Windows Weekly March 11, 2021
ALBANY UU WINDOWS WEEKLY
Greetings Friends,

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, the Daily Reminder was not sent out this morning since there were no events to remind folks about today. Everything you need to know is right here in the Weekly. Daily Reminders will continue tomorrow morning. Thank you!

Also, 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

Learn more about what's happening with UU Kids and Families by reading the Religious Education publication, RE Roundup.

-Blessings and Be Well
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.


CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT
As a congregation with respect for our past and commitment to the future, we draw from the depth and power of our hearts and minds, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles, to serve our mission and vision. We celebrate the diversity of our identities and experiences, and foster a culture of appreciation, inspiration, and kindness. We honor both the strength of the collective and uniqueness of the individual, willing to support and challenge each other with love and compassion. We entrust ourselves to each other in beloved community, to embolden personal and congregational growth and transformation.
VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE
10:00 am
LIVE VIA ZOOM


March 14, “Commitment to Justice,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Unitarian Universalists have a strong commitment to justice. That is also a commitment found in other religious traditions. How does being UU affect our commitment and our work for justice?

Music provided by Elena Karpoff and special guest, Colton Parker

Use this link to join the service:

To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000


Join us for Family Chapel for Children and Families at 11:30 AM
We’ll continue the theme of the month - Commitment – with the story “Mae Among the Stars.” This is a short worship for children, youth, their parents/caretakers and the RE guides. It will include the story for the week. Then we’ll have break out rooms for each group in 8th grade and younger for their sessions.

Use this link to join:

To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID 843 1034 5197
Password: 4051842
VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICES

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

UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT

Mindfulness Meditation Workshop on Zoom
March 12 & 13
This meditation training and practice workshop will be led by Rev. Trumbore, on Friday 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and Saturday 8:00am to 3:00pm. It gives 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. Please register with Rev. Sam by email (minister@albanyuu.org) if you would like to participate. Learn more here.


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


RE for Children and Youth on Sundays at 11:30 AM
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


Adult RE 11:30 AM on Sundays
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. Learn more here.

Use the Service Link to join:
 
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000


Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, March 14 at 6:30 pm. We will discuss The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. Learn more here.

Use this link to join:
 
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
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.
All are welcome.

Use this link to join:

By phone: 1-929-436-2866 
Meeting ID: 987 7102 4708
Password: 0000





Martha Schroeder Virtual Memorial Service
A virtual memorial service for long-time Albany UU member, Martha Schroeder will be held via Zoom on Saturday, March 20 at 3:00 PM. Find more information here.

Use this link to join:

By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000


Ps and Qs
Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will zoom next on Wednesday, Mar 24 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 rest of the the service year:
March 24; April 7, 21; May 12, 26; June 9
Hope to see you there.

Use this link to join:

By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000


Virtual Circle Dinners!
Sign up for the upcoming Virtual Circle Dinner on Saturday March 27! This is a relaxed opportunity for small group conversation on Zoom, dinner optional. Email John Sherman at jsherman@nycap.rr.com to reserve your spot and get the sign-in information. The next Virtual Circle Dinner will be Saturday April 17.


A Virtual Orientation for Newcomers on Zoom
Getting to Know UU
Saturday, Apr 3, 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:
10:00 AM to noon
Saturday, Apr 3

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!
To sign up: Send an email to Registration@AlbanyUU.org.
RETURN YOUR PLEDGE FORM BY APRIL 1!


Our stewardship campaign is underway! Many thanks to all those who have already pledged. If you haven’t yet returned your pledge, we encourage you to do so.

We are at 43 % of our goal. Average increase so far is 6%.
 
We need to get all pledges returned by April 1st so please don’t delay. Remember to include your UU Bucks raffle ticket when you return your pledge.
 
To Return Your Pledge by April 1st, you can:
  • Pledge online using this link
  • Mail your pledge to the Albany UU office (405 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12206)

Thanks for all you do to support Albany Unitarian Universalist!

