Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Enjoy!
-Blessings
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W
e welcome everyone. Our Unitarian Universalist community seeks truth and deeper meaning, pursues justice through inspired action, and cultivates compassion and love for all connected by the web of life
.
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January 13, “#metoo: Stand Up, Fight Back,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
“Stand up, fight back” is a familiar chant to anyone who spends much time marching and protesting. The election of a President with a history of sexual harassment and the confirmation of a new Supreme Court justice who denied multiple acts of sexual abuse have women fired up and poised to march again January 19. Let’s demand a change in our culture to protect women from sexual violence.
Music:
Richard Porterfield with singer- songwriter, Emily Pinkerton
HYMN 151 “I Wish I Knew How”
HYMN 145 “As Tranquil Streams”
HYMN 127 “Can I See Another’s Woe?”
HYMN 120 “Turn Back”
HYMN 170 “We Are a Gentle Angry People”
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Sunday Services
10:00 am
January's theme: Possibility
January 20, “Love and Power,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Brittany Packnett used this expression “the divine union of love and power” in her Ware Lecture last summer at General Assembly. The reference came from the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of us know about Dr. King’s commitment to non-violence. What we may be less familiar with is his understanding of the holy power of love to change hearts and minds.
Music:
TBA
January 27,
“How Can Albany UU Be a Good Neighbor?” Albany UU Board of Trustees
Central to Unitarian Universalism is striving to make our world more livable for people, plants and animals so we all might fulfill our greatest potential. As finite beings with limited resources, what is that potential for our congregation right now for this place and this time? Who are the neighbors we wish to serve?
Music:
Albany UU choir directed by Richard Porterfield
Announcements
Call to Action!
The Inclusivity Team is asking for donations and contributions of needed items to support Ellazar Williams, the young man who was paralyzed by an Albany police officer’s bullet in an incident in which it appears he was running away from the officer, who was cleared of wrongdoing based on his perceived threat.
Ellazar recently moved into new accessible housing, but his girlfriend had to quit both her jobs to care for him and their expenses are huge.
There is a collection box in the coatroom for needed items the couple has requested: full size bed sheets, full size blankets/comforter, towels, washcloths, lotion, paper towels, toilet paper, household cleaning products including Clorox bleach, Lemon Scented ammonia, Pine sol, Ajax/comet, Bathtub cleaner, scouring pads, Gain laundry detergent (has eczema), Dove body wash, Dove bar soap, and shampoos and conditioner (any kind). Also grocery store gift cards.
Items will be delivered to the Center for Law and Justice which has assigned a staff person to work with the couple.
Thanks as always for your generosity!
Recycling needed for Sunday School Workshops in January
Help us explore our theme for January – Possibility! In January, we have UU Jams - a set of workshops for children in grades pre-k thru 5. One of our workshops is on the possibility of creativity and reusing. We’ll be creating “sculptures” out of recycled materials like
paper towel rolls, shoe boxes and other recycled cardboard
.
We’ll also look at possibility of what’s inside by taking apart old (safe) appliances and electronics like
broken or unusable vacuums, radios, VCR’s or DVD players
. Bring materials to the box outside Leah’s door in the workroom starting
Jan. 6 until Jan. 27
. Donations of duct tape is also appreciated!
Sending out HUUGs –
H
uge
UU
G
reetings
We're gathering donations for packages for our fledgling young adults.
Whether they are now working or volunteering, serving in the military or in college, those who have recently left senior high group so appreciate a package around Valentine’s Day with notes and goodies from us at Albany UU!
Bring donations to the bin in the Work Room (where the photocopier is) by
Sunday, Feb. 3.
Suggested items: packets of soup, noodles, dried fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, candy, gum, popcorn, granola bars, lip balm, a Valentine or a note with your good wishes
New art on our walls!
Check out our all-portrait (human and furry!) art show in Channing Hall. Reception will be on
Sunday, Jan. 27 at 11:00 am.
Join the Flower Committee!
Help brighten our Sunday services! No special talent needed--all instructions and vases provided. Contact Sandy Stone: (518) 489.8293 or dsalbany@nycap.rr.com.
Warmth for the Homeless
Please gather blankets, sleeping bags, and warm coats, etc. and put them in the bin in the coatroom to be given to those who are homeless. Thank you for your help!
The homeless shelter is so grateful for the donations to the blanket bin!
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Sunday Schedule
9:00 AM
- Mindfulness Meditation, Sanctuary
9:45 AM
- Nursery/Toddler Rooms open
10:00 AM
- Sunday Service, Community Hall
- Family Chapel, Sanctuary
- Programs for Children and Youth
11:00 AM
- Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
11:45 AM
- Auction Committee Meeting, Room B-7
- Governance Discussion, Room B-8
Quick Links
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, including names and ages of children.
