Greetings Friends,
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.
Please note, the Daily Reminder was not sent out this morning since there were no events to remind folks about today. Everything you need to know is right here in the Weekly. Daily Reminders will continue tomorrow morning. Thank you!
If this email was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive it directly, please
Learn more about what's happening with UU Kids and Families by reading the Religious Education publication, RE Roundup.
-Blessings and Be Well
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VIRTUAL SUNDAY SERVICE
LIVE on ZOOM
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Main Service at 10:00 AM, Children's Service at 11:30 AM
Begin your Sunday morning with Rev. Sam guiding an 8:30 Virtual Meditation session until 9:15. We then have Virtual Service beginning at 10:00 each Sunday and a chance to stay online for virtual
"Coffee Hour" followed by RE for ALL, at 11:30.
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May 16, This I Believe
This is the Sunday Service when we hear from members of the congregation who will share their own personal religious perspective. Our presenters this year we will be Tom Mercer, Iris Daniels, and Kristen Abbas. This has been a perennially popular service. We appreciate our presenters' willingness to participate this year and look forward to hearing from them.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Barb and Dave Metz, Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
Our Annual Meeting follows the service today!
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”.
Use this link to join Sunday service:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
No Family Chapel or RE Sessions May 16 so that parents, caretakers and guides can attend the Annual Meeting after the 10:00 service.
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SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION
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May 23, “No Last Chapter in Our UU Story,” Rev. Sam Trumbore
Over and over again, our ministers strive to articulate the core of our religious tradition, seeking unchanging dimension of our faith. And the outward expression of UUism keeps changing in new language, expression, symbols, and story. This can be confusing without recognizing the connections to our past, the evolution in the present and the vision drawing us into the future.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff
May 30, “Flower Communion,” Leah Purcell and Elizabeth Baldes
Join us for our annual Multigenerational Flower Ceremony service at 10:00. Bring a real flower with you when you join the service. We’ll hear the story of the first UU flower ceremony and explore its meaning for us today. The children will have a way for us to virtually share the flowers we have gathered.
Music provided by Elena Karpoff, Randy Rosette, Chris Jensen
The Albany UU Service year continues
through June 13
Summer Services begin Sunday, June 20, 10:00 AM
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Joys and Concerns for Online Services
Need to Talk? Albany UU Pastoral Care Associates are here to listen!
Adult RE for ALL, Sunday Offering and other Information
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What are other UU congregations doing and saying about the 8TH Principle of Unitarian Universalism?
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
More than 40 congregations have formally adopted the 8TH Principle and there are at least 40 more in process. The Albany UU Inclusivity Team's 8th Principle subteam has been talking with some of these congregations. What have been some of their experiences?
- Evanston, Illinois congregation: More than the other 7, the 8th is about taking action, doing the work that needs to be done within our own congregation. It is a great way to show how much you care about the BIPOC community.
- Washington Crossing, NJ congregation: The congregation has been more serious about tackling racism, though COVID has been slowing their progress.
- Durham, NC congregation: The 8th Principle makes UU congregations more fully involved, willing to take risks, and put themselves fully on the line. I am a UU because I believe in the 7 + 1 principles.
- Honolulu congregation: Having an 8th Principle framework is very helpful…. It’s the beginning of an ongoing commitment to engage in deeper antiracism work…. We don’t have to work around the edges, but can go to the heart of it. I just finished an ad spot for our church. The capper line is: “We welcome all who welcome all.”
- Baltimore, MD congregation: We look at everything through the lens of the 8th Principle. Services have gotten better and more diverse.
- Cambridge, MA congregant, who resigned when his congregation did not adopt the 8th Principle: It’s a lot of work to be in a [UU] congregation as a person of color.
- Honolulu congregation: If you don’t deal with the 8th Principle, everything you tell me about the other 7 doesn’t ring true…. If I were looking for a new congregation, I’d be looking for one who had adopted the 8th Principle where I can be more comfortable around like-minded people.
- Honolulu congregation: By adopting the 8th Principle, the spiritual and cultural fabric of our congregation has been transformed completely in its structure, operations, and interactions.
- Portland, OR congregation: If not here, where? Who is going to do the work?... We struggle with a lot of people who feel they are there. But we know we are never done. The 8th Principle puts us back on the hook.
