Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232, Tel. 941-371-4974
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Welcome Visitors!  Click here for a special  message for you.  
Today at 10:45 am:
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This Sunday, June 26:
Sunday Service in the Sanctuary and on YouTube
​at 10:45 am
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Service by Endera Stevens, Yolanda Stevens and Mary Lou Keller

Yolanda, Endera and Mary Lou will celebrate the beautiful things that make our hearts sing with a unique guided meditation, an enthusiastic interpretation of the children’s book Something Beautiful, inspiring music and stories. Bring something you consider beautiful to share on a table in the sanctuary, and if time allows we will hear people’s stories during or after the service. This is an intergenerational service and will be an experience not to be missed.

PictureMary Lou Keller, Yolanda and Endera Stevens
Yolanda is new to the freedom of being a Unitarian Universalist and loves so much about about our community, and how we are active in uplifting and empowering others, that she calls herself an “Enthusiastic UU”. Our living the Seven Principles and potentially an Eighth Principle fulfills and lifts her in ways that gives her space to hope for a better world.

Music

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Don Bryn, piano; Robert Lischetti, vocal
Endera is co-owner of the Northend Agent's, the oldest and largest African American newspaper in Connecticut formerly published by her mother, Yolanda. She also has a spiritual business called The Gem & Eye where she does tarot readings, reiki, and sound healing. Her passions include art, community, family, and nature.

​Mary Lou is a long term UU and serves on the Worship and Religious Education committees as well as being Vice-President of our Board of Trustees. She shares Yolanda and Endera’s enthusiasm for our diverse UU faith and the potential for manifesting even more beauty in the world.
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​Donate to the church by clicking the Donate button to the left. Your support is needed and gratefully received. 

Summer Childcare 10:45 am to 12:15pm: ​

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Sunday, June 26th

Something Beautiful is a special story that will be part of our intergenerational service this Sunday.  All children over the age of 6 will remain in the Service with their parents but will be given a quiet activity in case they become fidgety.  ​

Nursery care provided for infants to 6 years old. 

Forum in the Reeb Room and via Zoom ​at 9:15 am

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Corporate Influences on Our Democracy
Is it all just about money?  This will be an exploration of what influences, positive and negative, American corporations have on our democratic institutions. Presenter, Marie Keeney; Moderator, Steve Martin; Zoom Host, Jane Rose. ​To get the Zoom link, just sign our guestbook.

Coffee and Conversation after the Service

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Enjoy coffee and other refreshments as you converse with old friends and make new ones. Join a welcoming and loving community as you bask in the sunshine and relax in our lovely garden setting. 

General Assembly Sunday Worship at 12:30 to 2:00 pm:
With General Assembly taking place in Portland, Oregon, their Sunday morning Worship Service happens on Sunday afternoon here. We'll be showing it live in our Sanctuary. Lunch will not be provided, so bring a brown bag or swing around the corner to Publix and pick up something to tide you over. If you'd rather watch it at home, just click the link above. No registration required. 

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The Deal on Those Days
The last few years have not been easy, including in our local congregations. Whole swaths of members have simply stopped coming; COVID is confusing, and polarizing; many ministers have joined the great resignation; and Pew studies and friends alike have pronounced the end of the local church.

In this moment, when so many of us might be wondering if we should just give up, and relent, now’s the time instead to double down on our commitment to the local church -this unique community that saves us and also breaks our hearts - often much more of the latter than we’d like to admit. In the midst of our culture of death, the church is a place of life. Or it is, as long as we are willing to bring our own lives to it. Join us for a morning of celebration, witness, and future-visioning for the already and not yet power of the local Unitarian Universalist church.

Leading us in worship will be Rev. Gretchen Haley, Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan, Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Lea Morris, Adam Podd, Joseph and Aimee Santos-Lyons, and Allison King with the GA Choir.

General Assembly General Session V and Closing Ceremony at 3:30 pm:

This event will be shown in our sanctuary. Or, click the link above.

Live Zen Buddhism via Zoom at 7:00 pm

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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...

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General Assembly ​ends today,  June 26:
The two main events of the day are available in the Sanctuary or through the links above. Recordings are available through www.uua.org/ga/off-site. Our July 10 Sunday Service will bring impressions of this year's General Assembly as experienced by some of our own members.

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Weekly Zoom meetings:
​​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...  
Friday Happy Hour, 5:00 - 6:00 pm Read more...  
Sunday's events are listed above.

Pastoral Care and Connection   
Please contact the office if you or someone you know in our church community has a need,  
941-371-4974 X3
PictureRev. Jay Wolin
Rev. Jay Wolin to be our next settled minister
The congregation voted and Rev. Wolin accepted our call to be our next settled minister. His tenure with us begins August 1. His next sermon in our pulpit will be August 14. Read more about Rev. Wolin... ​

Let's Get Together!-  Tired of being stuck at home?  Missing your UU friends? Ready to go for a walk or have coffee, lunch, dinner outside in a CoVid safe manner?  Then sign-up here and we will connect you to other UU's just like you!
​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

Social Justice Action

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UUSC responds to Ukraine crisis
Unitarian Universalists are responding to the refugee crisis created by the war in Ukraine. Read more about the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's actions and request for help...

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


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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.


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Chalice Groups
Small groups are active now. Contact Suzie Brucklacher​ ​for more information or check out our Chalice Groups page.


Arts Council – “Everything Under the Sun” Exhibit in the Lexow WIng
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The UUCS Arts Council is pleased to host “Everything Under the Sun,” an exhibit by members of Women Contemporary Artists (WCA). The exhibit will be up through July 14th. Click here to learn more about the exhibit.

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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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
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Green Team Home Page 
Upcoming Events

​
Eating Sustainably
    
Veg Restaurants
    Farmers Markets


Welcome Visitors

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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.

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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.

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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.

Minister Search
Read more...

Meet the Minister

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Rev. Dr. Doug Wadkins, Interim Minister, joined our church
​August 1, 2020
Read more...

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​Click here to log into Breeze, our church directory

Frequent Questions

  • What do Unitarian Universalists believe?
  • FAQs about our church in Sarasota
  • How do I make donations to the church in someone's honor? (We call this a "Tribute Fund Gift.")

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Quick Links

  • Breeze member directory
  • ​​Members Corner
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  • Church Calendar
  • Music Schedule
  • Upcoming Services
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  • Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
  • Our association: the UUA
  • Find other UU congregations
  • ​Congregational Meeting report, June 27, 2021

Videos and Audios

  • Members tell why our church is so important to them​
  • ​Why I became a Unitarian Universalist:​
  • Sunday Sermon recorded with Booklet







Conquering Technology-
Free Help Here

Need help with your technology including Zoom, emails, browsers or more?  Sign-up here for some free help.
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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.

Our Board of Trustees is elected annually by the congregation. 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.
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​Drone video of our partner church is now available. Click here to view...
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Read more about our partner church...

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Getting distracted in Church
Read more in our "From the Garden Gate" blog...

Pictureour choir
"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.


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Love stories of our musicians.
It's February and our musicians' love stories again appear in local media. This time Betsy and Fernando Traba are featured. Read more...


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Chalice Groups

Deep Thinking, Deep Listening
A new group begins soon.
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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.
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We are a

Green Sanctuary

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


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Our Partner Church

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


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Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
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Find other UU congregations
Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Links are encouraged. Contact Admin for permission to publish.
Contact info:
3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
Office hours are 10am to 2pm Tuesday - Friday

Click here for more contact information...
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