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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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
Hymn 1007: “There’s a River Flowin’ in My Soul”
Hymn 1008: “When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place”
Hymn 1000: “Morning Has Come”
Hymn 1012: “When I Am Frightened”
Hymn 1018: “Come and Go with Me”
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Sunday Services
10:00 am
March's theme: Journey
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
The Inclusivity Service will feature guest speaker, Lisa Good, founding director of Urban Grief. Urban Grief is a community-based organization that responds in the aftermath of community violence, educates about the effects of violence, supports those affected through crisis/bereavement support, by connecting community members and caregivers with each other as resources and mutual support.
Music:
TBD
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
New Photo Directory
If your photo is in our handsome new directory, you can pick up your copy after the service this Sunday, March 3 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.
Registration is open for Young Peacemakers Week August 19 - 23
This urban day camp for kids in grades 2 - 8 is a joint project between Albany UU and Albany Friends Meeting (Quakers). At camp, we will build commitment to living in a nonviolent world through play, music, art, and communication that nurtures connection and empathy. It is meaningful and FUN!
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.
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
- Family Chapel, Sanctuary
- Programs for Children and Youth
11:00 AM
- Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
11:45 PM
- Inclusivity Team, 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
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Growing Our CENT$ of Community
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Our stewardship campaign is underway! Many thanks to all those who have already pledged. If you haven’t already done so, please pick up your pledge packet after the service at the back of Community Hall.
All pledges should be returned by April 1st so don’t delay. Remember to include your UU Bucks raffle ticket when you return your pledge.
To Return Your Pledge by April 1st, you can:
We’d like to know what Albany UU means to you.
If you are willing to share your answer to this question, we would like to share it with the congregation. You can email Patti Jo Newell at
patti.jo.newell@gmail.com
. Thank you!!
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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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Religious Exploration - What Does It Mean To Be A People of Journey?
From our staff in the Soul Matters program:
We UUs love to tell our journey stories. And hear each other’s journey stories. Whereas other religions have newcomers stand up and confess their fallen ways or declare a commitment to one way, we invite each other to talk about how our way is like no other.
It’s a curious thing when you think about it. We welcome people to our fold not by asking them to commit to thinking exactly as the group does, but by having them declare how their journey is not like anybody else in the group. It’s about space not similarity. We bind ourselves to each other not by sharing the same journey but by offering each other the room to discover the unique journey that fits us. It’s about making room for people to write their own stories.
Or maybe it’s about making room for people to re-write their stories.
It’s become popular in our society to talk about spiritual journeys as a process of living into your full or true self. That’s a helpful frame. And yet there’s something deep within UUism that resists it. Historically, we’ve been the people that struggled not so much to find ourselves but to untangle ourselves from the religious identities we were given. Our spiritual journeys did not begin with a blank slate; they began with the hunger to wipe the slate clean and begin anew.
Our children and youth are on a religious journey too. They may not have as much “detangling” to do, but even our youngest children are not blank slates; they all are influenced by the larger society. They need people to show them that there is room for them and their beliefs here. From our toddlers that are learning compassion and stewardship of the earth by feeding the worms in the compost bin in their room, to our high school youth who often are seeking to find ways for belonging –they all need guides to help them in their journeys.
Have you ever thought about volunteering in RE, but wondered how to find out more about it? You might wonder who gets to serve as a guide in RE. How are the RE volunteers supported? What happens in the classrooms? If those are questions you’d like to explore, you’re invited to the RE Volunteer Brunch, Saturday, March 23rd from 9:30 to noon. This is for everyone interested in our program and our current volunteers. Everyone will have an opportunity to learn something new about how to run an effective RE group. And we’ll have lots of time for good food and fellowship. Please email me at dre@albanyuu or reply on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/552910065214632/
by March 17 if you’d like to join us.
YoUUrs in service,
Leah
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Help Evaluate our Professional Ministry
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The Board of Trustees and Rev. Sam Trumbore would like to hear from the congregation in order to plan for the future of our shared professional and lay ministry. Here are their key questions:
- What are the most important things the congregation wants our professional minister to do?
- How well is Rev. Sam doing at what he does? Where does he excel? Where might improvement be made? Are there other things you would like to see him do?
- What are the needs, if any, that our shared professional and lay ministry is not meeting?
To answer these questions, we invite everyone at Albany UU to complete a questionnaire, and we are also planning to conduct about 40 interviews. You can get the questionnaire:
- In print, after the service on March 3, and in Tammy’s office after that;
- As an online form, here, which you can submit online;
- As a PDF document that you can download, print and complete by hand; and
- As a Word document that you can download and fill out on your computer.
We will need your completed questionnaire by April 28 in order to include it in our analysis for a report to the Board. If you use a printed questionnaire, you can return it by:
- Handing it to one of us;
- Scanning and emailing it to EVALUATION@albanyUU.org;
- Mailing it to EVALUATION, First UU of Albany, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12206; or
- Placing it in a sealed envelope addressed to EVALUATION in the box labeled “Treasurer” in the Copy Room.
