Even though the word “blessing” can be a problematic word for some, there may be ways that we can arrive at some new understandings. Drawing from the writing of John O’Donohue in his book, Bless the Space Between Us offers this understanding: “Blessing is not the invention of what is not there, nor the glazed-eye belief that the innocent energy of goodwill can alter what is destructive. Blessing is a more robust and grounded presence.”

We will also recognize new members of our congregation at this worship service.

If you prefer to attend worship online, look for our worship link which will be provided via email and includes all of the details on how to connect - if you have not signed up for remote livestream worship links, please click here.

You will also find the live stream on our YouTube page, where it will appear when the broadcast starts on Sunday morning. Click the video window title to enlarge it.

Newborns - 6th graders 10:15 am to 11:45 am We meet on the playground or, if it is raining, in room 28. Please RSVP! 

What useful insight can we draw from the worldly spirituality of Henry David Thoreau? How could Thoreau's quest for a "natural life" also be a model for our own personal growth and ethical purpose for us as well? What insights might we gather for how we approach this summertime when the natural world tends to beckon us to be awake in nature? We will also acknowledge Juneteenth.

If you prefer to attend worship online, look for our worship link which will be provided via email and includes all of the details on how to connect - if you have not signed up for remote livestream worship links, please click here.

You will also find the live stream on our YouTube page, where it will appear when the broadcast starts on Sunday morning. Click the video window title to enlarge it.

Newborns - 6th graders 10:15 am to 11:45 am We meet on the playground or, if it is raining, in room 28.Please RSVP! 

Are you thinking about joining the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington? Please contact Rev. Larry Peers at larry@firstuuwilm.org or Marilyn Hyte at hyte1@comcast.net. We would like to set up a time to talk with you!

For those who have already joined in the past year, please look for your invitation to be acknowledged in our simple new member recognition ceremony as part of the worship service on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

NAMI-DE, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, NAMI is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

NAMI Delaware was founded in 1983 by Simon and Jill Shute along with a group of families desperate for support for their loved ones. Over the years the organization has grown to provide a wide range of awareness, advocacy, support, education and housing to support those affected by mental illness in Delaware.

Learn more about us, here.

A working group in our congregation has been meeting to discuss what we can do as a congregation and in partnership with other local congregations or organizations to respond to gun violence.

Last week we encouraged our members to participate in local community actions between June 3 and 5.

For those who wish, we have posted instructions for a letter/postcard writing campaign to advocate for addressing gun violence in our country, state and local area. To view these instructions online, please click here.  Please call the church office if you need the instructions on paper, we can mail them to you.

As a refresher, here is a link to our 2014 Board Position Statement on Gun Violence Prevention, here.

For more information, please contact Becky Laster at blaster102@verizon.net.

UUDAN has partnered again with Reclaim Our Vote (ROV) to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

in southern states where voter suppression has disenfranchised many people, especially black and brown people, from voting.

For our first round of mid-term season, we will write to registered African American voters in Florida to encourage voting in the Florida primary. We have plenty of time to write, as this set of postcards does not have to be mailed until August 1- 8th. That means - we write as many postcards as we can now, but hold onto them until August when we will mail them - just before the August primary.

If you are new to this process, we deliver the materials you need: writing guidelines and script, addresses, postcards, and stamps (if needed).

We need writers, drivers, and other administrative help. We also need funding for postage and supplies. If you don’t have time to write, please consider making a donation to subsidize this work!

Click to write or volunteer in other ways: GOTV Volunteer Registration

Click to donate to UUDAN for postage and supplies: Donation

Brought to you by the Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network (UUDAN) and the First U Human Rights Task Force (HRTF). If you have any questions, please contact Becky Laster at blaster102@verizon.net or 302 750 8524.

Thank you to Greg Griffin, Lois Morris, Patricia McGee,

Please contact Greg Griffin via email at ggriffin8@msn.com if you are willing to welcome people to the church building on Sunday mornings. Usher schedules are flexible; can be one Sunday per month, an occasional substitute, on-call if a scheduled usher has a schedule conflict. On the job training provided.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Unitarian & live streamed on Zoom.