- Delaware County, PA congregation: Don’t put off rolling out the 8th Principle to your congregation. It might be easier to roll it out later, but that’s not a reason to put it off. It is important to do it now. You take advantage of the moment if you do it now.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact the Inclusivity Team 8th Principal subteam at 8thPrinciple@AlbanyUU.org or any of the subteam members directly: Dick Dana, Linda Hunt, Lee Newberg, or Annika Pfluger.
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Sunday, May 16, 2021
10:00 AM Virtual Service via Zoom
11:00 AM Virtual Annual Meeting via Zoom
The Albany UU Annual Meeting will be hosted via Zoom on THIS Sunday, May 16, immediately after the service. In addition to the presentation of reports, business will include the presentation and adoption of the 2021-22 budget.
Ballots for all elections, both contested and uncontested, have been handled by mail. Active members eligible to vote should have received a ballot by mail, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for returning completed ballots. Ballots must be received by 11 AM tomorrow, Friday, May 14.
BALLOT CORRECTION: For the contested positions for Nominating Committee, the description of the terms is incorrect and does not reflect the transition to the new term lengths approved by the congregation this spring. For Nominating Committee, the top vote getter will be elected to a two year term and the second highest vote getter will be elected to a one year term.
Watch your Daily Reminders for you digital copy of the Annual Report.
IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING REMINDERS:
Households with more than one eligible voter will need to participate in the Annual Meeting via separate devices. It is the only way we can count every vote. This can include computers, laptops, tablet, smart phone, regular cell phones and house phones.
- Please sign on, at the beginning of the meeting, to each device everyone in your household will be using.
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If you will be using a regular cell phone or house phone, please email that phone number to Tammy Hathaway in advance of the meeting (admin@albanyuu.org). This will help her identify callers on the day of the meeting in order to name your online presence. This is necessary so you can be called upon by name if you wish to speak.
Remain on Zoom after service, or use the service link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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UPCOMING WAYS to CONNECT
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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:
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 and discuss their 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
Social Responsibilities Team Meeting
Wednesday, May 19, 6:45 PM
All are welcome to attend.
Use the service link to join:
To dial in by phone: 1-929-436-2866:
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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Ps and Qs
Projects and Quilts (Ps and Qs) will zoom next on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:00 AM.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
Albany UU Sings
Join your friends and sing your heart out in Virtual Community! We will supply the music and the lyrics.
Save these Wednesday dates at 7:00 PM for the rest of the the service year:
May 26; June 9
Hope to see you there.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 979 5961 1765
Passcode: 0000
Walker Book Group
Join the Walker Book Group for a Zoom discussion on Sunday, June 13 at 6:30 pm. Join at 6:15 for additional time to socialize. We will discuss Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Refugees. Learn more here.
Use this link to join:
By phone: 929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 299 018 7785
Password: 0000
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
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Building Use Guidelines
The Board and MOT would like you to know that we are in the process of reassessing our guidelines for the use of our building. As pandemic restrictions are loosened and more people are vaccinated, it makes sense for us to review the status of our building. We will conduct that review with the needs of both congregants and potential renters in mind. We expect to update those guidelines in the next week or so and thank you for your patience in this important matter.
Help Needed!
This Saturday morning, May 15, Bob Franklin is using his truck to pick up 2 yards of compost/mulch mix that needs to be spread around all of the plants in the various gardens at Albany UU. This past Monday, a crew of about 16 people worked to clean out the gardens, weed and plant some new things.
Now we need a crew of people to help unload the mulch/Compost mix and spread it over these gardens - one on West Street, the garden area in the triangle in front of the old sanctuary, and the several gardens on Washington Ave. We would meet on Saturday, May 15 at 10:30 am at the church and would be done by noon (or sooner, if we get enough people). If you can come for one or two hours on Saturday morning to help out, please contact Barb Manning and let her know.
We're hiring!
Albany UU is now accepting applications for:
Manage building use and rentals, assist with communications, social media, virtual service slides and general clerical support. When we are back in our sacred space, s/he is the face of Albany UU for callers, visitors and members. Computer skills needed include page layout and ability to use a church database; good verbal and telephone skills; comfortable working with people from all walks of life. 20 hours/week, starts July 1, 2021, $15-16/hour.
Racial Healing Monthly Group
The first round of the "Racial Healing Workshop" has finished, and one of the many wonderful outcomes of the group was creating a space specifically for BIPOC members for discussion and connection. We would like to continue that space and open it up to other BIPOC members of Albany UU. We'll meet on the second Monday of the month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom. If interested or to get more info, please reach out to Jaye Holly jholly63@gmail.com.
