Greetings Friends,
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates.
You may be seeing a "clipped" version of this. To view this entire newsletter, be sure to scroll down to the "See entire message" link and click that. To change the view and make it larger and easier to read, click on the three vertical dots on the upper right of your page to the right of your profile avatar. In the dropdown box, you'll see "zoom" and you can click the "plus sign" as many times as you like to make it as large as is comfortable for you.
If this email was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive it directly, please
-Blessings and Be Well
|
|
MULTIPLATFORM SUNDAY SERVICE
|
|
SUNDAY SERVICE at 10:00 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with an 8:30 Multiplatform (both in-person and via Zoom) Meditation session until 9:20
Multiplatform service begins at 10:00 each Sunday
******************
Masks are required
|
|
June 19 “Woven In A Single Garment of Destiny”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. often spoke of how we are all part of “an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” These words offer a powerful image of something fundamental in our Unitarian Universalist theology: interdependence. What does the reality of interdependence ask of us as individuals and as faith communities? How do we care for each other knowing this truth? The service comes to us from the Unitarian Universalist Association. The Worship leader is Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President, Unitarian Universalist Association. The service will also fittingly recognize Juneteenth, honoring Emancipation Day for Enslaved African-Americans.
Give Away the Plate
All contributions in the plate on Sunday will be given to Soul Fire Farm (a 501©(3) organization) unless otherwise marked. If you write a check, make it payable to Soul Fire Farm. Checks for your pledge should be made payable to Albany UU, and have "pledge" written on the memo line. As always, envelopes will be available for cash contributions that you want to earmark toward a specific fund or pledge.
Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism in the food system. With deep reverence for the land and wisdom of the ancestors, they bring diverse communities together to raise and distribute life-giving food, share skills on sustainable agriculture, natural building, spiritual activism, health, and environmental justice. Their programs reach over 160,000 people each year, including farmer training for Black and Brown growers, food justice workshops for urban youth, home gardens for city-dwellers living under food apartheid, and doorstep harvest delivery for food insecure households. Learn more about Soul Fire Farm here.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF OUR SUMMER SERVICES!
Our summer services run until Sunday, Sept. 4
There is no Coffee Hour after our summer services but there will be
cookies and lemonade
Use this link to join the service remotely:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Those wishing to access closed captioning/live transcript can turn on the function in their 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”.
|
|
JUNE MULTIPLATFORM
SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
|
|
Albany UU Multiplatform
Summer Services
Our summer services begin this Sunday, June 19 and continue through September 4.
8:30 AM Sunday Meditation continues through the summer and we will have Service at 10:00 AM each Sunday as well. Summer services are coordinated by Patience Pechette, with a delightful list of guests in the pulpit.
June 26 “Conspiracy for Life: A Personal Defense of Reproductive Justice,” Rev. Dick Gilbert
We meet on the eve of (or in the wake of) the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade. I’ll reflect on this in the context of being a counselor to women with unwanted pregnancy before both Roe v. Wade and New York’s legalization of abortion. We are on the brink of a non-democratic disaster.
Dick Gilbert, a retired Unitarian Universalist minister. Dick Gilbert has been a UU minister for 60 years. He has served congregations in Cleveland, Ithaca, Golden, CO, and for 32 years in Rochester. During his time in Ithaca he was part of the Clergy Consultation Service on Problem Pregnancies before Roe v. Wade and New York's abortion rerom law. He is an active member of Clergy for Choice.
Music: Ann Brandon
|
|
Use this link to join Sunday service remotely
To dial in by phone:
1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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
|
|
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR
CHILDREN and YOUTH
|
|
Missing OWL*? Here are two things you can do:
-
Check out "You Know, Sex" by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth. recommended by Albany UU's Inclusivity Team for youth (with guidance as needed), for adults with questions or who have expressed interest in adult OWL, and for anyone who wants to be able to discuss sex in neutral, inclusive language. Full recommendation is here.
- Check your email- I've contacted quite a few folks about their child or youth's potential participation in OWL during the 2022-23 church year, and/or about their own participation as a trained OWL facilitator. OWL has been on hiatus since March 2020 due to COVID, and your timely responses are needed for us to bring it back.
*OWL is the acronym for Our Whole Lives, sexuality education that fosters informed, responsible, and values-based decisions about sexual health and behavior. More information can be found here.
Thank you Pride marchers! We had so much fun marching in Albany's Pride Parade on 6/10 that plans are already in the works for next year. Thanks for your great outfits, smiling faces, and good cheer!
Elizabeth Baldes
Acting Director of Religious Education
|
|
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth (blend of “June” and “Nineteenth”) is sometimes known as Liberation Day, Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day. It originates from June 19, 1865 when the enslaved Black people of Texas were officially read the Emancipation Proclamation by Union general Gordon Granger. The Emancipation Proclamation was actually released in 1863, but for various reasons, including the fact that Texas was one of the most remote confederate states, word didn’t reach this part of the country until two and a half years later. June 19, 1865 marked the legal end of slavery in the United States.
Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, some plantation owners took their time to announce the news, sometimes waiting until a government agent arrived, forcing their hand. There followed many years of unpaid labor, theft of land, persecution, convict leasing, lynching, Jim Crow laws – and discrimination and ongoing pain that continues to this day. Despite this, African-Americans rallied around this day as one of celebration and remembrance.
Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021. It’s a big holiday in Texas, the first state to declare it an official holiday. In many states, the holiday has been celebrated locally, with traditional parades, bands, BBQs and red beverages and foods that symbolize the blood shed by African Americans. Celebrations continue to grow as more people come to understand the meaning and importance of Juneteenth.
|
|
WELCOME OLGA MARTINEZ - OUR NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR
|
|
Olga Martinez is a forever Albany resident. She is a graduate of Albany High and received her Bachelors in Music Education at the College of Saint Rose. Since 2009 she has been the music director of the Capital Pride Singers, an LGBTQA+ community chorus in the capital district, where she has continuously led to the musical growth of the group that has been around since 1995. She is also the director of operations at StudioHalibey, a creative consultancy for the media industry. She brings her expertise in music, logistics, project management, 18 years of professional experience and love of the Albany City to all that she does. When not in front of a chorus, piano or computer, she spends time with her son and husband, sewing, gardening or cooking vegetarian delights and has never met a block of tofu she didn’t have plans for. She is excited, ready to share and collaborate on bringing beautiful, meaningful music to the Albany UU. |
|
UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
|
|
 |
Board of Trustees
Meets in-person and online, tonight, Thursday, June 16, 6:30 PM. Albany UU members are welcome to attend. Find the agenda here.
Use the service link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Passcode: 0000
Start your Sunday Morning with Multiplatform 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 remotely:
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. 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.
The Social Justice Team meets on Tuesday, June 21 at 6:45 PM on Zoom. All are welcome to join.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 878 3836 2756
Passcode: 0000
|
|
|
|
Gardening Volunteers
Do you have two hours to contribute to maintaining the gardens surrounding Albany UU? The Gardening Committee welcomes you to sign up here, where you can select which week(s) you'd like to help. Volunteers often work in pairs. No experience necessary. For more information or to receive e-mail updates, please contact Donna Meixner or 518/439-5947.
Pledge year alert!
As our church fiscal year (2021-22) winds to a close (June 30, to be exact) this is a good time to remind everyone to write on your checks which pledge year you are contributing to. Some folks have already started paying on their 2022-23 pledge, some still are on 2021-22. Please, please write ‘Pledge’ and the fiscal year you’re paying toward on the memo line.
Pledge statements were sent recently, check your email to find out what your balance is! (Or, log on to your record in ChurchDB and find your balance instantly.)
Summer Office Hours Schedule
A reminder that the Albany UU summer office hours have officially begun. They are 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until Tuesday, Sept. 6. To clarify, this does not mean that your office staff work only those hours for July and August. Tammy still works 40 hours/week or uses vacation time and Patience still works 20 hours/week or uses vacation time. Summer office hours means someone should be in the church office during those times, unless otherwise posted. It is ALWAYS a good idea to call ahead before stopping by to ensure that a staff person will be in the office. These more flexible hours simply make it a little easier for staff to take time off in the summer, when it's a slightly less busy, if they choose.
Mark your calendars for a Congregational Picnic on Saturday, July 30 - Volunteers needed!
Everyone is invited to join Rev. Sam and Elizabeth Baldes for a picnic at Horseshoe I Pavilion at Thacher Park on Saturday, July 30, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM. We are calling for volunteers who would like to participate in planning the fun. All are welcome! Please contact Rev Sam: minister@albanyuu.org or Elizabeth: dre@albanyuu.org to express your interest.
Endowment Trust Announces 2022 Annual Granting Capacity
Each calendar year the Endowment Trustees use a prescribed formula based on income from trust investments to calculate the amount of money available for Albany UU Special Projects grants. The 2022 granting capacity is $31,281.
If you have an idea for a special project consistent with the congregation’s mission, please apply. More information about the projects we are looking to support and the application for grants can be found on the Albany UU website at: http://albanyuu.org/endowment-trust-grant-form/
Looking for a little income?
Are you--or a friend--looking to make some money occasionally? And, are you able to work on Sundays?
Albany UU needs a ‘backup’ Sunday custodian. The job is from 8:00-1:00 on Sunday mornings and entails a multitude of small tasks that that enable our service and classes to go smoothly. Some lifting is required. The pay is $15 per hour.
If you are interested in finding out more, contact Tammy Goddard, Church Administrator at 518-463-7135 or admin@albanyuu.org. And pass this on to anyone who might be interested!
