Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Please stay safe and stay connected to your Albany UU Community during this uncertain time in the many ways provided online - all described below.
Please note, you may see announcements in this publication more than once. That is with intent and to ensure that items don't get missed as folks scroll through. Thank you for your understanding.
If this email was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive it directly, please sign up here.
Learn more about what's happening with UU Kids and Families by reading the Religious Education publication, RE Roundup.
-Blessings and Be Well
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MISSION STATEMENT
We 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.
VISION STATEMENT
Albany UU will be an inclusive, welcoming congregation. Our sacred work is to lift hearts, broaden minds and do justice in the world, in service of building beloved community.
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE
10:00 am
LIVE VIA ZOOM
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Nov 22, “Gratitude for Healing, Listening and Renewal,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Many of us will not be celebrating Thanksgiving the way we would like. We will not be able to have our Thanksgiving meal in Channing Hall. We will not have our Union Thanksgiving Service. But we will have corn muffins! Pick one up Saturday, November 21st when the soups, and pies are being distributed. Pick one up at a neighbor’s house (soliciting volunteers – you’ll get to keep the extra!). Make your own batch with the recipe provided.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Chris Jensen and Randy Rosette
Focus Food Pantry
Join us for Family Chapel at 11:30 AM
The story in the 10:00 service and in Family Chapel is about gratitude using the book “Fry Bread” (our 7th UU Principle).
We’ll have our 15-minute worship for children, youth, and their parents/caretakers and guides. Then we’ll have breakout groups for: preschool-first grade; 2nd-5th grade; 6th/7th grade and 8th grade.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID 843 1034 5197
Password: 4051842
Special Congregational Meeting at 12:30 PM
Albany UU will have a Special Congregational Meeting for an up-or-down vote on the proposed covenant, at 12:30 PM. Many thanks to all those who attended the congregational conversations we held to discuss the covenant. The covenant language and related materials can be found on our website here. Please plan to join us for this important milestone event.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone call: 1-929-436-2866 and enter
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICES M
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Albany UU Virtual Services - Live via Zoom
Main Service at 10:00 AM, Children's Service at 11:30 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with Rev. Sam guiding an 8:30 Virtual Meditation session until 9:15 (see below under Upcoming Ways to Connect for more info). We then have Virtual Service beginning at 10:00 each Sunday and a chance to stay online for virtual "Coffee Hour" followed by RE for ALL, at 11:30.
Use this link to join Sunday service:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Nov 29, “What is Becoming,” Rev. Beth Dana
On this first Sunday of Advent, we will explore what is becoming in our lives, this congregation, and the world as we enter this anticipatory holiday season.
Rev. Beth Dana is Minister of Faith Development at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX where she has served since 2014. She grew up at Albany UU, earned her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and now lives in Dallas with her wife Erin and their 3-year-old twins Ellery and MD.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Chris Jensen and Randy Rosette
Family Chapel for children and youth in 8th grade and younger at 11:30. The story in the 10:00 service and in Family Chapel is about finding sources of comfort using the story “Chicken Soup with Rice” (our 2nd UU Principle). Email Leah Purcell at dre@albanyuu.org for the link to Family Chapel
Sunday Service information
Joys and Concerns for Online Services
We have three ways that you can share your joys and concerns.
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One: Use the online form. If you use this form, you can indicate if you would like to have your joys and concerns shared at the Sunday service, and you can leave contact info if you would like a Pastoral Care Associate to follow up with you.
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Two: Email your joy or sorrow to joysandsorrows@albanyuu.org before Sunday morning to have them read aloud during the service
- Three: We will be giving you instructions during the Sunday service about how to share your joys and concerns then.
Sunday Offering
If you would like to make a contribution to the Sunday Offering "Plate", click https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-Contribute or send your check, with Sunday Offering on the memo line, to the church: 405 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Mail is being processed while the building is closed.
Try our text to give option! Simply text the amount and fund (for example: 20 offering or 20 pledge) to 844-976-2618. There's a helpful video to watch with step by step instructions and an informative written guide with visuals.
Sunday services will be online via Zoom at 10:00 AM EST. There will be no service, religious education or other activities in the church building until further notice. Not familiar with Zoom? Our minister, Rev. Sam Trumbore will give you a brief tutorial.
Use this link to join the Sunday service:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Zoom Etiquette
Participation in a Zoom Sunday Service needs everyone’s cooperation for it to be successful. By being careful about your video and audio while attending a UU Zoom Sunday service, you can help can make the service a pleasant, welcoming, inspiring and meaningful experience for everyone.
