Greetings,
Welcome to Windows Weekly, Albany UU's central source for news and updates. Please stay safe and stay connected to your Albany UU Community during this uncertain time in the many ways provided online - all described below.
If this email was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive it directly, please
sign up here.
-Blessings and Be Well
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We 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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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE VIA ZOOM
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June 7, Our Community Holds Us Together; celebrating
our spring traditions in nontraditional ways
This year we are combining our RE Celebration service (Sundae Sunday) and Flower Ceremony. And everyone is invited to do some preparations to bring the spirit of our Albany UU community to our virtual celebrations.
We’re asking everyone to bring a flower
when you join our online service
– you can draw one, print one
from the internet or hold a real one. Children in grades pre-k through 6 will receive a booklet in the mail with a drawing they can color and show at the service, plus information about our UU Flower Communion.
We’ll have a virtual Sundae Sunday at noon.
Get your treats ready and we’ll eat together. We’ll have break out for the different aged RE groups and their families. It will be a chance for children and parents to see each other! RE volunteers for each team are invited too. (Link to Sundae Sunday in the Religious Exploration section below)
Music Provided by
Elena Karpoff, Chris Jensen and Randy Rosette
Use this link and password 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 SERVICES - 10:00 AM
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June 14, "Roots and Wings," Dan Miyake, Intern Minister
These times, they are a’ changing … Unitarian Universalism is a Living Tradition – one whose faith is not dead and stagnant, or chained to concrete slabs of dogma or creed. Our denomination lives and breathes by its ability, its necessity, to change while holding onto its roots for stability. In our roots we find our strength and foundation, but change is the vehicle by which we move forward to new ideas, new visions, and new actions. Now, more than ever, we must hold onto our roots very tight as we prepare to fly full force into an unknown future.
Music Provided b
y
Elena Karpoff, Chris Jensen and Randy Rosette
The summer schedule begins with Sunday, June 21
Albany UU Virtual Summer Services
The last Sunday of the regular service year is June 14; our summer services start June 21 and continue through September 6.
8:30 a.m. Virtual Sunday Meditation continues through the summer and we will have Virtual Service at 10:00 AM each Sunday. Summer services are coordinated by Randy Rosette, with a delightful list of guests in the pulpit, including Rev. Sam and an opportunity to virtually attend the General Assembly service!
Joys and Concerns for Online Services
We have three ways that you can share your joys and concerns.
- One: Use the online form. If you use this form, you can indicate if you would like to have your joys and concerns shared at the Sunday service, and you can leave contact info if you would like a Pastoral Care Associate to follow up with you.
- Two: Email your joy or sorrow to joysandsorrows@albanyuu.org before Sunday morning to have them read aloud during the service
- Three: We will be giving you instructions during the Sunday service about how to share your joys and concerns then.
Sunday Collection
If you would like to make a contribution to the Sunday Offering "Plate", click
https://tinyurl.com/albanyuu-donate
or send your check, with Sunday Offering on the memo line, to the church: 405 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Mail is still being processed while the building is closed.
Text to Give
Try our text to give option! Simply text the amount and fund (for example: 20 offering; or 20 focus; or 20 pledge) to
844-976-2618
. There's a
helpful video
to watch with step by step instructions and a informative
written guide
with visuals.
Sunday services will be online via Zoom at 10:00 AM EST. There will be no service, religious education or other activities in the church building until further notice.
Wearing your Zoom “Name Tag”
When signing into a Zoom worship service on a Sunday morning, you can't put on your traditional name tag to be welcoming to others, but you CAN rename your screen so that it displays your full name. This is the new way to practice hospitality with everyone who is part of the online worship service.
To change your screen name, look for three white dots, usually appearing in the upper right corner of your zoom window when you hover over it with your cursor. Click the dots, and a dropdown menu will appear. One of the options in the dropdown menu is "Rename." Click that option, and a box will pop up that displays the name currently showing in your Zoom window. If it's not your full name or names, change it to your name(s) and click the "Save" button.
If you have any questions, feel free to send an Usher a message in the Chat on a Sunday or email Tammy Hathaway - admin@albanyuu.org anytime. Thanks for taking this extra step to be welcoming!
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Start your Sunday Morning with Meditation - 8:30 - 9:15 AM
Sunday morning meditation, led by Rev. Sam, begins with a ten-minute talk by Sharon Salzberg or Joseph Goldstein from their course on Insight Meditation. We will sit together 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:
To dial in by phone call: 1-929-436-2866 and enter
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Adult RE UU History Class - Last one!
