Upcoming Sunday Services

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Sunday 9:30am

Sunday Sermons

Sunday 10:30am

Religious Education

Sunday 10:30am

August 1

"Development of Resources and Assets That Accommodate Needs of Less-Abled Citizens"
Tim Dutton, Presenter
Mitch Zavon, Moderator
The Director of SCOPE will speak about how Sarasota is poised to be a leader in the thinking and innovation about the aging phenomenon that is on the horizon around the globe. Learn about how the basic demographics of our community are the foundation for creative solutions to problems and opportunities for new products, services and policies. What is the plan for moving this idea forward? What are the economic development implications?

August 8

"OWL, the UU Educational Program on Human Sexuality"
Julie Leach, Presenter
Marci Saunders, Moderator
We will be teaching our church youth a portion of this comprehensive program for grades 7-9 and 10-12 at our church this fall. Why is this something we should do at church? What are the benefits of sexuality education, and what does comprehensive mean? Aren't students getting this at school? We will discuss this and other aspects of the current environment and need for sexuality education.

August 15

"Bridging the Generation Gap: Boomers and Up Meet the Millennial Generation"
Rev. Kenn Hurto, Presenter
Klaus Obermeit, Moderator
"You can't understand Unitarian Universalism until you're in your 70s," it was said. At one point, subscribers to the UU World averaged 72 years of age, perhaps confirming this assertion. In Florida, most of our congregations are skewed to the elderly end of the age spectrum. UUs are woefully behind in reaching the under 30 (or 40 or 50) year olds. What might Florida UUs do to change that--especially since migration into Florida has slowed?

August 22

"GOP America: Early Marriage, Early Divorce"
Don Demaio, Presenter
Marie Davids, Moderator
The rest of the industrialized world has abandoned archaic policies toward sex and family such as the banning of sex ed, shotgun marriages and premarital sex. Those policies still exist in many parts of the USA where the Republican Party is strongest--maily "red states" where teen pregnancies are rampant, marriage comes early, and the divorce rates are highest in the country.

August 29

"21st Century Libraries: Will Encyclopedia Britannica Remain on the Shelf?"
Sarabeth Kalajian, Presenter
Jim Chastain, Moderator
The General Manager of the Sarasota County Library System will speak on the future of libraries.

Download a printable list of all of our Summer Sunday Services with photos of the speakers.

August 1

"At That Moment All I Had..."
Rev. Ann Fuller
Helen Bennett, president of the Humanists of Brevard, reviewed a troubled artist's memoir recently and raised a compelling question. Personal reflections abound in which people express the conviction their faith in God was the only thing to carry them safely through their personal trials. Helen asked, "I wonder what Humanism could possibly offer the desperate, the addicted, and the suicidal. Is there a form of relief, beyond simple meditation, that can aid such unlucky souls? How do we bounce back from the brink without belief in God or the supernatural?" This is a question that can vex, not just humanists, but people of all faiths. It is an excellent question and one to which I think we can find an answer together.

August 8

"Before the Pilgrims: Florida's First Faiths and What We Should Know Now"
Rev. Dee Graham
Skin tones of all shades and hues shine in the heat of the Florida sun while garbled tongues of many languages, especially the rolling tumble of Spanish, color the trading of fresh vegetables, homemade goods and woven wares in the farmer's market spread out in the town square. Florida's future? Perhaps. But it's definitely Florida's prologue, one of more than 300 years before the United States took over. Take this chance to hear about Florida's earliest faith communities and how what we were then may be more than a reflection of where we might go now.

August 15

"Is There Such a Thing as 'Religious' Humanism?"
Rev. Kenn Hurto
Let's consider how humanist valuation, theory of knowing and doctrine of human nature inform and challenge traditional religious reflection -- and whether any of that makes a difference to us as Unitarian Universalists and how we live our lives, committed to love, justice & peace.

August 22

"Re-Creation"
Rev. Margret O'Neall
Summer is a time for recreation -- a time to slow the pace, change the pattern, replenish our resources. The Jewish mystical Kabbalah tradition uses the phrase Tikkun olam, which translates as "repairing the world." As people of faith, we are called to repair the brokenness of the world, which begins with healing our own lives.

August 29

"Heresy: Committed Choice"
Rev. Margret O'Neall
Heresy -- from the Greek term for "choice" -- is an exercise of commitment to values and beliefs which run counter to accepted doctrine or dogma. Throughout history, those accused of heresy have been persecuted, exiled, jailed or even killed for their crime. How can a faithful heretic follow the path of conscience in today's world?

September 5

"Peace, Parrots and People"
Rev. LoraKim Joyner
Following 24 years of working in avian conservation in Central America and the Caribbean, LoraKim invites us with stories and images to reflect how the well-being of birds, people, and environments are bound up together, including what we do here in Florida as Unitarian Universalists.

Overview

During the summer we offer loving care for the infants and toddlers in the nursery while the teenagers attend church and the preschoolers through fifth graders meet in the West Wing. Since the program encourages exploration, the focus on any given morning may shift from the planned activities. For the summer months the over arching idea is to explore the meaning of the children's versions of the Seven UU principles. We will look at the meaning and implications of the principles through stories, crafts, music, discussions and games.

Nancy Thomas
Summer RE Coordinator