Greetings Friends,
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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MULTI-PLATFORM SUNDAY SERVICE
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SUNDAY SERVICE at 10:00 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with an 8:30 Meditation session until 9:20.
Service begins at 10:00 each Sunday
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Oct 17 “Called to be a Peacemaker” with Erik vonHausen
I grew up with an obsession to find out "what was I going to do and who I was going to be." This was a question posed throughout my father's life to him by my grandfather, and repeatedly asked of me. The only thing I figured out early in my life, is that I am called to be a Peacemaker.
Erik vonHausen is living his best life with his husband Todd, dog Rocco, and 2 cats Gala and Squirrelly Girl. He has a bachelor's degree from Gordon College in Theology and Psychology; but the best lessons he has learned has come from 51 years of constantly screwing up and trying to learn from his mistakes.
Music: Randy Rosette
Multi-platform 10:00 AM Sunday Services
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OCTOBER SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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Oct 24 “Impasse” with Rev. Sam Trumbore
We live in very polarized times. The Red and Blue gulf seems wider than ever. Many of us cannot talk about politics or religion with our families without horrible outcomes and hostile feelings. Are there ways of working with being at an impasse with others that can deescalate tensions and move toward better understanding and appreciation even without agreement?
Music: Ann Brandon
Oct 31 “Great Pumpkin Day” with Rev. Sam Trumbore and Elizabeth Baldes
Come celebrate Halloween safely in our multigenerational service.
Music: Elena Karpoff
Donating flowers for Sunday service
There are many opportunities to sign up to provide flowers for a Sunday service. Simply pick a Sunday and visit Sunday Hospitality Sign Up to sign up. You can leave a comment to let us know if you will be arranging or if you'd like a member of the Flower Team to arrange for you. You can also tell us your dedication. You can always contact the church office to sign up if you prefer: admin@albanyuu.org. Thank you!
Join us in Community Hall
Use this link to join Sunday service virtually
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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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
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Albany UU Volunteers and Staff are keeping the FUN in Fundraising this year!
First, let's talk Pies and Soups!
October 29 is the deadline for ALL pie orders and Nov 5 is the deadline to order Soups!
Don't miss out!
All items MUST be pre-ordered so don’t wait! Order now!
Order deadline is Friday, Oct 29 for ALL PIE orders
Order deadline is Friday, November 5 for ALL SOUPS
All pies are $15.00 each
Soup/Chili - $9.00 per quart, $5.00 per pint
Hot Fudge - $10.00 per container
Please note that those folks who live out of town, we apologize, but we will not be able to ship items at this time.
On Saturday, Nov 21st and Sunday, December 6th, from 1-4pm, you can pick up your order - for everything - at Albany UU. A few distanced, mask-wearing and safety conscious volunteers will be there to give you your order and take your money - for everything - cash or check only, please, and you need only write one for it all!
Thank you for your support!
Next up - Crafts!! Coming your way soon... keep a weather eye...
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION for
CHILDREN and YOUTH
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In anticipation of our Halloween service, we've kicked off our Trick-or-Treat with UNICEF campaign. From now until November 8th, you can support the largest vaccination campaign in history! UNICEF is working to help deliver 1.4 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses around the world—along with masks, hygiene supplies, treatment, and diagnostic kits.
All UNICEF fundraising is now online, the cardboard boxes of the past are no longer in use. Please click here to go to Albany UU's donation page.
This Sunday 10/17: in-person RE groups at church beginning at 10 AM. Youth group starts at 10 in B-8, everyone else goes to service and leaves after the story. Grade 7/8 Book Club meets downstairs in B3/B4, Grades 4-6 are upstairs in 26, PreK-3rd Grade are upstairs in 24/25. Please pick up your prek-3rd grade child from room 24/25 after the service, older kids will be dismissed to find their grownups once service ends.