Dan Miyake is leading his last Adult RE class on UU History on
Monday, June 8 from 3:00 to 4:30
. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our denomination and our spiritual ancestors. Everyone is welcome to attend via Zoom.
Require meeting password: 295114
Philosophy Group
At 10:00 AM every Tuesday
, the Albany UU Philosophy Group will meet via zoom and discuss their topic of the day. All are welcome.
Use this link to join: NOTE CHANGE IN LINK
To dial in by phone, call: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 987 7102 4708
Password: 0000
Albany UU Sings
Do You Like to Sing? Join your friends and sing your heart out
every Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM
! We will supply the music and the lyrics. Sing along in Virtual Community. Contact Randy with any questions:
rosette_jensen@juno.com
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866 Meeting ID: 935725639
Ps and Qs
Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will zoom on
Wednesday, June 10 and June 24 at 10:00 AM.
Use this link to join:
To dial by phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 970 3238 2631
Password: 0000
Congregation Zoom Check In
Get connected during the week with other Albany UU members and friends by coming to the Zoom checkin on
Thursday, June 11, 4-5pm
, led by Rev. Sam
.
Use this link to join:
Meeting ID: 518-366-4532
Password: 4051842
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group,
Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 pm
. We will discuss
Olive, Again
by Elizabeth Strout. Learn more
here
.
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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The power of song....
The Inclusivity Team also recommends authors of color:
Jaqueline Woodson
is a living American author, who has been the recipient of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Newbery Honor Medal, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, among others. The following books are both available to borrow for free, both in digital and audio formats, through the Upper Hudson Library System. The audiobooks are available for purchase from Audible.
For adults and youth (with adult guidance, as needed):
Brown Girl Dreaming (2016). Winner of multiple awards, this book, written in poetry, paints a picture of Jacqueline Woodson growing up in 1960’s and 1970’s South Carolina.
For young children:
The Day You Begin (2018). This is a sweet story about having the courage to connect, even when we feel scared or alone.
For all:
Jacquline Woodson: What reading slowly taught me about writing.
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For Reflection
If you would like to reflect on what is happening with UU white anti-racist leaders in our UU movement,
you might consider this:
If you are considering ways to help
, here is a link to a directory of community bail funds. There is one in Albany NY for black citizens. Consider
making a contribution to a
community bail fund near you
.
Rev. Sam requests important feedback
Every year, staff members are evaluated. Part of that evaluation process is collecting feedback from members of the congregation on their employee satisfaction along with comments about the work of employees. This is a great opportunity to show appreciation of them by giving specific feedback about what they have done well. It is VERY MEANINGFUL for the staff to receive this feedback. Your praise matters! And there may be a problem that you’d like to alert us about too. That may also be done on the feedback form.
PLEASE, PLEASE
take a moment to use this form to leave feedback for individual employees. Use the form multiple times, once for each employee for whom you’d like to leave feedback.
Thanks in advance for your participation in this yearly cycle of appreciation and support for the good work our staff does.
Here is the link:
Fair Trade coffee for sale - act now!
Remember all that wonderful Fair Trade coffee you love? The kind we would serve during Coffee Hour? Now is your chance to purchase it - at cost! We have ground organic decaf, breakfast blend and French roast. Place your order with Kathy Harris:
harr70@nycap.rr.com
Pick up day will be handled with appropriate physical distancing and masks are required. You slip your check or cash through the mail slot in the Sanctuary vestibule door on Washington Ave. (Make sure cash is in an envelope with your name clearly written on it.) Wait a minute, then walk over to the lobby steps. Your order will be waiting for you on the outside of the lobby door. If a line forms by the mails slot or lobby door, please space appropriately. Sound simple.
Price: $7.00/bag
Deadline for orders Monday, June 8, 5:00 pm
Pick-up Thursday, June 11, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Gould Lecture now online
Here’s the link to the Gould Lecture which Leah presented on Friday, May 15 and some resources from it.
https://www.uua.org/central-east/resources/gould/2020gouldpurcell
This lecture has been part of a spring gathering of Upstate NY UU ministers, DREs and other leaders in congregations for decades. Usually a minister is selected to present; Leah was the second DRE to be selected. Her title was “Growing Souls in Congregations – Lessons from Nature and the Pandemic”
Pledge year alert!
As our church fiscal year (2019-20) 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 2020-21 pledge, some still are on 2019-20. Please, please write ‘Pledge’ and the fiscal year you’re paying toward on the memo line.
