Members of the UU congregations in the Hudson Mohawk Cluster (UU Schenectady, Albany UU, UU Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls UU, and UU Catskills in Kingston) will gather this year in the UUSS Great Hall and on Zoom for the cluster’s annual joint worship service.

The guest preacher for this service is the Rev. Ashley DeTar Birt (she/her), who is the Program Manager for NYUUJ. She also serves as the Co-Director of The Center for Jubilee Practice and is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Ashley obtained her Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, an MA in Theater Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.

An outspoken advocate for youth ministry and social justice, Ashley has worked as a youth leader, Children, Youth and Family Pastor, and artistic and justice minister. She has participated in a variety of justice based committees and task forces in her denomination and her broader community. Ashley lives in New York City with her wife Emily, who is a UU minister.