First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
PREVIEW  Thursday, Mar. 16--Thursday, Mar. 23, 2017
 
Sunday Schedule


9:00 AM
-Mindfulness Meditation

9:45 AM
-Nursery/Toddler rooms open

10:00 AM
-Service, Emerson
-Programming for dhildren and 
youth

11:00 AM
-Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
-Teddy Archer reception, Emerson

11:45 AM
-SRC Forum: Joe Paparone
-Annual Dinner skit rehearsal

Quick Links...

March 2017 Newsletter  


 

Join Our Mailing List
HOT SPOT!

Please consider making your 2017-2018 pledge soon!
ALBANY UU WEBSITES

Outreach:
albanyuu.org

Resources for members and friends:
members.albanyuu.org
THREE WAYS 
to sign up for a class or an event:

-Send an email to

-Sign up at the Sign Up Site in Channing Hall

OR

-Call the church office, 518.436.7135

If childcare is offered for the event, please let us know you need it when you register. (Include names and ages of children.)
CORRECTION: Date and time for Seder have been corrected in Upcoming Events section.

SERVICE

Sunday, Mar. 19, 10:00 AM   "Honoring Agnosticism," Rev. Sam Trumbore

Albany UU is one religious community that honors agnosticism and welcomes agnostics with open arms. We don't need to fix them and make them into either atheists or theists.  Perhaps agnosticism is the most honest identity to claim when we can't know the ultimate answers to life's most persistent questions.

Music: Albany UU Choir
STELLA!


Our custodian, Cam, working hard to clear snow around Albany UU after winter storm, Stella. Thanks, Cam!
STEWARDSHIP
 

Sustaining Our Safe and Compassionate Community
 
Please make your pledge by returning your form or going on-line.
 
This year we would like to celebrate the success of our stewardship campaign (i.e. our annual fund raising effort) at the annual dinner on April 7. Please make your pledge soon. It is simple to do on-line by clicking the pledge button at  http://members.albanyuu.org/wp/
 
This is where we are:
  • We are at 38% of our goal of $470,000
  • We are less than 3 weeks away from the Annual Dinner so please keep those pledges coming in
  • Thank you to all of you who have pledged already
What does Albany UU mean to you?
 
Last week in the preview I asked for answers to this question.  Ann Brandon replied with the following:
 
"Dave and I moved to Albany 50 years ago this month, visited the UU church, and joined soon after. Here is where we made friends, got inspiration from the services (Nick Cardell was minister) and I pursued my interests in music and social action. As ministerial changes and congregational challenges came up, we worked through them along with others. Probably my favorite project was the long (really long) debate and finally the building of the addition of Emerson Community Hall, along with other rooms and an elevator. We have a wonderful facility and great congregation which I hope will last for many years to come. It takes all of us to make that happen." 
 
Think about what Albany UU means to you when you make your pledge this year. If you want to share your answer to this question, you can send it to chuckmanning@hotmail.com.
 
Please Make Your 

Pledge Soon!
THIS WEEK AT ALBANY UU
 

The Auction is Coming! The Auction is Coming!
Howdy partner!  Saddle your horses and ride on over to the  Wild West Auction this Saturday at 6:15 PM at Albany UU. Bid on wonderful items and enjoy tasty appetizers, beverages, and desserts.  
 
Don't have a ticket? No worries. Buy one at the door for $7!
 
Parents: Make this a night out...Free child care will be offered for auction attendees.
 
NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING! You can park your horses at the UAlbany Hawley lot at Robin on Washington! So get on the band wagon! Mosey on over to Albany UU and pony up!

Teddy Archer bon voyage  mini- reception
On Sunday, March 19, 11:00 am, immediately following the service in the back of Emerson Community Hall there will be a short reception with light refreshments where you can wish Teddy well before her big move across the country to be closer to family.

Channing Circle
Monday, March 20, Noon
Join your retired friends with your lunch, coffee and tea will be provided. The discussion is always engaging!

Albany UU Humanists
Tuesday, Mar. 21, Room B-8
All interested in learning more about humanism in Unitarian Universalism are welcome to join. For further information on Humanism in Unitarian Universalism, visit  here , or for general information, visit the  American Humanist Association.

