Greetings Friends,
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates.
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-Blessings and Be Well
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE at 10:00 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with a VIRTUAL 8:30 Meditation session until 9:20
VIRTUAL service begins at 10:00 each Sunday
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Multiplatform Services Begin Sunday, Feb 27
For more information about how our multiplatform services will look, check out our website. In summary, we will return to the same protocols that were in place before the return to all-virtual services in late December 2021. Masks will be required and limited seating available. These protocols will remain in place through all of March 2022.
The CDC and UUA guidelines for masking, distancing and other basic precautions have not changed - yet.
Your Covid Response Team will reconvene on April 1 to reassess and make any updates to protocols based on science and guidance.
Thank you for your patience.
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Feb 20 “Homemade by the River” with Matt Meyer
What architects, masons, and the sound of water can teach us about crafting a home by hand. And what rivers remind us about living a life in motion and movement.
Matt is a musician and worship leader who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and serves as Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston.
Music: Matt Meyer
Use this link to join the service:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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Feb 27 "We Need One Another" with
Rev. Dr. Lynn Ashley
Ordained many years ago at Albany UU, The Rev. Dr. Lynn Ashley is a retired minister and long time friend of the congregation.
Music: Al De Salvo
Use this link to join Sunday service
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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.
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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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Sunday, 2/20: All are encouraged to attend service, which will be presented by Matt Meyer.
Saturday, 2/26: Join us for an online workshop from 1-3 PM centered on the religious education community's anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural and implicit bias work. This workshop is facilitated by Sheila Schuh from First Unitarian of Rochester with interim consultant Michele Townsend Grove serving as support. Everyone is invited, particularly guides, volunteers, and parents/caregivers. Register here!
Sunday 2/27: RE groups will be back in the building, following the same COVID-19 protocols as before- please wear a mask, give the people around you some space, sign in when you arrive at the building, and no food or drinks. We can't wait to see you!
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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
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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Help us welcome Adrian Cattell as Albany UU's Lead Youth Advisor!
Adrian will be working with Albany UU Youth (grades 9-12) 10 hours per week from September thru early June.
Adrian, 26, is an avid reader, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. He is passionate about the environment, enjoys traveling, playing games, and meeting new people. When the weather is warm you can find him cycling around town! Adrian graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, and is a lifelong UU. He also has a small dog named Minerva.
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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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Finance Team will be meeting Today, Thursday, Feb 17 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
Start your Sunday Morning with 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.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
The Green Sanctuary Team will meet at 11:30 AM. Please join us using the following link:
Join Zoom Meeting
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
Bridge will NOT be meeting on Tuesday, Feb 22.
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
Finance Team will be meeting Tuesday, Feb 22 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
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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.
Feb 23
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
Workshop centered on the Religious Education community's anti-racism work
Join us for an online workshop on Saturday, Feb 26 from 1-3 PM centered on the religious education community's anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural and implicit bias work. This workshop is facilitated by Sheila Schuh from First Unitarian of Rochester with interim consultant Michele Townsend Grove serving as support. Everyone is invited, particularly guides, volunteers, and parents/caregivers. Register here!
Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, March 3, 6:30 PM - NOTE: the meeting date has been changed from Feb 24
Board meetings are open to all Albany UU members.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 988 1049 6531
Passcode: 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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Thank you all for your support of the milk jug collection for The Vegetable Project! We collected quite a few and Bill Stoneman was very appreciative of our help. The jugs have been picked up and we won't be gathering any more at this time.
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
February Vacations
Your Church Administrator, Acting Director of Religious Education and Board President will all be on vacation the week of February 21.
During this time - for Board related issues, contact VP Jan McCracken and for Ministry and Operations issues, contact Peggy Sherman
Wednesday, 2-6PM
Thursday and Friday, 8-4PM each day
For regular church business, please contact Patience during her hours at the church: 518.463.7135
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.
Warmth for those who are Homeless
Please gather blankets, sleeping bags, warm coats, etc. for those experiencing homelessness and put them in the bin in the coatroom. Church office hours are generally Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 8-4 - BUT it's always a good idea to call first: 518.463.7135.Thanks for helping folks to keep warm.
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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What Happens to Middle School Kids When You Teach Them About Slavery?
Podcast on racism with Etan Thomas, former basketball star
Thomas talks about his book, “Police Brutality and White Supremacy: The Fight Against American Traditions,” and his personal experience with discrimination and difficult conversations with other athletes, the police and the media.
Clearwaterpresents: A Discussion with Black Environmental Industry Professionals
Thursday, February 24, 6:30 - 7:45
"In this virtual webinar, we are thrilled to provide the space led by and for Black environmental professionals to share their work and amplify the visibility of the Black community in the environment to the next generation. Our incredible panelists will be joining us from throughout NYC and the Hudson Valley and will be sharing their professional journeys across the environmental field, from education, to research, to development and communications."
At The River I Stand
Thursday, February 24, 6 - 8 PM
Christ Church Troy United Methodist will be showing this documentary about the historic 1968 Sanitation Worker's Strike in Memphis, TN and the final days of Martin Luther King. After the movie, there will be a discussion about building a movement for civil and workers' rights today. To attend in person: RSVP at memanatian@cdalf.org
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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
Green Sanctuary Forum
The Climate Peril – A Weatherman’s Perspective
Presented by Hugh Johnson, a retired National Weather Service meteorologist and friend of Albany UU.
Hugh says, “We are on “borrowed” time unless we change.”
Monday, Feb 28, 7:00 PM at Albany Unitarian Universalist, 405 Washington Ave. Albany, NY and on zoom:
Envisioning a World Beyond Plastics - Tuesday, March 1, 7:00-8:30 PM
As part of the campus Leading Questions series, Dr. Erin Bell will interview Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator, highlighting her work in environmental advocacy. Ms. Enck was appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by President Barack Obama and was its longest serving Region 2 Regional Administrator. She is a Senior Fellow and Visiting Faculty member at Bennington College and founder of Beyond Plastic, an initiative that raises awareness about the environmental and health impacts of the production and disposal of plastic. This event is aligned with the University Global Coalition, SDG Week, raising awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on SDG 12, Sustainable Production and Consumption and SDG 15, Life on Land.
Register to attend this event virtually using this link or attend the watch party in Lecture Center 24. Questions can be directed to gogreen@albany.edu
The Inclusivity Team recommends the following book:
For all:
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (2019).
"This poem is a love letter to Black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present." ~from the back cover. This book is a winner in 2020 of the Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, and it is a Newbery Honor Book. Available in hard copy from the Upper Hudson Library System. Available from the NLS in braille.
To watch and hear a 3-minute video of the book being read aloud, click here:
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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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