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.
-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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May 24, “Moral Revival In the Time of COVID-19,” Rev. Emily McNeill
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and deepened political and economic crises that were already devastating our communities before the virus arrived. Behind these crises is also a moral crisis - the distorted values and norms that uphold and justify our society's deeply unjust structures. How can people of faith and conscience confront these distorted moral narratives? How do we claim and lift up our values in a way that can bring change?
Rev. Emily McNeill is co-chair of the NYS Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival and executive director of the Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS. Emily is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and holds an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Prior to joining Labor-Religion Coalition in 2014, she was pastor of Parkland United Methodist Church in Tacoma, WA. She lives in Rotterdam with her wife, Emily, and their two dogs.
Music Provided by Elena Karpoff, Mark Abendroth, John and Barbara Metz
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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May 31, “High School Youth Service: Imagine”
In this time of isolation due to the Corona pandemic, what things do we wish we could forget? What do we not want to forget when the time comes when we can start to get together? What might the world look like then? What would we long for it to be? Come join with our high school YoUUth Group to imagine a post-lock down world.
Music Provided by Elena Karpoff, Chris Jensen and Randy Rosette
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.
NEW Way to Give
We launched our new text to give option on Sunday. If you'd like to try, simply text the amount and fund (for example: 20 offering 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. It's pretty slick!
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.
Helpful Hints:
-PLEASE
, as a matter of security,
change your name when you enter the zoom service.
To do this, bring our cursor to our picture window, you will see "mute" and three dots in the upper right corner. Click the three dots and and dropdown box will appear. Select "Change Name". A window will pop up to allow you to type your first and last name.
-From your phone, *9 will allow you to raise your hand.
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Congregation Zoom Check Ins
Get connected during the week with other Albany UU members and friends by coming to a Zoom checkin led by Rev. Sam
.
Today - Thursday, May 21, 4-5pm
Tuesday, May 26, 4-5pm
Wednesday, May 27, 2-3pm
Thursday, May 28, 11am-12n
Use this link to join:
Meeting ID: 518-366-4532
Password: 4051842
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 - NOTE CHANGE IN DAY
Dan Miyake is leading an Adult RE class on UU History during the Month of May. The class will be on
Tuesday, May 26 from 3:00 to 4:30
. (Due to Memorial Day, this class was moved from Monday to Tuesday.) 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
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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Religion, Sex and Politics: A Conversation for Polite Company
Rabbi Dennis Ross, director of Concerned Clergy for Choice at Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, and author of
All Politics Is Religious
, will discuss "Religion, Sex, and Politics: A Conversation for Polite Company,"
Sunday, May 31, at 3 PM
. Rabbi Ross will provide a faith perspective on recent developments and opportunities in access to reproductive health care and the so-called "religious liberty" arguments in Washington and New York State during this time of national challenge.
Meeting ID: 518 366 4532
Password: 4051842
Telephone access number: +1 929 205 6099
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Give Away the Plate
This
Sunday, May 24
, our offering plate will be donated to the New York Poor People’s Campaign, whose co-chair, Rev. Emily McNeil, is our guest in the pulpit.
All contributions in the Sunday Offering Plate on Sunday will be given to the New York Poor People's Campaign (a 501©(3) organization) unless otherwise marked. If you write a check, make it payable to New York Poor People's Campaign. Checks for your pledge should be made payable to Albany UU, and have "pledge" written on the memo line.
The Poor People’s Campaign is a national call for a moral policy agenda that revives the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for a “revolution of values,” including demands on state and federal governments for equitable funding of urgent social needs including housing, education and health care, electoral justice, demilitarization and a healthy environment.
Donations in New York will support the Harriet Tubman Leadership Institute that trains emerging leaders from the ranks of the poor in New York for organizing activities of the PPC, and for accessibility of online organizing activities. For more information, go to
https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/about/our-demands/
Memorial Day
Please note that on
Monday, May 25
, your Albany UU staff will be observing the Memorial Day holiday.
Community Breakfast Update
We had a successful grab and go food bag distribution on Saturday, May 16. Five of us brightened some peoples day with 20 bags distributed, containing food contributions from numerous people from church. The extra 4 bags of food and supplies were taken to the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless on Sheridan Ave. where they were so happy to be receiving them. Thank you to all who participated.
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.
Warning!
