Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Enjoy!
-Blessings
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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
.
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February 24, “Earning Trust,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
What does it take to earn someone’s trust? What kind of confidence is needed to build that trust? What kind of trust is required to invest your time, talent and treasure in a congregation like ours? Come hear how we are striving to earn yours.
Music:
Albany UU Choir sings anthems by Betsy Jo Angebranndt and "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again)" by Sly Stone
HYMN 300 “With Heart and Mind”
HYMN 118 “This Little Light of Mine”
HYMN 128 “For All That Is Our Life”
HYMN 391 “Voice Still and Small”
HYMN 131 “Love Will Guide Us”
HYMN 311 “Let It Be a Dance”
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Sunday Services
10:00 am
March's theme: Journey
March 3, “The Road to Jerusalem,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Why does Jesus decide to go to Jerusalem? He knew he would face great danger, yet he still went. What message did he want to deliver? Lent begins with Ash Wednesday that follows this Sunday. This might be a time to begin a personal journey of introspection and self-discovery along with Christians around the world.
Music:
Richard Porterfield plays keyboard works of Bach and Couperin
March 10, “What Will You Pack?” Rev. Sam Trumbore
A common experience for those who are not experienced travelers is they pack too much. Anyone who has dragged a over-sized suitcase through an airport or a train station knows the importance to packing light. But what do we leave behind?
Music:
Albany UU Choir and Youth Choir led by Richard Porterfield
March 17, Inclusivity Service
Join us for our service on inclusion. Details will be announced soon!
March 24, “Pilgrimage,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
A sacred journey to a holy shrine or grotto can be a personally transformative experience. Those desiring healing may travel to Lourdes in France or Medjugorje in Bosnia. All Muslims must do the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca. What might a Unitarian Universalist pilgrimage look like?
Music:
Albany UU Choir sings "Keep Your Hand on That Plow"
March 31, “Encountering the Unexpected,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Leah Purcell, our Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry begins her two month sabbatical. She will be having experiences of rest and renewal as well as engaging in a process of discovery visiting other congregations hoping to learn new thing to bring home. On any journey we encounter the unexpected. The challenge is to expect the unexpected and learn and grow through what is discovered.
Music:
TBD
Announcements
Focus Food Pantry
Please consider a contribution to the Focus Food Pantry this Sunday. There will be an envelope in the order of service for your check or cash. Please do not seal the envelopes so they can be reused. Thank you for helping.
Gift card scam alert!
There are scams going around that look like they come from familiar emails, asking to purchase gift cards. Delete these emails! And, please, do not purchase any gift cards on behalf of anyone in the church unless you receive a verbal request from Rev. Sam. Thank you!
New Photo Directory
If your photo is in our handsome new directory, you can pick up your copy after the service on February 24 or from the church office during regular business hours.
Would you like a directory, even if your photo isn't in it? We are asking for a $5 donation to cover costs. Let Peggy Sherman know if you would like to order one at
msherman@nycap.rr.com
, or sign up on the bulletin board in Channing Hall.
Thanks to all who helped with the directory, especially Kathy Hodges, Tammy Hathaway, Paul Fisk, Judy Hanson, Kathy Harris, Tom Hotalen, Amy Lent, Meredith Mercer, Don Odell, Maria Philips, John Sherman and Brad Workman!
High School Youth Group Soliciting Donations for “Neighborly Bags”
These are plastic gallon storage bags with items for people often seen on street corners asking for help. The youth are asking you to bring in items like toiletries, feminine sanitary supplies, socks, gloves and hats. Look for the donation bin in the Cloak Room. This week they will be filling the bags and start distributing them in Coffee Hour on a Sunday morning. Then you can take a few bags to keep in your car so you have them at the ready to give away.
Warmth for the Homeless
Please gather blankets, sleeping bags, and warm coats, etc. and put them in the bin in the coatroom to be given to those who are homeless. Thank you for your help!
The homeless shelter is so grateful for the donations to the blanket bin!
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Sunday Schedule
9:00 AM
- Mindfulness Meditation, Sanctuary
9:45 AM
- Nursery/Toddler Rooms open
10:00 AM
- Sunday Service, Community Hall
- Programs for Children and Youth
11:00 AM
- Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
11:30 AM
- Annual Dinner skit rehearsal, Community Hall
11:45 PM
- Green Sanctuary Committee, Room B-7
Quick Links
Sign up for a class or event
- 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.
Board of Trustees 2018-2019
Officers
Trustees
Ex-officio Members
Education Council
Elected Officer
(not on Board of Trustees)
Minister
Church Administrator
Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry
Music Director
Dr. Richard Porterfield,
Music Associates (volunteer)
Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Administrative Assistant
Religious Education Assistant
Lead Youth Adviser
Tracey Hickey
Custodian
Izzy Wright
Snow Removal Tech
Quintain Murray
Envelopes for your cash donations
A reminder that envelopes are available on the table in the Community Hall Lobby each Sunday for cash contributions that you want to earmark toward a specific fund or pledge. You must use an envelope with your name and pledge year on it, if you wish to have your cash attributed toward your pledge. If you have any questions, an usher will be happy to assist you.