Geoff Abbas                                                 Patti Jo Newell
Stewardship Co-chair                                  Stewardship Co-chair
 
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!

FROM OUR BOARD
Progress Report from SRC

As Chair of the Social Responsibilities Council (SRC), I--Jean Poppei--currently serve as a non-elected member of the Board of Trustees.  At the start of the 2020-2021 church year, a formal charge was given to SRC by the Board around the two Actions of Immediate Witness, emerging from the UUA General Assembly last June. A progress report has recently been sent to the Board.  SRC wanted to ensure that the wider congregation would also have access to our report, which is presented here. We welcome your feedback.  

Progress Report from the Social Responsibilities Council (SRC)
Actions for Immediate Witness from GA 2020
Jean Poppei, Chair Social Responsibilities Council
 
At its July 30, 2020 meeting, the Board of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany formally charged the Social Responsibilities Council “with engaging the congregation in discussion and discernment of the UUA 2020 General Assembly Actions of Immediate Witness for recommendation to the Board regarding a course of action for AlbanyUU.” These two AIWs are #1 Amen to Uprising: A Commitment and Call to Action and #2 Address 400 years of White Supremacist Colonialism. They will be appended to this report. 

The Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) began its discussion of the charge at its August 2020 meeting. The decision was made to use Rev. Sam’s proposed RE for All as a platform for a congregational conversation addressing AIW #1. At our September 23rd meeting, we decided on three breakout rooms, with a facilitator and recorder in each one. This congregational conversation took place on Sunday, September 27th. At the SRC meeting following the congregational conversation, we heard reports from the facilitators/recorders. In all, 29 congregants attended the congregational conversation. 

An action item arose from concerns expressed at the September 27th AIW #1 discussion about the financial straits of the City of Albany School District. The State had withheld 20% of aid to the district, forcing the layoff of 200 staff and elimination of programs, further disadvantaging our neighboring children who were already suffering disproportionally during the pandemic.  Karen Kaufmann volunteered to draft a letter to the Governor expressing our concerns, and after some research as well as consultation with Anne Savage, President of the Board of Education, the letter was sent to the Governor on October 7th. The letter cited the disproportionate impact of across-the-board cuts on Albany, which is a high-needs district with a large proportion of students living in poverty and/or of color. No substantive response was ever received; however, in January the State said the district would get its full amount of aid.

At its October 27th meeting, SRC decided the next step for AIW #1 would be to hold a forum—again using the RE for All format—to inform congregants about Governor Cuomo’s June 12, 2020 Executive Order requiring each local government in the State to adopt a policing reform plan by April 2, 2021. The Order authorizes the Director of the Division of the Budget to condition state aid to localities on the adoption of such a plan.  In August, the Governor called for the NYS Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative to ensure that there would be broad community input into this work. Two of our church members, Jaye Holly and Jill Peckenpaugh, are members of such a collaboration, in Delmar and Albany, respectively. Karen Kaufmann approached them to discuss their experiences and they kindly agreed. This forum was held December 6th, with Karen as moderator of the discussion.  Several members of SRC have followed this up by investigating their own local police department’s Police Reform and Reinvention Collaboratives (for example, Albany, Troy, North Greenbush, and Colonie) and have shared some of what they’ve learned at subsequent SRC meetings. 

As Thanksgiving approached, AIW #2 was especially on our minds. To that end, information was posted in the Daily Reminder from SRC about the UUA event Harvest the Power Justice Convergence and Teach in, designed to “rethink Thanksgiving.” In December, SRC became aware that Native American tribes were reporting that NYS had reneged on its agreement with the tribes to install murals depicting Indigenous culture on the Northway Exit 3 overpass. The agreement arose from the discovery of Indigenous artifacts during construction of the new exit to the Albany Airport. Rather than honoring the agreement signed by NYS and the three tribes who had a special interest in this, NYS DOT said the murals would be placed in a nearby cultural park; however, there, they would be far less visible to the public. Responding to AIW #2, Karen Kaufmann prepared an email which was sent to the Governor, asking that the signed agreement be honored.  A message about this situation was sent to SRC General, resulting in others writing to the Governor in support of the tribes’ request. We are happy to report that in January, DOT installed the murals in compliance with the agreement. 

