UU Church of Sarasota

Welcome Visitors! Click here for a special message for you.

Sunday service:

Click here for the Stories of Hope, referred to in Doug's sermon.

Happy Holiday Happenings

Virtual Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner via Zoom on Thursday, November 26, at 1:30 pm
Bring you own food/drink and share fellowship via zoom as we eat. You will be placed into smaller break-out rooms through-out the dinner so that you have an opportunity to converse with others. Questions? Contact Catherine Bonner @ (941) 720-8437 or Beth Miller @ (617) 893-1949. Zoom notices will be sent on Wednesday. Read more...
UU Yuletide Holiday Festival via Zoom on Thursdy, December 10, at 7 pm
Share an original or favorite holiday poem, short story or piece of music, or just come to enjoy the fellowship of our congregation. We are looking for writers, readers and musicians to help us celebrate Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa in this festive program live and Zoomed to your device. Contact Budd Friend-Jones (buddfjuucs@gmail.com) for more information.
Hanukkah observance during Sunday Service via Zoom on December 13
Holiday Singalong via Zoom on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 pm
Solstice observance during Sunday Service via Zoom on December 20
Christmas Eve Wassail Drive Through at Church on Thursday, December 24, from 2 to 3
Christmas Eve Intergenerational Service via Zoom on Thursday, December 24, at 7:00 pm
Christmas Day Happy Hour via Zoom on Friday, December 25, at 5:00 pm
"Farewell 2020" Sunday Service via Zoom on Sunday, December 27
New Year’s Eve Happy Hour via Zoom on Friday, December 31, at 7:30 pm
"Hellow 2021" Sunday Service via Zoom on Sunday, January 3

Zoom meetings this week:
With the church campus closed, many activities have moved to Zoom. Here are some of them.
Monday, 12:00- 1:00 pm; Mindfulness - sign up acbradt@gmail.com
Tuesday, 7:00-8:00 pm: Qigong drop-in class Read more...
Wednesday, 9:30 - 10:00 am Chair Yoga - sign up acbradt@gmail.com
Wednesday, 11:30 am Coffee, Tea or Lunch Read more...
Thursday, 10:00-11:00 am: Qigong drop-in class Read more...
Thursday, 12:00 - 1:00 pm; Mindfulness - sign up acbradt@gmail.com
Thanksgiving Thursday 1:30 Join the Progressive Dinner Read more...
Thursday, 5:00-6:15 pm: Racial Justice Reading Program. Read more...
Friday, 5:00 - 6:00 pm: Happy Hour Read more...
Sunday, 9:30 am: Forum (details below)
Sunday, 10:20 am: Religious Education (details below)
Sunday, 11:30 am: Coffee Hour (details below)
Sunday, 7:00 pm: Zen Buddhism (see below)
Small groups and committees are also meeting via Zoom
These events are listed on our calendar.
The meetings are live events and not recorded.

Donate to the church by clicking the Donate button to the left. Your support is needed and gratefully received.

This Sunday, November 22,
on your computer or phone.

Sunday Service (prerecorded) at 10:45 am:
Things to Make the Season Bright
Sermon by Rev. Doug Wadkins
As we move into another holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving, there are often a variety of experiences of the time. Even in typical years, it is often a time of challenge as well as opportunity. We know that this season is likely to be even more of a challenge and so we will explore ways to journey through the coming weeks with greater intention, meaning, and compassion.

Music

Masked Mini-Choir

Live Religious Education at 10:20 am

The Platinum Rule- Listen before trying to help and heal others.

Each week, our Religious Education group is holding online zoom meetings to connect. No matter your age, ALL ARE WELCOME to join us if you are in line with our UU values and principles. More details on the lesson and to get the Zoom link can be found can be found here...

Live Forum via Zoom at 9:30 am

Teaching Antiracism
in our Schools
Dale Anderson and others will describe the antiracism training petition which was presented to the school board. Zoom Host, Karen Bush.

Live Zoom Coffee hour at 11:30 am

We gather in the Zoom "courtyard" after the service for fellowship. All are welcome to join us. The login for this meeting is the same as for the Forum. If you attend the Forum, you can just stay logged in. Or log out after the Forum and log in again for the Coffee Hour. To receive the login, sign up on our Virtual Guestbook.

Live Zen Buddhism via Zoom at 7:00 pm

A group focusing on "The Study and Practice of Zen" meets every Sunday evening at 7 pm via Zoom. Each session is organized into two components: The study of Zen and the practice of Zen through a 20-minute meditation. Open to newcomers as well as experienced Zen practitioners. To join the session send an email to zen@uusarasota.org with your name and email address. We'll email you the password and credentials. Read more...

Past services, including transcripts, are on our Virtual Church page.

Past Forums, including links to documents, are on our Forum Archive page.
General Assembly 2020 events are on our GA 20 page.
Future services are on our Upcoming Services page.
Zoom meetings are live and not recorded.
How are the Virtual Church recordings made? see Making of Virtual Church

Pastoral Care and Connection

Rev. Beth Miller

Rev. Doug Wadkins

Rev. Budd Friend-Jones

The Reverends Beth Miller (Bethmuucs@gmail.com 617-893-1949), Doug Wadkins (dougwuucs@gmail.com 941-371-4974 extension 4) and Budd Friend-Jones (Buddfjuucs@gmail.com 224-623-9200) are available to respond to your pastoral needs. In addition, Caring Committee and Pastoral Care Team members are available to help in a variety of ways. Pandemic rules currently in effect prohibit hospital and care facility visits, and home visits would be only in special circumstances, but we can arrange other help as needed. Please contact Beth, Doug or Budd if you or someone you know in our church community has a need, or just to talk.

