Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. We hope you're enjoying this new format and welcome your feedback.
-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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October 7, Partner Church Service
In May, eleven members and friends of Albany UU traveled to Transylvania to visit our partner church in Szokefalva, stay in the village with church members and travel the path of Unitarian History. Join us for the service to hear why this visit had a profound effect on all of us.
Music:
Albany UU Choir sings excerpts from the 1568 Edict of Torda and Mendelssohn’s “How Lovely are the Messengers”
The hymns we will be singing are:
HYMN 8 “Mother Spirit, Father Spirit”
HYMN 2 “Down the Ages We Have Trod”
HYMN 123 “Spirit of Life”
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Sunday Services
10:00 am
October 14, “The Sanctuary Within,” Leah Purcell
How can we find that still small voice within us? How can we hear what it is telling us
?
This is a service for all ages with a full sermon to engage the hearts and minds of adults – but divided into chunks, with more music than traditional services and with more opportunities for participation. For their faith development, the children and youth will attend the service on this Sunday instead of having Sunday school. (This service will be in our Sanctuary.)
Music:
Richard Porterfield,
organ
October 21, “Thomas Starr King Revealed,” Sigrin Newell
In California in the 1860s, Unitarian minister Thomas Starr King worked with John Muir to save Yosemite. He also started a predecessor of the Red Cross and helped California join the Union as a free rather than as a slave state. Two mountain peaks and a UU seminary are named in his honor. With the help of David McCloud and Debbie Reep McCloud we will explore a fascinating, little known piece of American and UU history.
Dr. Sigrin Newell has been active with Albany UU for nearly 30 years. She recently retired from Walden University, a distance-learning graduate school where she taught education to doctoral students.
Music:
Albany UU Choir sings music of the Civil War and Abolition
October 28, “How Can We Be a Sanctuary For Each Other,” Rev. Sam Trumbore and Leah Purcell
Sanctuaries can be a physical place that we go for safety, protection, sustenance and renewal. A congregation like ours can also offer it by the community we create for each other. One important way we do this is by honoring the births, deaths, marriages and major life transitions in our lives. The metaphor we’ll be working with is an umbrella.
NOTE:
This is our Wheel of Life service, traditionally on the last Sunday of October. Anyone who has experienced a major life transition is invited to bring a picture, a symbol, or a memento of that event. It can be brought forward during service to honor that transition (and may be retrieved after service ends).
Music
: Albany UU Choir and Youth Choir led by Richard Porterfield
Announcements
Annual Evacuation Drill
We will have our annual evacuation drill near the end of service this
Sunday, Oct. 7
. There will be a verbal announcement and printed instructions in your Order of Service that day explaining how the drill will work. The Albany Fire department will have a fire truck at the Robin and West St. point for the younger children to enjoy.
In case you missed it!
Photo Directory - Connecting our Congregation
We want all Albany UU members and friends to be part of the new Photo Directory. More than 160 families and individuals have signed up so far! We have opened up more appointments in October. Please contact Peggy Sherman at
msherman@nycap.rr.com
if you would like to be part of the directory and have not been able to make an appointment for a photograph. Find more information
here
.
Transylvanian refreshments and display
This Sunday, Oct. 7
, after the service and fire drill, please come to Channing Hall to sample Transylvanian-inspired foods, view Transylvanian souvenirs and crafts, and talk with members and friends about our relationship with our partner church.
Feeling Crafty?
Calling all folks who would like to make wood, metal, fabric, yarn and other crafted items at home for the
December 2nd Holiday Bazaar.
Please contact Sigrin Newell at
518-439-6705
or
sigrin.newell@gmail.com
.
Warmth for the Homeless
It's that time again to gather blankets, sleeping bags, and warm coats, etc. Please put them in the bin in the coatroom to be given to those who are homeless. Thank you for helping.
Lost and found
Did you leave a David Bailey CD in Rev. Sam's office? If so, you may stop by and claim it anytime during office hours or on Sunday morning.
