Welcome Visitors! Click here for a special message for you.
Sunday's Service:
UU Service Committee -
January is Membership Month! details below  Dr. Gates
Serendipity Raffle is live
What’s that, you say? It’s a new way to have fun created by our auction committee. From time to time, we’ll have a stupendous offering for which you can buy raffle tickets online. Then the winning name will be drawn and announced at a Sunday service. Thanks to our Book Club, our first item is the chance to have two seats at the Sarasota Library Foundation’s Author Luncheon featuring Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The two luncheon tickets cost $300 but one raffle ticket costs only $40 for both tickets. Hurry…we are selling only 75 raffle tickets and they will go fast! Tickets are on sale now through Friday, Jan.28th. Click here to read more and buy tickets... 
Zoom meetings
this week: With the church campus closed, many activities have moved to Zoom. Here are some of them. Monday, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Spirituality - Read more... Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Tai Chi Easy- drop-in class Read more... (first and third weeks) Wednesday, 10:00-11:00 am, Qigong drop-in class Read more... (second and fourth weeks) Wednesday, 11:30-12:30 am, Coffee, Tea or Lunch Read more... Thursday, 10:00- 11:00 am, Chair Yoga Read more... Thursday, Noon -1:00 pm Mindfulness Read More... Friday Happy Hour, 5:00 - 6:00 pm Read more... LIVE In person Saturday. 10:00-11:00 am, Reeb Room - drop in Meditation with Stephen Gillum Sunday, 9:15 am, Forum (details below) Sunday, 10:45 am, Live Service via YouTube (details below) Sunday, 11:00 am, Religious Education (details above) Sunday, 11:30 am, Coffee Hour (details above) Sunday, 7:00 pm, Zen Buddhism (details above) Small groups and committees are also meeting via Zoom These events are listed on our calendar. The meetings are live events and not recorded.
Sunday, January 16:
Sunday Service Live on YouTube at 10:45 am:
Sermon by Rev. Doug Wadkins
Often we turn to great exemplars to help us think about how we might live more meaningful lives. This exercise can be both beneficial and potentially harmful. On this weekend when we remember the influential life of Martin Luther King Jr., we will engage in ways that his life may best offer wisdom for our living with intention. Music:
Don Bryn, piano, and our mini-choir
Religious Education: 11:00am via Zoom
Being Kind- Living with Intention
We encourage everyone to watch the Youtube worship service starting at 10:45am before joining us for our Religious Education Zoom call at 11:00am. No matter your age, ALL ARE WELCOME to join us if you are in line with our UU values and principles. More info on this week's lesson here and Zoom info HERE. Forum via Zoom at 9:15 am:
China-Taiwan Relations
Erik Durneika will discuss the current state of China-Taiwan relations. “This topic,” he says, “is not only relevant to the Asia-Pacific's overall security, but also has a bearing on U.S.-China relations and China's perception of U.S. military engagement in the region.” Coffee Hour via Zoom at 11:30 am
We gather after the service for fellowship in the Zoom “courtyard”. All are welcome to join us. Use the same link as for the FORUM (Zoom link will be sent on Saturday) Go to our Guestbook to sign up for the zoom links.
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 click here so we can email you the password and credentials. Read more...
UU Service Committee -
January is Membership Month! Every year during the fall and in January, our congregation pays homage to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) by learning about the work they do in the US and around the world. UUSC is the national social justice organization for UUs and relies upon congregations to make up the bulk of their funding to do their good works that put our UU Principles into action. This year’s theme is “Now is the Time for Courageous Change.” We have an opportunity to help our country shift away from the injustices occurring before and during Covid. It has become more obvious that our country needs to ensure that every person can benefit from exercising their full human rights - a priority that calls out for our attention. We cannot return to what was before! You can join this inspiring group of professional activists by supporting them financially and becoming aware of what they do. Right now they are focusing on climate forced displacements, human rights, immigrants rights and disaster relief. For just $40 you can become a member along with your family. If feeling generous, $150 or more will be matched by a well endowed congregation on Long Island - The Shelter Rock Congregation. To donate or update your membership, go to: https://donate.UUSC.org/UUSarasota2022. You will get lots of information about the work of the UUSC and will know that your support will be applied in healthy and sustainable ways. UUSC has a top rating on Charity Navigator. To learn more about their work, go to UUSC.org. Click here to read more and/or donate... Pausing in-person church due to resurgent Covid
We have returned to virtual-only services and programming for January. We will review the current state of COVID and its likely impact on this region in Florida and our congregations at this month’s Board meeting regarding moving forward into February. Read the full statement on our Covid Updates page... Past services are on our Virtual Church page. Past Forums, including links to documents, are on our Forum Archive page. Future services are on our Upcoming Services page. Zoom meetings are live and not recorded. Our YouTube channel is at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. How are our Sunday services live streamed via YouTube? see Making of Virtual Church
|
|
Rev. Budd Friend-Jones
|
The Reverends Beth Miller Bethmuucs@gmail.com 617-893-1949
Doug Wadkins dougwuucs@gmail.com 941-444-9617
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. Please contact Beth, Doug or Budd if you or someone you know in our church community has a need, or just to talk.
