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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October 20, “Whose Are You?” Leah Purcell
We all know that belonging is not just about place, but people as well. Quaker teacher, Douglas Steer gets at this beautifully: “The ancient question, ‘Who am I?’ inevitably leads to a deeper one: ‘Whose am I?’ – because there is no identity outside of relationship. You cannot be a person by yourself. To ask “Whose am I” is to extend the question and wonder…”
This service for all ages is much like our regular services but more interactive, and with a shorter sermon. There will be no Sunday school classes however there will be childcare for younger children, ages 7 and under, after the story in the service.
Music:
Musician- Ann Brandon, organ
NOTE: This service will be in our Sanctuary at 10:00 AM and Mindfulness Meditation will be in Room B-8 at 9:00 AM.
HYMN 38:
Morning Has Broken
HYMN 40:
The Morning Hangs a Signal
HYMN 188:
How Could Anyone
HYMN 123:
Spirit of Life
HYMN 348:
Guide My Feet
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SUNDAY SERVICES
10:00 am
October 27, “Wheel of Life Service:
A Jack-o-lantern’s Heart”
Each year, when some religious traditions believe the veil is thin between the worlds of the living and dead, we honor major life transitions. Please bring a picture, memento or object that remembers a birth, a life transition such as gender identity, maturity, graduation, marriage, employment, ability changes, retirement, loss or death. We will collect them on an altar for recognition and appreciation during our service. The theme of the service this year will be guided by Peter Mayer’s song “John’s Garden” which illustrates the wheel of life through the spiritual journey of some little pumpkins.
Music:
Choir, Choir Director- Chris Jensen, Musician- Ann Brandon, piano; Guest Musician-- John Sherman, guitar
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Annual Evacuation Drill a Success!
Our Evacuation Drill last Sunday was a great success! A big thank you to Dave Metz, Dave Stone and Seth Edelman for coordinating the drill and ensuring all went off without a hitch. Another big thank you to Elizabeth Baldes for ensuring our children's safety. The drill was completed in only three minutes! Nicely done, everyone!
Training and Practice Group for Nonviolent Communication
Two different options! (Sign up for either Session 1 or 2)
Session 1:
Thursdays, Oct. 24 and 31, Nov. 7, 14 and 21, and Dec. 5,
6:30-8:30 pm
(sign up by Oct. 2
1) OR
Session 2:
Thursdays, Nov. 7, 14 and 21, Dec. 5 and 12, 12:30-2:30 pm (
sign up by Oct. 28
)
This training and practice group will offer an environment of mutual learning and support in the practice of nonviolent communication.
To register: send an email to registration@albanyuu.org with subject line: NVC Training & Practice Group Registration. Include in the body, which session
number, cell phone number and email address.
For more information contact Philomena Moriarty: philmor@nycap.rr.com or
518-788-7007.
Unleash Your Creativity!
Would you like to display your creative talents by donating a hand crafted item(s) to Albany UU’s Dec. 8 Holiday Bazaar? We are looking for items that would make great small gifts, stocking stuffers, tree ornaments, pet toys or whatever you enjoy making. For more information, please contact Sigrin Newell at 518-439-6705 or
sigrin.newell@gmail.com
.
Understudy Needed
If you like to observe and record during a fast-paced event, we have just the one night volunteer job for you! The Auction Committee needs a person willing to learn the task of recording bids during the live auction on next March 21st. You would learn the ropes from our expert recorder, Kathy Harris.
Warmth for the Homeless
It is time again to gather blankets, sleeping bags, warm coats, etc. for those experiencing homelessness. Please put them in the bin in the coatroom. Thanks you!
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Sunday Schedule
9:00 AM
- Mindfulness Meditation, Room B-8
9:45 AM
- Nursery/Toddler Rooms open
10:00 AM
- Service, Sanctuary
11:00 AM
- Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
Quick Links
Denominational Affairs Links
Helpful Local 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.
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.
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Albany UU will again be collecting for Day of Simple Giving sponsored by Grassroots Givers.
This year, we're being asked to provide
dish washing detergent.
Day of Simple Giving is a community service celebration, on
Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 am-1 pm
at St. Sophia's Greek Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, where 300 volunteers, from preschoolers to seniors work side by side assembling over $30,000 worth of practical gifts and holiday treats for neighbors in need.
To volunteer your time on Nov. 16, RSVP to
info@grassrootgivers.org
or (518) 599-5157. To donate dish washing detergent, bring it to Albany UU and put it in the marked bin in the coatroom. Thank you.
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UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
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Transforming Hearts: Transgender Inclusion in Congregations
Led by Rev. Sam Trumbore and Dan Miyake
Begins Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7:00pm (continues 11/5 & 19, 12/3 & 17, 1/14) -
There's still time to sign up!