If your video is on, please be attentive to what others are seeing. Attire and backgrounds should be appropriate for all ages. If what's happening in your video is distracting or potentially embarrassing, an usher may turn it off. For example, if someone falls asleep during service, that could be embarrassing so that person's video will be turned off. If an usher turns off your video, they will let you know via private chat.
If you notice that your audio is on, please mute it, and be aware that if you are accidentally un-muted, anything you say could be broadcast to everyone and disrupt the service.
It is wise to be mindful and treat entering a Zoom Sunday service as if you had just walked into Community Hall during a silent meditation or service.
Wearing your Zoom “Name Tag”
When signing into a Zoom worship service on a Sunday morning, you can't put on your traditional name tag to be welcoming to others, but you CAN rename your screen so that it displays your full name. This is the new way to practice hospitality with everyone who is part of the online worship service.
To change your screen name, look for three white dots, usually appearing in the upper right corner of your zoom window when you hover over it with your cursor. Click the dots, and a dropdown menu will appear. One of the options in the dropdown menu is "Rename." Click that option, and a box will pop up that displays the name currently showing in your Zoom window. If it's not your full name or names, change it to your name(s) and click the "Save" button.
If you have any questions, feel free to send an Usher a message in the Chat during service or email Tammy Hathaway - admin@albanyuu.org anytime. Thanks for taking this extra step to be welcoming!
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ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
-RE FOR ALL-
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Every Sunday beginning at 11:30 AM
Note: The Adult RE for ALL offerings will be found by leaving the Albany UU Zoom #1 where the Sunday service can be seen and heard and moving to Rev. Sam’s Zoom #2. The link will be visible onscreen and in the Zoom Group Chat after 11:15 am.
Use this link to join any Adult RE for ALL offerings (we use breakout rooms for more than one):
Meeting ID: 518-366-4532
Password: 4051842
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Conversational Response – This is your opportunity to reflect with the Sunday service presenter on what the service has elicited from you and listen to the responses of others. The purpose isn’t to debate the rightness or wrongness of the service, though references, anecdotes, and stories might be further explored, and fact checked. The goal is for people to go deeper with the service through the process of mutual reflection and response.
Planned for the future:
- Forums – Social Responsibilities Council or Green Sanctuary or Inclusivity Team will have a guest presenter (not every Sunday) or an announced discussion topic of general interest.
- Adult Education Classes – UU History, UU Theology, other topics to stimulate growth and development.
- Learn About Albany UU – Meet with a person from the Membership Committee who can answer your questions about Albany UU and give you information about ways to get more involved in our congregation.
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Board of Trustees Meeting
At 6:30 PM on Thursday, Nov 19 (that's tonight!) the Board of Trustees holds their monthly meeting. Board meetings are open to all Albany UU members.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Craft (and other Fundraisers) pick up day!
If you ordered crafts or (other fundraiser items with a pick up option of Nov 21), remember that this Saturday, Nov 21 from 1-4 PM is the time to pick everything up. Pull up to the church loading zone in front of the lobby doors on Washington Ave with your checkbook (or cash) and we'll take care of the rest. No need to leave your vehicle. See you then!
Start your Sunday Morning with Meditation - 8:30 - 9:15 AM
Sunday morning meditation, led by Rev. Sam, begins with a ten-minute talk by Sharon Salzberg or Joseph Goldstein from their course on Insight Meditation. We will sit together for twenty minutes then have some conversation about the talk, meditation methods or experiences followed by a live loving kindness meditation.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Adult RE
Conversational Response, 11:30 AM on Sundays – This is your opportunity to reflect with the Sunday service presenter on what the service has elicited from you and listen to the responses of others. The purpose isn’t to debate the rightness or wrongness of the service, though references, anecdotes, and stories might be further explored, and fact checked. The goal is for people to go deeper with the service through the process of mutual reflection and response.
