Greetings Friends,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates.
Important Note: We will begin multi-platform services this Sunday, Sept 19 at 10:00 AM. All information about how that will look is below.
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-Blessings and Be Well
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MULTI-PLATFORM SUNDAY SERVICE
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SUNDAY SERVICE at 10:00 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with an 8:30 Meditation session until 9:20.
Service begins at 10:00 each Sunday
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Welcome to the first Sunday of multi-platform services!
Sept 19, "REconnection and REsilience," Dr. Michele Townsend Grove
Learning is a vital component of congregation transitions. Albany Unitarian Universalist Society has experienced a great deal of change including a transition in professional religious education leadership which means you now have the chance to embrace the opportunities embedded in these transitions. This is a great time to reflect, celebrate, converse and dream! Join Dr. Michele Townsend Grove, our worship leader and religious education consultant at we look at the possibilities and opportunities embedded in religious education transitions.
With more than 30 years of experience in Lifespan Religious Education and Program Development for the United Methodist and the Unitarian Universalist Church, Michele Grove will be our Interim RE Consultant. The interim work Dr. Grove will do with us will be three programs for September, October and November to help us reflect on the history and heritage of our RE program, clarify its current identity, and finally vision where we would like the program to go in the future.
Music: Chris Bystroff, Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Welcome to multi-platform Sunday service.
What does that mean?
It means you have choices. Service will be offered both in-person with limited seating and live online via Zoom each Sunday at 10:00 AM.
We will provide in-person distanced “pod” seating for 50 people in Community Hall. Those interested in coming to service in-person will need to RSVP by Friday at noon, using this link: https://rsvp.church/r/FQ4SoJA9
Face masks are required. To protect our children ineligible for vaccination; eligible youth and adults are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated to attend.
Mindfulness Meditation will also be Multiplatform beginning at 8:30 AM – no signup required.
There will be no food or beverage after the service. Access to Channing Hall will be limited, however there is a member art show that we encourage folks to view in small groups.
Socializing before or after service is encouraged outdoors.
For those online and wishing to access closed captioning/live transcript, turn on the function in your 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 remotely:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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USE THIS QR CODE TO VIEW YOUR ORDER OF SERVICE EACH SUNDAY
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No special app or software needed. Simply point your smart phone's camera at this on-screen now or at the church on Sunday morning and voila! your order of service will appear like magic on your device. You may need to click "open with Google or Chrome" but it's that simple. No, seriously, give it a try, now!
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SEPTEMBER SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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Sept 26 "The Art of Listening" with Rev. Trumbore & Philomena Moriarty
Deep listening requires focused attention. Focused attention is open, interested and curious. It requires an external focus connected to an inner emotional sensitivity. Deep listening is a skill that will benefit all our relationships. (Note: this will be followed up by a "Deep Listening" workshop led by Philomena Saturday, October 2nd, see announcement below.)
Music: Ann Brandon
Use this link to join Sunday service virutally:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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In-person Sunday Volunteers - This includes providing flowers
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!
In-person Ushers needed
Are you looking for a way to be more involved in what happens on Sunday mornings? Now is your chance! We are looking to deepen our Usher pool and would love for YOU to join. It’s a very simple but very necessary volunteer opportunity. If you’re interested in learning more about being an Usher on Sunday mornings, please contact Dawn Dana: ddana1@nycap.rr.com. Thank you!
Virtual Ushers are needed, too!
If you are interested in helping with our online services, please reach out to Tammy: admin@albanyuu.org
Albany UU Safety
A reminder that the West St. door will remain locked on Sunday mornings. Though it will be locked from the outside, the West St. door may still be used to exit the building at any time. The Washington Ave. lobby doors will be locked 15 minutes after service begins and reopened again from 11-noon. A Welcome Table or Greeter volunteer will remain in the Lobby for the duration of the morning to monitor doors. We appreciate your cooperation to keep our people safe. If you have questions, please call the church office.
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Community Message
On a regular basis, we’ll have a member of the congregation bring you a short, inspirational, personal message about some aspect of our congregational life. These messages will be a way to connect with our community and help us live out our mission and vision in the world. To find out more, contact Tammy Hathaway: admin@albanyuu.org.
