Upcoming Services here on our website
(Past services are on our Virtual Church page and later sermons are in our archive.)
Sunday, June 7, on your computer or phone:
Sunday service
What have we lost? What have we gained? What will we carry with us?
Sermon by Rev. Budd Friend-Jones, Associate Minister
One summer I took a class with Amiya Chakravarty. The first sentence of his first lecture startled us: “What is the essence of a bowl?” he asked. He meant it not as a trick question, but a koan-type query to catapult our minds into a different consciousness. “What is the essence of a bowl?” he repeated. A similar question nags at my consciousness today as we move through this pandemic. What is its essence? What does it want to teach?
Sermon by Rev. Budd Friend-Jones, Associate Minister
One summer I took a class with Amiya Chakravarty. The first sentence of his first lecture startled us: “What is the essence of a bowl?” he asked. He meant it not as a trick question, but a koan-type query to catapult our minds into a different consciousness. “What is the essence of a bowl?” he repeated. A similar question nags at my consciousness today as we move through this pandemic. What is its essence? What does it want to teach?
Music
Don Bryn, piano
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Robert Lischetti, vocal
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Forum at 10:00 am
The Shutdown's Impact on Sarasota Arts Institutions
Presentation by Julie Leach, followed by open discussion.
Presentation by Julie Leach, followed by open discussion.
Religious Education at 11:00 am
Each week, our Religious Education group is holding online zoom meetings to connect at 11AM. Our Summer Curriculum, "The Spirituality of..." will help us discover that Spirituality comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms. Each week we will gather together to light the chalice, have an activity and discussion on the topic, and then check-in with each other for fellowship. All are welcome to join us. Sign-up is required. More information here.
Sunday, June 14, on your computer or phone:
Sunday service
Unitarian Universalism's 1st Source:
Mystery and Wonder
Sermon by Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister
Continuing on the six sources of UUism, this Sunday’s topic is the 1st: “Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.” We’ve considered wisdom we can glean from world religions and humanism’s rational view that protects us from idolatry. Direct experience brings us feelings of awe and can be dazzling.
Mystery and Wonder
Sermon by Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister
Continuing on the six sources of UUism, this Sunday’s topic is the 1st: “Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.” We’ve considered wisdom we can glean from world religions and humanism’s rational view that protects us from idolatry. Direct experience brings us feelings of awe and can be dazzling.
Music
Don Bryn, piano
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Robert Lischetti, vocal
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Forum at 10:00 am
Black Lives UU and the Proposed 8th Principle
Momentum is building among Unitarian Universalists to adopt an 8th Principle, which calls us into covenant with the Beloved Community, within and beyond our walls. The 8th Principle is
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. Presentation by Dr. Leon Spencer, followed by open discussion.
Leon Spencer's work on behalf of anti-racism and anti-oppression efforts for Unitarian Universalist congregations began in 1985, when he helped establish the Black Concerns Working Group. He has participated in the Jubilee Working Group, the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Team, and the Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries known as DRUUMM. He was appointed Interim Co-President of Constituent Outreach of the Unitarian Universalist Association on April 10, 2017.
Momentum is building among Unitarian Universalists to adopt an 8th Principle, which calls us into covenant with the Beloved Community, within and beyond our walls. The 8th Principle is
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. Presentation by Dr. Leon Spencer, followed by open discussion.
Leon Spencer's work on behalf of anti-racism and anti-oppression efforts for Unitarian Universalist congregations began in 1985, when he helped establish the Black Concerns Working Group. He has participated in the Jubilee Working Group, the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Team, and the Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries known as DRUUMM. He was appointed Interim Co-President of Constituent Outreach of the Unitarian Universalist Association on April 10, 2017.
Religious Education at 11:00 am
Each week, our Religious Education group is holding online zoom meetings to connect at 11AM. Our Summer Curriculum, "The Spirituality of..." will help us discover that Spirituality comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms. Each week we will gather together to light the chalice, have an activity and discussion on the topic, and then check-in with each other for fellowship. This Sunday the topic is The Spirituality of Pets. All are welcome to join us. Sign-up is required. More information here.