Also available: occasional “gigs” as Building Host and Dishwasher. Contact Tammy if you’re interested in either of these. We really need more people to add to our list!
A Rich and Rewarding Experience Awaits You at UU Weekend at
Silver Bay
Join us at the UU Weekend at Silver Bay from October 14-16, 2022.
Here are some highlights from the draft schedule for the weekend:
- Keynote speaker, Pastor David Trayham, leading a discussion on building better racial and community relationships
- Workshop topics including a proposal to bring the Hudson River into Albany, getting off fossil fuels, book discussions, and an opportunity to create art
- Several hikes, a bird walk, a presentation by a wildlife rehabilitator including her five live raptors, a discussion of the islands and bays of Lake George, a presentation about a trek across Northern Spain, and boat tours
- A full children’s program including movies, kite and bead making and games
- Several live musical events
- The annual auction (Bring and purchase gently used items.)
Remember – the cost is all-inclusive for room and board, activities and entertainment - including all meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch. Children under 6 are free, with substantial discounts for older children and youth.
Note: Adaptions will be made to accommodate the status of the pandemic, if needed.
|
|
SOCIAL ACTION and INCLUSIVITY
|
|
Delmar Vigil participants: Mary Baker, Deborah Vogel, Dawn Dana, Carol Butt,
Barb Manning, Chuck Manning, Ed Hancock
|
|
Albany UU is again partnering with the Center for Common Ground to send 1.2 million postcards to FLORIDA residents to encourage people of color to vote. The Florida primary is on August 23rd. Karen Kaufmann and Elizabeth Berberian are coordinating this effort, as they did in 2020. We will be distributing postcard packets in early July, to be mailed out in early August.
Please email Elizabeth Berberian at elberberian@nycap.rr.com, including the number of postcards you will write and whether you will cover the cost of postage, if you want to participate.
Spread the word! Tell your friends and members of other organizations you belong to! Thank you!
From the Inclusivity Team
As a measure to address white supremacy (universally present and/or experienced by virtue of our culture and history) in ourselves, our interactions, and our congregation, the Inclusivity Team is collaborating with Gemma Halfi to provide a book discussion learning group to explore the ideas presented in the book Caste: The origins of our discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson.
The 3-session-group will meet on Zoom and will be limited to 12 participants.
Stand Against Racism Vigil in Delmar
Join Albany UUs each Saturday to Stand Against Racism, in front of the Delmar Farmers Market at the middle school, 332 Kenwood Avenue, from 9:30 to 10 AM. Welcoming all - whether you live in Delmar, Albany, or anywhere nearby!
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 Action Request
The Green Sanctuary Committee urges you to call Gov. Hochul’s (518-474-8390) office and urge her to sign the Cryptocurrency Moratorium bills S6486/A7389C. These bills will place a 2-year moratorium on cryptocurrency mining powered by burning fossil fuels, known as proof of work, using thousands of computers to solve complex math equations. According to the New York Times, this practice consumes more power than some entire countries. This unnecessary use of power is completely inconsistent with the energy goals contained in the CLCPA. New York must continue to lead in the fight against Climate Change and these bills will do that. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
The Inclusivity Team Recommends the following book:
For adults and youth:
For youth, with guidance as needed;
For adults with questions or who have expressed interest in adult OWL;
For anyone who wants to be able to discuss sex in neutral, inclusive language
You Know, Sex: Bodies, gender, puberty, and other things! (2022). By Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth.
You Know, Sex, is the first thoroughly modern sex education book for every body, covering not only the big three of puberty--hormones, reproduction, and development--but also power, pleasure, and how to be a decent human being.
Centering young people's experiences of pressures and joy, risk and reward, and confusion and discovery, there are chapters on body autonomy, gender, consent, pornography, masturbation, stigma, boundaries, harassment, trauma, and safety in our media-saturated world, as well as puberty and reproduction chapters that cover trans, nonbinary, and intersex bodies and experiences and more.
Racially and ethnically diverse, inclusive of cross-disability experience, You Know, Sex is a book for every kind of young person and every kind of family--essential for kids, everyone who knows a kid, and anyone who has ever been a kid.
~from the back cover
Unfortunately, access to this book is extremely limited. Presented in graphic novel form, there is one hard copy available in the Upper Hudson Library System. Not available in braille or audiobook formats at this time. Available for purchase or order at Market Block Books, in Troy, and other independent book sellers. This book will be available soon in Joy Library at Albany UU.
|
|
Learn about submitting announcements to for Sunday service and how to reserve a Zoom room for meetings and events here.
If this email was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive it directly, please
|
|
|
Quick Links
Denominational Affairs Links
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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).
|
|
Photo credit: Rev. Sam Trumbore
|
|
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany | 518.463.7135 | 518.463.1429 Admin@AlbanyUU.org | AlbanyUU.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
