Weekly News - June 25, 2026 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on June 25, 2026 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

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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** New Keyless Entry Code in Effect

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The side entrance of the church building has a NEW KEYLESS ENTRY CODE for members. The previous code will no longer work.

If you have a legitimate need to be in the building during off hours, plan ahead and call the church office to obtain the code before you arrive.

** Have you downloaded the Church Center App?
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Church Center is an easy app that helps you to stay connected with your Mill Creek community. It is secure, controlled, and accessed by invitation only. Invitations were emailed several months ago to members. If you can’t locate that email, contact the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) for a resend.

Once you download the app, then select UUSMC as your congregation and sign in, you can access the church directory and calendar. Only you can control what information about you is shared in the directory.

** Are you OWL trained?
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Rev. Christe is assembling a list of all church members who are trained in Our Whole Lives (OWL). Click HERE (mailto:revchriste@gmail.com) to let Christe know what level you are trained in and what your level of interest is.

** In the market for a new A/C unit? Call us before you buy!
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We have an opportunity for fundraising with a local HVAC contractor. If you’re in the market for a new unit or system, let us know (Rev. Christe (mailto:revchriste@gmail.com) or the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) ) and we will provide the information you need to obtain a quote; purchases of a new system will result in a donation made to the church.

** Sunday Worship Service Information
June 28, 2026
10:30 am
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During the summer months at Mill Creek, we enjoy a variety of relaxed worship experiences and this Sunday we offer the first of a series. Started by our previous minister, Rev. Gregory Pelley, our Poolside Theology series has become a beloved tradition and this Sunday we offer the first of three, featuring Anna Hull and Frank Burns.

This Sunday in Faith Exploration – It’s Water Day!

* Please bring your child(ren) to church dressed in their swimsuits or clothes they won’t mind getting wet
* Have sunscreen already applied
* Bring a towel

Connect with Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s Faith Exploration programming is available for ages 4 and up (see below for what’s coming up)
* Child Care available (infant/toddler, ages birth to 3)

Connect with Us Virtually
* Click the link below: ‘Sunday Livestream’ (bookmark it on your preferred device for quick and easy access on Sunday morning).

Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)

Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419

** Soapbox Sunday is Coming July 5th
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What’s on your mind?

Once a year, the pulpit belongs to you. On Soapbox Sunday, every member and friend of the congregation has the chance to step up and speak — two minutes, any topic. Serious, silly, urgent, or whimsical — if it matters to you, we want to hear it.

A few ground rules to keep us all in good shape:
* Two minutes, strictly honored. Know what you want to say before you step on the box. When the timer sounds, please wrap it up.
* No partisan political speech. No campaigning or candidate advocacy. Speak from your values instead.
* Be mindful of the community space — please hold personal trauma for more intimate settings.

A sign-up sheet will be available in the room that morning, so come prepared and ready to claim your slot.

Come ready to speak. Come ready to listen. This is free speech in its most congregational form.

** Join us in the meadow every Wednesday
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Join the Land Stewards next Wednesday, July 1 (and every Wednesday, weather permitting) at 5:30pm and see what they’re doing to improve the biodiversity and natural habitat in the meadow areas. Mark your calendar and join us on Wednesday, July 8 for pizza and beverages right in the meadow!

** Church Hike
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Chestnut Hill Trail at White Clay Creek Park –
Judge Morris Estate

Sunday, July 5
After church service & coffee hour
Join us for some fellowship & fun when we gather for a summer hike! We’ll start at the Judge Morris Estate on Polly Drummond Hill Road for a 3.6 mile hike that will take about 1.5 hours to complete.

This is a nice hike through forest in a slightly hilly area between two creeks. Bridges make the crossings easy. The trail is clearly marked, including a cut off that will allow you to cut the hike in half. Watch for mountain bikers.

The trail ends by bringing you through a soybean field back to the start. A short walk will take you to the Judge Morris house, a 19th century house, now a museum. Learn more details HERE (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/delaware/chestnut-hill-trail) .
Let our hike leader, Bill Reynolds, know you’ll be coming along – send him a quick note HERE (mailto:wmfxir@gmail.com) .

** Newark Arts Alliance Returns this Summer for 2-week Art Camp
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Camp Imagine is a full-day, Monday through Friday, 2-week arts camp for children ages 7–12: July 27 through August 7. Campers explore both visual and performing arts, including art, theater, a cappella singing, and dance, in a fun and creative environment – right here at Mill Creek. Registration is available for one or both weeks.
Click HERE for more information & to register (https://www.newarkartsalliance.org/camp-imagine)
Questions? Click HERE (mailto:info@newarkartsalliance.org)

** 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 May & June we are supporting:

Black Mothers in Power

This organization seeks to dismantle systems of power to eradicate the racial health disparities that harm Black birthing people and babies throughout Delaware while building new systems of care and healing. Black Mothers in Power envisions building a state where Black birthing people are informed, in control of their own bodies, and cared for—both within the current oppressive system and in the liberatory systems we’ve created for ourselves.
Learn more Black Mothers in Power HERE (https://www.blackmothersinpower.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)

** Yoga Offered on Select Dates during the Summer Months
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Join Margaret in the library, 8:30am-10am, for gentle yoga & meditation on the following Fridays:
June 26
July 3
August 14 & 21
To register or with questions, contact Margaret HERE (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net) .

** Dungeons & Dragons
A Recurring Event
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Sundays: July 5 & 19
(every other week)
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 other week 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
* Mondays & Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in the office; calls and by email after 2pm.
* Thursdays: by appointment
* Sundays (when I preach): 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
* My regular days off are Friday and Saturday, unless I am scheduled for special congregational duties. I answer calls and emails Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Any non-emergency calls or emails outside of those hours will be answered during the next work day.
* Other times may be arranged by mutual agreement via email: minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org) or click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ08wOXSmX5fNN_vySxfpLP9VL2QqSZF5spIx5_9rxZm3e25LNywCGk4WoIlyFMvdn84osyy8XZl) .
* I joyfully participate in committee meetings when I am able, with particular focus on the Board, Finance, and Worship teams.

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)

Rob Sylvester, Collaborative Accompanist
Sundays, and by appointment

** Connect with the UUA, Central East Region, and Delmarva Cluster
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** At General Assembly 2026, UUs Find and Celebrate Community, Everywhere
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Pictured above: Rev. Verdis LeVar Robinson, GA worship coordinator and transitional minister of All Souls in New London, Connecticut, leads a song surrounded by worship leaders and musical performers during the Weaving Together: (Re)Convening Worship from the studio site on June 19, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky.
© Denny Henry/UUA

General Assembly 2026, “Meet the Moment: Together, Everywhere,” didn’t take shape as one central in-person gathering or through an online-only event. Instead, it offered multiple connection points: in person at a “studio site” in Louisville, Kentucky; at seven satellite locations around the country; and online. This year’s GA approach was designed to offer UUs flexibility, reduce travel and environmental impacts, and streamline production, while also allowing live engagement for participants who value being in community face to face.
Read more HERE (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-ga-programming-session-together-everywhere?_gl=1*1hxdml5*_ga*NjI0ODgyMDUzLjE3Nzc0ODUwMjY.*_ga_CN7F7RET4F*czE3ODIzOTQ3MjAkbzE0JGcwJHQxNzgyMzk0NzIwJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..)

** Central East Region News Update
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JUNE 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-0626)

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Weekly News – June 25, 2026

Weekly News – June 25, 2026