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First Unitarian Church 

of Wilmington Delaware 

Love and Compassion. Growth and Discovery.

Freedom and Justice. Wonder and Joy.

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Sunday worship is available in the building and online.

For information about our worship schedule,

please click here.

Click here for streaming information. 

Sunday, May 21, 2023

This Sunday, May 21

IN THE BUILDING AND ONLINE

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

“Recreating A Life, Part I” – Rev. Dr. Larry Peers

It has been said that “You are the story you tell yourself, so tell yourself a good story.” In this two part sermon series, we will explore our own life stories as a way of appreciating the current stories that we tend to tell about our lives and to appreciate some of the sources of re-storying our lives. In my study of narrative therapy and depth psychology, I have gained some insights and practices that I’d like to share in this series. Including Bridging Ceremony for Rosalie Tull Geist and Gabe Pust.  


Worship Associate: Helen Foss

Music: Kathy Harris, Cindy Cohen

 

If you have not signed up for remote livestream worship links, please click here in order to receive the link.


You will also find the live stream on our YouTube page, where it will appear when the video is uploaded. Click the video window title to enlarge it.


Children and Youth

Newborns - 7th graders begin in the sanctuary for the Bridging Ceremony

Chalice Children (Newborns - 3rd graders) pick up in Room 29.

Questers (4th - 7th graders) pick up in room 30.

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Next Sunday, May 28

IN THE BUILDING AND ONLINE

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

“Recreating a Life, Part II”- Rev. Dr. Larry Peers

Sometimes our story is recreated because of unanticipated events in our lives that cause us to take a “u turn” or to reconsider what path we will take moving forward. This sermon will draw upon some of the pivotal experiences in the lives of Emerson, Thoreau and William James as described in Robert Richardson’s short , inspirational book, Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of their Lives.


Worship Associate: Ed Ostrom

Music: Harvey Price, Richard Speck


If you have not signed up for remote livestream worship links, please click here in order to receive the link.


You will also find the live stream on our YouTube page, where it will appear when the video is uploaded. Click the video window title to enlarge it.


Children and Youth

Summer Childcare Begins.

Drop off and pick up in the playground area for 2 years old - 7th graders.

News & Events

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Vegan Potluck Dinner

Friday, May 19th at 6:00 p.m.

Join us Friday, May 19th at 6:00 p.m. in Parish Hall for another vegan potluck! Please bring a vegan dish to share. Need ideas? Just type your favorite food into Google with the word "vegan" and tons of recipes will pop up. Or bring something easy like a salad or fruit. Non alcoholic drinks will be provided. Bring your own plates, bowls, utensils, cups, etc. for easy clean up. Many people from the community will be invited to this event, so please join us to welcome some new friends! We are a nut free facility.  Registration is not required, but it helps us to have a hint of how many people are coming.

Thank You Ushers and Hospitality Volunteers on May 21

Many thanks to our usher team of

Greg Griffin, Janet Hall, Joan Carter, Matt Marek, Deborah Haskell for their service today. They are the welcoming faces greeting the increasing number of people in the building for Sunday services and the first to meet our visitors.


Thank you to Cinda Crane and Leslie Dickerson, our Board Co-Presidents, for refreshments today!


If you would like to join our usher team, please email Greg Griffin at [email protected]. No special training required; just a spirit of hospitality.

Annual Meeting May 21, 2023

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held at Noon on Sunday, May 21, 2023 in our church sanctuary.


  • Click HERE to view the slide presentation for this meeting. It has been slightly updated, based on feedback from the Strategic Planning Review Meeting held on Monday, May 15


  • Click HERE to view the proposed budget.


  • If you cannot attend the meeting and would like to designate a proxy, Fill in this FORM. Each member can only hold one proxy. Proxies must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. May 21st. 


  • This will be a multi-platform meeting. If you plan to attend online via a Zoom, please register HERE


  • Zoom meeting will open at 11:35 a.m. JOIN by 11:40 a.m. at the latest to get checked in and participate in a demonstration of the remote voting procedure. You may register up to 4 voting members on one Zoom connection. 


  • If you are attending in the building, please register at the registration table in parish hall.


Childcare will be available in Room 29. Please let us know if your family requires childcare for the Annual Meeting. Your child will receive lunch or you may pack a lunch. Please let us know by May 19 by registering HERE for childcare.


To view the Annual Report for 2022-2023, please click here. The report includes nominees for the board for 2023-2024, as well as nominees for the Nominating Committee and General Assembly Delegates. A special THANK YOU to Nancy Pinson who collects reports from the congregational leaders and staff and creates comprehensive reports on our church each year.


