Windows Weekly July 25, 2019
Albany UU Windows Weekly
Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Enjoy!

-Blessings
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 .
Sunday Service 10:00 AM
July 28 “Transforming Play,” Eileen Casey-Campbell

Let's explore how play can be a spiritual discipline for us, and the playful perspective of a child might help us envision a new path into our own whole and creative selves. Perhaps play can even transform a hurting world.

Eileen Casey-Campbell is a candidate for UU ministry and the contract minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua. Her heart is pulled by the ways we are called to work, play and love together to build up a world that is healed and whole. After an internship at Albany UU in 2017-18, she is filled with joy to return for this Sunday.

Music: Elena Karpoff
SUNDAY SERVICES
10:00 am


Summer at Albany UU
Our summer services continue through Sunday, September 1.

How is a summer Sunday at Albany UU different from other Sundays?

--The 9:00 AM 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, a florist or a crack in the sidewalk 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 !


Aug. 4 "What I learned on my sabbatical – Stories of other congregations – and our own story," Leah Purcell
As part of Leah’s sabbatical, she visited four UU congregations of different sizes, in different parts of the country, and each with its own story. Come hear their stories and consider what meaning they might have for us here. This style of this service is like one of those Leah visited – children and youth are invited; after the story, children under 10 can go to Summer Session of RE. Leah will offer a fun tool for everyone to make notes during the service. Afterwards, everyone is invited for a brief discussion to reflect on the sermon and respond to the question, "What is the story of Albany Unitarian Universalist?”  

Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education and Family ministries at Albany UU since 2007, received her RE UUA credentialing in 2011. Leah contributes on the LREDA 21st Century Fund Grant Committee and as a mentor in the credentialing program through the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Music: Ann Brandon

Aug. 11 “The Will of Earth,” Chris Bystroff

The Earth is an organism that lives and breathes. It is the Creator of all life, the final arbiter of the survival of species, infinitely knowledgeable. She communicates with us, the sentient species, in a language we can read only through the lens of Science. What is She saying now?

Chris is a professor at RPI, teaching courses in molecular modeling, bioinformatics, and human population. His lab is currently working on a contraceptive vaccine. Chris is a member of AlbanyUU, sings in the choir and is former chair of the Green Sanctuary Committee.

Music: Elena Karpoff

Aug. 18 “Eldering: A Way of Growing Older,” Rev. Tom Chulak

Last September, Rev. Dr. Tom Chulak turned 70. As a way of celebrating this milestone, he decided to become more intentional about this stage of life. In this service, Tom will celebrate and share with you my discoveries on the path to not just being elderly but becoming an elder.

Tom Chulak is a life long UU, retired UU minister, and member of Albany UU who together with his wife Nicole, owns the Chatham Bookstore.

Music: Al DeSalvo

Aug. 25 “The Experience of Wellspring”

Our congregation supported nineteen people through Wellspring journeys this year. Come and hear what sources of inspiration they found.





ANNOUNCEMENTS

Volunteers needed welcoming our new Ministerial Intern!
Dan Miyake arrives in town the afternoon of this Saturday, July 27 and he and his partner are looking for help to unload their U-Haul into their new apartment at the corner of Quail and Washington Ave - 522 Washington Ave, Albany. 

Dan let us know there is not a lot of stuff, but it is too much to do alone. There's only two heavy-ish pieces - a sofa and a bed frame. Those need two strong folks. Everything else is mostly boxes. We have one volunteer that can take on the heavy stuff. 

If you and/or your teen are able and willing to help, please let Leah know at 518-487-1536. Dan and his partner expect to arrive in Albany between 3 and 5 pm. Leah will text you that day when Dan and Erica are about an hour away. Leah and Kevin will be stopping by with sandwiches. Caring Network will bring dinner that evening. 


Summer Office Hours Schedule
A reminder that the Albany UU summer office hours are 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday - Thursday until Monday, Sept. 2.

Vacation
Administrative Assistant, Sapphire Correa, will be on vacation Monday, July 29 - Friday, Aug. 2. She will be back in the office on Monday, Aug. 5. Please address all communications to the office to Church Administrator, Tammy Hathaway: admin@albanyuu.org or windows@albanyuu. The "windows" address goes to both Sapphire and Tammy.

Community Breakfast - Thank you!
A BIG thank you to all who participated in the 3rd Community Breakfast. Our next breakfast will be August 17 from 9 to 11. We hope you can join us!  

Albany UU Humanists
There will be no meeting in August. Find more information about the September meeting here .
Sunday Schedule

9:00 AM
- Mindfulness Meditation, Sanctuary

9:45 AM
- Nursery/Toddler Rooms open

10:00 AM
- Summer Service, Community Hall

11:00 AM
- Fellowship, Community Hall Alcove




Quick Links



Denominational Affairs Links



Helpful Local Links



Sign up for a class or event

- Send and email to: registration@albanyuu.org
- 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.






Offering envelopes

We appreciate donations of cash during the offering that occurs as part of our Sunday service. If you would like to have cash contributions recorded and acknowledged in writing for tax purposes at the end of the calendar year, please use and write your name on one of the envelopes that are available on the table in the Community Hall lobby. Thank you very much for your generosity.
 