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Growing Our CENT$ of Community
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A stewardship campaign is a key opportunity to affirm our commitment to our beloved congregation, to a vision of the world worthy of our support, and to each other. As we engage in a process of visioning, overflowing in ideas about community, about what it means for Albany UU to be a good neighbor, the excitement over these ideas is palpable.
Our congregational life is defined by the pooling of our collective resources: time, talent and treasure. We care for each other, together. We nurture our children and youth, together. We make a difference in the lives of those in need, together. We take a stand against injustice, together. And, together, we must ensure our dynamic congregation continues to flourish.
Our campaign goal is $465,000, a 3% increase over last year. It is imperative that we strengthen our financial security and programmatic capacity as we continue our discernment over what it means to be a good neighbor.
The stewardship campaign will start this Sunday, and will continue through March. We will staff stewardship tables at the rear of Community Hall and in Channing Hall throughout that time. If you haven’t already received your Stewardship Packet, you can pick it up at the stewardship table, as well as ask any questions you may have. You are also welcome to return your completed pledge there. Online pledging will also be available.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: UU Bucks
Turn your pledge in by April 1st and your name will be entered into a drawing at the Annual Fellowship Dinner (you do not need to be present to win). First prize is $100 UU Bucks, second and third prizes are $50 UU Bucks, redeemable at any Albany UU event before April 1, 2020.
Why we do this:
It’s simple, really. When we know the outcome of the campaign, we can finalize a budget and realistically plan for the next congregational year. And we can thank our hard-working volunteers and wish them well in their next volunteer endeavor.
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Learning opportunities with our Minister
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Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
March 8-9, 2019
This meditation training and practice workshop will be led by, on Friday 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and Saturday 8:00am to 3:00pm. It gives the participants an opportunity to learn Buddhist mindfulness meditation techniques and/or refresh and deepen their meditation practice. Learn more
here
.
Letting Go
Four Sessions March 12, 26, April 2, 9; 7:00 in Room B-8
Instead of just giving something up for Lent, this class will provide an alternative by diving into the process of letting go itself. A companion book for this class will be Dr. David R. Hawkins,
Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender
. Learn more
here
.
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Learning opportunity with our Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry
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Potluck and UU Family/Household Circle Training
For Families, Couples and Households
Friday, March 15
Potluck at 6:00 programming starts at 7:00; ends at 8:00
Leah will share a tool to use as a family, couple or household to strengthen connections and communication at home.
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May the Road Rise to Meet You
May you succeed on the road;
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may you be held safe and secure in the palm of God’s hand.
- Irish blessing (adapted)
In the time this Irish blessing was written, some attribute it to St. Patrick, going on a journey of any distance was a dangerous proposition. People usually traveled in groups to protect against thieves who might lie in wait to attack around a corner or along a darkened wooded path. Most people stayed close to home. They lived their entire lives within a few miles of the place where they were born. Few were the travelers or the adventurers who might ever meet someone who didn’t speak the same language or look or dress like them. They knew little of the world beyond their village, unless conscripted to fight in a war against a neighbor. Precious few got on boats to sail to open ocean beyond the harbor where they fished.
So different is the world we live in today. I doubt there are any people reading this who haven’t traveled outside of New York State - at least to the Berkshires or Vermont. Most of us have been to New York City or Boston. Many of us have traveled to Canada. Owning a car makes such a trip so simple and easy. Most of us have flown in airplanes or sailed on a boat. A few of us have traveled to places half a world away like Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India, New Zealand and Australia as well as Africa, the Middle East , The Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe and the British Isles. Not only have we traveled for leisure and work but also many of us have lived in other places too.
So the idea of a journey to some remote destination can seem almost ordinary and routine. Yet even in today’s modern world where we experience the diversity of people from all over the world living close together, that experience of embarking on a journey can still have great personal significance.
That was true for me when, at age 20 sitting in a Ponderosa Steak House by myself, I decided to drop out of my junior year of college and begin a journey of self-discovery. Overhearing a couple at a nearby table discussing an enjoyable weekend trip from Newark, Delaware to Norfolk, Virginia by plane caused something inside me to shift. My perspective on life got just a bit bigger. There was more to life than the small college town where I had grown up. The thought of spending the rest of my life there felt way too confining. There was more life to live and I wanted to experience it.
So I dropped out of the University of Delaware, said goodbye to my parents and younger sister, bought a two week rail pass, and got on an Amtrak train going west, not knowing where I was going but with a few friends to stop and visit on the way. “Go west, young man!” Echoed in my ears.