To view last year's Annual Meeting Minutes, please click HERE.


To view the voting list, please click HERE. As per our bylaws, church members who have been members for at least 30 days, and who have made a contribution of record in the past 12 months, are considered voting members. Youth Members are also permitted to vote. Please contact Marina in the church office if you do not appear on the voting list or would like to make a contribution in order to vote on May 21.


Thank you for your support of First Unitarian.

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Memorial Day Office Closure

Our church office and building will be closed on Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day. Please enjoy the long weekend with family and friends!

“I Never Thought of it That Way” Book Study, Part I – With Gerry Konzelmann

Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 4–5 p.m.

On January 29, Rev. Dr. Larry Peers graced us with the sermon “Fearlessly Curious Conversations,” inspired by Monica Guzman’s work, “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.” Those who had read this book and those who found themselves inspired to know more about this work had deep reactions and questions, leading us to move forward scheduling time to discuss each of the five (5) chapters of this work. Consecutive attendance is not a requirement, join us when your schedule permits. After registration you will receive a Summary Guide of that month’s chapter that will assist you in being an active participant. Some participants will have read the book a while ago, while others may not have finished it or even started this book. The goal of these sessions is engagement, not the study of the work. Please register at this link.


  • Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 4-5 p.m. – Part I, SOS: sorting, othering, and siloing.
  • Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 4-5 p.m. – Part II, Curiosity: perspective, friction, conversation, and traction.
  • Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 4-5 p.m. – Part III, People: assumptions, reason, and opinion.
  • Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 4-5 p.m. – Part IV, Paths: experiences, values, and attachments.


Future sessions will be announced. These meetings offer the choice of in-person at Firs U in Room 25 or by Zoom.


Gerry Konzelmann has worked in business as a special education teacher and as the vocational rehabilitation service director. Her last position was in New York State as the leader of a Federal School to Work Community Partnership Demonstration Project.

Thank You Weed Team!

Nine dedicated volunteers worked Saturday, May 13th to free trees and bushes of weeds and vines. Beautiful results were achieved! The evergreen screen around the First Unitarian Outdoor Sanctuary is growing, gaining function for the environment, and absorbing more traffic noise each year. Come enjoy it!


Thank you Bev Bach, Alex Barch, Julie Brewer, Dee Burdash, Dave Donohue, Nancy Flanagan, Betty Weir and her sister Patty, and Debbi Zarek.


More volunteers are welcome to stop in any time to pull weeds within the wire cages. Simply slide the wire rounds up a few inches to dig out the grass and weeds. Also, if you have extra mulch at home, please add two inches inside the cages. If you need guidance, email or call Nancy Flanagan at [email protected]

Do You think About Joining First Unitarian Church?

If you have been attending our congregation regularly in the building or online and are interested in joining this congregation, please get in touch with Rev. Larry at [email protected] or speak to him by Sunday, June 4th.


Our next welcoming of new members will be on Sunday, June 11th, as part of our worship service. 

First U Youth Update!!!

Congratulations to First U Youth Gabe Pust (far right) and his Brandywine High School teammates who won the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow National Competition. This is a nationwide competition for public school students demonstrating how they use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills to create positive change and address pressing issues in their local communities. Brandywine High School’s proposed solution for low-cost Assistive Technology was also selected by Samsung employees as the “Employee Choice Winner”.

To learn about their winning solution, you can watch their three-minute pitch video here.

Pastoral Care Associate of the Month

in May, our PCA is Dale Megill. You can reach her at [email protected].



Pastoral Care invites the opportunity to offer support for health issues & deaths, personal or family difficulties, loneliness, etc. We may only become aware of who may benefit if you let us know of the need. And also, as these extraordinary difficult times continue, please show our care & concern by reaching out to one another by phone or online.


Pastoral Care has food gift cards available for church members who might need a helping hand with their food budget. Please use the email address for the on-call Pastoral Care associate for a confidential contact to request a card. Another resource for aid is Lutheran Community Services Choice Pantry. Information to access this service is available at (302)654-8886 ext. 111.

You are not alone…

… or you don’t have to be. The Caregiver’s Group welcomes anyone involved in caring for or managing care for a friend or family member. Whether you want to let off steam, receive empathy or share care related ideas, please consider joining us.


Currently we meet at Country House on Rt. 52 on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. If the timing or location is an issue for you, please let me know.


For more information, contact Maureen Sandberg at [email protected].