This course is for those who want to increase their knowledge and skills to help our congregation become fully inclusive and affirming of the full breadth of gender diversity. Over six sessions we will deeply explore the intersection of trans identity, spirituality, and faith community to gain the grounding, context, and skills for this transformative work.
This course is for everyone
from novices on trans identity to those with decades of life experience. Rather than simply offering a “trans 101,” this class pushes participants to the next level of congregational welcome, relationship-building, and skills-building. It counters mainstream narratives about who trans people are; supports understanding of non-binary identities (such as genderqueer, agender, and two spirit); and employs a deeply intersectional approach.
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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.
Please join us in lighting candles of joy for members:
Nancy Willie-Schiff
, whose fourth granddaughter, adorable Ayelet Tavi Null, was born in Manhattan in August to her daughter Mara and her husband Janes Null.
Phil Rich
, who is happy to be going back to his Alma Mater, Alfred University, to work on program development: Bringing Out My Gifts and Abilities.
Barb Manning,
who would like to thank everyone for all of the love and support that she and Chuck received since Barb's time in the hospital.
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: Sharon Babala, Chuck Manning, Donna Meixner, Dan Miyake, Phil Rich, Randy Rosette, Dee VanRiper and Erick F. vonHausen.
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.
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Fall Garden Clean-up: All gardeners welcome - UPDATE!
Garden Committee Fall Clean-up will now be
Thursday Oct. 24, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
. Learn more
here
.
Community Breakfast
This
Saturday, Oct. 19
. Volunteers are always needed to make this a good experience for our neighbors and community members. Contact Carol Butt for more details:
518-439-6629 or
catzen1944@gmail.com
Inclusivity Team Recommends
The Inclusivity Team invites you to attend “Monumental”: an evening with Dr. Wes Bellamy - a discussion on race, equity and life in Charlottesville, VA,
Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30pm
, Metropolitan New Testament Mission Baptist Church, 105 Second St., Albany. Learn more
here.
Election Day apple peeling and pie assembly
Do you love those delicious homemade pies that are sold during coffee hour each year for the holidays? Would you like to help make them?
Join us Tuesday, Nov. 5, 9:00 to noon in Channing Hall.
Learn more
here
.
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion this
Sunday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 pm
in Channing Hall. We will discuss
A Woman is No Man
by Etaf Rum. Learn more
here
.
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
For the Faith Development of children and youth this Sunday
Once in a while we get try out new things on Sunday mornings. That's just what Leah Purcell will be doing for the all-ages service
this Sunday, Oct 20
. The topic, in keeping with our monthly theme of Belonging, is “Whose are you?” You cannot be a person by yourself; identity is part of relationship.
This service will be a small trial of the “first hour” of the Sunday morning
"Two Hour Model"
, which Leah learned about while on sabbatical last spring. The service is for children, youth and adults and will look much like our regular services, but more interactive, and with a slightly shorter sermon. We’ll meet in the Sanctuary and Ann Brandon will play the organ.
Still, younger children may not enjoy the whole service. So, two of our teens are providing childcare upstairs in Room 24/25 for younger children (about age 7 and younger)
after the story in the service
. Or younger children can stay in the service with their parents/caretakers along with the older children. And it's fine for them to go to childcare any time after the story, if they get "antsy".
Leah hopes those of you who won't be at UU Weekend at Silver Bay will come try this out. We’ll have about 15-30 minutes after the service for anyone who would care to stay and chat with Leah about what they thought of the style of this service; more about the "Two Hour Model" and how we could tweak it to work at Albany UU.
This Sunday, the nursery/toddler room opens at 9:45, as usual.
There is no Sunday school this week.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair,
email
SRC Recommends:
Whitwashed
, The Racism Project play Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 PM
, YWCA, 21 First St., Troy. Whitewashed is an original documentary theater performance, based on Black history, current events, and the personal experiences of the cast, which includes Shirey Archie, Royal Brown, D. Colin, Diaka Kaba Hill, Sakea Martin, Tim Martin, and Aaron Moore.
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice - Save the Date: Conversation Sabbath.
On November 3, Albany UU will join
hundreds of congregations taking part in Conversation Sabbath, sponsored by The Conversation Project, an organization founded by former Boston Globe columnist Ellen Goodman. Our Sunday service will reflect UU thinking about end of life issues and inspire you to have “the conversation” with your loved ones and your doctor(s) about your wishes for living well until the end, to make sure they are known and honored. Rev. Sam says,
“We think that if we don’t talk about it, it won’t happen. The reality is that it always feels too soon to have the conversation--until it is too late.”
After the service, from 11:30-2:00, Bonnie Edelstein, founding director of Death with Dignity – Albany, will lead a free Conversation Workshop in Community Hall. The workshop will be open to the public and begin with a light lunch. As a workshop participant, you will prepare for having “the conversation” about what matters most to you, and leave with your notes in a workbook.
