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JOYS AND CARING CORNER
You may submit Joys and Sorrows for publication online. Find the form HERE.
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ALBANY UU WEBSITES
Outreach:
albanyuu.org
Resources for members and friends:
members.albanyuu.org
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TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS OR EVENT:
-Sign up at the Sign Up Site
in Channing Hall
OR
-Call the church office, 518.463.7135
If childcare is offered for the event, please let us know you need it when you register. (Include names and ages of children.)
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SERVICE
Sunday, February 11, 10:00 AM,
"The Joy of Fasting"
Rev. Sam Trumbore, Eileen Casey-Campbell
Religious fasting is not about losing weight or health promotion. Christians traditionally look at religious fasting during Lent as a way to replicate Jesus' suffering for 40 days in the desert. Through sacrifice, one renews one's faith and cleanses one's spirit before Easter. This is not how Muslims approach fasting. Their experience of fasting often is joyful. Since UU's aren't asked to fast at a particular time, maybe we're missing something valuable.
Music:
Albany UU Choir
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STEWARDSHIP
Do Your Part To Keep Our Beacon Burning Bright
We need volunteers to help with the Annual Stewardship Campaign. A successful fundraising effort is essential to keep our congregation healthy and growing. We must pay our minister and staff, heat, cool, and pay for our building, and support the causes and programs we embrace.
Albany UU exists because we all support it with our time, talents, and treasure. Without the support of all our members and friends, we would not be here. Think for a moment what your life would be like without this congregation. Think what the Albany area would be like without this organization
.
We will begin this year's campaign the last Sunday in February. We would like every member to be involved so that we all do our part to insure that our Beacon will burn brightly for another 190 years.
To help with this, we would like you to fill out a Volunteer Form. Please take a minute now to look at the form, fill it out what you're able to help with and email it to Chuck Manning at
[email protected]
or Patti Jo Newell at
[email protected].
Thank you very much!
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THIS WEEK AT ALBANY UU
Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
February 9-10
This meditation training and practice workshop will be led by Rev. Trumbore, on Friday 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Saturday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. It gives the participants an opportunity to learn Buddhist mindfulness meditation techniques and/or refresh and deepen their meditation practice. All are welcome from first timers to experts. There will be a vegan potluck lunch on Saturday and all are encouraged to bring something to share.There's still time t
o register, please see above, left.
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on
Sunday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 pm in Channing Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and a small contribution to cover beverages. We will discuss
The Fortunes by Peter Ho Davies.
Last, last chance: Congregational Conversation
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1:30-3 pm.
(This conversation has been rescheduled from the snow day on Wednesday, Feb. 7.)
All members of our community will have the opportunity to come and voice their preferences as to what they would like to see in our congregational covenant. What is a congregational covenant? Why do we need one? Come find out. Light refreshments will be served.
If you couldn't make any of the three conversations, please feel free to talk with any of us on the team with your questions, thoughts, or ideas. The team members are Brian Frank, Jan McCracken, Zack Metzger, Patti Jo Newell, Leah Purcell, Kelly Smith, Jacqui Williams, and Rev. Sam Trumbore.
Be sure to scroll down and check out the ways to support Social Action under our Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) heading. If you would like to learn more, stop by the SRC table during Coffee Hour on Sunday.
Also scroll down to learn more about what's happening in our Religious Education Program for children and youth. Our Director of Religious Education, Leah Purcell, can answer any questions: [email protected].
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NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Thanks for all the donations for the HUUGS packages (Huge UU Greetings)! We sent out 17 packages to our recently "bridged" young adults filled with treats, Valentines and good wishes.
Openings for RE volunteers - Winter/Spring 2018 (Feb through May)
We still have openings in our Sunday morning programming for children. Each position requires an application to be reviewed by Leah Purcell and the Religious Education Council.
Nursery/Toddler room: Volunteer in the happiest room on Sunday mornings with our paid staff worker, Aaliah Francis.
Team member for the Blue Group (3rd/4th grade). Work with experienced team members to facilitate sessions from the curriculum or that Leah prepares
Adult volunteers needed to support a weekend long High School Learning Event:
Fundamentals of Healthy Youth Groups
Feb 16-8
Help with running the dishwasher for Saturday meals, and Sunday breakfast is needed. Expected attendance 20-30.
Calling All "Hams"
Won't you join the Albany UU Annual
Dinner Skit "cast"? We are looking for
singers and speakers to participate in
our fun, parody skit. First rehearsal will be
Sunday, February 18 in Community
Hall at 11:45 am.
Please contact Bob Franklin with any questions:
Circle Dinner
The next Circle Dinner will be held on
Saturday, March 3. Sign up now to join in the fun. You can fill in one of the sign up sheets posted in Channing Hall or sign up online using this link:
UU Humanists
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7:00 pm, Room B-8
All interested in learning more about humanism in Unitarian Universalism are welcome to join us.
13th Annual Guided Wine and Cheese Tasting
Saturday, Feb. 24, 7:00 pm
Your dedicated team of UU Wineaux are preparing to take you on a trip to the Southern Hemisphere and guide you through pairings that feature the wines of Argentina and Chile. Tickets are on sale during coffee hour. Prices are $30 per person for members and $40 per person for non-members.
Hands-Only CPR Workshop at Albany UU
Sunday, Feb. 25, 11:45 am
Did you know that more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States? And, according to the American Heart Association, CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival. Here is an opportunity for you to learn to make a difference.