New Ministerial Intern!
Eileen Casey-Campbell, our new ministerial intern will be beginning work at Albany UU on Aug. 21, 2017. You can start to get to know her by viewing her video here: 
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
 

East of Hudson Potluck
Friday, March 24, 6:00 pm
Join Tim and Tammy Hathaway and their family for the next East of Hudson Potluck at 60 Schumann Rd., Averill Park. RSVP to tammy.hathaway5@gmail.com.

UU Service Committee President and CEO Tom Andrews Reception
Join us at a Hudson Mohawk UU Cluster Reception for Tom Andrews on Saturday, March 25,  from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the UU Society of Schenectady. Tom will share what these turbulent times mean for the UUSC, his vision for the organization, and answers to your questions.

For more information about the reception and the combined service, click HERE.

9th Annual Hudson Mohawk UU Combined Worship Service 
Sunday, Mar. 26, 10:30 am at Doane Stuart 
199 Washington Ave, Rensselaer
Unitarian Universalists from across the Capital Region will be coming together for a combined worship service entitled " Gathering in Love for Justice and Peace ."

This service is designed to be welcoming and engaging for all ages. Nursery and child care will be available for children through second grade, and the service will include an activity area with floor pillows for those who need to move around quietly.

Please bring finger foods to share during coffee hour.

The Doane Stuart School is handicapped accessible and only 3 blocks from exit 7 of Route I-90, immediately off the eastern end of the Patroon Island Bridge.  

Important note:  There will be no services or activities at Albany UU on this Sunday.

12th Annual Guided Wine & Cheese Event
For this year's event, the UU Wineaux have ventured east to explore the varieties of wines produced since ancient times in the lands bordering the Adriatic and Aegean Seas. We will present you with interesting and reasonably priced examples of wines from Slovenia, Macedonia, the Grecian peninsula and volcanic islands paired with regional cheeses and condiments. Come join us on this cultural "cruise" on  Saturday, April 1  at 7:00 PM . Tickets will be on sale in Channing Hall during coffee hour on Sunday March 12 and 19. Contact Al Berzinis for more information or to sign up for tickets: apberzinis@verizon.net; 518.269.5296.  There will be parking in the UAlbany Hawley Lot for this event.

Annual Fellowship Dinner
Friday, April 7  at the Franklin Terrace in Troy Come join us for an evening of fun, food, fellowship, and frivolity. There will be a cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, dinner, a few short (we hope) speeches, a musical skit where we poke fun at ourselves, followed by dancing.
A link to the invitation can be found HERE. For more information, call the Church Office or Bob Franklin at 518-944-9960.

Creating Antiracist Identity
Eight-week small group series
Saturdays 10 a.m. - noon
April 1 - May 20
Co-facilitators: Michael Hornsby and Patti Jo Newell

Creating Antiracist Identity seeks to facilitate earnest reflection and discussion, with the goal of transforming how participants see their individual selves, our congregation and expressions of community beyond our doors through the lens of race and ethnicity. Workshop discussions and activities will be supported by reading and viewing outside materials.
 
The curriculum for Creating Antiracist Identity is adapted from the UUA series, Examining Whiteness: An Antiracist Curriculum.
 
Group size limited to 12 participants.
TO REGISTER: Send an email to registration@AlbanyUU.org.

UU Passover Seder - save the date!
Saturday, April 15, 3:30 - 7:00 pm
Join Rev. Sam Trumbore for a Passover Seder dinner and service. For more information or to offer to help, contact Rev. Sam: minister@albanyuu.org or 518.366.4532 (cell)

We Need YOU to say Yes to serving our congregation!
The Nominating Committee is now seeking candidates for elected positions at Albany UU. Our next election will be held at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 21, and we hope  you will consider playing a leadership role in our congregation. Click  HERE to find out more!

Connecting with our UU movement
Have you signed the  Declaration of Conscience ? This statement is a strong commitment to putting our Unitarian Universalist values into action to resist hate, fear and bigotry. You can sign the declaration here. 
 
Register for the  St. Lawrence Spring Gathering and UUA Presidential Candidates Forum , to be held Saturday April 1 event at May Memorial UU Society in Syracuse.  Rev. Richard Gilbert will offer the 2017 Gould Lecture, titled "Singing Our Broken Hallelujahs: The Prophetic Imperative in a Messy World." Sign up  here  by March 26.
 
