Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232, Tel. 941-371-4974
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  • Small Group Ministry2
Welcome Visitors!  Click here for a special  message for you.  
Church reopening postponed. Read more on our Upcoming Services page...
Ministerial Search Committee update: see below.
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 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 - starting 9/13 ​acbradt@gmail.com
Tuesday, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Tai Chi Easy- drop-in class  Read more... 
Wednesday, 11:30-12:30 am, Coffee, Tea or Lunch Read more...  

​Thursday, 10:00-11:00 am, Qigong drop-in class  Read more... 
Thursday, 10:00- 11:00 am, Chair Yoga - sign up 
acbradt@gmail.com
Thursday, Noon, Mindfulness - sign up acbradt@gmail.com

Friday Happy Hour, 5:00 - 6:00 pm Read more... 
Sunday, 9:30 am, Forum (details below)
Sunday, 11:00 am, Religious Education (details below)
Sunday, 10:45 am, Live Service via YouTube (details below)

​Sunday,  7:00 pm, Zen Buddhism (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.

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​​Donate to the church by clicking the Donate button to the left. Your support is needed and gratefully received. 
This Sunday, August 29:
Live Sunday Service on Youtube at 10:45 am:
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Sermon by Rev. Budd Friend-Jones
“Planning Today for the Yesterday of Tomorrow” could be the motto for a fictitious Future Historians of America. What does tomorrow hold for us? Writers in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) foresaw a joyfully inclusive celebration and a peaceable kingdom at the end of time. John of Patmos saw violence on a cosmic scale. Today’s futurologists have more complex interplanetary visions filled with artificial intelligence and augmented realities. What do you see? Are you utopian, dystopian or apocalyptic? What must we do today to get to a better tomorrow? 

Music: 

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Zachary Johnson, guitar
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Don Bryn, piano
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​Donate to the church by clicking the Donate button to the left. Your support is needed and gratefully received. 

Religious Education at 11:00am via Zoom:

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Laying the Foundations -
​Principle 1

Join us this week as we learn that living our first principle, the Inherent Worth and Dignity  of Every Person, means that our actions and our words matter.  We encourage everyone to watch the Youtube worship service starting at 10:45am for the Story for All Ages and then join in the Religious Education zoom from 11:00-11:30am.  

This week we will be playing a game and doing an art project.  Please print off this page, and come with some unlined paper, markers, scissors, and tape.  
 
Not on our current religious education mailing list?  
Sign-up here to get the Zoom link.  Call Catherine Bonner at (941) 720-8437 if you have any questions.  

Live Forum via Zoom at 9:30 am:

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What Is Critical Race Theory?
A chorus of politicians are suddenly decrying the “teaching of Critical Race Theory” in our public schools!   In this session, members of the Racial Justice team will provide an overview of CRT including its history, fundamental concepts and importance in understanding race and racism in America. The speakers will also opine on why CRT has become a cultural weapon of the right. Presenters, Catherine Bonner and Racial Justice Team; Moderator, Dale Anderson; Zoom Host, Marie Keeney

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...

Your Search Committee is Workin' It!

PictureMinisterial Search Committee. Standing left to right: Robert Mayer, Marie Keeney, Ava Whaley, Rick Sandler (Chair), Kathy Brackett. Seated left to right: Lisa Ellis, Mary Maldonado, Sharron Howard
Your Ministerial Search Committee met to discuss a congregational survey and focus groups (where you will have multiple opportunities to provide your input on what the Congregation needs in a minister), the Congregational Record and ministerial compensation. The next two meetings will be an in-depth retreat, led by a representative of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We appreciate your support as we move forward on this vitally important task.

​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.


​Pastoral Care and Connection

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Rev. Beth Miller
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Rev. Doug Wadkins
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Rev. Budd Friend-Jones
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. 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

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

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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
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Fair Trade Program
Our fair trade program is on temporary hiatus awaiting the end of the Covid issues.


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Garden renamed Dick & Diane Happy Memorial Garden.
Dick Happy's latest reflection is at his
"From the Garden Gate" blog ...

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


UUCS Arts Council
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“Creating Art” by Sue Kennedy
UUCS Member Artist of the Month
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Get to know another of our UUCS member artists. Sue says, “Creating art has always been a ... place where all my attention is focused, where I am at peace.” 
See some of the wonderful art she creates when she is in that peaceful and focused place. ​Click 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.

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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.

Ministerial Transition
Read more...

Meet the Ministers

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

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

Special Congregational Meeting June 27 Click on text to read report

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​Click on Breeze to login to 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

  • Need to login to breeze with your name and password  because you forgot how to reach breeze. Just click on this text to login to Breeze​​
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Videos and Audios

  • Members tell why our church is so important to them​
  • ​Why I became a Unitarian Universalist:
  • ​Sermon Archive 
Our Board of Trustees is elected annually by the congregation. Read more...
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Happy gets distracted in church
Read more in Dick's "From the Garden Gate" blog...

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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.

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


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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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Music Schedule
Upcoming Services
Adult Programs
Serendipity Auction
​Religious Education for Children and Youth
Green Team Pages
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Social Justice
Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
Our association: the UUA
Find other UU congregations
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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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