Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Here we are in a new decade. May it be a good one. 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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January 5, “Reflecting Backward, Planning Forward,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
As Albany UU starts a new decade, this is an important moment in our congregation’s and our planet’s future. A critical Presidential election happens this year that will affect the future of American democracy. Critical steps are needed now to mitigate the impact of climate change for the future of humanity. What congregational planning will serve the wellbeing of our members, our congregation, our country and our planet? Your participation is required to organize, shape and work for that future.
Music:
Elena Karpoff with Guest musician Joseph Benevento,
upright bass
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SUNDAY SERVICES
10:00 am
January 12, “Beloved Community,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a very big vision for a just, equitable and compassionate community that he called “Beloved Community.” This term is reverently used in Unitarian Universalist circles at our yearly General Assemblies. A deep understanding of and commitment to his vision in our congregations is less common today. It is worthy of both and may be very important to our visioning process.
Music:
Ann Brandon
January 19, "Listen to the Earth: Perspectives on the Planetary Crisis," Green Sanctuary Committee
In the year 2020, we are finding our species, and all species, far and deep in a planetary health crisis that has resulted from our bifurcation from the earth. Scientists like Eunice Newton Foote, who grew up in Troy, have known since the nineteenth century that there was a connection between carbon dioxide and global surface temperature. So how, in the face of loss, should we be? Join us as we listen to local environmentalists and we meditate on new ways to be in an age of loss.
Music:
Elena Karpoff
January 26,
"Driven by Fear," Rev.
David Weissbard
Like most things in this world, "Fear" is not something that we could do well without, but an excess is a problem. There are serious issues when our lives are "Driven by Fear," and there are forces we encounter that promote that. We'll be looking at where an appropriate balance lies.
Music:
Elena Karpoff
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jacket Switch-a-Roo!
Last Sunday, Dec. 29, if you picked up an Eddie Bauer size men's large, dark blue, stream-lined down-filled jacket by mistake and may be missing the same color and style Michael Kors women's size medium...please
contact Winston Hagborg!
Attention Committee Chairs
If your team, program or group needs funds in the next fiscal year, your request must be filed by
Sunday, Jan. 12.
Budget requests forms can be found
here in Word
and
here in PDF
.
Word is preferred.
For those who don't have Word on their computer, the free LibreOffice suite (
https://www.libreoffice.org
) provides a compatible substitute; it's available for both Windows and MacOS.
Contact Steve Moskowitz with questions: 518.439.6347 or budget-request@albanyuu.org.
We’re Sending Out HUUGS
(Huge UU Greetings)
We're gathering donations for packages for our fledgling young adults. Whether they are now working or volunteering, serving in the military or in college, those who have recently left our youth group so appreciate a package with notes and goodies from us at Albany UU!
Please bring donations to the bin in the Work Room
(where the photocopier is)
by Sunday, Feb 9.
Suggested items:
packets of soup, noodles, dried fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, candy, gum popcorn, granola bars, lip balm, a note with your good wishes.
Sexton Position STILL open!
The Sexton works on Sunday (4-6 hours) and Monday (4-6 hours, flexible days possible) and is responsible for Sunday morning operations and taking care of the church property.
Sunday tasks include preparation and clean up for the service, coffee hour, and other scheduled activities, and for taking care of the church property.
Maintenance entails responsibility for performing tasks on the monthly maintenance schedule, minor repairs and replacements, reporting larger repair and replacement needs, keeping the building tidy by returning items to storage locations, and yard work.
Read full job description
here
.
Pay: $15/hr.
Contact Church Administrator, Tammy Hathaway for more information or to express interest: 518.463.7135 or admin@albanyuu.org.
Plan now for GA in Providence in June 2020
Are you interested in serving as one of Albany UU’s 8 delegates to this annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association June 24-28? Or attending GA. for the first time, to see what it’s all about? Learn more
here
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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
- Family Chapel, Community Hall
- Programs for Children and Youth
11:00 AM
- Coffee Hour, Channing Hall
11:45 AM
- Rite of Passage, Room B-8
- Rev. Sam's 20 Anniversary Party, Community Hall
1:15 PM
- Auction Committee Meeting
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.
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 continue to appreciate your patience as we make this transition. If you have questions, please call the church office
.
Warmth for the Homeless
Please gather blankets, sleeping bags, warm coats, etc. for those experiencing homelessness and put them in the bin in the coatroom. Thanks you!
Planning for weather emergencies
In the event of severe weather, a decision to cancel Sunday morning RE classes will be publicized by 9:00 PM Saturday.
A decision to cancel Sunday meditation and the service will be publicized by 8:00 AM Sunday.
The cancellation of all other classes, programs and meetings depends on a decision by the chairperson. We hope to receive information enabling a cancellation announcement two hours before the event start time.
Notice of all cancellations will be posted on our website and Facebook and by email sent through Constant Contact. Sunday service and programs will also be announced on local TV and radio stations through the “School Closing Network”.