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UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
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Who are we Now? Our Religious Education Identity
You are invited to join Dr. Michele Grove for a series of workshops on our religious education identity. Join one or all.
TONIGHT - Thursday 10/14 at 7pm
Next up:
Wednesday 10/20 7pm "Where Are We Now?" workshop #3
Tuesday 10/26 7 pm "Where Are We Now?" workshop #4
Start your Sunday Morning with Meditation 8:30 - 9:15 AM
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 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.
Ps and Qs
At 10:00 AM each Wednesday, Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will meet in Room B-8 at Albany UU.
To join remotely, use this link:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Albany UU Sings
Join your friends on these fall Wednesdays at 7:00 PM and sing your heart out in Virtual Community! We will supply the music and the lyrics.
Oct 20
Nov 3, 17
Dec 1, 15
Hope to see you there.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000
A Virtual Orientation for Newcomers on Zoom
Getting to Know UU
Saturday, Oct 23, is a great chance for some of us at Albany UU to get to know YOU -- but it's also a perfect opportunity for you to learn about this Unitarian Universalist congregation, explore the roots of "UUism," and begin to figure out how participating in congregational life can enhance your personal journey.
Please join us:
10:00 AM to noon
Saturday, Oct 23
Use this link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Signing up is preferred, but logins the day of are welcome, come as you are!
Rodger Fink Memorial Service
Join us on Zoom on Sunday, Oct 24 at 4:00 PM for a virtual memorial service for long time member, Rodger Fink.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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LEARNING OPPORTUNITY WITH YOUR MINISTER
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Reading Octavia Butler’s Novel “Parable of the Sower”
Rev. Sam is organizing a book study class to introduce the deep theology and cultural analysis found in Octavia Butler’s Afro-Futurism novels. The source for the class is a podcast called Octavia’s Parables by Adrienne Maree Brown and Toshi Reagon. Both are deeply devoted to her as a writer and a source of inspiration for their activism and their artistic work.
There is one episode of the podcast for each chapter of Butler’s book “Parable of the Sower.” In each episode, the chapter is briefly summarized and discussed. Themes are identified and become the source for discussion questions. We will read (or reread) each chapter and listen to that chapter’s podcast before the class. We’ll discuss the chapter and their podcast for the first part of the class. The second part of the class will be broken into smaller groups to discuss the questions identified in the podcast. We’ll come back together after the discussion time to share highlights from our group discussions.
The class will meet from 7-8pm on Sunday nights on Zoom beginning October 24. Please invite your friends! I’m hoping to identify some guest speakers who are Butler scholars to speak with us and share their analysis. The goal of the class is to grow and develop our own theology through engaging with Butler’s text and the questions that come from the podcast as well as be influenced by Butler, Brown and Reagon’s social and cultural critiques. To register, please send an email to registration@albanyuu.org.
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Election Day apple peeling and pie assembly
Tuesday, Nov. 2, 9:00 to noon, Channing Hall
Join Sandy Stone and Barb Manning as they lead the masked and distanced effort of getting the pies assembled for our fall pie sale. Don’t forget to bring your favorite peeling knife! Questions? Contact Sandy Stone: 518-489-8293 or dsalbany@nycap.rr.com.
Calling all pie crust makers!
Interested in making pie crusts for our fall fundraiser?
Recipe and pans provided. You provide the ingredients. Please reach out to Sandy Stone if you’d like to help with this important part of our pie fundraiser. 518-489-8293 or dsalbany@nycap.rr.com.
Conflict Transformation Workgroup
This is a group exploring what’s needed to support our AlbanyUU community to work with conflict. We want to be a resource of resources, building Albany UU's collective capacity to stimulate ways of thinking how we "do conflict" and what can bring us closer to our vision of being in Beloved Community. Here is our 2-minute Community Message video that was delivered in the service on September 26, to listen and watch. or read the text here.
