating Best of Delaware award winners.
Best of Delaware Party
Thursday, July 21
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Chase Center on the Riverfront (https://centerontheriverfront.com/)
815 Justison Street
Wilmington, Delaware
Call 302-504-1344 for more information
Learn More & See All the Winners here (https://delawaretoday.com/best-of-delaware/best-delaware-winners/)
Buy Tickets Here (https://www.showclix.com/event/bod2021d2aArMq?_ga=2.261965325.1408244825.1657119026-201280126.1657119026)
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Unitarian Universalists Reaffirm Commitment to Racial and Reproductive Justice at General Assembly
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Photo: uua.org
More than 3,200 Unitarian Universalists (UUs) from all 50 states came together virtually and in Portland, Oregon for the denomination’s annual General Assembly (GA) from June 22nd to June 26th. Click the link below to learn all the details.
Read all about it! (https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/raffirm-justice-ga)
GA is the annual gathering of UUs, and it is where the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) conducts business, gathers in community, explores the theological underpinnings of the UU faith, and emphasizes the Association’s mission and Principles.
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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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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