If you prefer to respond orally to the questionnaire, please call the office at 518-263-7135 or email us at
evaluation@albanyuu.org
.
We hope you will join us in this important effort and look forward to hearing from you!
Meredith Andrews, Bruce Rodgers, Reese Satin, Nancy Willie-Schiff
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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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Leah Purcell, our Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry, is going on a sabbatical for April and May 2019. Here is information on Leah’s sabbatical prepared by the Religious Education Council (REC):
What is a Sabbatical?
A sabbatical is a period of special leave granted for professional development that is not possible during the activity in a typical work year. Sabbaticals are not vacations, but pathways to viewing vocations in new ways, through fresh eyes. The goal of the sabbatical is for Leah to return to the Albany UU renewed, refreshed.
Why a Sabbatical?
Albany UU will benefit in many ways from this sabbatical. Professional religious educators make an intense commitment of time and energy to their congregations; which allows for little opportunity for thoughtful enrichment, analysis, study and evaluation that sabbatical leave allows. Our congregation has an opportunity to grow through the sharing of creative abilities in meeting the religious education programming needs during Leah’s sabbatical. We also benefit from Leah’s renewed enthusiasm when she returns.
What are Leah’s Plans?
Leah plans is to visit other congregations to experience the innovative things they are doing for children and youth and to support volunteers. She also plans to go on a few retreats.
How will RE work in Leah’s absence?
Leah, Elizabeth Baldes (RE Program Assistant), and REC have worked together to plan for RE programming coverage during Leah’s sabbatical.
Elizabeth will be the primary contact for RE classes working with families and the RE teacher/guides. Reverend Sam is available for Family Ministry matters.
For any questions during Leah’s sabbatical, please contact Elizabeth at reassist@albanyuu.org or Jim Hutchins, RE Council Chair, at jhutchins095@gmail.com, H 518-239-6929, C 518-965-3981.
(Adapted from Kopnick, Kari. "Sabbatical Leave Handbook". Lreda.Org, 2019, https://www.lreda.org/sabbatical-leave-handbook. Accessed 31 Jan 2019.)
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Break out of the Winter Blues on March 16 at our Cure Cabin Fever Auction!
Ten Top Reasons YOU Should Come
- Fill your stomach with tasty tidbits and beverages to “feed your cold”!
- It costs only $5 if you sign up and prepay.
- Who knows? You might win one of four great door prizes.
- There’s FREE BABYSITTING for your little ones.
- You can fill your calendar chock-full of fun activities and events.
- Dream Big--The Auction is the single annual Albany UU FUNdraiser making over $20,000 to help support our community.
- Many of your fellow Albany UUs will be there.
- You can buy affordable items to make your life a little easier (ie. gift certificates, take home homemade foods, loose tea, cat-sitting) or more fun (dinners out, entertainment tickets or happenings, hikes, musical occasions).
- You can dress comfy. Leave your four walls behind. Come and have a great time.
- We will appreciate your patronage and share a big smile when you participate!
We look forward to seeing you at the Cure Cabin Fever Goods and Services Auction on March 16 at 6:15 pm. A special night awaits your presence. Don’t wait! Sign up in Channing Hall on Sundays March 3
th
and 10th, or contact Randy or Chris at rosette_jensen@juno.com or 783-2637 to reserve your place.
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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, March 3:
The pre-k through 7th graders
will attend Family Chapel starting at 10:00 in the Sanctuary and then go to their groups.
8th/9th grades
will not meet.
Youth Group
meets at 10:00.
Family Support Group Meets this Sunday, March 3
We’ll explore theme of Journey and ways of parenting as a Unitarian Universalist; 10:30 – 11:15 in room B-8.
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.
Looking for Info on upper grade events - Crossing Paths, YSOP Trip, High School
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! Learn more
here
.
Orientation to 2019-20 Rite of Passage Program - March 24
Next church year we'll offer the Rite of Passage program for incoming 9th/10th graders.
Please join Leah Purcell and Rev Sam for an orientation to the program on Sunday, March 24th from 11:30 to 1:00 in room B-8.
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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
- Tonight, 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.
Concert – The Americas, Land of Many Cultures,
Today, March 3, 3pm
- Albany Pro Musica chorus with conductor and artistic director José Daniel Flores-Caraballo. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Second Street, Troy
Community Forum on the Green Light NY campaign, Monday, March 4, 7pm
- Learn more about this important campaign and help get ready for the March 12 day of action. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 4 Northcrest Drive, Clifton Park.
Troy City Council Meeting, Thursday, March 7, 7pm
- The Sanctuary Resolution will be introduced again at this public meeting. Council Chambers at City Hall, 433 River Street, Troy
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 TUESDAY DATES for visiting lawmakers at the Capitol this session to
advocate for legalizing medical aid in dying
. Death with Dignity Albany will be there on April 9. Albany UU has volunteered for 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
Reduce your meat intake! The livestock industry is responsible for widespread deforestation and cultivation of vast tracks of land. Consider practicing meatless Mondays with great recipe ideas from
www.meatlessmonday.com
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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.
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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