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Sunday Schedule
9:00 AM
- Mindfulness Meditation
9:45 AM
- Nursery/Toddler Rooms open
10:00 AM
- Service, Community Hall
- Family Chapel for children in grades Pre-K-7 and their families, Sanctuary
- Religious Exploration for youth grades 8-12
10:55-11:00 AM
- Annual Evacuation Drill
11:00 AM (following Evacuation Drill)
- Coffee Hour and Transylvanian-inspired refreshments , Channing Hall
11:30 AM
- Youth Choir, Room B-3/B-4
11:45 AM
- Inclusivity Team Meeting, Room B-8
- GTS Conversation Leadership Meeting, Room B-5
- Auction Committee Meeting, Room B-7
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
Leah Youth Adviser
Tracey Hickey
Custodian
Izzy Wright
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Religious Exploration - What Does It Mean To Be A People of Sanctuary?
From Soul Matters -
Just saying the word “sanctuary” brings one a sense of peace and safety. It can bring back conflicted memories for some, but for most of us the idea of sanctuary conjures up feelings of being protected. Like its close cousin refuge, it speaks to the universal longing for a space to retreat from the dangers and depletions of the world. One thinks of the family ties and friendships that protect, restore and heal us. The sanctuary movement and its refuge for immigrants is another powerful example of offering life-giving safe space. As the well-loved Irish proverb puts it, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” So, certainly, the hunger for protection and the call to protect each other is central to this month.
I’m excited to bring this theme to three of the religious services I’ll be involved with this month.
As usual, I’ll start the faith development for children in grade 7 and younger and their families with Family Chapel on the first Sunday of the month (Oct 7). And as usual, we’ll meet for this service in the Sanctuary. We’ll be finding ways to explore the Sanctuary and the meaning and messages it has for us. What did the people of the First Unitarian Society of Albany want to convey about sanctuary when they built this space in 1921? What has been added to it since then? What meaning does it have for us today?
I’ll be leading the service on Oct. 14, also in the Sanctuary, with Rick Porterfield playing the hymns and musical pieces our beautiful organ – should be impressive! On Oct. 14, we’ll be exploring the sanctuary within each of us. How can we find that still small voice within us? How can we be attuned to what it telling us? This is a service for all ages with a full sermon to engage the hearts and minds of adults – but divided into chunks, with more music than traditional services, and with more opportunities for participation. For their faith development, the children and youth will attend the service on this Sunday instead of having Sunday school.
The last day of the month (Oct. 28) is our traditional, multigenerational Wheel of Life Service. We’ll explore how we create a shelter for each other. This is a chance for us to remember the transitions in our lives of the past year. Anyone who has experienced a major life transition is invited to bring a picture, a symbol, or a memento of that event. It can be brought forward during service to honor that transition (and may be retrieved after service ends). I’ll tell a lovely little story written by one of my colleagues called “The Umbrella Sanctuary.” Its message is described as certainly
for kids and adults alike. In it, the umbrella represents the many ways others offer us sanctuary from the storms of life as well as the many ways we can pass on that shelter to others. The story also gently reminds us that we overlook opportunities to offer shelter and sanctuary every day. If our attention is woke, we notice that all around us people are “wet with rain.”
As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to notice and to respond. What should our responses be? Also on this Sunday, for their faith development, the children and youth will attend the service instead of having Sunday school. We’ll meet for this service in Community Hall.
Parents and caretakers, look for other ways to bring the theme of sanctuary home in my weekly RE newsletters. I want to support you and your role in your child’s religious upbringing and help to strengthen the home/Albany UU connection.
I invite everyone to add to the interactive bulletin boards in Channing Hall and in the basement on the theme of Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to explore the questions on those bulletin boards: “Where do you find shelter?” and “Having been empowered by shelter, how can you share that same gift with others?”
Here’s to exploring together!
In joyful service,
Leah
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Upcoming Learning and Discussion Opportunities with the Minister!
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Metta or Loving-kindness Meditation led by Rev. Trumbore
October 8, 7:00 pm, Room B-8
Learn the basics of Buddhist heart-centered meditation that cultivates a non-specific love-for-all that becomes specific in caring for and serving others. Metta doesn’t require a response from others for its growth and development as it arises from an inner sense of abundance. Find out more
here
.
Building a House for Hope with Rev. Trumbore
Six sessions, Nov 6, 13, 27, Dec 4, 11, 18, 7:00 pm, Room B-8
Deepen your appreciation for our Unitarian Universalist purposes, principles, history, values, and traditions using the excellent book
House for Hope
by Rebecca Parker and John Buerhens. Find out more
here
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Family Ministry with Leah Purcell
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Family Ministry
- building strong connections between families and the congregation; and equipping parents and caregivers to engage in their child’s faith development at home.