Social Justice Action

UUs in the News:
Patricia Allen's guest column published in Herald-Tribune

The September 25 issue of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune published Patricia Allen's guest column on the subject of the inadequecy of police in handling mental health emergencies. Read the full column...

Racial Justice News
UUCS offers many different ways to get educated and get involved. More information here.

We stand with the Jewish community
See Rev. Budd Friend-Jones' remarks about recent anti-semitism in Sarasota.
A suspect has been identified. Read more...

Ready to Take Action?
There are many ways to share your opinions about current events with your local, state and federal representatives. The most effective way is by phone, followed by writing letters. The Social Justice Committee is here to help by providing contact information, all in one place. Visit our Activist Corner for easy access to the phone numbers of your local, state and federal leaders.

Fair Trade Program

Interested in a Drive-up, Touch-Free Delivery? Click here.

At this time, only financial donations are requested. We recently donated $1,540.

Did you know? From clothes to food, the closer to home these products are made and bought, the less carbon is created with their transportation. Not only that, but you’ll be supporting the local economy. Vote for our community and our planet with your wallet.

Solution: BUY LOCAL

Green Team Home Page
Upcoming Events
Eating Sustainably
Veg Restaurants
Farmers Markets

Chalice Groups
Small groups are active now. Contact
Chalice@uusarasota.org
for more information, Read more...

2020 UUCS Members Virtual Art Exhibit:
"Connecting with Art"
28 great pieces of art by 15 UUCS member artists.
See it here!

September blues and purple orchids
Dick Happy's latest reflection is at his
"From the Garden Gate" blog ...

Happy found with umbrella
Dick Happy's latest reflection, with video accompaniment, is at his
"From the Garden Gate" blog ...

Congratulations to Peg Green!
... for the recognition she has received from the national UUA in the Summer 2020 issue of the UU World magazine. Read More

Click here for a Guide to Streaming Sunday Services, Meetings, and Classes

Beware of scams. Our ministers do not solicit contributions via email. Click here to read a scam email recently received by a member.

Auction results are posted in Members Corner

Leach receives Unity Award
Rev. Brock Leach has been named as one of the recipients of this year's Sarasota Magazine's Unity Award. These awards celebrate the people, companies and projects that advance equality, diversity and inclusion in our community and around the world. Read More...

Congratulations to Tom Cook who was named the WINNER of WEDU's Be More Awards
This honor recognizes Tom to have lent voice to bring awareness, credence, support, or action to an issue or cause faced by our citizens and thus making a tremendous impact within an organization in our community. Tom has volunteered at Childrens First for nine years.

Annual Report published
Our annual report for 2019-2020 has now been posted to the Members' Corner.

Here we affirm and promote reason and the scientific method as the tools in learning to love each other and
live in harmony with the earth.

We have no creed, but we do strongly encourage everyone to treat each other with respect. We are affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Our religious education program helps our children develop their own common sense and logic in evaluating religious claims. We provide a safe place to help children learn and talk about the big issues such as God, Death, and Sexuality.

We are a Welcoming Congregation, celebrating and affirming the active presence here of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual members and friends, and their families.

We are a Green Congregation, promoting respect for the interdependent web of all existence.

Meet the Ministers

Rev. Dr. Doug Wadkins, Interim Senior Minister, joined our church
August 1.. Read more...

Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister, joined the church on September 1. Read more...

Rev. Gilbert (Budd) Friend-Jones, Associate Minister, joined the church on September 1. Read more...

Ministerial Transition
Read more...

Frequent Questions

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Quick Links

Videos and Audios

Videos copyright Unitarian Universalist Association.

Meet the Board

Our Board of Trustees is elected annually by the congregation. Read more...

Happy gets distracted in church
Read more in Dick's "From the Garden Gate" blog...

The Board of Trustees meets at 7 pm on the third Tuesday of the month. Read the latest minutes here. The current year budget can be found in the Members Corner.

UUs in the News:
Heartwarming adoption story featuring Diane and Dick Happy

The Happys are featured in Zac Anderson's front page column in the February 14 issue of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Read complete article...

Starting in July, your new or additional pledge OR extra gift was matched by a group of Challenge Donor members, up to a total of $20,000. Thank you for doing a little more to support your church in these challenging times.
-- your Stewardship Committee

Read more about our Pledge drive...

Remember our 5 fun "20/20 Vision" member videos? Watch them again here. Learn more.

Drone video of our partner church is now available. Click here to view...
Read more about our partner church...

Chalice Groups

Deep Thinking, Deep Listening
A new group begins soon.

We are a

Welcoming Congregation

Our church is a safe space for g/l/b/t persons. We take positions against oppression in our larger community.

We are a

Green Sanctuary

Congregation practicing reverence, gratitude, and care for the living Earth.

Our Partner Church

Read about our relationship with the Unitarians of Korond, Transylvania.