First Congregational United Church of Christ
Sarasota, FL
Welcome! We are an inclusive congregational church in Sarasota welcoming persons of every gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, age and ability.
We celebrate God’s diversity, Christ’s embrace of all, and Spirit-led good news of love, peace, joy, and hope into our daily lives. Inside our church you will find people of diverse races, sexual orientation, age, religious upbringing, and belief. Inside our hearts, we deeply desire to grow into the disciples of Jesus. We don’t want to just talk about good news for ourselves, we want to be the good news. How you embrace and embody the good news of inclusive love are welcome here.
We are a designated Creation Justice church, committed to walk in God’s ways by cherishing the earth and all living things. This is the Divine creation. Recognizing the interdependent web of all existence, we pursue justice for the earth, and seek to protect vulnerable living things from exploitation, and to remediate the environmental damage already done. We celebrate God’s creativity and honor God’s presence in all that is.
We invite you to explore this site to see what makes our church alive and vibrant. We pray you will discover how First Congregational UCC can help you grow your faith.
New Here?
We’re glad you found us! Maybe you’re new to our church, new to Sarasota, or new to church altogether. Whatever brings you here, we’d love the chance to get to know you better. Please know Pastor Wes is available to talk with you and help you connect in meaningful ways with our community of faith.
During times such as these, we are aware that many in our community are facing challenges. If you are in need of prayer or care, please let us know.
We are an open and affirming congregation that welcomes and embraces persons of every gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, age and ability, and members of our congregation come from many and varied faith backgrounds. We invite you to join in the life and ministry of our church. Please browse our site to find out what’s going on in and around the church.
Worship
Worship is about encountering God’s presence in life-giving and life-changing ways. We seek to help you grow your faith each week in worship through music, Scripture, a meaningful message, and prayer. We gather around Christ’s communion table on the first Sunday of each month. There is a place for YOU at Christ’s table and always room to spare. And we celebrate baptism, God’s claim upon each of us to be God’s people in these days. Each week in worship through humor, reflection, hymns, music, and so much more we open ourselves to God’s presence.
Mission
Every week, at the end of worship, we say, “Our service of worship now ends. Our service with the world begins.” We believe that we are sent forth to share God’s presence every day.
Our service with and in the world happens every day in working with those who are struggling financially, spiritually, and emotionally. We do this with love through our own programs and through our partners in ministry.
We invite you to read about the many ways our Christian outreach touches those in our community and beyond.
Music
At First Congregational UCC, music is at the heart and soul of our shared life. Our amazing choir, handbells, youth, soloists, artist-in-residence program, and guest musicians all help to stir our souls. We are blessed by Greg Chestnut who has served as Minister of Music for 30 years. Greg’s faithfulness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and pastoral heart blesses us from the first note of the prelude each Sunday to the final notes of the postlude. We encourage you to be part of the vibrant and vital music ministry at First Congregational UCC.
For You: Reflection and Renewal
The Oasis Center ministry offers opportunities for you through a variety of small groups, spiritual direction, and moments to sit silently in God’s presence.