Use this link to join:
Meeting ID: 518-366-4532
Password: 4051842
Green Sanctuary Committee (GSC) Meeting
Join GSC on Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:30 AM for their meeting. All are welcome.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone call: 1-929-436-2866 and enter
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Special Congregational Meeting
Albany UU will have a Special Congregational Meeting for an up-or-down vote on the proposed covenant, this Sunday, Nov 22 at 12:30 PM. Many thanks to all those who attended the congregational conversations we held to discuss the covenant. The covenant language and related materials can be found on our website here. Please plan to join us for this important milestone event.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone call: 1-929-436-2866 and enter
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Philosophy Group
At 10:15 AM every Tuesday, the Albany UU Philosophy Group will meet via zoom and discuss their topic of the day. This Tuesday's topic will be, "How is economic disparity responsible for our societal divisiveness?" All are welcome.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 987 7102 4708
Password: 0000
Connect with Three
The best way to feel connected in our congregation is to meet people and get to know them. Connect With Three randomly matches you with another person for a 15 minute conversation three times. The conversation can be free form or guided by questions centered on our theme of the month, “Healing” in November, depending on each pairing’s desires. At the end of an hour, you’ll have had three interesting conversations and met or renewed connections with three people.
Join us on Tuesday, Nov 24 from 7:30-8:30pm
No reservations required, just show up!
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Virtual Evening Circle - Sign up for November 28!
UUs have gathered on-line twice for Virtual Circle Dinners. They’ve been an outstanding success!
Is the dinner hour impossible for you? On Saturday, November 28 from 8 - 9:30 PM, we'll experiment with a post-Thanksgiving after-dinner gathering, a "Virtual Evening Circle." Sign up by emailing jsherman@nycap.rr.com by noon Friday, November 27.
Ps and Qs
Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will zoom next on Wednesday, Dec 2 at 10:00 AM.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Albany UU Sings
Join your friends and sing your heart out in Virtual Community! We will supply the music and the lyrics.
Save these Wednesday dates at 7:00 PM for the remainder of this fall:
Dec 2, 16
Hope to see you there.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000
A Virtual Orientation for Newcomers on Zoom
Getting to Know UU
Saturday, December 5th, is a great chance for some of us at Albany UU to get to know YOU -- but it's also a perfect opportunity for you to learn about this Unitarian Universalist congregation, explore the roots of "UUism," and begin to figure out how participating in congregational life can enhance your personal journey.
Please join us:
9:00 AM to noon
Saturday, Dec 5
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Signing up is preferred, but logins the day of are welcome, come as you are!
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, Dec 13 at 6:30 pm. We will discuss Akin by Emma Donoghue. Directions for joining the meeting will be placed in the Daily Reminders. Learn more here.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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We've added something new!
There's still time to get your Albany UU Masks and Fair Trade items! Plus, we've added a Poinsettia Sale for our RE Coming of Age group!
Coming of Age Fundraiser - Poinsettia Sales!
Brighten your home for the holidays and support our Coming of Age program (formerly Rite of Passage) with a purchase of lovely poinsettia plants. $14 for one/$26 for two.
They come in 6” gold foil wrapped pots. Choose from red or white blooms.
Pick up date is Saturday, Dec 5 from 10 – noon or by appointment: dre@albanyuu.org.
Coming of Age is our program for 9th graders to work with trusted adults in the congregation who serve as mentors to learn what it means to be an adult UU. The youth each create their own belief statement and present those in a Sunday morning service they will give this spring. Instead of going to Boston for a heritage trip, the plan is for the group to attend virtual General Assembly in June.
Craft (and other Fundraisers) pick up day!
If you ordered crafts or (other fundraiser items with a pick up option of Nov 21), remember that this Saturday, Nov 21 from 1-4 PM is the time to pick everything up. Pull up to the church loading zone in front of the lobby doors on Washington Ave with your checkbook (or cash) and we'll take care of the rest. No need to leave your vehicle. See you then!
If you have questions regarding any of our fundraisers, contact Tammy Hathaway, admin@albanyuu.org, and she'll be able to help or point you in the right direction.
Thank you for your support!
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Our Inclusivity Team is offering resources for our ongoing education and reflection to address white supremacy culture at Albany UU. Are you finding that you have some time for reading and watching videos these days? Consider settling in with these titles by authors of color to help you become familiar with a diversity of human experiences.
For adults:
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. (1982). First published almost 40 years ago, The Color Purple never gets old. For some, with each reading, the reader experiences different lessons from the story. A message from Celie? Nettie? Shug Avery? Mr.? Sophia? Harpo? Squeak? Experience this brilliant work for the first time or the 5th. Available in hardcopy, downloadable digital print version, and CD audiobook from the Upper Hudson Library System. Available for purchase in downloadable audiobook from Audible, narrated by Alice Walker or in a new, amazing release by Samira Wiley.
