UU Church of Sarasota

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Sunday service (prerecorded):

A New Year Awaits
Sermon by Rev. Doug Wadkins
The High Holy Days are an invitation to renewing our sense of purpose, rethinking our important relationships, saying goodbye to that which does not serve us, and committing to new, life-giving practices.

Zoom meetings this week:
With the church campus closed, many activities have moved to Zoom. Here are some of them.
Tuesday, 7-8 pm: Qigong 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...
Friday, 5:00 - 6:00 pm: Happy Hour Read more...
Saturday, 10:00 am: Race and Reality in America: Virtual Conversations
Sunday, 10:00 am: Forum
Sunday, 11:00 am: Religious Education (see 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, September 27, on your computer or phone:

Sunday service (prerecorded)

The Oasis
Sermon by Rev. Doug Wadkins
As we move into an autumn unlike any other for so many reasons, we are likely feeling a range of things including some sense of being anxious and perhaps even a bit heavy of heart. This service will explore some of the practices that recharge and connect us especially in times of great change or stress.

Music

Robert Lischetti, vocal

Don Bryn, piano

Live Forum via Zoom at 10:00 am

Election Edition, Part 1
The referenda which are up for decision in Sarasota and Manatee Counties will be covered. To receive the password, sign up on our Virtual Guestbook.

Live Religious Education via Zoom at 11:00 am

Each week, our Religious Education group is holding online zoom meetings to connect at 11AM. All are welcome to join us. Sign-up is required. More information here.

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

Drone video of partner church now available. Click here to view...

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...

Rev. Beth Miller

Pastoral Care and Connection

Rev. Budd Friend-Jones

The Reverends Beth Miller (Bethmuucs@gmail.com 617-893-1949) 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 or Budd if you or someone you know in our church community has a need, or just to talk.

A word from our Interim Minister
Rev. Doug Wadkins began his interim ministry with us on August 1. Here are a few personal comments from him. Read more at douglaswadkins.org. Watch a sample sermon at douglaswadkins.org/worship.

Starting in July, your new or additional pledge OR extra gift will be 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

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

Learn more.

Social Justice Action

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.

Green Team

Susan Davy art exhibit on display
A video of "Poetry of the Ordinary" is on available on the Arts Council page...

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.

Get Together Dinners
is a great way to meet new people and reacquaint with old friends.

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

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

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 at douglaswadkins.org

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...

UUA President Spearheads Voter Drive
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the UUA, joined us on October 20 in a get-out-the-vote drive on behalf of a voting rights amendment, which passed with 64% of the vote. Read more, see pictures and videos of the day's events...

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

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...

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.