That train trip began a journey that, in a sense, I am still on many years later. The outer journey ended in Palo Alto, California where I began looking for work as an electronics technician. The inner journey of self-discovery making my way on my own in the world kept going.
I remember how both thrilling and poignant it was beginning my train ride and looking out the window as we passed the large field behind our house next to the tracks. All of my childhood I had played in that field and the woods between it and my house. I had watched so many trains rush by carrying unknown people to unknown destinations. Now I was one of those people on one of those trains. While I didn’t know where I would end up, there was enormous possibility before me. And there was a little concern too about my safety on this trip. No cell phones with Google Maps or Airbnb in 1977.
In the surveillance state with cameras everywhere and smart phones in everyone’s pocket, I wonder what it would be like for someone to repeat what I did in 2019. Every corner of the globe now has cell phone coverage. Yet the inner journey, the process of self-discovery can be as challenging now as it has ever been. Our technology has greatly improved but the way our minds work hasn’t changed much in thousands of years. Yes the content is quite different but the processes of the mind are quite similar around the globe.
Many of us begin our journeys through life seeking our uniqueness, individual talents and gifts. In the maturing phase of that journey, may we discover, more and more, how much we have in common with everyone else. That journey leads away from our individuality and toward a sense of connection with the whole, a sense of unity of being with all life.
May you have success traveling your road, supported by wind, sun and rain, safe and secure until you find your way home again.
Rev. Sam
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Supporting Each Other in Hard Times
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Increased needs for emergency financial assistance have come to the attention of our office and the minister. These needs have stretched the Minister’s Discretionary Fund dipping into its limited reserves. Pondering what to do about this, the Board has reinstated an old fund for this purpose called the “Economic Distress Support Fund.” The Board designated two ways to offer our members short term financial support when they are economically challenged.
- Members and friends are invited to give money to the EDS fund. Members who are in a moment of temporary financial distress may confidentially request money from this fund through the Church Administrator. Disbursement is made by the minister in agreement with two members of the Pastoral Care Associates program designated to serve in this capacity.
- The minister also maintains an email list of people who would want to be asked in a specific instance to give money for a specific need, usually a larger amount of money than the EDS fund can supply. Again confidentiality of the giver and receiver is maintained. Requests can be made through the Church Administrator and are approved by the minister in agreement with the two Pastoral Care Associates.
This system only will work if you want to support it. The EDS Fund is ready to receive your contributions by sending money directed to the “EDS Fund.” The other way to support this program is by letting Rev. Sam or Tammy know you would appreciate being added to the EDS email list. You may contact him
minister@albanyuu.org
or the office
thathaway@albanyuu.org
to be added to that list.
Thanks for the many ways we help each other monetarily, emotionally, or otherwise that make our congregation a strong community of mutual support.
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Paint 'n' Sip
Saturday, Feb. 23, 7:00 pm
Have fun creating a spring themed painting while helping teens fund their trip to serve people experiencing hunger and homelessness. Learn more
here
.
14th Annual Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser
Mark your calendars for our 14th Annual Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser, coming up fast on
March 2 at 7:00 pm
! Learn more
here
.
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on
Sunday, March 10 at 5:30 pm
in Channing Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and a small contribution to cover beverages. We will discuss
Behold the Dreamers
by Imbulo Mbue. Learn more
here
.
The 11th Annual Hudson-Mohawk Cluster Sunday Celebration
Mark your calendars now for the HMUU service - Is It Too Late? Healing the Earth and Our Spirits -
Sunday, April 7, 11:00 AM
at Doane Stuart School Find out more preliminary details
here
.
Spokane in 2019, Providence in 2020
Consider attending General Assembly, the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
In 2019, GA will be held in Spokane, Washington from June 19-23. Closer to home, in 2020, GA will take place in Providence, Rhode Island from June 24-28. Learn more
here
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Preparing for Our Fall 2019 Intern
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Dan Miyake will be joining us in the middle of August as our intern for the 2019-20 year. He brings many talents and gifts I expect to enrich our congregational life. Dan also brings financial challenges – being a former student paying off debt. There are two ways we can help:
1-Dan and his partner are
looking for affordable housing
. If you are aware of such an opportunity he might be able to pursue, please let the office know. He would consider living with a family who has extra space if he could have a separate entrance, cooking facilities and enough privacy.
2-Dan is also
a music teacher
. He will be
looking for opportunities
to take on private students
. He holds a Master of Music Education degree from Winthrop University. His primary instrument is French horn, and can teach beginning through advanced horn students. He is also comfortable teaching beginning to intermediate trumpet, baritone, and trombone. Though primarily a brass instructor, Dan is a former middle school band director, and is able to teach beginners on most any band instrument (though he prefers to not teach flute or percussion). Dan is a patient teacher with high expectations, and helps students achieve to the best of their abilities.