Note: Proof of COVID vaccination & masks are required for attendance in the sanctuary. You can upload your vaccine card at this link or present it in person at the door. No reception refreshments will be served.

Both in-person & live stream require registration by 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at this link. If you register for the Zoom option, the link will be sent out to your email the day before the memorial service.

This series is about using poetry to find meaning in our lives. Rather than trying to understand exactly what the author may have intended, we will provide generous support to one another as we focus on how poems and words can offer healing and understanding. Each session will focus on a theme and ways to explore that theme through: Quotes, Poems, Individual writing of poems or reflections, Group sharing (optional). This is not about writing the perfect poem but about finding ways to express your thoughts and experiences creatively as well as to learn from one another.

You must pre-register by going to this link.

Young adults in Delaware who age out of the foster care system and choose to enter the State’s Independent Living Program can receive assistance in the form of rent vouchers, now until the age of 23. They must find housing and either attend school or be employed in order to stay in the program. While they learn to navigate these substantial life challenges, First U’s ILYA Program (Independent Living for Young Adults) aspires to support them by providing basic housekeeping items and supplies after they secure housing.

Imagine finally moving into your first apartment, but not having the fundamental living necessities to get started. Through ILYA’s New Apartment Kits project, we fill a laundry basket with essential items that help meet basic cooking, cleaning, organizational, and laundry needs – supplies they might not even realize they will need.

This year there are several specific items we are requesting for our young adults. We hope we can count on our First U members and friends to fill our baskets!  Come out to the church parking lot (730 Halstead Road) on Saturday, June 25th for our DRIVE UP & DROP OFF EVENT from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

By clicking this Sign Up Genius link you can view the list of needed supplies and register to purchase an item or two. Or plan to come to the ILYA table at the church on June 19th to sign up in-person.

As always, the ILYA team is most grateful for your support. We look forward to seeing you on June 25th!

Last week we had a special worship service with guest musicians and our traditional UU Flower Ceremony. It was a beautiful morning.

Click here for images from Sunday morning, June 5.

The Art Gallery for the 2022 church year will be taken down at the end of June. Come to church and check it out before it’s too late, either before or after church on Sunday – or during the week when the church office is open. A few pieces are in the Warner Room and the rest are along the second floor hallway outside Brunner Chapel and the Library/Music Room. Enjoy members’ art on the Soul Matters theme of “Embracing Possibility” in addition to other themes from the past year.

Some of the Art Gallery is also online. You can view it at the following link: First U Fall 2021 Art Gallery Online

Nancy Pinson, Art Gallery Coordinator

The Executive Team met in early June to approve the schedule of Second Sunday Special Offerings for next fiscal year.

This year we are making a few changes: There will be no summer special offerings and we will not have a special offering in November when we wrap up Guest at your Table, and none in February when the Annual Stewardship drive begins. To view the schedule, please click here. If your submission was approved, please look for an email from our business manager with instructions for follow up. Thank you!

As we prepare for a new fiscal year and a new church year, the Executive Team updated procedures around fundraising efforts in the church.

When determining whether to approve a fundraising request, we follow a few principles when determining fundraising projects at First Unitarian.

In addition to the Annual Operating Campaign, the Executive Team has approved the following ongoing fundraising activities:

The Executive Team may authorize a limited number of additional fundraising activities targeted specifically towards fulfilling the mission of the church. Please click here to access the fundraising request form and to learn more about this process.

Questions? Please email our Business Manager, Marina, at marina@firstuuwilm.org.

In June, our Pastoral Care Associate is Kathie Stamm. Her email is KathieS@firstuuwilm.org.

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.

Reserved Pavilion 2

Killens State Park, 5025 Killens Pond Rd, Felton De, 19943

15 miles South of Dover on Rt 13

Park Admission $4 in state or $8 out of state - More details are available at this link.

Delaware Coronavirus Information is available, here. Testing resources are here.

For our Pennsylvania members, you can go here for information.