Greetings Friends,
Good morning everyone and welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. I apologize that this did not drop into your inboxes yesterday at 4:00 PM when I set it up to go. I do not have an explanation for this but here it is for you now! What an interesting week it's been!
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-Blessings and Be Well
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MULTIPLATFORM SUNDAY SERVICE
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SUNDAY SERVICE at 10:00 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with a VIRTUAL 8:30 Meditation session until 9:20
MULTIPLATFORM service begins at 10:00 each Sunday
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Masks are required and distanced seating available.
These protocols will remain in place on Sundays for March 2022.
Your Covid Response Team will reconvene on March 29 to reassess and make any updates to protocols based on science and guidance.
Thank you for your patience.
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March 6 “Line, Circle, Spiral” with Dr. Michele Townsend Grove
Learning is at the heart of our lives and our UU community and we experience this life and community in different ways.
- Sometimes we travel in a straight line
- Sometimes we travel in circles
- Sometimes we travel in a spiral
Michele Townsend Grove will join the worship team and religious education coordinator Elizabeth Baldes in a worship service that explores this congregation’s journey in understanding its past, present and future lifespan learning identity. This journey is a straight line, a circle and a spiral. And sometimes, this journey is a roller coaster ride! And each of you is a part of this journey.
Music: AUU and Catskill Joint Virtual, Choir, Randy Rosette, Elena Karpoff
Use this link to join the service remotely:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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MARCH MULTIPLATFORM
SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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March 13 "The Voices in my Head" with
Erik F. vonHausen
One of the sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration is: Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love. These are the prophets who continually whisper to me.
Erik F. vonHausen is a member of this congregation involved in Wellspring as a facilitator and as a Pastoral Care Associate. He continues to attempt to live his best life with his husband Todd and is always available to talk to anyone who needs and ear to listen.
Music: TBA
March 20 “The Kirk’s Alarm” with
The Rev. Stan Sears
As a bagpiper, one of my surprises during graduate school was stumbling upon a book on Scottish Unitarianism, and discovering a chapter on "Robert Burns and the Ayrshire Heretics." Throughout my ministerial career, I have preached a sermon on Burns or one of his poems almost every year. This one is based on "The Kirk's Alarm," if you would like to read ahead. The Wisdom Story will be a lesson in how a bagpipe actually works.
The Rev. Dr. Stan Sears is a retired UU minister who holds degrees from the University of South Carolina, the University of Chicago, and Meadville/Lombard Theological School. He has served congregations in California, British Columbia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York State, and Vermont. He is in the process of moving to Ottawa, Ontario where, after 14 years of a commuting relationship, he and his wife, Carolyn Christie, retired Second Flute in the Montreal Symphony and professor at McGill, will finally consolidate into one home.
Music: Elena Karpoff
March 27 This I Believe
This is the Sunday Service when we hear from members of the congregation who will share their own personal religious perspective. Our presenters this year we will be Sarah Hickman (she/her), Molly Daniels, and Fred Eames. This has been a perennially popular service. We appreciate our presenters' willingness to participate this year and look forward to hearing from them.
Music: Randy Rosette
Use this link to join Sunday service
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Sunday Offering and other
service information
Brighten up Community Hall with a
flower donation!
There are plenty of open Sundays waiting for your dedication. Contact the office or Sandy Stone (dsalbany@nycap.rr.com) if you would like to see flowers at our Sunday service.
Sharing Joys and Concerns during Service
Need to Talk? Albany UU Pastoral Care Associates are here to listen!
Archives
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR
CHILDREN and YOUTH
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It was wonderful to see some familiar faces this past Sunday as we returned to the church building for service and RE groups. This coming Sunday, 3/6, there will be no RE groups so that everyone in the RE community can attend the service presented by our Interim RE Consultant Michele Grove. This service will be the culmination of her work with us, and soon the Board of Trustees, Religious Education Council, and Religious Education staff will begin working through her report and recommendations to ensure we are providing the best possible Religious Education Program for Albany UU.