Please, PLEASE be aware
, that the trolls, scammers and hackers are out there in force more than ever. If someone asks you by phone, email, FB, Messenger or any other platform, to give them or anyone else money, gift cards, personal or financial information of any kind, DON'T DO IT!!!
Survey Time
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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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.
Eileen Hoffman would like to send positive thoughts to member,
Malcolm Bell
as he moves to Virginia to be closer to family following a hospitalization from a fall. Malcolm provided leadership in a summer program he felt strongly was needed in the church neighborhood and saw it through for a few years. He’s been a valued member for years.
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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RE Volunteer Appreciation
Since we won't be able to thank our RE volunteers in person this year, we're inviting children and youth to contribute to a Thank You slide show in the service June 14. We’re asking the children and youth to make a thank you sign. Then we’ll need your help – please take a picture of your kid(s) holding their sign(s) and send your picture to Liz Halvorsen
lizhendron@yahoo.com by Wednesday, June 10. Liz will compile a slide show to go in the 6/14 service. This will be our Flower Communion and RE Celebration service. We won’t put the slide show in the recording of the service.
Survey for Summer Planning for Children, Youth and Families
Leah, Elizabeth, and the RE Council would like to hear from parents and caretakers about how it’s going for you and what offerings you might like this summer. There are lots of possibilities, so we'll need your guidance. Please fill out
this survey
by Monday, June 1.
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
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. Tracey is reading The One and Only Bob
- Short stories and Fairy Tales 7:00-7:30 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays
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)
7th and 8th Grade Check In - Sunday at Noon
This will be an informal time for the youth with 2 OWL facilitators (or 1 facilitator and me). No OWL content is being offered on line.
Zoom link to join:
Password: 4051842
Dial by phone: 1 929 436 2866 Meeting ID: 183 771 517
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!
Rite of Passage Appreciation
Because of the pandemic, the first Rite of Passage Service was held via Zoom in its 27-year history in our congregation. In normal times, you, the congregation would have been able to congratulate them after their service in the receiving line. If you feel moved, please send a note in the US mail to our Rite of Passage youth to express your thanks and best wishes. This way, they will have something to remember the day.
Elyse Roepe
17 Cardinal Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
Cada Tell-Drake
9 Game Farm Rd.
New Scotland, NY 12054
Amy Newberg
118 S. Pine Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
Michelle Chan
402 Pinkster Lane
Slingerlands, NY 12159
Paula Parsons
402 Pinkster Lane
Slingerlands, NY 12159
Scarlet Carrera
18 Elm St.
Albany, NY 12202
Luchia Hornsby
gave her belief statement as part of the This I Believe service on May 17. I encourage you to also send a note:
242 Ridgefield St.
Albany, NY 12208
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Check out this TED Talk by
Luvvie Ajayi
“Being able to live without having to be defined by your skin color is the hallmark of privilege…. Our privileges are the things not within our control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. Acknowledging them does not mean you are admitting to doing something to purposefully contribute to someone else’s oppression or marginalization. It means you recognize that some part of your identity puts you in a better position than others. It means something about you assists your progress in the race of life. It also means that whatever majority group you belong to has likely contributed to the oppression of another.”
It’s easy to believe we have little or nothing to do with racism. Ajayi invites us to re-think this assumption.
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ALBANY UU ANNUAL ELECTION RESULTS
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Officers
President.............................. Patti Jo Newell
Vice-President..................... Jan McCracken
Secretary.............................. Molly Daniels
Treasurer.............................. Reese Satin
Ass’t. Treasurer................... Kathy Harris
Religious Education Chair*: Tracie (Tilgner) Brazinski
Social Responsibilities Chair*: Jean Poppei
*Ex-officio member of Board of Trustees
Asterisk denotes incumbent continuing in their position:
Board of Trustees
Geoff Abbas (3 yrs), Meredith Andrews*, Zach Cunningham*, Amie Jamieson*, Heidi Newberg (3 yrs), Kathy Lloyd (1 yr)
Religious Education Council
Winston Hagborg*, Alison Hart ( 3 yrs), Michael Hornsby (3 yrs), Ashley Keegan (3 yrs), Ela Kessel*, Julie Maresco (3 yrs), Mike Myers, Darnell Rohrbaugh
Social Responsibilities Council
Mark Abendroth*, Michael Braunstein*, Karen Kaufmann*, Crystal Papps, Ann von Linden*, Tanya Hotalen (3 yrs)
Nominating Committee
Sharon Babala*, Pat Bailey*, Elizabeth Berberian (3 yrs), Randy Rosette*, Kelly Smith*, Todd Thomas
(3 yrs)
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Many of us are in the position to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - we are receiving a financial windfall in the form of the federal stimulus payout, at the same time as there is a great need for charitable donations in our community. The SRC chose four Capital District organizations that are doing great work right now, and can convert cash into services.