Board of Trustees 2018-2019
Officers
Trustees
Ex-officio Members
Education Council
Elected Officer
(not on Board of Trustees)
Minister
Church Administrator
Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry
Music Director
Dr. Richard Porterfield,
Music Associates (volunteer)
Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Administrative Assistant
Religious Education Assistant
Lead Youth Adviser
Tracey Hickey
Custodian
Izzy Wright
Snow Removal Tech
Quintain Murray
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Upcoming Learning Opportunity with the Minister!
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Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
Feb. 8 and 9
Led by Rev. Sam Trumbore, these meditation training and practice workshops will be 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. (A voluntary donation can be offered at the end.) Learn more
here
.
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Back by popular demand - Pot Luck and Game Night, Friday, Feb. 1!
Bring your favorite dish, game and a friend! If you can, sign up ahead in Channing Hall, by sending an email to
registration@albanyuu.org
or just come - "walk-ins" are welcome.
Dinner starts at 6:00 PM
; games will be played after dinner until about 8:00 PM; toddler-friendly activities too! Sponsored by the Religious Education Council
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Benefit Concert, tomorrow, January 11!
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You don't want to miss this!!
Please join Alyssa Yeager at
7 pm, tomorrow, January 11
, for a concert to benefit the local US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Popular music from the fifties and sixties and originals will be featured. Monetary and toiletry/school supply donations will be gratefully accepted (suggested value $10-$15). Desserts and beverages will also be available for purchase. This is an Albany UU Choir sponsored event. Contact Randy if you have any questions, 518-783-2637.
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Governance Meetings
The Governance Working Group will hold two more meetings in January to introduce changes in Albany UU’s governance that are under consideration:
this Sunday, Jan. 13, 11:30 to 12:30 and Wednesday, Jan. 16, 5:45 to 6:45 PM
, both in B-8. Learn more
here
.
UU Humanists
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 7 PM, Room B-8
All interested in learning more about humanism in Unitarian Universalism are welcome to join us.
Find additional information
here
.
Walker Book Group
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New Date - Jan. 20!
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on
Sunday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 pm
in Channing Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and a small contribution to cover beverages. We will discuss Less, by Andrew Sean Greer. Learn more
here.
East of Hudson Potluck
Let's gather on
January 25 at 6:00 pm
at the home of Sharon and Mike Babala for our next potluck. If there is snow adventurous spirits are invited to come early and snowshoe or cross country ski! Learn more
here
.
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Volunteers needed to work with current RE Group Leaders in January
In January each year we mix things up a bit in RE by offering some groups workshops instead of regular curriculum. We call it UU Jams!
This year's theme is Possibility. Here’s how it works: the children in grades pre-k thru 5 pick which workshop they would like to do each week. We cap the number of kids in each workshop at 8 and each Sunday there will be a regular RE teacher in the room. We'll start our month of Jams on Jan. 6 with Family Chapel on the theme of Possibility; then we’ll have the workshops the following three weeks.
Here are the plans for the Jams:
- Room 24/25: The possibility of nurturing and growing: group art projects or planting bulbs or other kinds of indoor gardening (along with free play in the block area)
- Room 26: The possibility of creativity and reusing – creating “sculptures” out of recycled materials like paper towel rolls, shoe boxes and other recycled cardboard
- Room 21 – the possibility of what’s inside: taking apart old (safe) household appliances – I’ll be asking for broken vacuums, radios, etc.
If one of these sounds like something you’d be willing to help children with any or all of the last 3 Sundays of January, let Leah know at
dre@albanyuu.org
or call or text her cell: 518-487-1536.
Sheridan Prep Tutoring Opportunity
The Albany School District is offering the Oasis Tutoring Training Program. This is an excellent chance to "dip your toes" into the fun of working with students from Sheridan Prep. The Oasis training teaches volunteers how to read interactively with children in the early elementary grades. After taking the training the volunteer is assigned to a student and meets with them for one hour per week. (Assignments to additional students is possible.) If you have questions about the program, talk to Chuck Manning. The program will be offered on
Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9:30 am-3 pm
at Harriet Gibbons Student Services Center, 75 Watervliet Ave. To register for the training email or call Fiona Thompson:
https://www.albanyschools.org/district/communications/DistrictNews/2018-19/Oasis.literacy.12-11-18.htm
Sunday Volunteers - Make it a New Year's Resolution!
Would you like to be involved in the Sunday service in a more meaningful way?
Visit
Sunday Hospitality Sign Up
to find out about the ways you can volunteer on Sunday morning. We need volunteers for our Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 6:00 and 8:00, too! We thank you and could not do what we do without YOU!
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
-Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education (RE) and Family Ministry,
dre@albanyuu.org
Keep up with what's happening for children and youth
, including resources to support parents and caretakers at home by checking out
Leah's RE Newsletter!
Nursery/Toddler Room
opens at 9:45 for children and infants under 2 years old
Faith formation of children and youth this Sunday, Jan. 13:
This Sunday is Family Chapel for kids in Pre-K thru grade 7 and their families.