Scheduling Zoom meetings
We currently have two zoom accounts that we can use for meetings. To request a Zoom meeting, please do so just as you would when requesting a room to use in our building - using Church Database. When you choose your resources, or "room", choose between Zoom 1 and Zoom 3. There are links to instructions below. This is the preferred method but requests can also be sent via email to Sapphire: office@albanyuu.org.
When you send an email, please have a few dates and times that will work for your meeting to minimize a lot of time consuming negotiating. Thank you!
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What Does It Mean to Be A People of Compassion?
Wrestling with what we’re feeling and what we’re prepared to do
To our parents and caretakers
,
I know that many of you are wrestling with helping your children understand our current local and national events. No doubt you’re seeing many resources on social media, but if you’re looking for a curated list of resources for parenting as Unitarian Universalist in these times, check out the
Support for Families
page of our website. There you’ll find weekly suggestions for reading and viewing for children, youth and families from our Inclusivity Team. This week I’ve included a message from the religious educator of the our UU sibling congregation in Minneapolis on explaining recent events to children.
To all of us adults,
a message from our Soul Matters Partners on Compassion to help us wrestle with ongoing events – on the theme of compassion.
It might seem like compassion is one of our easier monthly themes. After all, compassion sounds…well, nice. It conjures up a bunch of warm feelings. Images come to mind of people telling each other they are keeping them in their thoughts. It would seem to be all about emotional connection and empathetic feeling.
But then along comes a quote like this:
“Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others.” -Andrew Boyd
Or this:
“True compassion is to engage in the suffering of others.”
- The Charter for Compassion
Both are reminders that compassion is not just a matter of niceness and thoughtful feelings. It’s a deeper type of feeling that drives us to action.
Indeed, that may be compassion’s defining characteristic; it is distinguished by doing. To feel the pain of another, well, the word “empathy” has that covered. But compassion takes it a step further. Compassion calls us to do something about that pain.
In other words, compassion calls us to change things! It’s not just about comforting others; it’s about our comfort getting disturbed. It’s about connecting with another’s pain and struggle so deeply that we can’t rest until they rest. When we feel compassion - real compassion - we don’t just understand another’s pain, we want it to stop. And then we do what’s needed to make it stop.
It makes one wonder: Maybe the true test of compassion is justice.
And if that’s close to the mark, then maybe compassion’s question for us this month isn’t what we thought it was. Instead of asking us, “Are you able to feel?” maybe it’s asking, “What are you prepared to do?
Wrestle with Your Niceness
There’s wide agreement that compassion plays a role in fighting racial injustice and dismantling white supremacy, but it’s also true that there’s nothing simple about that relationship between compassion and racial justice. One everyday example of this is the way niceness is used to mask, perpetuate and even defend one’s unacknowledged racism. For writer and anti-racism coach, Robin diAngelo, one small but important step in dismantling white supremacy is getting clear about the many ways we conflate and confuse niceness with compassion. So as your exercise this month, spend some time with diAngelo’s article and use it to offer yourself some challenge and compassion as you bring awareness to your own habits of “problematic niceness.”
White People Assume Niceness Is The Answer To Racial Inequality. It's Not,
by Robin diAngelo
Dig Deeper: At the recent MidAmerica Regional Assembly, Taquiena Boston, Special Advisor the UUA President on Equity, Inclusion, and Change, offered a number of questions to help support decentering work during Covid-19. Here are two for you to spend some time with:
- Who or what are you holding in your heart at this moment?
- What inequities have become more visible to you as a result of COVID-19?
Yours in faith,
Leah Purcell
Director of Religious Education and Family Ministry
More from our Blogs:
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Survey for Parents and Caretakers About Summer RE Offerings
DEADLINE EXTENDED
Leah Elizabeth and, the RE Council would like to hear from you and use your input for planning offerings for children, youth and families this summer. There are lots of possibilities, so we'll need your guidance. Even if your answer is “no thanks,” please fill out
this survey
by
FRIDAY JUNE 12.
Short Family Chapel Zoom
This is a time for children, youth, parents/caretakers and RE volunteers to gather for 10 -15 minutes while the first part of the Sunday service is happening. It will be a chance for us to see each other and check in. We’ll also have a chalice lighting and a meditation. The Zoom Family Chapel will be a separate Zoom meeting from the regular service. We’ll start at 10:05 and finish around 10:20. At that time you can join the Zoom meeting for the service or just move on with your day. If you join the service, you’ll be in time for joys and sorrows and the meditation, the story and the sermon. You might want to settle your children in with some quiet activity nearby if you want to hear the sermon.