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York/Sister Maureen Joyce Center
The Sister Maureen Joyce Center Food Pantry is the closest pantry to Sheridan Preparatory Academy (the center is at 315 Sheridan Avenue, Albany). The Center also has a soup kitchen at 369 Livingston Avenue. The Center serves about 800 low-income or homeless people each month. The food pantry and soup kitchen are supported agencies of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The Food Bank supplies $8 to $10 of food for each $1 donated.
The online form allows donations to be targeted to particular programs of the Food Bank, but not directly to its supported agencies. The Sister Maureen Joyce Center is administered by Catholic Charities, Tri-County Services. The information here supports the Center through the Food Bank, not through Catholic Charities.
By check: mail your donation check to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York at 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, New York 12110. You can donate as a Gift Alternative for someone’s birthday or event, and the Food Bank will send a card with your message to the recipient.
USCRI Albany Neighbor Relief Fund
The U S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Albany Neighbor Relief Fund provides cash assistance to refugee and immigrant families caught in an emergency related to recent lost wages or employment. Donations of any amount will make a difference.
In a recent appeal for the Fund, Jill Peckenpaugh wrote:
“We are already seeing that our clients are being hit hard as this crisis unfolds. Many refugees and immigrants are employed as hourly or temporary workers and often within the service industry at hotels and restaurants. As families experience lost work hours, unpaid sick leave, and hospital bills, we know that the need for emergency funding to stop evictions, provide basic necessities, and protect access to medical care is going to escalate. We must start now to be prepared for the long-term consequences.
“Your gift can provide:
• Assistance to families for household necessities or bills after a sudden loss of income;
• Medical attention and/or necessary medical supplies for an individual who is under or uninsured;
• Care packages of non-perishable food, toiletries, child-care supplies, and cleaning products;
• Assistance maintaining critical programming.
“Assistance to an individual family is typically small – a couple hundred dollars – but the impacts can be tremendous. Families are able to weather a temporary setback without losing precious progress toward self-sufficiency.”
Check with the Albany office at 459-1790 to ask about donating by check.
Feed Albany – Covid-19 Relief
Feed Albany provides at-risk and in-need individuals in Albany and the Greater Capital Region with prepared & packaged meals, using commercial kitchens, unemployed restaurant workers, volunteers, and donated vehicles.
Feed Albany works with Albany County, the City of Albany, The Food Pantries, The Regional Food Bank, the Albany County Sheriff and various other local organizations and service providers to identify those at-risk and in-need. Through their resources & partnerships, they facilitate delivery of both prepared meals and food items to these individuals and organizations.
Capital City Rescue Mission / Joseph’s House
Both of these groups are standbys in their communities, and both have been stepping up to the current crisis by providing even more services. Joseph’s House has traditionally had a Troy focus, although recently they expanded into Albany by taking on Homeless Action Committee (HAC) with its outreach van and low-demand housing. Joseph’s House has also always been non-denominational, while the Mission has a Christian aspect in its programs.
The Mission says it can provide a meal to a homeless person for only $2.17. Before the Covid-19 crisis, the Mission was providing about 800 meals each day, and 250 available beds. The Mission also runs a free clothing store at Trinity Place.
Joseph’s House and Shelter in downtown Troy offers single adults and families with children a warm and safe place to rest, hot nutritious meals, medical care, personal items and laundry facilities. Advocates work with guests to identify housing and services in accordance with goals guests set themselves.
The SRC hopes you will consider donating to one, a couple, or all of these groups.
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Auction Fever -
UU Weekend at Silver Bay
October 16-18
Spring cleaning? Don’t forget to set aside items for children and adults for the auction...a highly anticipated event at the UU weekend at Silver Bay on Lake George October 16-18.
We are delighted to announce that John McPherson, the cartoonist who created the
Close to Home
comic strip series, will be our keynote speaker.
Close to Home
is a daily one panel comic strip that covers subjects that resonate with everyday life.
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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Check out our Gardeners preparing our gardens for the season!
THANK YOU!
And thank you to Dave Stone for the photos!
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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)
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
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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