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Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
led by Rev. Sam Trumbore
January 3-4, 2020
There is still time to sign up for this workshop. Send and email to minister@albanyuu.org.
This meditation training and practice workshop will be led by Rev. Trumbore, 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. All are welcome from first timers to experts. There will be a vegan potluck lunch on Saturday and all are encouraged to bring something to share. Please register with the office (call 463-7135) if you would like to participate. (A voluntary donation can be offered at the end to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund for charitable purposes)
Rev. Trumbore has practiced Buddhist
Vipassana
or insight meditation for over 35 years and is Past President of the Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship. This meditation technique is one of the best for Unitarian Universalists. It helps people train their minds to strengthen concentration and intensify moment-to-moment awareness. Regular practice of this technique quiets and sharpens the mind, opens the heart and can improve one's physical and mental health.
Rev. Trumbore Away January 15 through February 19
Philomena Moriarty has planned a dream trip to celebrate reaching her full retirement age as defined by the Social Security Administration. She will be traveling with Rev. Sam to Australia for a week and three weeks in New Zealand. While he is away, our Intern Dan Miyake will be covering necessary pastoral services and filling in as necessary for him. We have a great series of services planned in Rev. Sam's absence. He will also be checking in with Dan regularly and available by cell phone and text (note that the time zones are very different +18 hours to New Zealand and +16 hours in Australia!). (Rev. Sam plans to make up this time in July and August when he is normally on vacation & study leave.)
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ALBANY UU PILLAR CHALLENGE
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Pillar Fund Update – LAST CHANCE TO DONATE
Thank you to all of the members and friends who have contributed to the Pillar Fund so far. We have raised over $24,000. This is the last reminder we will be sending out. This Sunday the campaign will be ending. If you want to participate and have your name recorded on the plaque that will be installed in the Sanctuary lobby, please make your contribution this week. Hopefully, we will exceed our goal.
Thank you for your support.
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CELEBRATE SAM'S 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
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Join us in a joyful celebration of Rev. Sam's 20 years of ministry at Albany UU with a catered luncheon and other festivities after Sunday service from
11:45 to 1:30 on January 5, 2020
in Community Hall.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend by emailing
office@albanyuu.org
so we'll be sure to have enough food.
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JOIN THE ALBANY UU WORLD CAF
É
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World Café: Visioning for our Future
Sunday, January 12, 11:45 – 1:45
The Board of Trustees is hosting a World Café to facilitate a dialogue among the congregation on creating a vision for our future, and you’re invited and encouraged to attend. As we’ve highlighted at different junctures, the Board’s foundational role under the new governance model is to discern the congregation’s mission and vision. Also as previously highlighted, your participation in that discernment is essential, and the Board is committed to exploring ways to get feedback and input from the congregation on an ongoing basis. The first of these is the World Café we’re hosting in January.
The World Café methodology is a simple and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue, based on seven design principles:
1.
Set the Context
2.
Create Hospitable Space
3.
Explore Questions that Matter
4.
Encourage Everyone’s Contribution
5.
Connect Diverse Perspective
6.
Listen Together for Patterns and Insights
7.
Share Collective Discoveries
Small groups of participants will engage in rounds of conversations centered on specific questions. At the end of the first round, each participant moves to a different table to engage in another question. After a couple more repetitions, we will participate in a full group session to share insights and synthesize results.
Please join us for this exciting opportunity to engage in an energetic and focused dialogue with the congregation. The fuller the participation, the better. We look forward to seeing you there!
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What Does It Mean To Be
A People of Integrity?
My Soul Matters colleague, Katy Covie explains how children use experimentation to figure out what’s right and wrong. How many of us working with young children have seen 3 year-olds try out biting, to strong feedback from the victim and adults? They learn immediately that biting is not acceptable. Think about all the times you tested as a child or youth – lying to gain praise, shoplifting.
Katy quotes C.S. Lewis explanation of integrity “Doing the right thing when no one is watching.” Most of us growing up tried out doing the wrong thing, hoping no one was watching. None of us were extraordinarily bad - just curious and a bit creative.
And that’s the spirit our Soul Matters partners and I hope pervades your experience this month: curiosity and creativity. Katy explains that too often integrity is framed in terms of good and bad people, of people knowing what’s right and either following or ignoring it. But we know that it’s more complicated than that. Doing “the right thing” is rarely clearly cut. Every situation is different, and complicated. So it requires curiosity and creativity to sort it out. Maybe what our children need most is adults who talk with them about “the adventure of integrity” more than “adherence to integrity.”
Katie suggests that in addition to curiosity and creativity, we can use honesty and self-examination is part of your journey this month. For instance, we Religious Professionals are learning about truths we wish didn’t exist but need to be remembered. Many of us usually crow about all the Unitarians and Universalists in our history and how they changed the world. Well, Millard Fillmore, 13th U.S. President and Unitarian, has a birthday this month. He is known for being the President who signed the Fugitive Slave Act into being and “
had no problem allying with rabid bigots” just before the Civil War. It’s a reminder that integrity requires admitting our imperfection and being much more humble - and maybe accountable for - our history.