Transgender Day of Remembrance - Friday, November 20th
"Sadly, 2020 has already seen at least 37 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported -- or misreported.
These victims, like all of us, are loving partners, parents, family members, friends and community members. They worked, went to school and attended houses of worship. They were real people -- people who did not deserve to have their lives taken from them." (HRC/Human Rights Campaign)
A moving tribute honoring the lives of transgender people killed:
HRC recognizes transgender people killed in 2020 and shares their report, Dismantling a Culture of Violence, and guidelines for journalists and others to encourage greater accuracy in reporting on the lives and deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people:
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Craft (and other Fundraisers) pick up day!
If you ordered crafts or (other fundraiser items with a pick up option of Nov 21), remember that this Saturday, Nov 21 from 1-4 PM is the time to pick everything up. Pull up to the church loading zone in front of the lobby doors on Washington Ave with your checkbook (or cash) and we'll take care of the rest. No need to leave your vehicle. See you then!
The Holy Corn Muffin Distribution Process
There are three options to get a corn muffin for our November 22 service. The first is to pick one up this Saturday, November 21st, when the crafts, soups, and pies are being distributed. The second is to pick one up at a neighbor’s house. Here is a list of neighbors who will have a basket (or squirrel proof container) with muffins for pickup Saturday afternoon (after 3:00pm or so):
Albany:
Dick & Dawn Dana, 221 South Main Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, 518-446-0382
Mike & Ann D’Attilio, 97 Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12203, 518-489-6442
Rich & Elizabeth Baldes, 3 Dartmouth St., Albany, NY 12209, 518-489-4079
Dave & Sandy Stone, 126 North Pine Avenue, Albany, NY 12203, 518-489-8293
Delmar:
Chuck and Barb Manning, 18 Salisbury Road, Delmar, NY 12054, 518-439-4226
Mary Applegate, 112 Adams Place, Delmar, NY 12054, 518-439-5419
Cohoes:
Paula Brewer, 23 Sunset Court, Cohoes, NY 12047, 518-944-9079
Averill Park:
Anne de Noronha, 46 Schumann Rd., Averill Park, NY 12018, 518-674-3835
East Greenbush:
Sam and Philomena’s, 57 Rockrose Drive, East Greenbush, 12061, 518-366-4532
(NOTE! More to come – check Friday and Saturday Daily Reminder Emails)
Option three is to make your own batch with the recipe below.
Holy Corn Muffin Recipe:
1 cup cornmeal (#1374 Honest Weight bulk)
1 cup all-purpose flour (#1711 or gluten free flour #1625 Honest Weight bulk)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey (#1311 Honest Weight bulk)
1 egg
1/4 cup oil (canola #1305 Honest Weight bulk or other oil)
1 cup milk (or soy or lactose free milk)
Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in large mixing bowl. In separate mixing bowl, beat egg, add oil and honey, whisk together, add milk and mix. Add wet to dry ingredients and mix quickly until no longer lumpy but not smooth. Try not to over mix. Immediately move into muffin pan 3/4 full for each one. Cook 375 degrees for 13 minutes – makes 24 mini muffins and a dozen regular size ones.
Focus Food Pantry
Special Congregational Meeting - November 22, 12:30 PM
Albany UU will have a Special Congregational Meeting for an up-or-down vote on the proposed covenant, to be held this Sunday at 12:30 PM. Many thanks to all those who attended the congregational conversations we held to discuss the covenant. The covenant language and related materials can be found on our website here. Please plan to join us for this important milestone event. (Yes, this is the 3rd time this announcement appears in this publication. And it's in the Daily Reminders. And it's being announced on Sundays. We don't want you to miss it!)
Anyone interested in setting up a Slack channel for chatting on Sunday mornings?
The staff has been hearing different needs from congregants about using the chat box during the Sunday morning service. We use it to share info for Joys and Sorrows. And some people also chat about the various elements of the service at other times. But some people find the chats to be distracting – even the pop ups when the chat is minimized. And the chat is often disabled during the sermon. Other people might want to chat about the sermon in real time. An alternative might be to use a Slack channel. If you’re savvy about Slack and would like to set up a channel for Albany UU, contact Leah Purcell at dre@albanyuu.org.