The Caring Network is sponsoring this training on how to perform Hands-Only CPR. The training will take about 90 minutes and will be conducted by our own Bryant and Britta Kuo, the owners of Vital Force CPR and First Aid (
vitalforcecpr.com). The program is designed to give you the skills and confidence to respond appropriately if you are ever in such a life and death situation.
In order to provide personal attention to each attendee, the training is limited to 12 participants. Please sign up in the usual ways--by sending an email to
[email protected], contacting the office, or adding your name to the sign up sheet in Channing Hall. If you have questions, please contact Todd Thomas (Caring Network Coordinator) at 518-512-9854.
Virtual Art Trip: "An American Art Colony"
Join us on Monday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 in Channing Hall for a short respite from the winter cold.
We plan to show a DVD of the story of "An American Art Colony in Old Lyme Conn" in the 19th century. For many years back then this was a summer haven for many of the leading American impressionist painters. Hosted by Arlene Gilbert. Questions: email Arlene at
[email protected]
.
Save the Date - East of Hudson Potluck!
The next East of Hudson Potluck will be at Peter and Debbie Brown's home on Friday, March 23. If you live east of the river, mark your calendars now! More info to come.
Two notes from the Religious Services Committee
During Joys and Sorrows:
The Religious Services Committee has discussed the applause that often occurs during expressions of Joys & Sorrows in our Sunday services. Although we understand the sentiment that provokes this response, we believe that applause during the ritual is often disruptive - and the outcome is sometimes inadvertently hurtful. We'd like to discourage applause during Joys & Sorrows, and encourage congregants to instead seek out Joys & Sorrows participants in coffee hour to express your support.
Fragrances
: Every once in a while we will hear from a person who has experienced a severe reaction to a fragrance worn by someone seated near them in Community Hall. As we anticipate the winter phase of the Sunday service schedule, we ask everyone to be sensitive to fellow congregants and use restraint when applying perfumes, colognes, after shave, etc. It will be appreciated by those who experience an acute sensitivity to fragrances.
Planning for weather emergencies
Rarely do services or activities cancel due to weather, but if the need arises, there is a plan in place.
A decision to cancel RE classes will be publicized by
9:00 pm Saturday.
A decision to cancel Sunday meditation and the service will be publicized by 8:00 am Sunday.
The cancellation of all other classes, programs and meetings depends on a decision by the chairperson. We hope to receive information enabling a cancellation announcement two hours before the event start time.
Cancellations will be announced on our website (www.albanyuu.org), and by email sent through Constant Contact.
Warmth for the Homeless
Please gather any extra blankets, sleeping bags, warm coats, etc. for those who are homeless and put them in the bin in the coatroom. Thanks for helping.
Volunteer opportunities!
Would you like to be involved in the Sunday service in a more meaningful way? Head over to
SignUp.com to find out about all the ways you can volunteer. We thank you and could not do it without you!
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
SRC Suggests:
Medicare for All: Our Town, Our Taxes
Andrew D. Coates, MD and George Jolly, MD, will present a financial analysis of tax savings that could be expected from Medicare for All. The results for Bethlehem can be applied to every community. Bethlehem Town Hall, Thursday, Feb. 8, 7:00 pm. For more info email or call:
[email protected]
or (518) 527-2250.
Defusing the US-North Korea Conflict: Building on the Olympic Truce with Christine Ahn, International Coordinator, Women Cross the DMZ -
Saturday, February 10, 7:00 PM at Albany UU. For more information, visit the Capital Women Face Book page
HERE and scroll down a bit on the page.
Grannies for Peace Valentine's Day Vigil,
"Grannies Love Dreamers-Protect DACA"
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4:00 - 5:30 PM,
Central Avenue and Wolf Road, Colonie
Please wear something red if you can. We will have red berets and visors to borrow.
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice -
Follow Compassion and Choices New York on Facebook and Twitter.
Green Sanctuary News:
Countdown to Earth Day
-
For the next 4 Sundays, the Green Sanctuary Committee will be following up on last year's
"Do More"
pledges. Chris Bystroff or another GSC member will be at the Social Responsibility Table after service. We'll have your original pledge form with us, so "come on down" -- that is, come on over, and tell us what you have done. We hope to be able to measure our pledges' impact on the environment. If it is not possible for you to come to the table, please contact Chris (
[email protected]
) or Betsy (
[email protected]
), or e-mail AlbanyUU.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NOTES
-Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education
Keep up with what's happening for children and families and other events by visiting
For the faith development of the children and youth this week
Nursery/Toddler Room opens - starting at 9:45
The
Orange Group (K/1) will have an orientation to the K/1 OWL with their parents/caretakers from 10:00 to 11:30. Meet in room 26 at 10:00.
- Siblings in the Red Group can visit the nursery until Sunday school starts and after Sunday school for the last 15 minutes of the Orientation.
- Siblings of the Orange Group in the Yellow, Blue, Indigo and Violet groups can sit with Dave Quist at the front of the community hall for the first part of the service and then go to Sunday school. They will be supervised by RE volunteers for the last 15 minutes of the Orientation - place TBD.
The Red, Yellow, Blue, Indigo and Violet Groups (pre-k and 2
nd t
hrough 6th
grade) will attend the first part of the service in the community hall starting at 10:00. Then they will go to their groups.
7th/8th grade OWL will meet in their room (B-7) starting at 10:00.
High School UUth Group will meet starting at 10:00 in their room.
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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
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