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
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE
LIVE on ZOOM
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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.
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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.
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SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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May 16, This I Believe
This is the Sunday Service when we hear from members of the congregation who will share their own personal religious perspective. Our presenters this year we will be Tom Mercer, Iris Daniels, and Kristen Abbas. This has been a perennially popular service. We appreciate our presenters' willingness to participate this year and look forward to hearing from them.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Barb and Dave Metz, Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Our Annual Meeting follows the service today!
May 23, “No Last Chapter in Our UU Story,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Over and over again, our ministers strive to articulate the core of our religious tradition, seeking unchanging dimension of our faith. And the outward expression of UUism keeps changing in new language, expression, symbols, and story. This can be confusing without recognizing the connections to our past, the evolution in the present and the vision drawing us into the future.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff
May 30, “Flower Communion,” Leah Purcell and Elizabeth Baldes
Join us for our annual Multigenerational Flower Ceremony service at 10:00. Bring a real flower with you when you join the service. We’ll hear the story of the first UU flower ceremony and explore its meaning for us today. The children will have a way for us to virtually share the flowers we have gathered.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Lighting Our Chalice
Lighting and extinguishing the chalice during our Sunday services is a meaningful and important ritual in our UU tradition.
We invite you or you and your family to record a video of lighting and extinguishing a chalice and saying a few words about what the ritual means to you. Then we can use these videos in future Zoom services.
Leah Purcell posted a lovely blog piece about chalice lighting, which you can find here. Check it out, and please consider creating a personal contribution for our Sunday services. Assistance with the logistics will gladly be provided. Thank you so much!
The Albany UU Service year continues
through June 13
Summer Services begin Sunday, June 20, 10:00 AM
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Joys and Concerns for Online Services
Need to Talk? Albany UU Pastoral Care Associates are here to listen!
Adult RE for ALL, Sunday Offering and other Information
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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.
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
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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.)
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
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UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
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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
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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
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
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We're hiring!
Albany UU is now accepting applications for:
Manage building use and rentals, assist with communications, social media, virtual service slides and general clerical support. When we are back in our sacred space, s/he is the face of Albany UU for callers, visitors and members. Computer skills needed include page layout and ability to use a church database; good verbal and telephone skills; comfortable working with people from all walks of life. 20 hours/week, starts July 1, 2021, $15-16/hour.
Racial Healing Monthly Group
The first round of the "Racial Healing Workshop" has finished, and one of the many wonderful outcomes of the group was creating a space specifically for BIPOC members for discussion and connection. We would like to continue that space and open it up to other BIPOC members of Albany UU. We'll meet on the second Monday of the month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom. If interested or to get more info, please reach out to Jaye Holly jholly63@gmail.com.
Calling all artists
Ellen Chernoff, our Art Wall organizer, would like to call artists to get those paintbrushes painting, pencils drawing, cameras rolling, etc. and make some art! The building will not be opening any time soon, but when it does, Ellen would like you to be ready for a member art show.
Open to artists of all ages, media (watercolor, pastel, photography, etc.) skills, and styles.
Art work should be framed, wired, and ready to hang. Attach a 3x5 index card on the back of the
work with: artist name & contact information, the title of the work, and the price (if for sale).
Questions may be directed to Ellen Thea Chernoff 518-463-5503.
When we are once again able to be together in person, the show will be put together for showing in Channing Hall.
Endowment Trust Grants
Each calendar year the endowment trustees use a prescribed formula based on income from its investments to calculate the amount of money available for special project grants. The 2021 granting capacity is $20,000.
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Albany UU
Library Chair needed
If you are interested in becoming a steward of these resources, please check out the volunteer job descriptions HERE and HERE, and contact Church Administrator, Tammy Hathaway to express your interest: admin@albanyuu.org
Endowment Trust Grants
Each calendar year the endowment trustees use a prescribed formula based on income from its investments to calculate the amount of money available for special project grants. The 2021 granting capacity is $20,000.
Young Adults
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SRC and the Inclusivity Team Recommend: Read and Learn More about the Recent Violent Police Actions taken against Black Protesters in Albany
At the service this past Sunday, May 2, SRC Chair Jean Poppei delivered a Community Message (read it here) asking congregants to speak out against the recent actions of the Albany Police Department that seem to have tragically set back the possibility of progress promised by the Police Reform and Reimagination Collaborative process. We are providing the following informative links where you can review the Collaborative report, video footage of the events of April 14th and 22nd, and public statements by the Mayor, Black community leaders, and the protesters.
The Albany UU Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) and Inclusivity Team recommend a Black Lives Matter vigil in Troy:
When: Saturdays,10:30-11:15 am
Where: Troy - corner of River Street at the intersection of Fulton and Third Streets, 12180
- 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
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Our Inclusivity Team Recommends
United Shades of America
Sundays at 10:00 PM
CNN
In this CNN documentary series, comic and political provocateur W. Kamau Bell visits communities across America to understand the challenges they face. He addresses racism, poverty, incarceration and other social justice issues, using his gift to listen and relate to people while having challenging discussions, adding his special touch of serious humor to get people thinking.
Reading for Adults
The Living is Easy, by Dorothy West. (1948). This Harlem Renaissance gem tells the story of Cleo Judson, the daughter of sharecroppers, who moves to Boston. As the lady of the house, living in a mansion, she moves her sisters and their children north to live with her and her family. What ensues? Available in hardcopy in the Upper Hudson Library System. Not available in audiobook at this time.
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Family Chapel this Sunday at 11:30 AM
We’ll continue the theme of the month – Story –with a story about how the Unitarians and the Universalists, merged into one faith. Family Chapel is a short worship for children, youth, their parents/caretakers and the RE guides. It includes the story for the week. Then we have break out rooms for each group in 8th grade and younger for their group sessions.
Leah Purcell would like to hear from families with children and youth
Leah is checking in with families in the coming weeks. How has the online RE program been working for and your family? How about the online resources and occasional zoom supports? What do you need? How can the RE program and our family ministry make a difference in your lives? Please fill out this form now to help Leah get started with scheduling. Thanks!
The Treehouse is our own multigenerational community for Religious Education for Children and Youth. Families can find resources to practice UU-ism at home and supplementary materials for RE groups. Everyone - parents/caretakers, children and youth can share their written thoughts, pictures, videos they make. Click here to join: https://tinyurl.com/Albany-Treehouse
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UU WEEKEND AT SILVER BAY
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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.
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Essential Building Use Guidelines:
Learn about submitting announcements to for our virtual Sunday service and how to reserve a Zoom room for meetings and events 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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First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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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:
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
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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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