WINDOWS WEEKLY May 6, 2021
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.

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

-Blessings and Be Well
VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE
LIVE on 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. 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.


May 9, “Two Stories That Merged into One,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
On May 12, 1961, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America merged into the Unitarian Universalist Association. Two traditions joined to form a new religious tradition that is neither Unitarian nor Universalist. Amazingly, it has worked for 60 years. And we get to participate in creating it and bringing it to life!

Music featuring the Albany UU Virtual Choir, Elena Karpoff


Those wishing to access closed captioning/live transcript can turn on the function in their Zoom toolbar. To update to the latest version of Zoom, please do that within the software by finding the menu link and “check for updates”.

Use this link to join Sunday 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 have a celebration of the people who take care of us and hear The Mommy Book, by Todd Parr. After Family Chapel children in preschool through 8th grade will meet for their groups.
SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION

LEAH'S BLOG

How to Tell a Story – DYI Home Story Baskets
With my retirement coming up at the end of next month, I’ve started to think about what my legacy at Albany UU might be. One of the things I think I’ll be remembered for is for telling engaging stories. I don’t have a need to write stories, because there are so many good ones out there. It’s the telling of them and engaging people in them that excites me. It’s what motivated me to use story baskets often this year for the Wisdom Story in the services online. Maybe my storytelling could inspire you to tell stories this way in person with your family. I’d like to share some tips with you that, as it just so happens, were part of our Soulful Home packet written by my colleague Teresa Honey Youngblood. Follow her suggestions to use story baskets at home like a pro.

Some stories will come to have special places in your family. If you have a few beloved stories, begin with those. If you don’t, take a look at this list, which was compiled from many UU religious educators’ favorite and most often told stories, stories that seemed key to understanding some important aspect of UU theology.

Once you have a story or two you’d like to work with, gather a few objects that might help bring the story to life. Maybe it’s an animal toy, or a few toy buildings. Maybe it’s a length of yarn. Maybe it’s a few smooth stones. Go shopping amongst your child’s toys, find materials out in nature, or check out thrift stores.

For the month, put these objects (and maybe the books, or printouts of the story that they accompany, if you don’t have the stories memorized) in a basket or bag in a place where you often snuggle or casually hang out as a family. Throughout the month, read or tell the beloved story together a couple or a few times. Invite your child to play with the story basket as you do. Some families like to add a little something to the basket each time, too. Our richest stories have so many different themes, lessons, and ideas in them that you could conscientiously choose different things each time in order to lift up a new aspect of the story.

An example might be, for the story Stone Soup, for you first to add a couple of stones to the basket, then a few dried beans or play-pretend foods, then a few different people or little houses. Subtly, this moves the focus from the stone itself being the novelty, to the food that nourishes the travelers and the villagers, to the villagers themselves and the community they make together. Be creative with this, and invite your child to think what could be added with each retelling, too.

Here’s a link that has specific suggestions for how to use your story basket, or you could keep it casual, like fidgets for your child to hold as you read: https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/2018/11/story-bag-basket-or-prop-box.html/

I hope that these tips will help you to make your home story-sharing experience a little bit richer, a little bit more fun, and a little bit more memorable. Long live storytelling!

Yours in faith,
Leah
ALBANY UU ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, May 16, 2021
 
10:00 AM   Virtual Service via Zoom
11:00 AM Virtual Annual Meeting via Zoom
 
The Albany UU Annual Meeting will be hosted via Zoom on Sunday, May 16, immediately after the service. In addition to the presentation of reports, business will include the presentation and adoption of the 2021-22 budget. (See below under "Upcoming Ways to Connect" for information about joining a Congregational Budget Conversation.)

Annual Reports are due to Tammy Hathaway (admin@albanyuu.org) on Monday, April 26!
 
Ballots for all elections, both contested and uncontested, have been handled by mail. Active members eligible to vote should have received a ballot by mail, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for returning completed ballots. Ballots must be received by 11 AM on Friday, May 14.

BALLOT CORRECTION: For the contested positions for Nominating Committee, the description of the terms is incorrect and does not reflect the transition to the new term lengths approved by the congregation this spring. For Nominating Committee, the top vote getter will be elected to a two year term and the second highest vote getter will be elected to a one year term.

 
Remain on Zoom after service, or use the service link to join:
 
 
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT

It's not too late to join a Virtual Orientation for Newcomers on Zoom
Getting to Know UU
Saturday, May 8 (note date change), is a great chance for some of us at Albany UU to get to know YOU. Learn more here.

Use this link to join:

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


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


Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, May 9 at 6:30 pm. Join at 6:15 for additional time to socialize. We will discuss The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Learn more here.

Use this link to join:
 
By phone: 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
Join a Congregational Conversation on the 2021-22 Budget
The Albany UU Finance Committee will be holding a Zoom Congregational Conversation on the 2021-22 budget: 

Tuesday, May 11, 7:00 PM 



Use the service link to join:

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


My Grandmother’s Hands Book group/workshop
Trauma therapist Resmaa Menakem examines the damage caused by racism in America from the perspective of trauma and body-centered psychology. Facilitated by Philomena Moriarty LCSW, a trauma therapist. May 11 - June 29, Tuesdays 7:30pm - 9pm. Learn more here.


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:
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


Ps and Qs
Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will zoom next on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:00 AM.

Use this link to join:

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

SOCIAL ACTION


RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

UU WEEKEND AT SILVER BAY

Memories Are Made at the UU Weekend at Silver Bay
 
Silver Bay is a spiritual time that “grounds” me for the fall and winter to come. I learn, I stretch myself, and I have so much fun with other UUs! Exquisite!
-Barb Metz

Join us for UU Weekend at Silver Bay from October 15-17, 2021. Come to workshops, relax by the fire, take a hike, go on a boat ride, explore your creative side, or do nothing! It’s your choice
   
It's an amazing fall weekend in the Adirondacks! Learn more here.
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.


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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

First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany



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: Rev. Sam Trumbore
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany | 518.463.7135| 518.463.1429 | Admin@AlbanyUU.org | AlbanyUU.org