A Sure Cure for Loneliness!

A new report from the Surgeon General says the USA has an “epidemic of loneliness” with serious health effects that can be linked to increased rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious disease and dementia. One of the report’s key recommendations is to “Strengthen social infrastructure in local communities.” As members of First U, through our values, mission and ends, we experience firsthand the restorative power of social and spiritual connection. 


One way to strengthen and broaden those connections is by participating with other UUs at this year's General Assembly in Pittsburgh. There you’ll find not only inspirational workshops and worship services, but also a wide range of social activities where are you can meet new people and form new friendships.


You can even be a voting delegate representing First U. The General Assembly is where the business of our denomination is conducted. Policies are debated and voted on and emerging issues are targeted for future action. You'll be working with other UU leaders to shape the future of our faith with the election of a new UUA president and the planned revisions to the Association’s bylaws.


While there are many reasons to attend GA in person, you don't have to be there -- you can attend online. You can even be a delegate online. It’s in Pittsburgh -- an easy day’s drive – and takes place Wednesday, June 21 – Sunday, June 25, both in-person and online with the theme of “Faithfully Becoming.” 


If you're interested in serving as a delegate, please reach out to Board Co-Presidents Leslie Dickerson, [email protected], or Cinda Crane, [email protected]. Delegates will be affirmed at our annual meeting.


Use the following link to register and find out more: General Assembly


One thing for sure, no matter how you participate, you won't be lonely!

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Creativity Matters

On Sunday, May 28th, you are invited to bring your art reflecting on the Soul Matters theme of Creativity, and share it during coffee hour in Parish Hall. If you need an inspiration for creativity, here are some ideas:

  • Some say creativity is the ability to turn the ordinary into art. This is certainly true of street artist Tom Bob. He is a master at seeing the artistic possibilities in the seemingly mundane. Check out his work with this link: https://mymodernmet.com/tom-bob-cool-street-art/ Try to take something ordinary and turn it into something creatively extraordinary!
  • The Pan Americana School of Art and Design created an ingenious way to help people test and explore their creativity. They created sheets of paper with lines of X’s and O’s and then invited people to draw as many things as possible that originate from those X’s or O’s. Here’s more about the project and examples of X & O sheets: https://sakabatou.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/school-of-art-and-design-creativity-test/ Why not try it yourself?! See how many X and O creations you can come up with.  
  • Synesthesia is a neurological condition which causes people to process songs as colors, and paint music. The videos below explore this. But you don’t have to have synesthesia to give this a try. Drawing or painting a piece of music might be one of the most creative adventures you’ve tried! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbh7tAnwLCY  

Did You Know?

Climate Change is Destroying the Choctaw Nation's Home in Louisiana. 


The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is there to help.



First Unitarian will be sharing with you personal stories in e-news monthly about the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), which is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization.


UUSC advances human rights and social justice around the world, working with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies. Their work is grounded in the belief that all people have inherent power and dignity. Together with an international community of grassroots partners and advocates it strives to center the voices of people most affected by injustice. UUSC creates eye-to-eye relationships with marginalized communities in determining their steps for the future.


Here is one of their stories- The Choctaw Tribe in Louisiana. Follow this link to learn more.

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Automated Giving Renewals Due Soon!

If you use our automated giving service to make your regular pledge payments, please be sure to renew your authorization for the new fiscal year, July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. All authorizations for the current year expire on June 30, 2023

You can update your authorization by doing one of the following:

  • You can access the online form here to set up automated pledge payments.
  • You can print a paper authorization form, here, then mail it or deliver it to the church office.
  • You can pick up a paper form in the church office.
  • You can call Chrissy in the church office to update your authorization.
  • You can also set up your payment plan using our Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement phone app. Details available here.


Remember! If you do not renew your authorization your payments will stop after July 1 2023.


If you have not yet pledged for next year, please go to our Generating Our Future Starts Now campaign page or call the church office. Thank you for your support of First Unitarian Church!!

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Nominations for Special Offerings* for

FY 23/24 are now open!

Is there a group that holds a special place in your heart? Do you want to offer your friends at First Unitarian Church the opportunity to support a local community non-profit that you love? If so, please send your nomination to [email protected] with your name, charity contact info, and a brief summary of the work they do by May 31, 2023. You can also mail your request to the church office. The Executive Team will evaluate the nominees and will contact you to let you know if your submission has been approved. You can learn more about this community support effort, here.