Sunday Offering
and other service information
Sharing Joys and Concerns during Service
Need to Talk? Albany UU Pastoral Care Associates are here to listen!
Archives
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SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
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As you’re likely aware, we will have in-person options for congregational events this weekend. This includes the Religious Education events on Saturday and Sunday with our RE consultant, Michele Grove, and the service on Sunday, which she will lead. These multi-platform events will also include virtual options via Zoom.
As we are still in the pandemic there will be risk associated with in-person gatherings. Members and friends will need to determine for themselves and their families what level of risk is acceptable. To aid in that discernment, the Board recommends that members and friends proceed with caution. And that cautionary designation means that the following conditions will be required:
Sunday Services:
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Attendance for the Sunday service in Community Hall is limited to 50 persons. A link to RSVP to attend in-person is here: https://rsvp.church/r/FQ4SoJA9
- Seating will be arranged in socially distanced pods/family units.
- Masks are required for all individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status. Those speaking from the pulpit may temporarily remove their masks.
- Attendees must sign in to facilitate contact tracing.
- There will be no coffee/social hour in Channing Hall. Weather permitting, socializing can occur outside the building. No food or drink will be provided.
- Twenty people at a time will be permitted to access Channing Hall to view the art show and the notices on the bulletin boards.
- Staffed nursery care will not be available. However, alternative space for viewing the service will be available for families with children and infants. The same requirement for masks applies.
- Requirements regarding Religious Education can be found below.
As a matter of responsible participation in the human community in the face of a global pandemic, Albany UU encourages all those who are able to do so to get the COVID vaccination. However, vaccination is not available to all in our congregation, including children under 12 and those with certain health conditions. And we now know that vaccinated people can also spread the Delta variant. So, while proof of vaccination is not required at Albany UU events, protective measures such as masking and distancing will be.
Please remember to check communication resources from the congregation to make sure you have the most current requirements.
May you and yours be well.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION for
CHILDREN and YOUTH
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Fall RE Plans are up!
We are so excited to announce that plans for 2021-22 Religious Education are available! Albany UU is offering in-person Sunday morning RE groups as well as an online Sunday evening Family Chapel. Details are available here and you can register your child here.
Please note that everyone must register for RE this year, and all adults working or volunteering in-person with children and youth of any age are required to be vaccinated. Children, youth and adults will all wear masks when in-person as indicated by the Reopening Guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. All of these requirements will enable us to provide the safest possible environment for children, youth, volunteers and staff.
Thanks so much for your understanding and cooperation as we come together to strengthen and grow our amazing and wonderful RE community!
RE Washington Park Meetup! Children, families, RE volunteers and Religious Education Council members are invited to the annual RE Washington Park Meetup just after service on Sunday 9/19, 11:30ish-1:30. This is a chance to renew and form connections with people in the RE Community, welcome Paula Brewer to the Albany UU RE Staff, socialize, register your child for RE, sign your ethics form if you are a volunteer, and have some fun!
Individually-packaged drinks and snacks will be available, social-distancing while eating is encouraged. Please consider wearing a mask if in close proximity to others, particularly those who might not be vaccinated. This is an outdoor-only event. Bring your camp chairs or blanket to sit on and meet us by the playground!
Elizabeth Baldes
She/her/hers
Acting Director of Religious Education
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UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
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Start your Sunday Morning with Meditation 8:30 - 9:15 AM
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 remotely:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
RE Washington Park Meetup! Children, families, RE volunteers and Religious Education Council members are invited to the annual RE Washington Park Meetup just after service on Sunday, Sept 19, 11:30ish-1:30. This is a chance to renew and form connections with people in the RE Community, welcome Paula Brewer to the Albany UU RE Staff, socialize, register your child for RE, sign your ethics form if you are a volunteer, and have some fun!
Inclusivity Team
Meets virtually, Sunday, Sept 19, 12:00N. All are invited to attend.