This month we hope that you connect with “the adventure of integrity.” When we take the path of curiosity or honesty, there is deep joy in re-connecting with your deepest and truest selves. May that joy be yours as we travel through this month and start the New Year!
In joyful service,
Leah
More from our blogs:
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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.
Join us in keeping our members and friends in your thoughts as they share their joys and concerns.
Member, Chris Bystroff would like to share that his mother, Sally Ann Bystroff died Dec 22, 2019 at the age of 87. She was a presbyterian minister and an activist for juvenile justice. Cards may be sent to Chris at:
35 Pinewoods Ave., Troy, NY 12180
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 Erik 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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Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a potluck and discussion on
Sunday, Jan. 12 at 5:30 pm
in Channing Hall. We will discuss
The Awakening
by Kate Chopin. Learn more
here
.
Circle Dinners
Join the first Circle Dinner of the New Year on Saturday,
January 18 at 6 PM
! Circle Dinners are opportunities to share good food and conversation with a small group in a relaxed setting.
Sign up online
by this Sunday, Jan. 5
. Learn more
here
.
Get Connected Activity Fair
Attend the Albany UU Get Connected Activity Fair on Sunday, January 26 and find out about new opportunities to both get involved and meet more fabulous Albany UU members and friends! Learn more
here
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
For the Faith Development of children and youth this Sunday
The Nursery/Toddler Room
opens at 9:45
January Jams
for children in Pre-K through 6th Grade:
In January, every week we have Family Chapel; then we'll have two sets of workshops: one set for the upstairs groups (Pre-K - 3rd grade) and one set for the downstairs groups (4th - 6th grade). This week Family Chapel is in Community Hall.
Here's how the schedule will look each week of January for grades Pre-K through 6th Grade:
-10:00 - 10:30 Family Chapel
-10:30 - 10:40 Combined Groups meet (upstairs groups in Room 24/25; downstairs groups in room in Room B-7) Guides will let the children know what the choices for workshops are for the day.
-10:40 - 11:10 Workshops: Upstairs Groups have workshops in upstairs Rooms 24/25, 26 and 21; Downstairs groups have workshops in downstairs Rooms B-5, B-6, B-7, and B-2
-11:10 - 11:20 Children return to the room they started in for snack (Room 24/25 upstairs; Room/B-7 downstairs)
7th/8th Grade OWL
meets from 10:00 to 11:20 in Room B-3/4 The workshop Jan 5 is #12 Healthy Relationships
High School YoUUth Group
meets from 10:00 to 11:20 in Room B-8
Save these dates:
Fri, Feb 7
– Multigenerational Pot Luck and Game Night, sponsored by the RE Council
Sat, Feb 8
– Elegant Pasta Dinner to support the Rite of Passage spring trip
Fri, Feb 28- Sun, March 1
–
Youth Con
. Our youth group is hosting up to 60 UU Youth from Upstate New York to stay in our building for a weekend of UU Youth workshop, workshops and fun. We’ll need adult volunteers from Albany UU to work together to prepare meals and run the dishwasher and to serve in pairs for 3-4-hour shifts as awake chaperons Fri and Night from 11:00 pm to 8:00 am. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Leah:
dre@albanyuu.org.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COUNCIL (SRC)
-Matt Lesniak, SRC Chair,
email
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
Send a note to Governor Cuomo
to thank him for his support and ask him to make passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act a priority in 2020. You can do this by clicking the link
here
. The goal is to send 1,000 messages, so send the link to family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues and ask them to reach out to the Governor too.
Come to the Capitol on January 8 and 9 to mix and mingle
with lawmakers in a series of welcome receptions as they return for the 2020 legislative session. Contact Amanda Cavanaugh at
acavanaugh@compassionandchoices.org
for details.
Peace Team Recommends:
Interfaith Vigil: United Together in Faith Against Hate and Intolerance
7:00 pm, Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Ave, Schenectady
We will be joining leaders of the interfaith community to unite together as a community of faith to express our unity against hatred and intolerance. Please join all of us for this important interfaith vigil.
Be a part of a discussion to respond to India's citizenship law effecting Muslims
.
6:00 PM January 12 at the Masjid As-Salam, 280 Central Ave, Albany. C
oncerned UUs are invited. Men and women meet together, but leaving shoes at the door is expected. Please consider supporting our neighbors.
Contact Ed Hancock
with questions or to request more information regarding the Interfaith Vigil or the discussion in response to India's citizenship law.
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Understudy Needed
If you like to observe and record during a past-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 next March 21st. You would learn the ropes from our expert, Kathy Harris. Please contact Chair, Randy Rosette at rosette_jensen@juno.com or 518-783-2637 for more details.
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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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)
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)
Saturdays
9:00 AM Community Breakfast (3rd)
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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 (promise of spring!)
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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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