Doug Wadkins dougwuucs@gmail.com 941-444-9617
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. 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
Racial Justice News
UUCS offers many different ways to get educated and get involved. More information here. Social Action Project- The Butterfly Effect----
Highlighting U.S. Immigration Policies for Children and Families. 
The butterfly effect is the idea that a small change can lead to a much bigger change.
Learn more about this project here and how you can help. 
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. 
At this time, only financial donations are requested. We recently donated $1,540. 
Fair Trade Program
Our fair trade program is on temporary hiatus awaiting the end of the Covid issues. |
UUCS Arts Council features Susan Davy and “Poetry of the Ordinary”
The UUCS Arts Council is featuring photographer Susan Davy's work in the Lexow Wing Gallery. Susan’s images share her experience of the simple, yet elegant poetry of ordinary scenes. The exhibit. It will be on display through January 13th, 2022. Learn more and see a video about the exhibit here.
UUs in the News: Julie Leach featured in safety protocols report
A recent Sarasota Herald-Tribune article features Julie Leach in a report about public reaction to safety protocols at local arts venues. Click here to read the full article... 
Chalice Groups
Small groups are active now. Contact Suzie Brucklacher for more information or check out our Chalice Groups page. The Sarasota Mindfulness Institute, a local non-profit and friend of the church, warmly welcomes you to join us! SMI hosts free, twice-weekly guided mindfulness meditation/book discussion sessions via Zoom: on Wednesday evenings at 6pm, and/or on Fridays at noon. SMI also offers a variety of community classes, including mindful movement--Qigong & Tai Chi--via Zoom, three times a week. Donations are gratefully accepted. Easily register for all SMI classes, programs, and retreats at www.sarasotamindfulness.org.
Garden renamed Dick & Diane Happy Memorial Garden.
Dick Happy's latest reflection is at his "From the Garden Gate" blog ... 
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 |
Welcome Visitors
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.
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.
We are a Green Congregation, promoting respect for the interdependent web of all existence.
Minister Search
Read more...
Meet the Ministers
Rev. Dr. Doug Wadkins, Interim Senior Minister, joined our church
August 1, 2020
Read more...
August 1, 2020
Read more...
Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister, joined the church on September 1, 2019
Read more...
Read more...
Rev. Gilbert (Budd) Friend-Jones, Associate Minister, joined the church on September 1, 2019
Read more...
Read more...
Click here to log into Breeze, our church directory
Frequent Questions
Search this site
Quick Links
Videos and Audios
Our Board of Trustees is elected annually by the congregation. Read more...
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.
Conquering Technology-
Free Help Here
Need help with your technology including Zoom, emails, browsers or more? Sign-up here for some free help.
Free Help Here
Need help with your technology including Zoom, emails, browsers or more? Sign-up here for some free help.
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.
Drone video of our partner church is now available. Click here to view...
Read more about our partner church...
Read more about our partner church...
"Our Hymns" page added
Extensive information about our hymns, including lyrics, background and musical commentary, is now available in the Music section on the Our Hymns page.
Extensive information about our hymns, including lyrics, background and musical commentary, is now available in the Music section on the Our Hymns page.
Happy gets distracted in church
Read more in Dick's "From the Garden Gate" blog...
Read more in Dick's "From the Garden Gate" blog...
|
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. |
|