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Please join us
for this annual event
on Saturday, March 16th at 6:15 pm. Bid on wonderful items and enjoy socializing with your fellow bidders while sampling tasty appetizers, beverages, and desserts. Parents: Make this a night out.
Free
child care will be provided for auction attendees.
Mosey on over to the bulletin board on Sunday in Channing Hall to check reasonably priced fixed price auction items. Keep your eye on the board regularly since additional items will be added as contributions come in. Note: You can bid on fixed price items even if you cannot attend the auction.
Stop staring at your 4 walls!
Sign up on Sunday in Channing Hall to attend the auction for only $5 ($7 at the door). Consider donating an item or service by completing the donation form in your Order of Service this Sunday.
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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!
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
-Leah Purcell, Director of Religious Education (RE) and Family Ministry,
dre@albanyuu.org
Keep up with what's happening for children and youth
, including resources to support parents and caretakers at home by checking out
Leah's RE Newsletter!
Nursery/Toddler Room
opens at 9:45 for children and infants under 2 years old
Faith formation of children and youth this Sunday, Feb. 24:
The Exploring Chickens, Compassionate Hawks and Kick-Butt Unicorns Groups (pre-k through 7th grade
) will attend the first part of the service with their families in Community Hall from 10:00 to about 10:25. Then they will go to their usual groups.
8th/9th grade (YSOP)
will meet in their room (B-7) starting at 10:00
High School Youth Group
will meet in their room (23) starting at 10:00.
Did you miss the YSOP Fundraisers?
The 8th/9th grade group is close to raising enough money to cover their expenses for their YSOP service trip in March. If you were not able to patronize their bake sales or the Paint n Sip, you can make a donation through the
pay pal account
or mail or bring a check to Albany UU with “YSOP” in the memo line. Thanks so much for your generosity.
RE Volunteer Brunch rescheduled to Saturday, March 23, 9:00-N
This is for everyone interested in volunteering in RE next year - or just thinking about it! Ever wonder how RE happens? Here's your chance to take a peek. RSVP by March 17 by replying to
Leah at
dre@albanyuu.org
or on Facebook
Meeting for Parents/caretakers of current youth group members and this year’s 8th graders
this
Tuesday, Feb. 26; 7:00 - 8:30 pm
. Come for a mock youth group meeting and an orientation. This is not to be specific about the discussions that are happening in youth group; it’s about youth group in general.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair,
email
SRC Recommends the following:
Be sure to stop by the SRC Table during Coffee Hour
for your Fair Trade coffee, cocoa and chocolate, and to learn more about our social action and "green" initiatives.
War Costs: A Conversation with International Peace Activist, Kathy Kelly
- Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:00
pm at Albany UU. Kelly will detail the real human costs of war as well as the economic and social costs. Discussion to follow. Free and open to the public. View the flyer
here
.
Zero Waste Forum
Join us for a GCS sponsored multigen potluck and forum on
Friday, March 1
with presenters Tina Lieberman and Anasha Cummings. Come to either the potluck or the forum or both. Dinner is at 6:00, please bring a dish to share, presentation will follow.
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
JOIN Death with Dignity Albany on Tuesday, March 12, 1-3 pm, at the Albany Jewish Community Center, 340 Whitehall Road in Albany, for a viewing and discussion of
Living While Dying
, a
45-minute, life-affirming, documentary film that focuses on how people living with terminal illness greet the inevitable with courage, humor, creativity and acceptance.
Save these dates for visiting lawmakers at the Capitol this session to
advocate for legalizing medical aid in dyin
g. Death with Dignity Albany will be there on February 26 and April 9. Albany UU has volunteered for March 26 and April 30. Lobby Day for Compassion and Choices is May 14. Contact: Nancy Willie-Schiff at
n.willie.schiff@gmail.com
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Green Sanctuary's Tip of the Week
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Living our 7th principle
When you have an opportunity, take the stairs instead of the elevator. It will save energy and give you some exercise as well.
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Check out our Caring Network folks putting together Valentine's Day goodies for those folks who might be unable to get to church. Thank you!
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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.
This workshop might be helpful to some folks who find themselves in this situation:
Catholic Charities Senior & Caregiver Support Services will be offering a
9-week Stress-Busting Workshop for Caregivers
who have a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. This
FREE
9-week workshop runs from Thursday, March 7 through Thursday, Ma
y
2, 2019 from 10am to 11:30am. We will be hosting this workshop at Home Instead Senior Care in Albany. If you are interested in attending or know someone who might benefit, please register soon as space is limited. Call 518.372.5667 x205. Deadline, March 1.
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.
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Regular events and meetings
Check Windows Weekly for changes to date, time and location.
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)
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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.
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First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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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
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
).
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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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