Zoom Meeting for Family Chapel
Password: 4051842 (our address and the year the congregation was founded)
Dial in: 1 929 436 2866 Meeting ID: 931 0179 4118
Flower Communion this Sunday
We’re asking everyone to bring a flower when you join our online service – you can draw one, print one from the internet or hold a real one. Children in grades pre-k through 6th will receive a booklet in the mail with a drawing they can color and show at the service, plus information about our UU Flower Communion.
Virtual Sundae Sunday for families and RE volunteers at noon this Sunday
Get your ice cream or other treats ready and we’ll eat together. We'll have one zoom room for all the RE volunteer, children, youth, parents and caretakers.
Topic: Sundae Sunday Zoom Meeting for RE Community
Time: Jun 7, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Password: 4051842
Dial +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 859 5470 9963
Password: 4051842
Story Time - note changes
Tracey Hickey and Leah Purcell are taking turns readings chapter book. It's a great time for your child to jump on line with other children from Albany UU and start listening. We start with an opportunity for the children to check-in with how things are going for them; that has been really nice for the children.
Chapter books 7:00-7:30 pm Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays
- geared for children in 2nd-6th grade.
The next book is
A
Good Kind of Trouble.
"Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. But in junior high, it’s like all the rules have changed. Now she’s suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she’s not black enough. Wait,
what
? Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She starts wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn't face her fear, she'll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now that’s trouble, for real."
Open to people of all ages. Supervise your kids as you would at Coffee Hours; keep an eye on them, but you don't have to be right there all the time.
Zoom link to join:
Dial in: 1 929 436 2866
Meeting ID: 801 480 305
Password: 4051842 (our address and the year the congregation was founded)
YoUUth Group Check Ins
Tracey Hickey and Leah host: ALBANY YOUUTH GROUP VIDEO CHATS. We are live at 8:00pm each Thursday and Sunday. If you have a Youth, please ask them to check their Gmail and tune in!
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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.
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 provides 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 friendsly “check in’s” from Caring Network members. Please reach out to the
Caring Network
if you need.
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Rave Reviews forUU Weekend at Silver Bay - October 16-18
The reviews are in! Silver Bay is a smash hit!
-Wonderful time; can’t wait until next year!
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We keep coming back – and for good reason!
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Great facility and location on Lake George!
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Wonderful people and activities!
Registration
is now open.
Register by June 7, 2020 to receive the lowest rates! Children under 6 are free with substantial discounts for older children and youth. Access the registration form
here.
Note:
We are currently experiencing a time of physical distancing and cancellations of group gatherings due to Covid-19. If the UU Weekend at Silver Bay is cancelled because of continued or reinstated restrictions, registered participants will receive a full refund. Learn more
here
.
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Virtual Service Security
There's a new opportunity to volunteer!
We've add a Zoom Waiting Room feature to our Sunday services as an extra layer of protection from the dreaded "zoombomber." W
e need folks who would be willing to volunteer to help us provide virtual security on Sunday mornings. Tammy will provide a quick and simple training. Contact her if you'd like to learn more:
admin@albanyuu.org.
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 Meixne
r or 518/439-5947.
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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Quick Links
Denominational Affairs Links
Helpful Local 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 online class
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Regular events and meetings
Many of these events and meetings will continue online, however dates and times may vary. Please contact the Team or Group Leader or email
admin@albanyuu.org
if you have questions.
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)
Wednesdays
10:00 AM Ps and Qs (June 10, 24)
Tuesdays
10:00 AM Philosophy Discussion (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?
Online service are generally recorded
"Religion, Sex and Politics: A Conversation for Polite Company" with Rabbi Dennis Ross
watch it here.
Building Justice, Equity and Compassion in Human Relations: A Trauma-Informed Perspective with Jaye Holly and Danisha Burnett-Bonner, May 17,
watch it here
HMUU Join Service with Paula Cole Jones, Sunday, April 5,
watch it here
Community of Communities workshop with Paula Cole Jones,
watch it here
For previous services, before quarantine:
You can listen to the entire Albany UU Sunday service at home or on your mobile device. March 1 and 8 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 (
http://members.albanyuu.org/wp/ -
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 - when the building reopens:
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:
The Albany UU Office is closed during this time of physical distancing. Sam, Leah, Tammy and Sapphire have their messages forwarded to their personal cell phones and are available by email.
Websites
Zoom use
To
reserve Zoom
for an Albany UU online meeting, contact Administrative Assistant Sapphire Correa (518.463.7135 or
office@albanyuu.org
).
Photo credit: Jeannie Thompson
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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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