Weekly News - May 14, 2026 - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on May 14, 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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** Garden Tour at Mill Creek this Saturday
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This Saturday, May 16, 10am to 3pm, we will be hosting a garden tour in our meadow. Come out to enjoy the beauty of our natural spaces and enjoy our congregation’s music and art.

** Benefit Concert Supports Local Non-Profit
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A concert featuring the First State Flute Choir was held here at Mill Creek on Saturday, May 9 to benefit SOAR: Survivors of Abuse in Recovery. $1120 was raised in support of this local organization that provides professional mental health services to victims of sexual trauma and their families.

Thank you to those who attended the concert and supported this fundraising effort. Click HERE (https://www.survivorsofabuse.org/) to learn more about SOAR, or contact Diana Saunders HERE (mailto:diana.h.saunders@gmail.com) .

** Committee Reports Needed for Annual Meeting
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In preparation for our annual meeting on Sunday, June 7, we have begun collecting report submissions from all committee chairs.

The deadline to submit is Monday, May 25.

Failure by any committee to send their submission by this date will be reflected accordingly in the annual report.

Send to the church office HERE (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org) . Thank you.

** Big Music News
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The Music Committee is pleased to announce the return of
BIG MUSIC SUNDAY!

What is it? It’s not a concert or a recital, but a special service when members and friends of our congregation perform music of all kinds, perform dance, or recite poetry related to music.
When is it? Sunday, July 12.
Why do we love it? It’s simply a fun celebration of our congregation’s talent woven into a Sunday worship service.
Who can participate? Anyone — all ages!
How do I sign up? Drop us a line HERE (mailto:music@uusmc.org) to express your interest or if you have any questions. For planning purposes, we need sign ups completed by Sunday, May 31.

** Sunday Worship Service Information
May 17, 2026
10:30 am
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Join Rev. Christe for a Morning of Song and Silence.

This Sunday, our worship will take a contemplative turn. Inspired by the meditative prayer services of the Taizé Community in France, our service will weave together simple, repetitive song, sacred silence, and candle-lighting in a space of openness and reflection.

You don’t need to know the music ahead of time — or come with any particular belief or expectation. Just bring yourself, exactly as you are.

Come early, settle in, and let the morning hold you.

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
* 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

** Join us in the meadow every Wednesday
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Join the Land Stewards next Wednesday, May 20 (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.

There are many opportunities to get involved, and It’s not all about getting dirty! We’ve put together a list of suggestions for ways anyone can help – from minimal effort, to moderate activity, to using shovels and pulling weeds. Check it out and be inspired!
Click HERE for ALL the ways ANYONE can help! (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Support-Our-Natural-Lands-2.pdf)

** Give a plant, get a plant — at our Plant Swap!
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Plant Swap – Saturday, May 23
Here’s how it works:

1pm–1:45pm – Plant Drop-Off
If you have plants to donate to the exchange*, drop them off during this time and you’ll receive a voucher for each plant you donate. Tip: vouchers are distributed until 1:45 sharp! You’re welcome to remain until the plant swap begins.

2pm–2:30 – Indoor Plants
The swap begins promptly at 2pm, and we’ll select plants in rounds. Everyone who donated plants gets to use their vouchers to ‘purchase’ plants donated by other neighbors. Each voucher gets you one plant. Tip: bring a box and/or wagon to transport your treasures home.

2:45-3:45 – Outdoor Plants
The best plants to donate are established native plants, and the second best are non-invasive. Please take care not to bring any invasive plants. As a general rule, any plant you can find on Mt. Cuba’s website is safe to bring (click HERE (https://mtcubacenter.org/native-plant-finder/) ). Tip: if you’re not sure what kind of plant you have, you can look it up using the free app called Seek by iNaturalist.

4:00-ish – Free Plants
We often have unclaimed plants at the end of the exchange, so if you don’t have anything to donate, but you want free plants — this is the time to help yourself.

*Some tips for preparing your donated plants:
Divide plants into individual containers that you don’t mind giving away (recycled or compostable plastic plant containers, yogurt containers, paper lunch bags, etc.)
Label clearly each plant container in advance.

You are also welcome to donate cuttings, seedlings, partially used seed packets, garden books, containers, and garden tools, but please note that you will not receive plant vouchers for these items.

** Ice Cream Social Next Month!
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Save the date for an evening of summer fun on Saturday, June 13 at 6:30pm when we’ll enjoy ice cream and yard games. Everyone is welcome, rain or shine.

We’re looking to borrow a badminton net and rackets for this event – if you can help, contact the Fun & Fellowship committee HERE (mailto:fellowship@uusmc.org) .

** FREE Jazz Concert at Mill Creek!
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** Come to our Summer Solstice Celebration
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Contact Regina Guarino HERE with questions (mailto:regina139@msn.com)

** 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:
May 15 & 22
June 5, 12, 19 & 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: May 24; June 7 & 21
(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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** Stay Connected to Your UU Faith During Your Summer Travels
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Pictured: Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth, Maine (www.uuellsworth.org (https://uuellsworth.org/) )

If you’re traveling this summer and would like to stay connected to your faith by visiting a UU church, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has made it easy. Just click the button below to find a UU church by city, state, or zip code. You can even search internationally, connect with CLF – Church of the Larger Fellowship (an online congregation), and look for young adult and campus ministry groups. Check it out!
Find a UU Congregation HERE (https://www.uua.org/find)

** Central East Region News Update
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MAY 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-0526)

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Weekly News – May 14, 2026

Weekly News – May 14, 2026