Service will be live in Community Hall, or you can choose to attend via Zoom. Info and link is below.
March 6 “Line, Circle, Spiral” with Dr. Michele Townsend Grove
Learning is at the heart of our lives and our UU community and we experience this life and community in different ways.
- Sometimes we travel in a straight line
- Sometimes we travel in circles
- Sometimes we travel in a spiral
Michele Townsend Grove will join the worship team and religious education coordinator Elizabeth Baldes in a worship service that explores this congregation’s journey in understanding its past, present and future lifespan learning identity. This journey is a straight line, a circle and a spiral. And sometimes, this journey is a roller coaster ride! And each of you is a part of this journey.
Use this link to join the service remotely:
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Call for Nominations
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Are you looking for a way to be more involved in the Albany UU community? The Nominating Committee is issuing a call for nominations for the following positions to be elected at the Annual Meeting in May 2022. These positions offer members of our community an opportunity to shape our collective future and ensure our congregation’s strength through service to Albany UU.
Position Term
President Two years
Vice President Two years
Treasurer One year
Secretary One year
Assistant Treasurer Two years
Trustee Two positions, each for two years
Nominating Committee Three positions, each for two years
Endowment Trust One position for five years
Requirements for Elected Positions
Any person holding an elected position must be an active member of Albany UU for at least 30 days prior to being elected and must not have a pledge in arrears. Candidates for the Endowment Trust must be members for at least 3 years.
Nomination Procedure
Society members may contact anyone on the Nominating Committee to let them know of their interest in serving or to suggest someone else you feel would be qualified. To express interest or if you have questions, please contact any of the Nominating Committee members: Liz Richards, Kelly Smith, Rick Piet, Randy Rosette, Elizabeth Berberian or Todd Thomas (tsthom61@gmail.com).
To learn about the responsibilities of each position, go to AlbanyUU.org, choose Resources | Church Office | File Cabinet. Under Governance you will see Elected Office Job Descriptions. Any Nominating Committee member can also send a position description to you.
The Nominating Committee hopes that you will consider stepping forward into a leadership position by contacting a Committee member or, if asked, responding with a “Yes, I will serve!”
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Music Director
The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany (Albany UU) is currently seeking a dynamic and creative part-time Music Director for 20 hours per week for 44 weeks annually. The position starts on April 11, 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter. With over 325 members, Albany UU is a vibrant, theologically diverse Welcoming Congregation committed to social justice, inclusivity, and a spirit of community. The candidate should enjoy working collaboratively in a supportive environment and be enthusiastic about employing a broad range of musical genres, including UU repertoire.
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UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
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Board of Trustees Meeting
Tonight, March 3, 6:30 PM - NOTE: the meeting has been rescheduled from Feb 24
Use this link to join (this is NOT the regular service link):
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 988 1049 6531
Passcode: 0000
Start your Sunday Morning with VIRTUAL Meditation
8:30 - 9:15 AM
We will sit together virtually for twenty minutes then have some conversation about the talk, meditation methods or experiences followed by a live loving kindness meditation. Note: Meditation will remain virtual only through March.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Philosophy Group
At 10:15 AM every Tuesday, the Albany UU Philosophy Group will meet via zoom to discuss the topic of the day, which on this Tuesday, will be American foreign policy in crisis. 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.
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Ps and Qs
At 10:00 AM on Wednesday, Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will meet.
Use this link to join remotely:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Albany UU Sings
Join your friends on the following Wednesdays for the rest of the service year at 7:00 PM and sing your heart out in Virtual Community! We will supply the music and the lyrics.
Hope to see you there.
Mar 9, 23
Apr 13, 27
May 11, 25
June 8
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000
Finance Team will be meeting Thursday, Mar 10 at 4 PM. Albany UU members are welcome to attend.