Sunday, June 21, on your computer or phone:
Sunday service
Sixty clergy marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017, in an interfaith, nonviolent protest against a white supremacist rally. (Photo by Nora Rasman/UUA)
Unitarian Universalism's 2nd Source:
Prophetic Words and Deeds
Sermon by Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister
The 2nd source is: “Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” What is a prophet and do we put any stock in their prophecies? Who are our modern day prophetic people? If you send an email telling me one prophet you respect and why by June 15, I’ll weave it into the sermon.
Prophetic Words and Deeds
Sermon by Rev. Beth Miller, Associate Minister
The 2nd source is: “Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” What is a prophet and do we put any stock in their prophecies? Who are our modern day prophetic people? If you send an email telling me one prophet you respect and why by June 15, I’ll weave it into the sermon.
Music
Don Bryn, piano
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Robert Lischetti, vocal
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Forum at 10:00 am
Open discussion on a topic of interest.
Religious Education at 11:00 am
Each week, our Religious Education group is holding online zoom meetings to connect at 11AM. Our Summer Curriculum, "The Spirituality of..." will help us discover that Spirituality comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms. Each week we will gather together to light the chalice, have an activity and discussion on the topic, and then check-in with each other for fellowship. This Sunday the topic is The Spirituality of Sports. All are welcome to join us. Sign-up is required. More information here.
Wednesday, June 24 through Sunday, June 28, on your computer or phone:
Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA
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Our Unitarian Universalist Association's annual General Assembly (GA) will be available in part on this website. The following events will be streamed live. Read more about General Assembly...
Music at GA
Musicians at a recent GA. (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
GA has been a very musical event, with congregational singing and special musical performances always an important part of worship services and interspersed throughout the general sessions. It has not been announced how music will be included in this year's virtual GA.
2019 GA choir (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
2019 GA band (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
Wednesday evening, Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, June 24 - 27: General Sessions
Delegates voting at a previous year's general session. (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
- These are the sessions during which the business of the Association is conducted, moderated by Mr. Barb Greve and Elandria Williams. The schedule is:
- 1. Wednesday, 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm
- 2. Thursday, 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
- 3. Thursday, 4 pm to 5 pm (COIC Report)
- 4. Friday, 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
- 5. Saturday, 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
- 6. Saturday, 4 pm to 5 pm
- The complete schedule is available at www.uua.org/sites/live-new.uua.org/files/2020_grid_east.pdf
Thursday, June 25, at 6 pm: Service of the Living Tradition
2018 Service of the Living Tradition (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
Led by the Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group, this service honors fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders; remembering those who have died, recognizing those who have completed active service - we expect our former minister, Roger Fritts, to be included among these - and welcoming those who have received fellowship or credentialed status in the past year. The service includes a collection to benefit the Living Tradition Fund.
Friday, June 26, at 6 pm: Synergy Bridging Worshp
Synergy Bridging Worship at GA 2017. (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
- This is a transformative multigenerational worship. Come be inspired and illuminated at a celebration of treasured worship elements, rites of passage and brilliant contemporary musical performances.
Sunday, June 28, at 10 am: Sunday worship service
 Rev. Joan Javier-Duval
Join us for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship. This powerful, communal worship experience will stream live right here. Each year a talented group of choral singers perform at the Sunday Morning Worship for the General Assembly audience. Worship Leader is Rev. Mykal O'Neal Slack and the sermon will be given by Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. The worship service will include a collection for the Tomaquag Museum, an indigenous museum featuring an extensive collection and archive of Southern New England tribal communities.
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Rev. Mikal O'Neal Slak
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Music
2017 Sunday Morning Worship in New Orleans, Louisiana (Photo by Nancy Pierce/UUA)
 Benjie Messer, music director at the Sunday morning worship service
For many, singing in the choir is a key part of coming together as UUs at General Assembly. This year, instead of joining voices in person, the choir members will join in a virtual choir! Each singer will record a video of themselves singing, and those individual videos will be edited into one glorious combined video to be premiered during GA’s Sunday Morning worship service.
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Example of a virtual choir, included as part of our May 24 service, available on our Virtual Church page.
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Roger Fritts (retired March 31, 2020) speaks at a Sunday service in our Sarasota sanctuary.
Where is the church? See map below. Click here for directions and picture...