Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232, Tel. 941-371-4974
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Minister's Message from Roger Fritts
March 23, 2019

Friends,

During the next year a rich mix of ministerial skills will continue to make this an exciting church.
 
We have been in search for a part-time associate minister to start in September 2019. We received interest from several excellent ministers and in the end, I recommended to the board that we stretch ourselves financially and invite two persons to start serving the church in September.
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Rev. Beth Miller will serve us half-time. Beth has years of experience serving several congregations and for four years she was Director, Ministry & Professional Leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Association, one of the most trusted and respected positions in our denomination. Beth will help us continue out strong ties with the larger Unitarian Universalist movement.

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We were also very impressed with Rev. Budd Friend-Jones a retired United Church of Christ minister with 45 years' experience, now living in Sarasota. He will soon be president of the North American Interfaith Network. Budd will serve our congregation one-quarter time. He will help us build ties to other liberal religious groups in Sarasota and nationally.

Sunday April 7, at both services you will all have a chance to meet Beth and Budd. Because these are part time positions, these will be what the UUA calls “contract” ministries, which only required a board vote.
 
I will be ready to retire in a year, after I turn 69. My final Sunday will be March 29, 2020. As I finish, Beth and Budd will help provide a smooth transition between my departure and the arrival of a new called minister. In terms of size of membership (about 540 adults), this church, which also hosts many ‘snow birds,’ is now one of the larger American Unitarian Universalist congregations. Our size will make our church attractive to many excellent ministers.   
 
It is wonderful serving as a minister of this congregation. You are a vibrant and healthy church-a dream congregation to be my last church.  I thank you for partnering with me in this ministry and I am looking forward to the next 12 months!
 
Roger

March 23, 2019

Roger Fritts, Minister
Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota
3975 Fruitville Road
Sarasota, FL 34232
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3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
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