*In FY 23/24, we will begin special offerings on the first Sunday in September and then continue on the first Sunday of the month, a change from our previous second Sunday schedule. We have also changed the name of our special offerings to "Share the Plate" offerings. We will not Share the Plate in November 2023 so as not to conflict with Guest at your Table. We will also not Share the Plate in February 2024 during our annual operating budget pledge campaign.


The following Special Offerings are “pre-approved” and included as part of the budget. If you lead a committee that works with those groups, please email [email protected] with your first and second choice of months for your special offering schedule.

  • YWCA
  • ILYA
  • UUSC
  • Lutheran Community Services


Thank you for your support of both First Unitarian Church and our local community.

UUs @ Delaware Pride 

We’re going to the Delaware Pride Festival on June 10, and you’re invited to join us! 

First Unitarian is a welcoming congregation, and Pride is a great opportunity to show that. Pride is in Dover and is from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Find out more about the Delaware Pride Festival, please click here.


We are planning to car pool. If you want to car pool with us, plan to meet at 8:15 a.m. in the First U parking lot.


We are also providing Pride Training 

If you’re going to Pride with us, please plan on attending this short LGBTQIA+ training on June 6 at 6:30 p.m. Finn Ward from Transitions Delaware, LLC will be providing us with basic training on gender identity, gender expression, pronouns, and avoiding unintended microaggressions.


Can’t make the Pride Festival but want to attend this educational training? You are welcome to join the training as well. This training session is limited to 20 people, so register today.

 

To register for any or all of these activities: attendance at Pride, carpooling, or training, please click this link.

Room Use Procedures and

Building Rentals

Our church building is getting busier! Rentals plus church activities are keeping our calendar full. If you have an interest in using space in our building, it pays to plan ahead.


Can my church committee meet in the church building?

  • Yes! You can reserve space for your church activity by filling out the reservation request form at this link. The form asks useful questions to help our staff determine size of room, AV needs, set up, etc.
  • Or, you can email Marina, our Business Manager at [email protected] with your request.
  • There is no rental charge for church activities or for outside organizations that are partnered with a First U church group. Custodial fees may apply on Saturdays but would be paid from the groups budget or designated fund.
  • Rites of passage for church members are also rent free, although a custodial fee may apply for a Saturday event.


Can I use a space at the church for a personal party or meeting for an outside group?

  • Yes! We charge rent for personal non-church events such as private parties or other activities.
  • Church members receive a reduced rate on rent
  • Custodial fees apply to Saturday events
  • Apply using the form at this link.
  • Room rental rates are available here. Last page lists reduced rate for members.


Our church building is here for our members and our church community. For more information, or questions, please email Marina in the church office.

Building Care and You

This year we continue to make use of our facility on a regular basis. More and more people are using classrooms for meetings and other spaces for parties, potlucks and workshops. Although we have a custodial staff to do cleaning, trash removal and room set ups, we have a small staff and we could use everyone’s help to keep our facility comfortable for everyone.


When in the building, please try to leave your space the way you found it, if not better. If you move chairs around in a classroom, please put them back the way you found them. If you use the kitchen, please clean up and wipe down the counters. If you have a cup of coffee in your hand, please return it to the kitchen after coffee hour, instead of leaving it in the hallway or on a table in the office. If there is a big event, please offer to help the custodian on duty with putting tables and chairs away, if you are able.


Together we can keep First U a welcoming place for everyone. Interested in helping in other ways with buildings and grounds? Please email Marina at [email protected]. Opportunities for grounds care, small maintenance projects, simple repairs and more are available for willing volunteers!

UU News

Transgender / Non-Binary Monthly Gatherings

This is a wonderful community led space that is truly multigenerational. Many trans UU’s are searching for a way to connect to other trans UU’s and Adrian Ballou has taken on creating this space. Children attend with their parents and there is breakout space for children and youth. This program is completely in line with the UUA’s youth safety guidelines.


Hello beloved community,

Are you, a loved one, or someone you support in your UU community trans/nonbinary? Together, trans and nonbinary UUs are creating a space just for us to gather and build community–and it’s a cozy, caring, affirming time that restores and renews. There’s lots of interest and we’re still growing, and we want you with us! Group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month.


For more info (including info on accessibility and children/youth registration) click here. Ready to sign up? Register here to join the community!

Links to Explore

First Unitarian Church Website

First Unitarian Church Worship Schedule

First Unitarian YouTube Channel

Children & Youth Religious Exploration

First Unitarian Sermon Archive

Donate Now

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Church of the Larger Fellowship

Central East Regional Group

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