Use this link to join:
https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-Staff-3
By phone: 1- 929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 571 407 8100
Passcode: 3333
Philosophy Group
At 10:15 AM every Tuesday, the Albany UU Philosophy Group will meet via zoom to discuss the 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
Bridge Group
Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00 PM, Room B-8 at Albany UU. No matter how many people come, all are fitted into play. All are welcome and assumed vaccinated. Due to the nature of this group, there will not be an online option offered.
Ps and Qs
At 10:00 AM each Wednesday, Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will meet in Room B-8 at Albany UU.
To join remotely, use this link:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Board of Trustees
Meets Thursday, Sept 23, 6:30 PM. Albany UU members are welcome to attend.
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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Exploring Our Religious Education Heritage with Michele Townsend Grove
Part 1
Saturday, Sept 18, 9-12N (fully virtual). Open to all congregants. This is a time to celebrate! It is a time to reflect and tell stories. Understanding your congregation’s religious education heritage is a vital component of understanding your current lifespan religious education identity and vision for the future. Learn more here.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Passcode: 0000
Exploring Our Religious Education Heritage with Michele Townsend Grove
Part 2
Sunday, Sept 19, 2-5PM (multi-platform). This is specifically for AUU staff, religious education leaders, board members, and the parents and care givers of children and youth, and anyone who participates in religious education programs. Learn more here.
Use this link to join remotely:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Passcode: 0000
Albany UU Sings
Join your friends on these fall Wednesdays at 7:00 PM and sing your heart out in Virtual Community! We will supply the music and the lyrics.
Sept 22
Oct 6, 20
Nov 3, 17
Dec 1, 15
Hope to see you there.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000
Susan Thompson Memorial Service
A memorial service for member, Susan Thompson, wife of Al De Salvo, will be held on Saturday, Sept 25 at 10:30 AM in Community Hall. Due to pandemic concerns, food will not be served. We do have permission to use the UAlbany Hawley Lot for this event. Read more about Susan here. Please note that the Freihofer's Run is taking place on this day and may impact normal traffic patterns. Find more info about the course map here.
Use this link to join remotely:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, October 10 at 6:30 pm. Join at 6:15 for additional time to socialize. We will discuss Louise Erdrich’s The Night Watchman. Learn more here.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Deep Listening with Philomena Moriarty
“We keep missing each other”
This long long year of the Corona virus finds us all grieving our in person gathering and the energy of community. We keep missing each other over and over. There is an unspoken, intangible connection that occurs when we meet together face to face.
We also keep missing each other in another way. Before the Corona virus up ended all of our lives we met with each other but many times didn’t really see or hear the other, or even ourselves. We develop habits of communication which prevent us from really being present in those moments of conversation.
On October 2nd Philomena will be giving a workshop focusing on Deep Listening. There will be a morning and afternoon session. The morning session is from 10am-12pm and the afternoon from 2pm - 4pm. These sessions will not be focused on our distress (unless you want them to) but a way to move beyond our distress to genuine joy and hopefulness. The rewards will be a sense of community and intimacy.
We thought through doing this in person and the vision of being six feet apart with masks on didn’t work. So, it will be on Zoom and there will not be a limit on the number of people who can attend. Hope you can come. You can email Philomena at philmor57rock@gmail.com or call or text at 518 788-7007. RSVP by October 1st. There is no cost but if you care to donate to First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany or the Regional Food Bank that is welcomed.
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We light a candle of joy and of concern for Members, Linda Hunt and Larry Gambino. They were hit by a car crossing New Scotland Avenue. Their joy is that they are alive and that Larry is fine. Their sorrow is that Linda took one for the team and got to spend 24 hours in Albany Med’s orthopedic/trauma unit with some broken ribs and back fractures, along with internal and external bruising and a big gap in my memory. Linda is recovering.
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Monday, Sept 27, 7:00 PM: Sponsoring Asylum Seekers in the Saratoga Region
Presbyterian—New England Congregational Church (24 Circular St., Saratoga Springs) and on Zoom.