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The Albany UU Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) and Inclusivity Team recommend a Delmar Black Lives Matter Vigil
Similar to the Black Lives Matter vigil that is taking place every Saturday morning in Troy, several Albany UUs are participating in a vigil in Delmar every Saturday. We meet 9:30 - 10:00 AM, in front of the Delmar Farmers Market, which takes place in the Middle School on Kenwood Avenue. Come join us any Saturday, then shop at the market! Last vigil and market day is this Saturday, November 21.
The Albany UU Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) and Inclusivity Team recommend a Black Lives Matter vigil in Troy:
When: Saturday, 11/21/20, 10:30-11:00 am
Where: Troy, corner of River Street at the intersection of Fulton and Third Streets
- physical distance, masks
- signs only, no chanting
- all weather
The purpose is two-fold:
- to express that Black Lives Matter
- to embolden white people to act against racism
To ensure safety as much as we can, we are working under these agreements as a provisionary covenant:
- We carry signs with the same message: "Black Lives Matter," or "Stand Against Racism."
- We limit our positive responses to a thumbs-up or a wave.
- We do not respond to any negative reactions, such as heckling.
- The police officers at the farmers market (across the street) will be notified that there is a gathering.
- One person, not holding a sign, will be designated to take photos of license plates of anyone who is inappropriate.
- We all leave at the end of the vigil, and people leave together.
- If friends join us, we advise them of the measures above.
If you can’t or don’t want to join standing, you are invited to drive by and wave or honk encouragement.
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
The campaign to pass New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act continues, and there are many ways for you to learn more about it and support the effort.
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RESOURCES: Compassion and Choices has released a valuable new tool to help you plan for the care you and your loved ones want in the event of a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. A new promotional video introduces The Demetia Values & Priorities Tool. In addition, you can learn about many end of life issues in the Staying Stronger Together webinar series.
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ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES: Compassion and Choices New York is seeking volunteers to make phone calls and join virtual meetings with incumbent and incoming lawmakers. If you are interested in helping, contact Amanda Cavanaugh at 518-810-9191 or acavanaugh@compassionandchoices.org.
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DECEMBER WEBINAR: On December 2 at 7 pm, Compassion and Choices will host a conversation for those who may not have ever been involved in the work to authorize medical aid in dying in New York. It is both a primer in what medical aid in dying is, and a a call to action with a special guest speaker. You can register for that webinar by clicking here.
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Family Chapel at 11:30 this Sunday
This is a time for all the children and youth, their parents/caregivers and their guides in grades 8 and younger. We'll hear the story of the week and explore the theme of Healing. Then groups will meet separately in break out rooms.
Use this Zoom link to Join:
Meeting ID: 843 10
Yes, we will have a Christmas Pageant this year!
Elizabeth Baldes has re-written the traditional pageant to create a joyful online version with as many roles as possible, with varying degrees of speaking. We’ll record it on Zoom for our Sunday Dec 20 multigenerational joint service with Albany UU and Saratoga Springs UU.
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Rehearsal and recording will be on Sat, Dec 5 from 2:00 – 4:00.
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Here’s the cast of characters . Email Leah Purcell at dre@albanyuu.org if you would like to see the draft script.
- Families will email Leah Purcell at dre@albanyuu.org with each of their children’s top 3 choices for parts by Saturday, Nov 21
- Roles for youth and adults may be available – stay tuned
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Costumes will be distributed via curbside pickup at Albany UU on Saturday, Nov 28 from 10-12. You can also ring the bell for pickup on Wed, Dec 2 between 10-3, or contact Leah or Elizabeth (reassist@albanyuu.org) to make an appointment for another time.
Families, Please Join The Treehouse; it’s our own multigenerational community
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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.
Join us in keeping our members and friends in your thoughts as they share their joys and concerns.
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: Sharon Babala, Chuck Manning, Donna Meixner, Phil Rich, Randy Rosette, Sandy Stone, Dee VanRiper and Erik F. vonHausen.
Albany UU Caring Network
The Caring Network (CN) reflects the words of the Albany UU chalice lighting - “to sustain a vital and nurturing religious community.” The CN provides encouragement and short term support to Albany UU members who, due to hospitalization, sickness, loss, or isolation, need assistance. Services typically include transportation to medical appointments, meals and shopping during recovery, and friendly “check in’s” from Caring Network members. Please reach out to the Caring Network.
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Essential Building Use Guidelines
First, our building is still not being used for most events. Only events which have a compelling reason for building use will be considered going forward. Events which can be held via Zoom or in other ways, should not use the building.
The Albany UU Board has provided guidance to the Ministries and Operations Team to consider very limited use of the building under controlled, specific circumstances. An application form and process has been developed to determine if the activity will be considered.
