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.

Covid-19 Community Level is Low

Covid vaccination is strongly recommended for attendance at worship services, as well as adult and children's religious exploration programs in the building. Masking is optional.

Sunday, January 15, 2023

This Sunday, January 15

IN THE BUILDING AND ONLINE

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

“An Integral Vision of Racial Justice” – Rev. Dr. Larry Peers

This Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend gives us the opportunity to not only reflect upon the life of King and his legacy but also to look at how our understanding about healing from racial justice has expanded and deepened in recent years.

Worship Associate: Jacqueline Kairis

Music: Kathy Harris

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 Brunner Chapel.

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

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

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Next Sunday, January 22

IN THE BUILDING AND ONLINE

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

“Unlearning” – James Moser, Worship Associate

On the cusp of the new year, what does it mean to keep our balance when the unknowns of our times require that we let go of so much that was familiar before? How do we find balance in times of change – in the world, in our communities and in our personal lives?

Worship Associate: Jan Shay

Music: Kathy Harris, First U Women's Choir

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 Brunner Chapel.

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

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

Youth Group (8th - 12th graders) Volunteer at "From Our Kitchen."

News & Events

Thank You Ushers on January 15

Many thanks to our usher team of Greg Griffin, Janet Hall, Beverly Bach, Matt Marek for their service today.

If you would like to join our usher team, please email Greg Griffin at ggriffin8@msn.com.

Newcomers Gathering

Sunday, January 15th at Noon

If you are a newcomer, whether you've attended several times or only once, you are invited for this opportunity to meet our minister and learn more about our church and Unitarian Universalism with Rev. Larry Peers and some other members of our congregation on Sunday, January 15, 2023, from noon-1:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall.

For those of you who are able to stay a bit longer, Marilyn Hyte will provide a tour of the building at 1:00 p.m. Our Membership Team Chair will also be there with "Snacks."

Please let Marilyn know if you’ll be able to attend-her email hyte1@comcast.net. Look forward to meeting with you!

LifeStream @ First Unitarian Wilmington

This brochure outlines unique opportunities to join us for learning and connecting in these Winter Months (January-March). These opportunities are also intended as times to invite a friend or neighbor to join you.

For registration information, please go to our web page at this link.

Katherine May offers in her book, "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times," that winter time can be:

A time for reflection and recuperation, slow replenishment, and

putting your house in order. Doing these deeply unfashionable things slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting — is a radical act now, but it is essential.

I look forward to these upcoming opportunities for conversations and learning together.

In faith,

Rev. Larry

Minister, First Unitarian Church of Wilmington

January Special Offering: Emmanuel Dining Room

Thank you for your support of Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR) on January 8.

We raised $1382!

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 3PM. If the timing or location is an issue for you, please let me know.

For more information, contact Maureen Sandberg at sandjomo@verizon.net.

Vegan Potluck, Saturday January 21st- Bowl Night!

Please join us January 21st at 5:30 p.m. in Parish Hall for a vegan potluck. We will be hosting a "bowl" night. Everyone brings an item to share to add to a bowl of healthy food! Ideas could be seasoned black beans, roasted corn, marinated tofu, brown rice, or anything you think would go good in a bowl! Please bring your own bowls, utensils, cups for environmentally easy clean up. The First Unitarian Church is a nut free facility. We also ask to try and bring a dish with no oil or gluten free to welcome all of our visitors. We are also taking donations of gloves, hats, and socks for the daycare and aftercare programs at Southbridge Neighborhood House. Please bring these items to the event to support our local community.

Donations for Southbridge Neighborhood House

The Environmental Justice Task Force is collecting hats, gloves, and socks for the daycare and aftercare programs at Southbridge Neighborhood House. Kids range from 3 to 12. We will be collecting these throughout the month of January in a box in Parish Hall or you could bring your donations to church on Saturday, January 21st at 5:30 p.m. for the Vegan Potluck. Please help us keep these kids warm this winter!

Book Discussion: “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” by Monica Guzman

Sunday, January 29, 2023, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Facilitated by Gerry Konzelmann and Rev. Larry Peers. Join us in the Warner Room for this drop-in discussion of this book being read by other groups and organizations in Delaware. This book and discussion may be for you “whether you are left, right, center or sick of all the labels: If you’re ready to fight back again."

Spaghetti Dinner and Game Night Fundraiser

Come together for dinner, games, and fun!

Saturday, February 11

Dinner served: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Games: 6:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Suggested Donation*: $10 for ages 12 and up,

$5 under 12.

Support our Youth in raising funds for a social justice trip to Philadelphia.

*All are welcome! Donate, or not, as able.

Pastoral Care Associate

of the Month

In January, our Pastoral Care Associate is Suzie Cornell. You can reach her at 610-925-0510.

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.

Pastoral Care Announcement

Erika V. Goodlett, Rev. Pam Wat's mother in law, passed away peacefully on the morning of December 26, 2022, at the age of 88. Our thoughts are with Rev. Pam, her husband Erik, and their family at this time. You can view her obituary at this link.

On Line Coffee Sales

You can support farmers, farm workers, and artisans with Equal Exchange. Equal Exchange is a fair trade organization founded on the vision of creating a closer connection between farmers and consumers.

We have a variety of Equal Exchange coffees, teas, hot chocolates, chocolate bars, and even baking cocoa, for sale here at the church. Start your mornings right with a mug of rich, aromatic Colombian coffee, or treat yourself to a refreshing bar of lemon ginger dark chocolate.

Online sales continue! Stock up for holiday get-togethers!

If interested, please contact Steve Marek at smarek19@aol.com for product availability and purchase. Please click here to see photos of some of our products. Thank you!

Fundraising Procedures

The Executive Team has procedures around fundraising efforts in the church. If you plan activities that have a fundraising component or if you plan to ask for in-kind donations, please refer to this link for information on our fundraising request procedures.

For other church procedures and policies, check out this link.

Thank you for all you do to make First U an active congregation with plenty of programs and activities for all ages.

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!