Family Chapel begins at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary and is our monthly family-friendly service. After Family Chapel the kids will go to their classrooms.
Youth group and 8th and 9th grade
will meet in their classrooms at 10:00 AM.
Please see the Announcement and Volunteer sections
above for more opportunities to help with Religious Exploration here at Albany UU!
Guest at Your Table boxes
should be in by Sunday, Jan. 20.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair,
email
SRC Recommends the following:
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
Prospects for passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York have never been better, thanks to the Senate Health Committee’s incoming chairperson, Democrat Gustavo Rivera, a co-sponsor of the bill. This would be a good time to contact your own lawmakers about the bill, even if you have done so before. You are invited to be at the Capitol on
January 9
to help distribute information packets to every legislative office and on
January 28
at noon for a campaign kick-off event and press conference, with details to follow when you RSVP to
acavanaugh@compassionandchoices.org
.
Also, join us on January 15 at the Colonie Town Library from 12:15-2:00 when Death with Dignity Albany will present “Funeral Arrangements – What to Know and How to Plan” featuring John Cannon and Glenn Ward, co-owners of Cannon Funeral Home.
The Justice Singers of the Capital Region
will lead singing and chanting during the Women's Empowerment March on
Saturday, Jan. 19
, and we welcome your participation. If you have any questions, contact Mark Abendroth at
markabendroth@gmail.com
. Paula Brewer and Liliana Abendroth are also members of the Justice Singers.
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Spokane in 2019, Providence in 2020
Looking for a meaningful experience in an interesting location with programs that will challenge and uplift you – all in the company of thousands of other Unitarian Universalists? Consider General Assembly, the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association!
In 2019, GA will be held in Spokane, Washington from June 19-23. Closer to home, in 2020, GA will take place in Providence, Rhode Island from June 24-28. Learn more
here
.
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Green Sanctuary's Tip of the Week!
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Practicing Our Seventh Principle:
Eat less (or no) meat
There are a lot of good reasons to eat less meat. Animal agriculture uses 56 percent of the water in the United States – the production of a single hamburger requires
660 gallons
of water, which is enough for two months of showers. Check out
http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/
for more information.
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To share your Joy or Sorrow
with our Albany UU community, you may submit it on a yellow card during the service or by using our
online form.
Please keep
Thelma Gerdine
, in your thoughts as she undergoes radiation treatment at Samaritan for cancer in her right lung. The prognosis is good. If you'd like to send cards, Thelma's address is:
427 Coburg Village Way, Rexford, NY 12148
Need to Talk? Albany UU Pastoral Care Associates are here to listen!
Our Pastoral Care Associates have been trained in compassionate listening skills and are available to all members and friends of our congregation. To contact a Pastoral Care Associate, email:
listeners@albanyuu.org
, contact
Rev. Sam Trumbore
, the Albany UU office at 518.463.7135, or one of them personally. They are: Chuck Manning, Phil Rich, Randy Rosette, Sandy Stone, Lisa Barron, Donna Meixner, Dee VanRiper and Sharon Babala.
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Regular events and meetings
Check Windows Weekly for changes to date, time and location.
Sundays
11:45 AM Inclusivity Team (1st)
5:30 PM Walker Book Group (2nd)
11:45 AM Social Responsibilities Council (3rd)
11:45 AM Green Sanctuary Committee (4th)
Mondays
6:15 PM Religious Education Council (1st)
Tuesdays
10:00 AM Philosophy Discussion (weekly)
1:00 PM Bridge (weekly)
7:00 PM UU Humanists (3rd) - Nov. only
Wednesdays
10:00 AM Projects & Quilts (weekly)
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal (almost weekly)
Thursdays
1:00 PM All Sides Considered (1st & 3rd)
7:00 PM Program Coordinating Council (2nd)
6:15 PM Board of Trustees (4th)
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Going to miss a Sunday?
You can listen to the entire Albany UU Sunday service at home or on your mobile device. The two most recent services are available as MP3 files on the Albany UU member resource website. Here is how to access:
username: AlbanyUU
password: EEthelredBrown405
Our sermon archive (select Ministry/Sermon Archive on the left website menu) has pdf files of sermons texts (when available) and audio files of sermons. You can also request the office put a service on a CD.
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First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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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 Hawley Parking Lot on Robin Street at Washington Avenue.
Office hours (unless otherwise posted)
September-June:
Monday-Friday, 9:00-3:00
July-August:
Monday–Thursday 9:00-1:00
Websites
Building use
To
reserve a room
for an Albany UU activity
or to rent a hall or classroom space
, for a personal or non-Albany UU activity, contact Administrative Assistant Sapphire Correa (518.463.7135 or
office@albanyuu.org
).
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First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany | 518.463.7135| 518.463.1429 | Admin@AlbanyUU.org | AlbanyUU.org
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