Find a downloadable and printable Holiday Event flyer here.
Sunday December 20
10:00 AM – Our Multigenerational Christmas Service with the Pageant: Love Always Comes
In a year like no other, we have adapted our Christmas pageant to use the resources available to us to enact the traditional story of love being born into the world. The congregations of Albany UU and the UU Congregation of Saratoga springs will join together for this service. Your presence will make it come to life.
https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-SundayService
4:30 PM – Virtual Solstice Service
The Longest Night: Celebrating Winter Solstice
With shared song and story and silence, we will join together online to open ourselves to the blessings of the longest night and the return of the light. This online service will be centered in a religious naturalist theology.
Have some paper ready—wrapping paper or origami paper would be best—as one meditation will be folding paper to make a star representative of the stars that companion us through the longest night.
The collection at this service will benefit the Minister’s Discretionary Fund which our minister uses to support congregants and community members in times of need.
https://bit.ly/UUSaratogaLongestNight2020
Monday December 21
7:00 PM – Albany UU Singing for THEIR Supper Holiday Concert to Benefit FOCUS Food Pantry
Enjoy an evening of varied seasonal music from many of your favorite Albany UU musicians and friends! Free will donation during the event will benefit the FOCUS Food Pantry and the many people they serve. Featured vocalists and/or instrumentalists: Mark Abendroth, Lois Bailey, Ann Brandon, Chris Bystroff, Dawn and Dick Dana, Bruce Holden, Tanya Hotalen, Chris Jensen, Elena Karpoff, David MacLeod, Debbie Reep MacLeod, Anya Miller, Randy Rosette, Kabel Stanwicks, Alan Thomson, and Alyssa Yeager. Also presenting our AUU Virtual Choir and a parody by Bob Franklin! Hope to see you there!!
https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-Holiday-Concert
Thursday December 24
Christmas Eve Service (7:30pm with repeat broadcast at 10:00pm)
Join us to hear your favorite Christmas carols, enjoy some heartwarming stories, light candles and sing Silent Night together. Though we will not be able to be in the Sanctuary, we’ll have some video from it and enjoy two moving virtual choir pieces. It will not be the same as being physically present together but the spirit of Christmas will not be stopped on this holy evening. Special musical guests: AUU Virtual Choir and Chris Bystroff
https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-ChristmasEve
Friday December 25
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Zoom Christmas Day Open House
If you’re in the mood and would enjoy a little company, , come to our Christmas Day Open House!
Rev Sam and Leah will be hosting. You can pop by to say hello, or you can stay for a spell. Open to everyone from Albany UU. Even if you’re in a “Bah, humbug!” mood, you’re welcome to come. So, bring your own snacks, tea, eggnog or whatever you enjoy and join us and whoever else might come for some community and fellowship.
https://tinyurl.com/AlbanyUU-ChristmasOpenHouse
Monday December 28
6:30 PM – Multigenerational Game Night
Join us for some time together for fun and games on Zoom. We’ll start with some “getting to know you” activities and then have two or three breakout rooms with different games. It’s super helpful to know in advance how many people are coming, but folks can decide to come at the last minute. Email Mike Myers at myersesq@aol.com with questions and to let him know by Dec 27 if you’re coming.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83215228638
Friday January 1, 2021
10:00 AM – New Year’s Day Labyrinth Walk
Join your Albany UU friends and families to start 2021 with movement and meditation in the fresh air. We’ll create a simple labyrinth in Lincoln Park using natural materials starting at 10:00 AM. Bring sticks or small branches, pebbles, vines, and perhaps a bough from your tree. Leah Purcell will be on hand to create the labyrinth and stay until noon to give people guidance on how to use it if they would like. Labyrinth walking is an ancient practice used by many different faiths for spiritual centering, contemplation, and prayer. Our young children have used one in RE. Everyone is welcome! (Eagle St entrance to Lincoln Park; park by the pool house; use the steps or ramp across from the pool house entrance to enter the Park “Bowl” and find the labyrinth.) We’re not sure about the public restrooms there so we recommend using the restroom prior to attending. Masks required.