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Special Congregational Meeting - Sunday, June 27 - to select Settled Ministerial Search Team. More information coming soon.
Live Sunday Service at 10:45 am:
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This Sunday, June 13:
Live Sunday Service at 10:45 am:
Sermon by Rev. Budd Friend-Jones
“Play” has become a field unto itself. One can earn a PhD in play theory these days. Yet play cannot be categorized only as physiological, psychological, or biological. It is more. Playfulness may be the opposite of seriousness, but many people play very seriously indeed. Why is this? Johan Huizinga, in his classic Homo Ludens, showed that law and order, commerce, religion, art, craft, music, poetry, wisdom and science all have their roots in play. To be human is to be playful. We will playfully look at this serious theory (or seriously look at this playful one). “Genuine, pure play,” said Huizinga, is one of the primary foundations of civilization.” Music:
Live Religious Education at 10:30 am:
Celebrate at the Beach!
(No RE Zoom meeting this week.) It has been a long year away from each other and with lots of challenges. Let's get together to enjoy and celebrate being with each other as we head into the summer. Join us on South Lido Beach Park (by the playground) at 10:30am on Sunday, June 13th. Bring your own food, drink, chairs, beach toys, and games to enjoy the day. Masks are optional but fellowship is not. No matter your age, ALL ARE WELCOME to join us if you are in line with our UU values and principles. Not on our current religious education mailing list? Sign-up here and a Zoom link will be emailed to you. Call Catherine Bonner at (941) 720-8437 if you have any questions. Live Forum via Zoom at 9:30 am
Secular Humanism and Its Congressional Freethought Caucus
A discussion of how humanists in Congress are working to overcome the power of the religious far right. These members of Congress try to promote structural changes to achieve social justice in America. Presenter, Fred Sirasky; Moderator, Don Diddams; Terri Holsinger, Zoom Host. Coffee Hour via Zoom at 11:30 am
Join us for conversation after the service in our vitual 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 click here so we can email you the password and credentials. Read more...
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, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Tai Chi Easy- drop-in class Read more... Wednesday, 11:30 - 12:30 Coffee, Tea or Lunch Read more... Thursday, 10:00-11:00 am, Qigong drop-in class Read more... Thursday, 11:00 am Chair Yoga - sign up acbradt@gmail.com Thursday, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Mindfulness - sign up acbradt@gmail.com Friday, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, Happy Hour Read more... Sunday, 9:30 am, Forum (details below) Sunday, 10:30 am, Religious Education (details below) Sunday, 10:45 am, Sunday Service (details below) Sunday, 11:30 am, Coffee Hour (details below) Sunday, 7:00 pm, Zen Buddhism (details 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.
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. How are our Sunday services livestreamed via Youtube? see Making of Virtual Church Our Youtube channel is at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. Procedures for Phase One of Reopening the Church Campus DURING the Covid-19 Pandemic Due to the continued presence of the Coronavirus, the first step in reopening our Sarasota campus will be a very restricted use of the campus by small church groups and committees, made up of members and those officially designated as “friends” of the church. These meetings will be outside, in the courtyard or in a parking area. If inclement weather forces the ending of a meeting, indoor facilities will not be available. The outside restrooms next to the kitchen will be open during the meeting. Responsibilities of the group leader: ✓ Discuss with group members the option to meet on campus under these procedures and look for ways that those unable to meet on campus can still participate. ✓ Contact Administrative Assistant Dee Widder, (office hours Tuesday-Friday 10 am-2 pm, aauucs@gmail.com) to reserve a date/time for on-campus meetings. ✓ Adhere to the maximum Group size of 12 individuals. ✓ Maintain a record of all attendees along with their contact information in case there is a need for contact tracing. ✓ Communicate the Attendance Rules to the invitees prior to the meeting and then request a verbal agreement by the attendees to the rules at the beginning of the meeting after reading the rules out loud. ✓ Communicate to Dee Widder if any of the attendees develop Coronavirus or test positive for Coronavirus and then share the attendee record with contact information. ✓ Attendance Rules: • Invitees will self-monitor themselves for Covid 19 symptoms including but not limited to fever, runny nose, frequent coughing or sneezing and will not attend the meeting if any Covid 19 symptoms are present. • Invitees will not attend if in the past two weeks they have traveled by air or been in contact with someone they know to have Covid 19 or is exhibiting symptoms of Covid 19. • All attendees will maintain a 6 ft distance from others except for members who share a home. • All attendees are required to wear a face covering. • All attendees will bring their own seating and take the seating home. • No food is allowed. • Bottles of water or other non-alcoholic drinks are allowed (for personal use only) to rehydrate. Face covering will be temporarily removed only while drinking. • All attendees will take their trash or recyclables home with them. • There will be no access to any of the church buildings except the restrooms located in the breezeway. This is true during inclement weather too. Please note that all of the above procedures and guidelines apply to both the main campus at 3975 Fruitville Road as well as any church-sponsored activities that may take place in areas away from the Sarasota campus. Roberta Druif should be informed about all offsite gatherings held under the auspices of the UU Church of Sarasota or the Lakewood Ranch UU Fellowship prior to the gathering. Phase I guidelines for “Rites of Passage” services, such as internment in the Memorial Garden, may be amended by the minister at their discretion. If you are unsure of whether you are in compliance with any of the above, please contact Roberta Druif, Director of Finance and Operations, by emailing her at directoruucs@gmail.com or calling the office at 941-371-4974. Please note that current Phase One procedures will be posted on the church website and may be amended from time to time. It is the church’s wish that, despite the restrictive nature of Phase I, church members and friends will have the opportunity to enjoy meeting again in person.
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Rev. Budd Friend-Jones
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The Reverends Beth Miller (Bethmuucs@gmail.com 617-893-1949),
Doug Wadkins (dougwuucs@gmail.com 941-371-4974 extension 4)
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.
Doug Wadkins (dougwuucs@gmail.com 941-371-4974 extension 4)
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
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. 
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 
Fair Trade Program
Our fair trade program is on temporary hiatus awaiting the end of the Covid issues. |
Song of Spring
Dick Happy's favorite spring hymn, together with picturees and video, are at his "From the Garden Gate" blog ... 
Chalice Groups
Small groups are active now. Contact Chalice@uusarasota.org for more information, Read more... The UUCS Arts Council presents
What does “resilience” mean to you, especially in the context of our UU Principles and values? See this exhibit of work by our UUCS member artists, discover how they have interpreted this theme, and read about their personal reactions to the pandemic, the durability of waste plastic, nature’s strength, overcoming obstacles of cultural oppression, and more. See the exhibit here!
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. 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.
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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.
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.
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...
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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- Members Corner
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Videos and Audios
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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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. |
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