Use the service link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, March 13, 6:30 pm. Join at 6:15 for additional time to socialize. We will discuss William Kent Krueger’s novel Ordinary Grace. Learn more here.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Upcoming Staff Name Change
Hello friends, your friendly Church Administrator here. As many of you are aware, I'm in the middle of an unexpected and unpleasant divorce. What you may not know, is that one hurdle has been cleared in the process. While this is far from over for the kids and I, among other things, I'm legally free to use whatever name I choose. This means that I will be dropping the "Hathaway" part of my last name and using only "Goddard". This process will take some time and after 22 years of marriage, I guess that's to be expected. I will likely miss some things along the way but with your help and patience, I'll try to make it as painless as possible. With this comes new beginnings and even though this was not at all where I thought my life was headed, I'm truly excited to see where it goes. I cannot adequately express my eternal gratitude for the love, support, care and grace of this church community. I can only hope that when the time comes to pay it forward, I'm up to the task.
Much Love.
Tammy Goddard, Albany UU Church Administrator
Supporting Ukraine
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has condemned the Russian war in Ukraine and lists some organizations that are responding. Here are some ways you can donate to help:
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The International Rescue Committee is working with local partners in Poland and Ukraine to help displaced families: www.rescue.org
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HIAS is working with partners in the Ukraine to help the displaced: hias.org
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The Hungarian Helsinki Committee is helping people fleeing from Ukraine with legal assistance: helsinki.hu/en/
Girl Scout Cookies
It's time again to order your Girl Scout cookies! And what better way than to support the Girl Scouts in our church. Here are your options:
For Zora Solot Miller
For Eliza and Flora Akins and Julia Lesniak use the one link below (they are all in the same troop)
Do you enjoy the flowers that you see every Sunday at the service?
Thanks to those who have stepped up to donate. Your flower committee really enjoys doing the arrangements for you. However, we could use a few more folks to help make the donations a reality. If you enjoy flowers, that's all you need! We have plenty of vases in church for you to use and those currently on the committee are ready and willing to help you get started. Please contact Sandy Stone (Flower Chairperson) at dsalbany@nycap.rr.com, or 518-489-8293
Young Peacemakers Week 2022
Join Albany Friends Meeting (Quakers) for Young Peacemakers Week (YPW), for children in grades 2 through 8, at the Friends Meetinghouse, 727 Madison Ave, Albany, from August 22 to 26, 1:30-5:30 each day.
Registration opens on March 1. Volunteers and paid staff are needed. Learn more here.
Items that may be of interest to Albany UUs
The Homestay/OvECS Program, whereby International students attending short-term specialty programs at UAlbany are looking to stay with host families in the community. This is a compensated program that pays $700 per month, per student. Each student needs to have their own bedroom with a desk, but the bathroom can be shared. It is expected that breakfast and dinner are provided. For more information, visit: www.azhomestay.com
Blood Drive - March 8
Place:
Millionaire Building
Albany Airport
16 Jetway Drive
Albany, NY 12211
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SOCIAL ACTION and INCLUSIVITY
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BLM Vigil in Troy - Left to right are:
Elizabeth Berberian, Karen Kaufman, Jean Poppei, Deborah Vogel, Jora Cohen, Jean Bolgatz, Mitch Cohen, Sam Trumbore, and Marty Hotvet. Present at the vigil but absent from the photo are: Archie, Chuck Manning, and Anne Marie Haber.
Photo: courtesy of Anne Marie Haber
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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
The Inclusivity Team recommends the following book:
For children and all:
Stacey's Extraordinary Words, by Stacey Abrams and illustrated by Kitt Thomas. (2021). Stacey tells us, from a child's perspective, what it's like to try, to fail, and to continue on. This is a real-life story of disappointment and resilience. Our children's bravery, stubbornness, and incorrigibility are qualities to be guided and molded. Available in the Upper Hudson Library System in hardcopy and downloadable e- and audio-book formats. Available from the NLS in sound recording format.
Click here to see and hear Stacey Abrams read her book aloud, in this 9-minute video:
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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 |
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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