Please continue to follow the guidelines outlined below.
These guidelines govern building use deemed necessary to the work of the congregation. The procedure is as follows:
- All members and friends must receive pre-clearance from staff (at this point, Tammy: admin@albanyuu.org) before entering the building. This will enable staff to schedule those who need to enter the building so that there is minimal overlap among individuals. The assumption is that these visits will be brief.
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Each individual (including staff) needs to fill out a short health survey prior to or immediately upon entry of the building, each time they enter. The survey is available online (preferred) and will be in paper form at the membership desk if needed.
- All members, friends and staff must wear a mask while in the building.
- Members and friends will please limit the duration and frequency of time spent in the building.
Submitting announcements for the "Announcement Slide" or to be read during virtual Sunday service
Announcements pertaining to Albany UU activities can be read by either Rev. Sam, the Sunday Service Associate, or the person submitting the announcement. Announcements can ALSO be added to the Sunday service "Announcement Slide".
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Submit your announcement to Tammy Hathaway, Church Administrator (admin@albanyuu.org), by Friday, 9:00 AM, to be incorporated into the announcement portion of the upcoming Sunday service. Please specify how you would like your announcement handled - to be read aloud and by who, added to the Announcement Slide or BOTH
- Announcements must be submitted ahead, even if the person submitting will be reading their own announcement.
- Please write out in words the name of your committee. Too many initials result in confusion and is not welcoming: SRC = Social Responsibilities Council RSC = Religious Services Committee
- Include contact information if folks should have questions or would like more information.
If you have questions, please contact Tammy. Thank you so much!
Scheduling Zoom Meetings
We understand that during these challenging times, things can get chaotic but please try and remember to request your Zoom meeting several days in advance. If we receive a request on a Saturday for a Zoom meeting the next day, Sunday, that request will not be processed in time and you and your team may be disappointed.
We currently have two zoom accounts that we can use for meetings. To request a Zoom meeting, please do so just as you would when requesting a room to use in our building - using Church Database. When you choose your resources, or "room", choose between Zoom 1 and Zoom 2 - Sam. There are links to instructions below. This is the preferred method but requests can also be sent via email to Sapphire: office@albanyuu.org.
When you send an email, please have a few dates and times that will work for your meeting to minimize a lot of time consuming negotiating. Thank you!
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Virtual Service Ushers - It's never too late to volunteer!
This is a great opportunity to volunteer on a Sunday morning! Ushers are needed on Sunday mornings to help provide a welcoming, safe and enjoyable virtual experience. We need folks who would be willing to volunteer to help. Tammy will provide a quick and simple training. PLEASE contact her if you'd like to learn more: admin@albanyuu.org.
YOU can make a difference!
We at Albany UU are making an effort to increase our visibility and connectivity online. YOU can help, and it's quick and easy! Simply like, follow and share pages and posts on any of our social media platforms, or leave a positive Facebook or Google review. Google Albany UU or find us here:
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Quick Links
Denominational Affairs Links
Helpful Local Links
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Publication deadlines
This is an important reminder that the news and article deadline for Windows Weekly is 9:00 AM on Monday. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sign up for an online class
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Regular events and meetings
Most of these events and meetings continue online, however dates and times may vary. Please contact the Team or Group Leader or email admin@albanyuu.org if you have questions.
Sundays
11:45 AM Inclusivity Team (2nd)
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, Nov., Feb., May)
Tuesdays
10:15 AM Philosophy Discussion (weekly)
Wednesdays
10:00 AM Ps and Qs (alternating)
7:00 PM Albany UU Sings (alternating)
Thursdays
1:00 PM All Sides Considered - stay tuned for more details
6:30 PM Board of Trustees (4th)
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Going to miss a Sunday?
Online service is generally recorded
For previous services, pre-pandemic:
You can listen to the entire Albany UU Sunday service at home or on your mobile device. March 1 and 8 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 (http://members.albanyuu.org/wp/ - 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 |
Parking - when the building reopens: 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:
The Albany UU Office is closed during this time of physical distancing. Sam, Leah, Tammy and Sapphire have their messages forwarded to their personal cell phones and are available by email.
Websites
Zoom use
To reserve Zoom for an Albany UU online meeting, contact Administrative Assistant Sapphire Correa (518.463.7135 or office@albanyuu.org).
Photo credit: Jeannie Thompson
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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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