Consider attending General Assembly 2017 in New Orleans, June 21-25.  This year's theme is "Resist and Rejoice!"  D elegates will elect the President who will lead the Unitarian Universalist Association for the next six years.  Albany UU will pay the registration fee for members who serve as delegates.  Let the Board of Trustees know that you are interested by completing this form. Registration for housing and applications for UUA scholarships is open!

Warmth for the Homeless 
If you find you have extras, please gather blankets, sleeping bags, warm coats, etc. for the homeless and put them in the bin in the coatroom. Thank you for helping the homeless to keep warm during winter.

Sunday morning volunteers
Part of what makes our Sunday morning services so organized and enjoyable is our volunteers! We need volunteers each Sunday for a Lead Usher, Ushers, Greeters, a Coffee Host and the Welcome Table. You can volunteer for any Sunday as far in advance as you would like by visiting SignUp.com. Check it out, we couldn't do it without you!
Social Responsibilities Council (SRC)
 

SRC Forum 
March 19, 11:45 am in the Sanctuary
Congregations have a long tradition of providing safe space and sanctuary to neighbors fleeing persecution and under threat of deportation. This threat has intensified in recent years, months, and weeks, and increases daily for our immigrant friends and neighbors. On March 19, we'll be joined by Joe Paparone, organizer with the Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS, New Sanctuary for Immigrants, and Focus Churches, to talk about what Sanctuary means today, and how we can help build a proactive movement for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for all.

Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
Wednesday, Mar. 22: Screening and discussion of PBS Frontline program on Dr. Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal:  Medicine and What Matters in the End at the Colonie Library from 12:15-2:00.

Green Sanctuary Committee Reminder:
Start collecting your rigid plastics -- like plastic utensils, children's sand pails, bottles, hard caps -- for collection at Albany UU during April.  Watch for future announcements.

Also, please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in Channing to compost your personal food wastes, then deposit them into the composting bin outside Albany UU on West Street. Please do not rinse your containers inside Albany UU. For more information, please talk to Amy Lent or Betsy Wright. 


RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NOTES
-Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education

Keep up with what's happening for children and families and other events by visiting

This week in Sunday school:

The nursery/toddler room will open at 9:45, as usual.

The Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet Groups (pre-k through 5th grade, including 4th grade O.W.L. ) will attend the first part of the service in Emerson Hall with their families. Then they will go to their groups for Sunday school until 11:20

Neighboring Faiths (6th/7th grade) will be visiting the Sikh temple in Rensselaer and staying for their community dinner. RSVP, if you haven't already to Leah at dre@albanyuu.org.

8th grade OWL and Senior High Yuuth Group meet as usual in their rooms from 10:00 to 11:20. 

The Multicongregational service  March 26 
We'll all be gathering at Doane Stewart School for our annual service with our local sibling UU congregations. Join us in reflection and song as we are inspired by social change strategist and UU Service Committee President and CEO Tom Andrews as he shares stories of hope, inspiration and UU faith in action. The service will feature a Joint Choir. We will have a multi-age RE session for children in 1st through 5th grade after the story in the service; my DRE colleagues and I will be leading the session that includes a collaborative art project. Older children will attend the whole service. Childcare for the entire time of the service will be available for children in kindergarten and younger.
I'm looking for a chalice lighter and child/youth ushers for the multi-congregational service. Email me at dre@albanyuu.org if your child is interested in either of those roles.
Reminder - No service or Sunday school at Albany UU on March 26.


As always, feel free to contact Leah Purcell at dre@albanyuu with questions.
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany

 

Phone: 518.463.7135

 

Address: 405 Washington Ave., Albany NY 12206

Main entrance is on Washington Avenue. Rear entrance is on West St. Both have ramp access. The building is fully handicapped accessible.


Parking: Parking is available on the street. On Sundays (and for some special events) Albany UU has permission to use the University at Albany's downtown campus parking lot: the Hawley Lot on Robin Street at Washington Avenue.

 

Office hours:

September-June: Monday-Friday, 9:00-3:00
July-August: Monday-Thursday 9:00-1:00