STAFF CHANGES
Our Music Director, Dr. Richard Porterfield , has accepted the position of Organist and Choirmaster at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in Manhattan. His work there will begin in mid-August. These duties will preclude him from continuing as Music Director here in Albany.  He writes: “Saint Ignatius is one of New York City’s leading churches for traditional liturgy and music, and for a long time it has been my spiritual home. I feel that God has blessed me in this opportunity, for which everything I have done up to now has been preparation.”

He continues: “I have enjoyed working with Rev. Trumbore, and with the staff, choir, and congregation. I have learned a lot, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to present a wide variety of music in the context of compelling, thoughtful services.”

We wish him well in his new position. The Albany UU leadership is beginning the process of considering our next steps to find a replacement.

Nursery and Toddler Room Child Care Worker Position open starting September 2019. Please pass this along to folks you know who might be interested. Also open to congregants. Send a cover letter and resume or list of previous experiences to dre@albanyuu.org. $15/hr. More information here:  https://drive.google.com/…/1GrbPxfAMYvtVP-jyraHws7gU6…/view…
FROM OUR BLOGS
JOYS and CARING CORNER
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.

Albany UU Caring Network
The Caring Network (CN) reflects the words of the Albany UU chalice lighting - “to sustain a vital and nurturing religious community.” The CN provide encouragement and short term support to Albany UU members who, due to hospitalization, sickness, loss, or isolation, need assistance. Services typically include transportation to medical appointments, meals and shopping during recovery, and friendly visits and “check in’s” from Caring Network members. Please reach out to the Caring Network if you need.
UPCOMING EVENTS
East of Hudson Potluck!
The next East of Hudson Potluck will be at the home of Karen and Peggy Kaufmann in Schodack on Friday July 26 at 6 PM. There's still time to RSVP to Karen at (518) 477-9034.


Homecoming Sunday - September 8
It's never too early to plan!
Bring water (real or virtual) gathered during your summer (at home or away) to symbolize the regathering of our community. Send a couple photos of your summer for inclusion in the slideshow to office@albanyuu.org by Sunday, Sept. 1. Plan on lunch after the service! Everyone is invited to a light lunch in Channing hall right after the service and bring a “finger food” if you're willing and able.


Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 pm in Channing Hall. We will discuss  The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai . Learn more  here .


UU Weekend: Don't miss out!
Have you registered for UU Weekend at Silver Bay from October 18-20, 2019? First-timers will receive an additional 10% discount! Children under 6 are free and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth.  Learn more here .
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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!

Gardening Volunteers
Do you have two hours to contribute to maintaining the gardens surrounding Albany UU? The Gardening Committee welcomes you to  sign up here , where you can select which week(s) you'd like to help. Volunteers often work in pairs. No experience necessary. For more information or to receive e-mail updates, please contact  Donna Meixne r or 518/439-5947.
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
-Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry (DREFM), lpurcell@albanyuu.org

Summer Session of RE!

Childcare for children starts at 9:45 AM. Please pick up your children immediately following the service.

Children and youth are welcome to stay with their families for the service. Or they can come upstairs for childcare. Volunteers and our childcare workers staff the nursery/toddler room for our youngest ones; and room 24/25 with activities for those in preschool and older. Middle school and high schoolers are welcome to help out. We start shortly before 10:00; pick up directly after the service. Please be sure to sign your child in and out with one of the staff. Everyone is invited for cookies and lemonade in the back of Community Hall after the service. 

Religious Education Open House
Saturday, Aug. 24,t 10 AM – 12 PM
Open House for participating families to register for 2019-2020 RE, find out what's being planned in their child(ren)'s groups this year, and reconnect with Albany UU friends. Also open to the public for prospective families to check us out. Bring a friend!
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair, email

SRC Recommends:

Albany Cuba Solidarity presents the film Sugar and Salt, Friday, July 26, 7pm  at Albany UU to celebrate 60 years of the first victorious socialist revolution in Latin America. Learn more here .


Kateri Peace Conference on August 16 and 17 in Fonda, NY. Learn more here.

Save the Date - Sunday, August 4, late afternoon – evening
The 15th annual commemoration of the arrests of Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain.

A march and rally, beginning at the Masjid As-Salam, 276 Central Ave., to Albany UU, where dinner will be served, followed by a special program of media and speakers: Yassin Aref, from Iraq; a tribute to Dr. Shamshad Ahmad; and an early welcome home for Mohammed Hossain, who will be released in 2020. More information available shortly.

Regular events and meetings
Many of these events and meetings take a hiatus in the summer, check with the church office before coming in.

Sundays        
11:45 AM      Inclusivity Team (1st)
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)
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     
1:00 PM       All Sides Considered (1st & 3rd)
7:00 PM       Program Coordinating Council (2nd)
6:15 PM       Board of Trustees (4th)
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: AlbanyUU
password: EEthelredBrown405

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.
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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 (unless otherwise posted)
September-June: Monday-Friday, 9:00-3:00
July-August: Monday–Thursday 9:00-1:00

Websites
General: www.AlbanyUU.org

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 ).

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