Contributions: In line with AIW #1 Amen to Uprising, which calls for reinvestment in communities that have been victimized by policing and other forms of white supremacy, SRC made the following contributions: $150 to Grassroots Givers which serves people in need in our immediate Albany UU neighborhood;  $300 to the South End Children’s Café; $500 to the Troy Sanctuary Coalition to assist an undocumented couple find housing in Albany; $250 to Youth FX; and $250 to the Writing Program for Indigenous scholars at Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community in Fonda, NY, created to be a “Carlisle Indian Boarding School in reverse.” SRC also organized a Give-Away-the-Plate for In Our Own Voices, which raised  $505. 



From our blogs:

INCLUSIVITY RECOMMENDS

SOCIAL ACTION
Social Responsibilities Council Recommends

Check out the Albany UU folks joining the Interfaith Prayerful Walk for Climate!


The Albany UU Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) and Inclusivity Team recommend a Black Lives Matter vigil in Troy:
When: Saturdays,10:30-11:00 am
Where: Troy, the sidewalk at the former Price Chopper: 865 2nd Avenue, 12182
  • physical distance, masks
  • signs only, no chanting (except for meditative religious practice)
  • the vigil will automatically be canceled if the temperature is 20 or below OR if the wind chill is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit 


SRC recommends that for those who can, and wish to do so, stimulus check(s) can be sent to Albany UU with UU Unified Community Designated Fund in the memo line, which will at a future time be distributed to these three organizations: Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NYUnited Tenants of Albany, and Joseph House in Troy as a gift from Albany UU. Thank you for your consideration.
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

JOYS and CONCERNS

UU WEEKEND AT SILVER BAY

Live Music Featured at UU Weekend
When is the last time you heard live music?? The UU weekend at Silver Bay on Lake George from October 15-17, 2021 will feature a campfire music festival with the Walkers, live music by Oldies but Goldies at the Saturday evening social, and music and movement with Roberta Kirn of BeWellSing.  

Registration is open! Register by June 7, 2021 to receive the lowest rates! Children under 6 are free, with substantial discounts for older children and youth. Access additional information about Silver Bay and the UU weekend, including a preliminary schedule of events and a registration form here. Rooms will be assigned on a first come, first served basis based on receipt of the completed registration form and accompanying deposit.

Remember – the cost is all-inclusive for room and board, activities and entertainment - including all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch.

Note: Curranty, we are experiencing a time of social distancing and modifications of group gatherings due to Covid-19. Any restrictions in place at the time of the UU Weekend at Silver Bay will be communicated to registrants.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Essential Building Use Guidelines:
Find more information about our Building Use Guidelines during COVID HERE.




Learn about submitting announcements to for our virtual Sunday service and how to reserve a Zoom room for meetings and events here.


Other important resources, our file cabinet, guidelines and information can be found on the Resource Page of our website, here.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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:
CONNECTIONS







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

- Send an email to: registration@albanyuu.org
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)
12:00 PM Ministry and Operations Team (1st)
7:00 PM     Albany UU Sings (alternating)

Thursdays    
6:30 PM       Board of Trustees (4th)
Going to miss a Sunday?

Online service is generally recorded

Sunday, Mar 7 watch it here.

Sunday, Feb 28 watch it here.

Sunday, Feb 21 watch it here.

Sunday, Feb 14 watch it here.

Sunday, Feb 7 watch it here.


For archives

This has pdf files of sermons texts (when available) and audio files of sermons.



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 and Tammy have their messages forwarded to their personal cell phones and are available by email.

Our Website:
General: www.AlbanyUU.org

Zoom use
To reserve Zoom for an Albany UU online meeting, contact the virtual church office (518.463.7135 or admin@albanyuu.org).

Photo credit: Jeannie Thompson
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany | 518.463.7135| 518.463.1429 | Admin@AlbanyUU.org | AlbanyUU.org