Coming Up on Saturday, Oct 20, 3:00 – 5:00 PM - Unplug the Christmas Machine Workshop for Parents and Caretakers
“How can I reduce the stress of preparing for Christmas?” “How can I make our celebration more spiritual and less materialistic?” “How can I get my partner to be more enthusiastic about Christmas/to relax and enjoy the celebration?” and “How can I help my children see that Christmas is more than just presents?” For years, readers have turned to Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and jean Coppock Staeheli for inspiration and advice year after year. Using ideas from this book, Leah Purcell will help participants to combat the materialistic, commercialism of Christmas with practical ideas to put the holiday season into a UU perspective. RSVP’s would be helpful registrations@albanyuu.org.
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Denominational Connections
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Towards Full Equity and Participation in Unitarian Universalism
The Commission on Institutional Change has identified ten strategic areas which they believe must be addressed to allow Unitarian Universalism to remain a vital and viable faith. The Commission was appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in June 2017 to analyze structural racism and white supremacy within the UUA. In September, they reported on these priorities, which include:
· Ensuring opportunities for full involvement for UUs of color in the various settings of our faith;
· Ensuring quality of livelihood for religious professionals of color; and
· Prioritizing and enabling leadership from young adults and working age people.
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Art Exhibit/Salon Show Oct. 1- Oct. 28 (receptions this Sunday, Oct. 7 and Oct. 28)
Visit the gallery in Channing Hall to see works by Sheryl Galinski and Marjorie Ward.
Sheryl Galinski is a long time resident of the Capital Region and frequently sells her work at the Poestenkill. Reception with the artist this
Sunday Oct. 7, 11: 30 am.
Marjorie Ward lives in Latham and has exhibited her work throughout the Tri-city area. Find more information
here
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UU Weekend at Silver Bay
It's just around the corner! Join us October 12-14.
Stop by the UU Weekend table on Sunday to see the schedule of activities and fill out a registration form. Find more information
here
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Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on
Sunday, Oct. 14 at 5:30 pm
in Channing Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and a small contribution to cover beverages. We will discuss
A Gentle man in Moscow: A Novel
by Amor Towles. Find more information
here
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Albany UU Humanists
The next meeting of the Albany UU Humanists will be
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 7:00 pm in Room B-8.
Find more information
here
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N.Y. State Convention of Universalists 192
nd
Annual Convention
Friday and Saturday, October 19-20,
the N.Y. State Convention of Universalists holds its 192nd Annual Convention in Syracuse. Keynote speaker is Dr. Gretchen S. Sorin. She is co-writer working with Ric Burns on the soon-to-be shown PBS documentary “Driving While Black: African Americans on the Road in the Era of Jim Crow,” which is based on her research.
Find more information
here
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Getting to Know UU: orientation to UUism
Saturday, Oct. 20, 8:45 am-noon
We invite you to join us for "Getting to Know UU" to learn about Unitarian Universalism and about our congregation. Learn more
here
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Feeling Lost? Get Connected!
Attend the Albany UU Get Connected Activity Fair on
Sunday October 21
and find out what you might be missing! Find more information
here
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East of Hudson Potluck!
The next East of Hudson Potluck will be at Jean and Abe Bolgatz's home on
Friday, Oct. 26 at 6:00 pm
. If you live east of the river, join us!
RSVP to Jean: 518 274 2501 or jandabolgatz@
gmail.com
.
Circle Dinner - Saturday, October 27
Please plan to join us for the October Circle dinner, the first dinner of the church year. Circle dinners provide Albany UUs and visitors the opportunity to socialize and become better acquainted over a delicious potluck dinner in a private home. Find more information
here
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Sunday Volunteers
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 thank you and could not do what we do without YOU!
Sheridan Prep Academy Volunteer Opportunities
Love to Read with A Child?
Be a volunteer reading tutor with an elementary age child at Sheraton Prep (our neighborhood public elementary school).This is a one-on-one reading program with a weekly commitment (yes, you can take vacations). Interested? Sign up for one day training on
Saturday, Oct. 27
with Fiona Thompson at 518-475-6360 or
fthompson@albany.k12.ny.us
. Any questions speak to Winston 518-3262151 or
hagborgw@gmail.com
.
More Volunteers Needed!
The Community School Coordinator has a wide range of volunteer opportunities for
many
people. Can’t volunteer? Perhaps you have a lead for other sources of volunteers that we could contact. Please let Chuck Manning (chuckmanning@hotmail.com) or Winston Hagborg (hagborgw@gmail.com) know if you want to volunteer or if you have ideas.
