Daytime Alliance Luncheon with guest speaker from Refugee & Immigrant Services
2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave, Schenectady, NY, 12308
Since 2007, RISSE — Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus — has been helping refugees in Albany find housing, jobs, education and other services so that they can thrive here in their new home. On Thursday, March 5, come hear how the current political and economic environment is affecting these vital programs from RISSE Executive Director Daniel Butterworth.
The Daytime Alliance invites everyone to enjoy lunch together in the church dining room at 12 noon on Thursday, March 5, followed by Mr. Butterworth’s presentation at 1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided by a new caterer this month, Sandye’s Cafe & Cakes, featuring pasta with alfredo sauce and chicken and broccoli on the side, tossed salad, and cookies for $20, payable at the door in cash or check.
PLEASE RSVP by Monday, March 2 by contacting Nancy Bogdanowicz

Creative Thursdays
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00
Do you knit, crochet, embroider, do beadwork, needlepoint, macrame or make friendship bracelets? Do you like to color in adult coloring books, make Mandelas, sketch or make Zen Tangles?
Creative individuals who enjoy working in each other’s company are invited to bring themselves & their projects to the Fireplace Room on Thursday evenings.
Whether you do handwork as a hobby or as a spiritual practice, come join in this opportunity for connection!
Questions? Contact UUSS at info at uuschenectady dot org

125th Launch Lunch
2026-03-15 12:00 - 14:00
Save the Date!!!! 125th Launch Lunch!! March 15
Put this in your calendar. You don’t want to miss the launch of our year of celebrating 125 years of UUSS! Come to worship. Bring your pledge form. Stay for the celebration. – Rev. Wendy and Rev. Lynn

No Kings Signs & Songs
2026-03-20 12:00 - 13:00
The next No Kings protests will be Saturday, March 28th. There will be an event in Schenectady and Albany, which will be great opportunities to wear Side with Love hats, for folks who have them. Join with others at UUSS on March 22 as we make signs and share some songs and chants. We’ll ground our justice work in our UU values and connect in creativity and commitment! Feel free to bring art materials and snacks to share! We’ll provide some poster board and paint, some songs and chants.
And, the sign-making and singing will continue at a community-wide gathering at Messiah Lutheran Church in Rotterdam, sponsored by Schenectady Clergy Against Hate, 2:00-4:00 pm.
– Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy

RE Families Lunch with the DLRE
2026-03-29 12:00 - 13:00
There will be an RE Family Lunch after the service on Sunday, 3/29. Two soups will be provided with potluck sides or desserts welcome. We are excited to have RE families new and old share conversation, connection, and nourishment. Please fill out the registration form to help us to plan for food. If you are able to attend and have not filled out the form, we are excited for your family to attend as well!
If you have any questions about the Religious Education or Adult Faith Development Programs at UUSS, I’d love to hear from you at info at uuschenectady dot org.
— Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Jamie Gargano.

BIPOC Authors Book Group Discussion (Online)
2026-03-30 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for a discussion of the play Purlie Victorious by Ossie Davison, on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 6 pm.
For more information contact UUSS at info at uuschenectady dot org.

The Gift of Seeds - An evening of Community, Connection and Seeds!
2026-04-08 18:00 - 20:00
Over a year ago, Fruition Seeds in Naples, NY, chose to shift away from consumerism and embrace gift economy practices. All flourishing is mutual, as Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us, and seeds brilliantly embody this generosity, creativity and care.
Join with members of the Survive and Thrive Team and Petra Page-Mann of Fruition Seeds to practice receiving hundreds of varieties of regionally adapted vegetable and flower seeds as gifts, cultivating gift culture as well as community. Come ready to reflect, connect and honor your gifts as we all learn to amplify the gifts of community together. Expect puppets! And lots of seeds! And to come alive as we explore living in ways both old and new. Bring a friend and hunger to sow more fruitful futures for your family, friends, neighbors and strangers as well as all generations yet to come.
Questions? Contact UUSS at info at uuschenectady dot org or (518)374-4446.

Gardens & Grounds Work Party
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00
As we prepare for our Mayfest CommUUnity Celebration on May 2, we invite you to help get the UUSS gardens and grounds ready for our community and guests.
The Gardens Team has scheduled work parties on Saturday April 18 and Saturday April 25, both from 10am until noon, and anyone is welcome to join us.
We’ll be raking and mulching the planting beds on the patio, the front plaza, and at Waters House, as well as cleaning up the grounds behind Waters House for kids’ activities.
You are encouraged to bring your own gardening gloves and rakes, and we’ll also have some available. We should have an enjoyable time working together as we prepare our grounds to look their best!
Any questions, contact Ernie Hall or Mimi Katz by emailing info at uuschenectady dot org. Also, if you’d like to be added to our Gardens Team mailing list, please let Ernie and Mimi know.

Hudson Mohawk Cluster Service April 19, 2026, 10:30am (at UU Schenectady & on Zoom)
2026-04-19 10:30 - 12:00
Join with UUs from our congregations in Albany, Catskills, Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, and Schenectady as we welcome Rev. Cathy Rion Starr from the Side With Love staff for a service of resilience and joy!
The worship will include participants from each of the five congregations and fabulous music featuring the combined choirs. All ages welcome. Childcare and Religious Education activities included for kids and youth.
Worship will be followed by time for connection, with potluck finger-food refreshments.
Workshop 12:15 pm — Undermining Pillars of Support: 4th Amendment Wedge Strategy
How do we prevent an authoritarian administration from becoming full-on fascism? In this workshop we’ll:

review ways to undermine Pillars of Support and practice strategic non-cooperation,
explore how UUs can help grow networks of 4th Amendment Workplaces to help employers and workers understand their rights if ICE arrives,
provide training and materials to recruit local businesses in this work and build relationship within your congregation and community.

A movie will be offered for kids to watch during the workshop.
For more information, contact UUSS at info at uuschenectady dot org

Mid-Day Meditations
2026-04-22 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-29 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-05-06 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-05-13 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-05-20 15:30 - 16:30
Beginning April 22, join UUSS member and mindfulness Buddhist practitioner Tamara Geveci for shared in-person meditation and mindfulness practice.
All are welcome for any or all of the spring sessions, which will be held in the Emerson Room, or maybe outside, if the weather allows!
This will be a time of connection through guided meditative and mindfulness practices, as well as quiet, reflective meditation. No previous meditation experience necessary.
Sessions run 3:30 -4:30 PM on Wednesdays, April 22 through May 20, in the Emerson Room.

Grief Group
2026-04-27 19:00 - 20:30
Grief is a human response to loss, and includes a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, overwhelm or numbness, denial, guilt, and despair. If you are grieving, you aren’t alone. If you have experienced a loss, whether it be a relationship. a job, a health change/diagnosis, a death, a loss of identity or meaning, or something else, you are welcome. There is a place for you. Join with Rev. Lynn and others for a time of care and mutual support.
Questions? Contact Rev. Lynn at info at uuschenectady dot org.