People who claim asylum in the United States are frequently placed in detention, not because they are regarded as criminals but because they lack a place of residence where immigration officials can reliably keep in touch. Sponsorship for asylum seekers can get them released from detention and provides a secure home while they await the processing of their asylum claim. In this program we will hear from the Asylum-Seekers Sponsorship Project, a national organization that matches asylum seekers with sponsors. And we will begin a conversation about how our community might support sponsorship. For in-person attendance, enter the Nolan House on the grounds of the Presbyterian—New England Congregational Church from the parking lot off Park Place. Zoom attendance requires registration here. For more information about the event, contact saratogaimmigration@gmail.com; 518-306-1313. Program sponsored by Saratoga Immigration Coalition; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs; and the Welcoming immigrants Task Force at the Presbyterian—New England Congregational Church. Free and open to the public. A Saratoga Peace Week event.
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
-pandemic concerns: Please remember that if you are vaccinated, you are still susceptible to being an asymptomatic carrier of Covid-19. Taking precautions is encouraged
-signs only, no chanting (except for meditative religious practice)
-the vigil will automatically be canceled due to threat of thunderstorms or other severe weather
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The Inclusivity Team Book Recommendation:
For children:
Pride: The story of Harvey Milk and the rainbow flag, by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno. (2018). This beautiful, colorfully-illustrated book brings to life the legacies of Harvey Milk and Gilbert Baker, and shows how the LGBTQ movement for equality contributed to the development of an emblem and symbol for all. Available in hard copy and downloadable e-book formats in the Upper Hudson Library System. Not available in audio-book at this time.
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WELCOME PAULA BREWER TO THE ALBANY UU STAFF TEAM!
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Paula Brewer has joined the RE team as the RE Program Assistant. She’ll be working approximately 10 hours/week to support RE activities. Paula’s many years of experience as a volunteer in the program and as an RE Council member make her a strong addition to the team, we are so glad she is here. You may reach Paula by emailing: pbrewer@albanyuu.org. Welcome, Paula!
Paula Brewer moved to Albany NY in 1991, and shortly thereafter began to attend Albany UU (AUU). She became more active in AUU after the birth of her daughter, Anna, in 1996, focusing her activity on the Religious Education Program. Her volunteer AUU RE activities followed Anna as she grew, beginning with her coordination of a monthly Parent Group potluck and discussion group. Being older parents, Richard and Paula found comradery with other similar parents in this group. Paula followed Anna through the RE program volunteering in the Toddler Room and into other grades as Anna got older. She moved to being a youth group advisor, so that she could learn how to deal with her soon to be young adult child. Paula’s commitment to RE included 3 terms on the RE Council and one term as RE Council Chair. She most recently assisted with the 8th Grade Reading Group. Richard and Paula are grateful for the Albany UU ‘village’ and its excellent RE program, which helped them to raise their daughter into a responsible adult UU. She is excited to assist Elizabeth Baldes and Albany UU in continuing its excellent RE program and working with Michele Townsend Grove to ensure that RE continues to meet the needs of the next generation of UUs.
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UU WEEKEND AT SILVER BAY
October 15-17
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Natural Beauty Awaits You at Silver Bay
"There is always something to do -- or not -- as you wish, but I always look forward to the hike up Sunrise Mountain. Great exercise, culminating in breathtaking views." David MacLeod
The UU Weekend at Silver Bay on Lake George from October 15-17, 2021 is a perfect time to commune with nature. Experience a hike, a bird or nature walk, a boat ride, canoeing, kayaking, foliage viewing, or relaxing on the porch overlooking the lake.
Note: Guidelines related to COVID safety and attendance at this event have been developed and will continue to be refined and updated in accordance with the status of the pandemic. To ensure the protection of attendees, all County, State and Silver Bay COVID guidelines will be followed, as they were during last year’s event. Final guidelines will be provided to all participants.
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Learn about submitting announcements to for Sunday service and how to reserve a Zoom room for meetings and events here.
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Quick Links
Denominational Affairs 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 Albany UU class or event
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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:
By appointment
Our Website:
Zoom use:
To reserve Zoom for an Albany UU meeting, contact the church office (518.463.7135 or office@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 Patience Pechette (518.463.7135 or office@albanyuu.org).
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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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