Weekly News - March 27, 2025 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on March 27, 2025 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

IN THIS ISSUE

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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** Sunday Worship Service Information
March 27, 2025
10:30 am
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Words are powerful things. Sometimes, however, we don’t quite appreciate their full meaning, their possibility and their import. What are “blessings,” from where do they come, and what impact have they on our lives? Join us this Sunday when Rev. Greg Chute shares his reflection, “Counting My Blessings.”

Rev. Greg Chute grew up in Massachusetts attending a Unitarian Church there. After dabbling in a couple careers, he went to Andover Newton Theological School and was ordained in 1994. Greg has since served churches in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Maryland. He retired in 2019 and is enjoying occasional pulpit supply. He plays bridge and tennis regularly. Greg’s wife, Mary, retired in 2022 and they are spending more time in their favorite places: Florence, Italy; and the Outer Banks, North Carolina. When home, they provide staff services to the two cats who have adopted them.

Music for this service will be performed by returning guest musician, composer, and guitarist Kevin J. Cope. Kevin has been the recipient of the Emerging and Established Professional Awards for Music Composition as well as the Emerging Professional Award for Music: Solo Recital from the Delaware Division of the Arts and was featured on the cover of Soundboard Magazine in their 40th Anniversary Edition with a focus on composition for the guitar. He is a University of Delaware graduate with master’s degrees in composition and guitar performance and has served as the president of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, having recently ended his eight-year tenure. Kevin’s many compositions and two full recordings can be found at www.kevinjcope.com (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.kevinjcope.com&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw24wIZbrdes6vCNvAY8_F89) . Our hymns are led by Mill Creek member Rudy Nyhoff.

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)

** Wednesday Evening Meadow Work Resumes
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We have resumed our weekly evening work efforts occurring through the end of October: Wednesdays around 5:30pm, weather permitting. You don’t need to be a meadow worker bee to come out and enjoy some social time with us in the meadow. – everyone is welcome to simply walk around and enjoy our natural native habitat.

** Pizza in the Meadow
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Again this year!

We will be having a Pizza & Beverage Social every second Wednesday around 7:00 pm. Join us Wednesday, April 9 – all are welcome. We’ll enjoy a few slices and each other’s company after meadow chores. You can pitch in with chores or just come for pizza – no judgement!

** Service Auction Tickets on Sale this Sunday
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Tickets will be on sale after church service this Sunday, March 30. When purchasing tickets at the reduced price, please be prepared to let us know what category you will be donating:
FOOD (specify cold appetizer, vegetarian dish or dessert) or…
BEVERAGE (specify red wine, white wine, or beer).
***DONATIONS NEEDED***
The auction is just four weeks away.

Last year we had a wide array of items, services, and experiences offered in both the live and silent auctions. We need your support to make this year’s auction another great success! Our donation line is open – click the pink ‘donate here’ button below to make your donation(s) today!

Did you know…?
The most popular items in the live auction are themed or group dinners at private homes or restaurants.

Why? It allows for a relaxed opportunity for socialization and fellowship. It’s also one of the easiest things you, as a donor, can contribute! If you like to entertain, plan a fun menu at your house for 8-10 people. Aren’t up to it? Plan a gathering at a nice restaurant!
DONATE HERE (mailto:david@dlsk.net)
Have a question and not sure who to ask? Access our Auction FAQ page! CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/FAQ-Service-Auction-2025.pdf)

Without fun, festive, interesting and creative items to bid on…there would be no auction. We are grateful for your participation in our fundraiser, and we thank you for your generosity.

** Hands Off March
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Join your fellow UUs in support of Hands Off 2025 when they join forces with Indivisible Newark First State – a local political action/social justice branch of Indivisble.org. They are dedicated to standing up for Justice, Democracy, Empathy and Integrity and plan to take to the streets:

Saturday, April 5
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
E. Main Street & S. College Avenue
Newark, Delaware

This peaceful march is an opportunity to support your commitment to UU values of honesty, integrity, and equality. Click the buttons below to learn more, or see/contact Suzanne Smith (mailto:suzannedsmith3@gmail.com) for more information.
Learn more about Hands Off movement – click HERE (https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/766510/)
Learn more about the Indiviisible organization – click HERE (https://indivisible.org/)

** Board Vacancies
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The Nominating Committee is looking for 2-3 people to serve on the Mill Creek Board of Trustees starting August 2025. It is a 3-year position.

This is an amazing time to start serving on the Board. Steve Selph, our current board president, and several other board members will remain in their positions, leaving experienced leadership in place. New board members will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with our incoming minister, Rev. Christe Lunsford, who will be joining us in August.

No experience in governance is required. Board members are not expected to do everything! Rather, they support each other and work together to make sure that the church runs smoothly by coordinating and overseeing the work done by the numerous church committees, like Finance, Building Maintenance, Land Stewardship, Faith Exploration, Worship, etc.

If you would like to serve on the board, or you know somebody that might be interested, please contact Fran Gulino, Nominating Committee Chairperson, by email by clicking HERE (mailto:frangu302@gmail.com) . Or feel free to speak with one of the other committee members, Bob Varlas and Amy White.

** UUs: Four Ways You Can Take Action Now
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You can be a voice for good in our state and our country. Help us support legislative policies that align with our Unitarian Universalist principles. Our Social Justice team shares 4 ways you can get involved and take action today. Click the button below to learn more.
Four Ways – click HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Action-Options-flyer-handout-3-23-2025.pdf)

** 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 and April we are supporting:

Moms Demand Action – Delaware Chapter
A Volunteer Chapter in Every State

Moms Demand Action is a grassroots volunteer movement of Americans working for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They work to pass stronger gun laws and close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. Moms Demand Action is a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly 11 million supporters. Our donation will support the legislative advocacy fund, “Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.”
Learn more about Moms Demand Action HERE (https://www.everytown.org/state/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)

** Recurring Event: D & D
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A fantasy tabletop role-playing game
The Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game is about storytelling in worlds of sword and sorcery. It shares elements with childhood games of make-believe. In the Dungeons & Dragons game, 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. All are welcome to join the group on Sunday, March 16 & 30 at 12 pm in classroom 1. Occurs every 2 weeks on Sundays. Questions? Contact Tom Vincent (mailto:trv302@outlook.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!
Mill Creek Staff
Rev. Christian Schmidt, Minister
Rev. Schmidt is on leave now through Sunday, April 13. For immediate concerns, you may contact the pastoral care team (mailto:pastoralcare@uusmc.org) , the board of trustees (mailto:board@uusmc.org) , or the church office (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) .

Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 9 am to 2 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region

** How to Stay Connected to the UUA
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Would you like to stay in touch with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)? Now you can receive the bimonthly UUA Newsletter email. With timely messages from UUA staff including the UUA President, and collections of resources, the UUA Newsletter is a convenient way to stay up-to-date with UUA programming and initiatives.
Stay in touch with the UUA – click HERE (https://www.uua.org/about/stay-in-touch)

** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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MARCH 2025

Featured Resource:
Partnership Portal
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 (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-325)

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Weekly News – March 27, 2025

Weekly News – March 27, 2025