Sunday Services
10:00 am
The summer schedule begins with Sunday, June 16
Summer at Albany UU
This Sunday, June 9, is the last Sunday of the regular service year; our summer services begin on Sunday, June 16 and continue through Sunday, September 1.
How is a summer Sunday at Albany UU different from other Sundays?
--The 9:00 a.m.
Meditation
continues.
--We have
Service
at 10:00 AM. Summer services are coordinated by Randy Rosette, with a delightful list of guests in the pulpit.
--
Children are invited
to meet for activities in Room 24/25, youth are invited to help or attend service. The nursery/toddler room will still be open at 9:45 with paid childcare staff.
--
Coffee Hour
becomes Iced Tea and Lemonade (in Community Hall Alcove.)
--The
people
you’ve enjoyed all year are still here, plus it’s a time we often have visitors who are on their summer voyages from elsewhere.
--Contributions of
flowers from your garden
for the service are welcome!
--
If you can volunteer to help
on a Sunday, we have openings for Greeters and Ushers. Call the office, 518-463-7135, or sign up
here
!
June 16 “Thriving Amidst New Abnormal,” Rev. Chris Antal
Faced with a disturbing reality in which things are not getting better, what value might spiritual disciplines bring to our lives?
Rev. Antal was ordained by Albany UU in 2011. Since then, he served a tour as an Army chaplain in Afghanistan, and earned a doctorate from Hartford Seminary.
Music:
Ann Brandon
June 23 “Should there be Limits on Religious Freedom?” Rev. Dick Gilbert
Today religious freedom is being increasingly invoked in problematic moral situations: parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated; merchants who won’t serve same sex couples; congregations which want to endorse political candidates. What is the meaning of church-state separation in this context? What does this say about Unitarian Universalism as we know it?
Rev. Dick Gilbert, retired UU minister, has published books on faith development, social justice and meditations, including In the Holy Quiet and Thanks Be for These.
Music:
Randy Rosette
June 30 “Life is a Labyrinth,” Rev. Amanda Poppei
So often we imagine that life is like a straight line--but in reality our lives are much more like a spiral, including those lessons that repeat over and over again when we think we should get a break from them already! Using the image of a labyrinth as a starting place, Rev. Amanda will explore the constancy of change, and how we can find ourselves transformed...even when we feel like we are facing the same darn thing.
Rev. Poppei is a Unitarian Universalist minister as well as a certified Ethical Culture Leader, and has a strong background in interfaith work. Serving as President of the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association, Amanda is also a co-founder of the Humanist Clergy Collaboratory.
Music:
Alyssa Yeager
Announcements
Community Breakfast - don’t miss out!
Our next community breakfast is coming up fast on Saturday, June 15! Help is still needed to make this a success, particularly with publicity. Help is also needed with set up on Friday, June 14 beginning at 6:30 pm. Of course there’s always lots of room for helpers on the morning of the breakfast, beginning at 7:00 am. If you’re willing, please sign up on the bulletin board in Channing Hall or call Carol Butt as soon as you are able (518.439.6629). If you would like to contribute some fruit or other tasty food item to the breakfast such as coffee cake, muffins, banana bread, etc., please label it, “community breakfast” and leave it in the kitchen by 8:00 AM Saturday, June 15. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to help with this important community event here at Albany UU!
A reminder that this outreach opportunity was put into action as a result of the Albany UU Board asking the congregation the open question, “What would it look like for Albany UU to be a good neighbor?” A proposal from Carol Butt was approved by the Board to provide a free public community breakfast once a month in Channing Hall.
Did you notice the yellow Black Lives Matter banner was missing?
Here is what happened. You may have noticed that it had gotten weathered over the years now it has been up. One of the ropes holding it up broke, so we took it down with the plan to replace it. A new banner has been ordered and will be put up after it has arrived. We are fortunate that we haven’t had it removed or defaced by vandals as has happened in other congregations.
May the banner be a reminder to the world driving by, and also to our members of the critical importance of our inner and outer work to dismantle white supremacy culture.
Memorial service for Teddy Archer - Save the date
A memorial service will be held for Teddy on Sunday afternoon, September 29. The date of the service has been set to also honor her 100th birthday, and there will be cake to celebrate a vibrant life well lived!
Sheridan Prep Volunteer Training
Whether you are currently volunteering, waiting to volunteer, or want to start next fall. Please come to an end-of-school-year training at Eagle Point Elementary Wednesday June 19 at 3:45 pm
Your reply would be appreciated so we can gauge the number to expect.
Location and parking:
Eagle Point Elementary is on Western Avenue across from the Harriman State Office Campus.
There should be parking in lots on both sides of the school and in the street at that time as the school closes well before our meeting time.
Homecoming service - Water and Photos!
I know, I know, summer services haven't even begun...BUT, it's never too early to remind folks to gather a little water from your summertime experiences. It could be from a lake, a creek, an ocean, a puddle, or a tap, while you're away or from right here at home. During our Homecoming Service on Sunday, Sept. 8, we'll share our water to symbolize the regathering of our community.
Also, be thinking about those summertime photos that we'll be asking you to send into the office for our Homecoming slideshow!