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Albany UU
Library Chair needed
If you are interested in becoming a steward of these resources, please check out the volunteer job descriptions HERE and HERE, and contact Church Administrator, Tammy Hathaway to express your interest: admin@albanyuu.org
Endowment Trust Grants
Each calendar year the endowment trustees use a prescribed formula based on income from its investments to calculate the amount of money available for special project grants. The 2021 granting capacity is $20,000.
Young Adults
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Thank you to our Gardening Team! |
We had 17 people working on the gardens and grounds. The Peace Pole area is looking great with a new meandering path the whole length of the garden. The 'stone river' along the wall/entrance in the Peace Pole Garden is about half completed. The Mannings are working on that and it is going to be beautiful, but they need help, see above! It's a great solution for an unattractive area where nothing would grow. We divided and transplanted some plants and added new ones in other places. We placed some flat slate stones in the areas that are continually trampled and nothing will grow. The grass in the triangle was about 10" high. The shed has been cleaned and organized for gardening season and every piece of trash was picked up....until next time.
The Metz's supplied the flat slate for the path and many of the round stones for the 'river.' Sigrin Newell, Sandy Stone, Paula Moskowitz, Barb Manning and Donna Meixner provided plants from their gardens.
Here are the awesome folks who worked yesterday:
Barb and Chuck Manning
Paula and Steve Moskowitz
Cassie and Vic Artale
Dave and Sandy Stone
Jennifer and Todd Thomas
Barb and Dave Metz
Debbie Hoffman and son Merin
Todd Van Hausen
Mike Babala
Nancy Shay
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The Albany UU Social Responsibilities Council (SRC) and Inclusivity Team recommend a 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
- physical distance, masks
- signs only, no chanting (except for meditative religious practice)
- the vigil will automatically be canceled if the temperature is 20 or below OR if the wind chill is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit
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No Family Chapel or RE Sessions May 16 so that parents, caretakers and guides can attend the Annual Meeting after the 10:00 service.
Parent/Caretaker Support Group Meets May 19
Leah facilitates this is a drop-in time for UU parents and caretakers to talk about raising children and youth with UU values. There is always plenty of wisdom in the "room" when we meet. Newcomers are welcome too.
Here’s the link:
Leah Purcell would like to hear from families with children and youth
Leah is checking in with families in the coming weeks. How has the online RE program been working for and your family? How about the online resources and occasional zoom supports? What do you need? How can the RE program and our family ministry make a difference in your lives? Please fill out this form now to help Leah get started with scheduling. Thanks!
The Treehouse is our own multigenerational community for Religious Education for Children and Youth. Families can find resources to practice UU-ism at home and supplementary materials for RE groups. Everyone - parents/caretakers, children and youth can share their written thoughts, pictures, videos they make. Click here to join: https://tinyurl.com/Albany-Treehouse
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Last Family Chapel and RE Sessions of the church year, Sunday, May 23
Coming of Age meets Sunday May 23 at 12:30
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UU WEEKEND AT SILVER BAY
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UU Weekend Keynote Speaker Announced
We are delighted to announce that Stephen “Dr. Bird” Birchak (author, professor, counseling psychologist, former college wrestling coach of the year, husband, father, and reformed class clown) will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Bird is one of the nation’s most recognized voices on issues of positive psychology and has written and spoken extensively on this subject. His keynote address is entitled “The Happiness Code: The Five Active Reflections of Really, Really Happy People!”
Join us at the UU Weekend at Silver Bay from October 15-17, 2021.
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Essential Building Use Guidelines:
The Board and MOT are in the process of reassessing our guidelines for the use of our building. As pandemic restrictions are loosened and more people are vaccinated, it makes sense for us to review the status of our building. We will conduct that review with the needs of both congregants and potential renters in mind. We expect to update those guidelines in the next week or so and thank you for your patience in this important matter.
Learn about submitting announcements to for our virtual Sunday service and how to reserve a Zoom room for meetings and events 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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First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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Office hours:
The Albany UU Office is closed during this time of physical distancing. Sam, Leah and Tammy have their messages forwarded to their personal cell phones and are available by email.
Our Website:
Zoom use
To reserve Zoom for an Albany UU online meeting, contact the virtual church office (518.463.7135 or admin@albanyuu.org).
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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