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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 families. Check out Leah's
RE Newsletter!
Nursery/Toddler Room
opens at 9:45
The Pre-schoolers through 7th graders
will attend Family Chapel in the Sanctuary, starting at 10:00. All parent/caretakers are invited; downstairs children may attend on their own.
8th/9th grade group and High School Youth Group
will meet in their rooms starting at 10:00.
This Sunday, Oct 7, near the end of service, is our annual evacuation drill.
Those in Community Hall will receive verbal and written instructions that morning. The group leaders will give the children and youth instructions shortly before the alarms ring. The upstairs groups all meet in the front of the building. After the children and youth are all accounted for, the children in Pre-k through 3rd grade can visit the fire truck which will be parked on Robin St. and say “hi” to the friendly fire fighters. They will return to their rooms to be picked up by parents and caregivers. Older children and youth will be dismissed at 11:20, as usual.
If you haven't already, register your child for Religious Exploration!
Register for RE
on line
and pay the registration fee
on line
too! Or, pick up a paper copy in the RE Office. Make your check out to Albany UU and put RE Registration in the memo line or pay in cash. Call the office at 463-7135 or email Leah at dre@albanyuu.org with questions.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair,
email
Meet the Candidates
, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7pm
at Albany UU – Free public forum focused on state legislative and comptroller candidates’ views on environmental issues facing New York. Candidates will be asked to address divesting the state pension fund from fossil fuels, establishing a carbon tax and halting the build out of fossil fuel infrastructure. Co-sponsored by Green Sanctuary.
Coming to the Table
, Tuesday, Oct. 9
– Discussion group and meeting devoted to providing leadership, resources, and a supportive environment for all who wish to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism that is rooted in the United States’ history of slavery. At the Albany Friends Meeting house, 727 Madison Ave, Albany, supper at 6, discussion at 6:30 PM
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
Ask a Candidate.
It’s election season, with a general election on November 6. Make sure you are registered to vote. When a candidate asks for your vote, you can ask whether that candidate supports medical aid in dying.
Click here
to take the pledge to “Ask the Candidate,” and Compassion and Choices New York will send you everything you need to be successful. NOTE: You are not required to make a financial pledge, regardless of where the website routes you.
How to Influence Your Legislators.
Attend a presentation by the leaders of Compassion & Choices NY, Corinne Carey and Amanda Cavanaugh,
Oct. 24, 1:00-3:00, Bethlehem Public Library
. They will focus on methods and approaches for getting your voice heard and having influence with elected officials.
Workshop: Having the Conversation about Your End of Life Wishes.
It’s important for our loved ones to know what kind of care we would like if we can no longer speak for ourselves. This workshop will give you the tools and the confidence to have “The Conversation.” Hosted by the UU Congregation of Saratoga Springs, and led by Death with Dignity Albany’s Director, Bonnie Edelstein,
Sunday, Oct. 28, 2:00-4:00, at 624 Broadway in Saratoga.
RSVP’s appreciated to guarantee materials for your use. Contact Marian Bigelow 518-587-3847 or
marianbigelow@gmail.com
Please check out the Green Sanctuary and Social Responsibilities bulletin board
You have an opportunity to post a notice of some things you wish to give away or obtain. Let’s reduce our consumption and trashing.
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Green Sanctuary's Tip of the Week!
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"Practicing Our Seventh Principle":
Each week the Green Sanctuary Committee of Albany UU will be offering a "tip of the week" to support the UU Seventh Principle. We hope many of you will already be doing what we suggest but we want to re-enforce what you are doing and offer some suggestions you may not have thought of. This weeks tip is : "Always carry cloth recyclable shopping bags in your car so that you can use them for all of your shopping not just groceries. Say NO to plastic bags."
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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.
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
5:30 PM Walker Book Group (2nd)
11:45 AM Green Sanctuary Committee (4th)
11:45 AM Social Responsibilities Council (3rd)
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)
Wednesdays
10:00 AM Projects & Quilts (weekly)
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal (almost weekly)
Thursdays
10:00 AM Woman's Group (1st & 3rd)
1:00 PM All Sides Considered (1st & 3rd)
7:00 PM Program Coordinating Council (2nd)
7:00 PM Board of Trustees (3rd)
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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: fuusan, password: Emerson405.
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
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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