Here’s what’s happening at Mill Creek:
** Congregational Life
————————————————————
** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
————————————————————
** Sunday Worship Service Information
October 26, 2025
10:30 am
————————————————————
Recovering Our Unitarian and Universalist Heritage
Since our merger in 1962 we have struggled to define or describe Unitarian Universalism, and neglected what was authentic and revolutionary in each tradition. Perhaps it is time to honor both by exploring what was, and still is, unique about both traditions. Join us this Sunday when our guest worship leader, Rev. Greg Chute, shares his reflection, “Recovering our Unitarian and Universalist Heritage.”
Meet our worship leader, Rev. Greg Chute. Greg 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 offered by Carlos Espinoza. Carlos is a graduate of Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington; he now attends the University of Delaware.
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)
Meeting ID: 978 0642 7419
** Best Wishes, Gladys and Michael!
————————————————————
This Sunday is your final opportunity to leave a greeting card prior to their nuptials!
Join us in wishing Gladys Smith and Michael Slater the very best on the occasion of their wedding on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Look for the collection box in the gathering space where you may leave a note, letter, or greeting card for the happy couple.
** Daylight Saving Time Ends Next Weekend
————————————————————
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 2. Clocks are set back 1 hour (“fall back”). Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier than the day before, but there will be more light in the morning. Since the time changes at 2:00 am, people generally change their clocks before bed on Saturday.
** Fall Tree Planting Day
————————————————————
Go Native! Bring your tree-hugging friends and all those kids who like to play in the dirt to our tree planting day on Saturday, November 8 at 9am.
Presently we have 15 native trees to plant thanks to everyone who has donated so far. The holes will already be dug so you get to do all the fun work! We’ll show you how to best plant the tree so it can thrive. See Amy White or Jamie Kegerise with questions.
** Highlight: Mill Creek Social Justice Committee
————————————————————
We are pleased to highlight the Social Justice Committee and all its members:
Frank Burns, Tracey Crook, Ann Draper, Roy Draper, Sharon Gaudino, David Hancock, Stephen Janick, Betsy Niece, Matt Nolan, Lee O’Brien (secretary), Christine Reynolds, Doris Roth, Anita Sgrignoli, Michael Slater, Gladys Smith, Suzanne Smith, Kathie Stamm, Mary Ellen Trusheim, Chitra Vaidy, and Becky Varlas (chair).
This committee meets monthly and works together to find community partners for Share Our Plate, coordinates representation in local peaceful protests, promotes engagement with Delaware state legislative advocacy, and organizes food and clothing drives as well as other endeavors that help us to live our UU values.
Thank you to everyone on this committee for spreading love in our community in the form of support for social justice issues. If you’re interested in participating or have questions about the important work this team performs, reach out to Becky Varlas (mailto:rebeccavarlas@gmail.com) .
** Yoga Continues
————————————————————
Additional Classes Added: November and December
Join Margaret for a gentle yoga practice to relax and renew. We’ll explore asanas (held postures) and kriya (flowing through postures) using breath as our guide. We will end with mindfulness meditation practice.
When: Fridays, October 31; November 7, 14 & 21 (no 28); December 5, 12, & 19 (no 26), 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Where: Church Sanctuary
Bring: Yoga mat, a small firm pillow, water
Requirement: Must be able to get down to and up from the floor
Registration: Required! Space is limited to 6 participants – click the button below if you have questions or to register.
Click HERE to register or with questions (mailto:margaret_bodine@comcast.net)
** Volunteer Greeters Needed
————————————————————
We are looking for volunteer greeters to help implement our congregation’s new Radical Welcome initiative, a program that seeks to make every person who visits Mill Creek feel welcome, seen, and valued. Embracing all visitors will ensure that our community continues to change, grow and serve. Thank you to all who have already agreed to participate.
Volunteer Greeters will be trained and will serve in groups of four every four to six weeks (approximately). Extending a warm welcome is critical to a visitor’s first experience of our community and service as a greeter is a fun way to get involved. Interested? Contact Kathy Stamm (mailto:jstamm09@comcast.net) or Stephen Janick (mailto:sjanick@udel.edu) .
** Winter Wonderland Party
————————————————————
The Fellowship & Fun Committee is delighted to sponsor our second annual Winter Wonderland Party!
Mark your calendar now: Saturday, December 13, 5:00 pm
Share in the fun with the whole congregation with appetizers/charcuterie boards, desserts, winter-themed music, trivia, ugly sweaters, photobooth, white elephant, and even MORE. Look for the full announcement early next month.
** Artificial Christmas Trees Wanted!
————————————————————
We are collecting unwanted artificial Christmas trees: any size, any variety, any condition.