The members of the group are Jan McCracken (Facilitator), Sharon Babala, Paula Brewer, Anne Marie Haber, Michael Hornsby, Jean Poppei, Deborah Vogel, Sam Trumbore, We welcome your input and questions!
Invitation to submit proposals and join a conversation
Individuals and committees/teams are invited to submit a proposal for the use of Strategic Reserve Funds by Oct 18. A congregational conversation will be held to discuss the proposals on Sunday, Nov 7 (note date change from previous publications). Learn more here.
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Miki Conn presents: Integrating Delmar 1957: The Story of a Friendship
Join us for a unique opportunity with a local artist with many connections to Albany UU. On October 21 at 4:30 pm, the Inclusivity Team brings to Albany UU's Community Hall (and on Zoom) local artist and poet, Miki Conn, who will present a very unique memoir. Integrating Delmar 1957: The Story of a Friendship chronicles a middle class African American family’s search for housing during the summer of 1957 and the results of they decision by a white couple, long-time UU Arlen Westbrook and her husband, to rent their house to the Cunningham family. Learn more here
RSVP to attend in-person by following this link
Raise Your Voice for End of Life Choice
Medical aid in dying is an established medical practice of compassionate care in eleven jurisdictions in the U.S., including our neighboring states of Vermont and New Jersey. It has been available in Oregon for over twenty years. It enables individuals with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request medication from a physician for a peaceful death so long as they can take the medication themselves. Proposed legislation to enable New Yorkers to have the option of medical aid in dying awaits passage in 2022. If you support giving New Yorkers this end of life option – to complement hospice and palliative care – let your State representatives know.
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Call to action: It’s not too late to add your voice to the more than 1,500 New Yorkers who signed a petition to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to support medical aid in dying. Sign it here.
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Volunteer opportunity: Join a Zoom meeting with a New York State lawmaker to advocate for medical aid in dying. No experience needed. To be contacted when meetings are scheduled, email Amanda by clicking here.
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Educational opportunity: Webinar on October 18, 4:00-5:00, Medical Aid in Dying Legislation — Everything You Need to Know. Learn about the history of the Death with Dignity movement, the situation in states and countries where the practice is authorized, and some aspects of the Medical Aid in Dying Act being considered in New York. Also, hear about advocacy in New York, what supporters of this end-of-life choice can do now, and what to expect during the 2022 legislative session. Presenters are Thad Mirer (Director of Death with Dignity-Albany) and Amanda Cavanaugh (Campaign Manager of Compassion and Choices New York and New Jersey). Register here. Registration required.
Global Population Will Peak Soon
A talk by Chris Bystroff, Professor o Biological Sciences at RPI. Sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Committee
Monday, Nov 22, 7:00-8:30 PM at Albany UU and on Zoom.
The 2020 census data is coming in. Global population growth is slowing down. Birth rates are dropping worldwide. Meanwhile climate change is wreaking havoc on the food supply. When will humanity reach its peak? Dr. Chris Bystroff, Professor of Biology and Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has constructed a mathematical model for population growth that factors in climate change and other resource limits. It is a 30,000 foot view of human history, asking the questions:
- How did population grow so quickly?
- What will our future look like if we carry on with business-as-usual?
- What can happen if policies are put in place to save the ecosphere?
Dr. Bystroff will introduce research towards a new long-acting and reversible hands-off contraceptive.
RSVP to attend in-person by following this link
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The Inclusivity Team Recommends:
A book for children:
Unspeakable: The Tulsa race massacre, by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (2021). Describing the thriving Black community of Greenwood district in Tulsa, this story introduces the horrific events of the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, and illustrates how it was never brought to justice for the people that suffered the consequences. Available in the Upper Hudson Library System in hardcopy, DVD, downloadable e-, audio-, and video-book formats.
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
Creative Action Unlimited presents two new movies at the Madison Theater.
Dates and advance tickets are limited. Tickets for remaining seats will be sold at the door.
In October - Whitewashed: the racism project
In November - The Climb
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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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