REGISTRATION:
To ensure adequate space, materials and child care, register by November 1
here
or at 518-463-7135.
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FALL GATHERING OF THE HUDSON- MOHAWK UU CONGREGATIONS
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Preemptive Radical Inclusion: Bear Witness, Save Lives
Fall Gathering of the Hudson Mohawk Cluster of UU Congregations with presenter CB Beal, M. Div, recipient of the UUA’s 2019 Angus MacLean Award for Excellence in Religious Education.
Saturday, October 26, 2019, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
, 1221 Wendell Ave., Schenectady.
Join other area UUs in Schenectady on
Saturday, October 26
, to learn and share new skills and strategies for strengthening and transforming our congregations as we increase equity and justice. We will reflect upon the complexity of privilege, marginalization, and oppression; notice and assess our own perspectives and invite new ones; bear witness to one another; deeply feel our responses, our wondering; and explore how we live out our commitment to justice in our congregational life. We will do this with worship, music, reflection, sharing and bearing witness, hula hoops and post-it notes, video and humor.
This workshop is appropriate for high-school-aged and older.
Childcare will be provided if requested by
Monday, Oct. 21.
Lunch will be provided with voluntary donations requested to cover the cost of this and our presenter’s expenses.
Same day registration is OK, but pre-registration is better!!
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Check out this crew of hikers!
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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!
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!
YOU can make a difference!
We at Albany UU are making an effort to increase our visibility and connectivity online. YOU can help, and it's quick and easy! Simply like, follow and share pages and posts on any of our social media platforms, or leave a positive Facebook or Google review. Google Albany UU or find us here:
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UNLIKELY PARTNERS FOR PEACE
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Monday, November 4
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Congregation Ohav Shalom
113 New Krumkill Road, Albany 12208
In the West Bank, Palestinians and Israelis live in separate universes without real human contact. Roots/Shorashim/Judur is changing that reality, fostering a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence and transformation.
Come hear firsthand the personal stories of Shadi Abu Awwad, a Palestinian activist, and Hanan Schlesinger, an Orthodox rabbi and passionate Zionist settler, who came together – with painful hope – to build dialogue and cooperation.
Questions: roots@albanyuu.org
Our speakers do not come with blueprinted peace plans in hand, but with the deep conviction that human understanding and trust are the prerequisites for lasting justice, freedom, and peace in the land they both call home. Come to learn and be inspired! In these times of increased polarization – nationally and internationally – we have much to learn about how to listen, to open our hearts and minds and support peace.
For more information about Roots visit www.Friendsofroots.net
This presentation is sponsored by the:
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany Nigel Wright Fund
and Congregation Ohav Shalom.
Supporters: Capital District Board of Rabbis
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Circle Dinners are a great way to get to know other UUs! Sign up now to get together with a small group around a dinner table for food and conversation. Everyone brings a dish to share.
These dinners will take place in the homes of Albany UUs on
Saturday, November 2 at 6 PM
, and hosts are needed.
Sign up by October 23
in Channing Hall or online
here
.
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Sheridan Prep Housing Update
One of the Sheridan Prep families we are working with will be moving into an apartment on
Saturday, Oct. 26.
The apartment needs cleaning and sprucing up. If you can help with moving or sprucing, contact Chuck Manning: chuckmanning@hotmail.com
Albany UU Music Update
As you all are aware, our Society is in the search process for a music director. This affords us an opportunity to take a fresh look at what we want in a music program. Therefore, the Board feels that it is important to take some time to reflect before hiring the next accompanist/choral director/music director. To that end, the Board has established a Music Assessment Team consisting of Lois Bailey, Zach Cunningham and David MacLeod. The Team's charge is to review the music program - past and present - and consider the possibilities going forward. We have reviewed input from the congregation in the form of the most recent survey and will be looking at other churches and UU congregations for "inspiration." Your feedback on what might make the program more vibrant, inclusive, and inviting is encouraged. Please send your comments to
musicassessmentteam@albanyuu.org
within the next couple of weeks. Thank you.
Albany UU Safety
Some of you have been inquiring about how we address safety concerns here at Albany UU. One of the ways we will begin is by keeping the West St. door locked on Sunday mornings and by locking the Washington Ave. lobby doors 15 minutes after service begins. Our Welcome Table volunteers would then remain in the Lobby for the duration of the morning. For our volunteers’ benefit, we will be installing a speaker in the Lobby so they will be able to hear the service while still maintaining watch on the doors. As soon as this speaker is installed, we will be implementing this new safety procedure. We appreciate your patience as we make this transition. If you have questions, please call the church office.
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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 (2nd)
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, Nov., Feb., May)
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)
6:30 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
).
Photo credit: Kathy Hodges
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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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