Planning to replace your tree this year? Are you downsizing? Upsizing? Have a Charlie Brown tree you’d like to get rid of? We’ll take any tree — no questions asked! We’re also looking for an artificial Ficus tree.
Drop off your donations to the church office at any time – thank you!
** Thinking Ahead:
SERVICE AUCTION 2026
————————————————————
We’ve reserved Saturday, April 11 for our annual fundraiser. This date is two weeks earlier than last year so NOW is the time to begin the planning!
We need a new lead to replace Janice Buckwalter (who chaired this event over the past several years – thank you, Janice!), as well as a team of willing volunteers who are committed to making the auction another grand success.
Reach out to the board (board@uusmc.org (mailto:board@uusmc.org) , or click the button below) if you are interested in participating in any capacity.
Save the date on your calendar!
I can help! (mailto:board@uusmc.org)
** Local Interfaith Events
————————————————————
CONCERT:
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, (701 S. College Avenue in Newark, Delaware) cordially invites everyone to attend an All Saints Concert on Sunday, November 2 at 4:00 pm.
This concert features the Sanctuary Choir, along with guest vocalists and instrumentalists, who will present Faure’s exceptional masterwork “Requiem,” as edited by John Rutter to represent what was originally intended when it was composed in 1893. A Requiem (Latin: rest) or Mass for the Dead, a musical composition associated with death, dying, and mourning, is most appropriate on this afternoon as the church remembers the deceased and the repose of their souls. The handbell ensemble will also perform, as well as organ and harp. There will also be opportunity for the audience to sing with the full complement of musicians. A freewill offering will benefit St. Paul’s Friends of Music fund. For more information, contact Mike Bareham, Director for Music and Worship at 302-368-0064 x105 or visit www.stpaulsnewarkde.org.
WORSHIP SERVICE:
All are welcome to attend the 37th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Temple Beth El (301 Possum Park Road in Newark, Delaware) on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 pm.
The service will include reflections from representatives of diverse faith traditions along with music and readings, and features our own Rev. Christe Lunsford as guest speaker.
A freewill offering will be collected for the benefit of Friendship House of Delaware, which in June announced a new strategic partnership with Limen Recovery & Wellness. Singers are invited to join a combined choir which will rehearse at 6:00 pm. Learn more – view the Facebook post HERE (https://www.facebook.com/events/1196557562300897/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&ref_source=newsfeed&ref_mechanism=feed_attachment) .
This service will be livestreamed – click HERE (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/100614900#success) .
** Current Share Our Plate Recipient
————————————————————
We regularly donate a half of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization. For the months of September & October we are supporting:
Kennett Area Community Service
This organization’s mission is to strengthen the southern Chester County community through food, housing, crisis services, and education.
* KACS Social Services Program is not a shelter, but together with the help of partner agencies in Chester County, they connect vulnerable individuals and families with sustainable living solutions.
* The Food Cupboard is the largest food cupboard in Southern Chester County, feeding over 3,000 people every month. They rely on the generosity of the community for donations and a team of over 175 volunteers to provide the life-sustaining, healthy food for neighbors in need.
* KACS Community Education Workshops help to reduce the social costs of poverty by strengthening the workforce and building a more prosperous and sustainable community.
Learn more about Kennett Area Community Service HERE (https://kacsimpact.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)
** Dungeons & Dragons
A Recurring Event
————————————————————
Sundays, October 26; November 9 & 23
(every 2 weeks)
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 2 weeks 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
Sundays, when preaching: 9am – 3pm
Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 4pm
Thursday by appointment only, click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ08wOXSmX5fNN_vySxfpLP9VL2QqSZF5spIx5_9rxZm3e25LNywCGk4WoIlyFMvdn84osyy8XZl)
Or email minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
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
dre@uusmc.org (mailto:dre@uusmc.org)
Connect with the UUA, Delmarva Cluster, and Central East Region
** A Real Life Lesson in Karma
————————————————————
“…it would take several years and a simple happenstance for me to regret dismissing the notion of karma.”
Featured recently in Braver/Wiser, the UUA’s weekly message of courage and compassion, chaplain Rumni Saha (https://www.uua.org/people/rumni-saha) , a proud Hindu and faithful Unitarian Universalist, shares how she reclaimed the age-old karmic principles of her Hindu faith in an eerily meaningful way in her story, “A Mirror of Interdependence.”
Read Rumni Saha’s story HERE (https://www.uua.org/braverwiser/mirror-interdependence)
To learn more about Braver/Wiser and to subscribe to weekly emails of courage and compassion, click HERE (https://www.uua.org/braverwiser) .
** Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
————————————————————
OCTOBER 2025
Featured Resource:
2025-26 Common Read; No Kings National Mobilization
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-1025)
============================================================
** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UUSMC)
** Website (https://www.uusmc.org)
** Instagram (http://instagram.com/millcreekuu)