Thank you to Rev. Micki Robinson for a powerful sermon and to Joan Leonard for leading the liturgy. Thank you to Greg Chestnut for leading announcements, Lauren Patsos, Stephen Fancher, and our amazing choir for sharing meaningful music. Thank you to Douglas Kingsley for all his creativity with the livestream and opening the church. Thank you to our COLLAGE group for a wonderful Mother’s Day lunch and sharing. Truly last Sunday was a reminder of the ways God’s blessings flow forth in our church.
TWO Services this Sunday,
May 18, 2025 ~
Stephen Fancher, Organist and Choir Director
9 a.m. in the chapel
11 a.m. in the sanctuary/online
9 a.m. ~ In the chapel ~ Pastor Wes will begin a three-week sermon series on the Psalms, focusing on Psalm 1. All are welcome.
11:00 a.m. ~ In the Sanctuary and Online ~ Pastor Wes will preach on Psalm 1. The choir will sing, “The River of Water of Life”. All are welcome.
SRQ Strong Presentation ~ noon ~ Syster Hall ~ see below
Summer with the Psalms ~ Our very first gathering to discuss the Psalms will be Monday, May 19th, at 4 p.m. at the Oasis Center or Zoom. Please let Pastor Wes know if you need the zoom link. There are handouts in the narthex with tips for reading the Psalms. There are paper copies of Pastor Wes’s daily meditations in the back, or daily on Pastor Wes’s blog and Facebook.
Fellowship ~ celebrating our values of Caring and Belonging
May 18 ~ Mental Health Awareness Sunday with a speaker from SRQ Strong. Andrea Routh from SRQ Strong will be here to discuss how many are struggling with cognitive overload. Please join us in Syster Hall to learn more about the pace of information that is dizzying and disorienting, as well as ways to strengthen our resiliency in these days. This is a wonderful opportunity to check in with yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. All are welcome and bring a friend!!
You’ve seen the news, with mass deportations, deportations lacking due process, students being deported for their political views, children with birthright citizenship being removed. Learn more; sign up to help! Our Peace & Justice Team and others are coordinating with the Unitarian Universalist Immigration Justice Coalition (IJC). The IJC seeks like-minded people and welcomes volunteers to expand its activities to promote immigration justice and counteract these mass deportations and the elimination of constitutional rights. Whether it’s creating public awareness, building a support network, lobbying and advocacy, or supporting a resource center, there are many opportunities to engage and contribute. Interested in learning more? Attend the IJC volunteer meeting on Sunday May 18 at NOON, at the UU (3975 Fruitville, Sarasota). Advance registration is required at ifcsrq@gmail.com.
Unable to attend, but interested in learning more? Follow this link for future activities: https://www.uusrq.org/immigration-justice-coalition-srq.html
Last night our church hosted a bicycling group who is traveling from Miami to Tallahassee to raise awareness and funds for God’s beloved who live with disabilities. We are delighted we were able to offer a space for these gentlemen to rest and recover on their journey! We pray for God’s blessings as they make their way north.
Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity Investment ~ You are invited to invest in SURE with a meaningful amount. SURE is our local justice ministry we participate in with area congregations. While SURE does get grants, it does not receive any Federal or State funding. This is your opportunity to support the future of SURE. Please make your check payable to SURE (not the church). If you have questions, please see Laurie Etter or Pastor Wes.
Today ~ May 14: “Thriving in Turbulent Times” – an interview with Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III. May 28: “Courage, Clarity & Community: Navigating Change and Uncertainty with Purpose and Heart” – excerpts from a program by Parker J. Palmer and Valerie Brown.
Drumming as a Spiritual Practice ~ May 20 at 3 p.m. ~ Chapel. Drums provided. New drummers welcome. Contact Lindsey Huddleston.
Upcoming Event featuring Lenny Hoffman!!
June 1st Book Signing in Syster Hall
Following worship on June 1st, there will be a book signing and brief discussion about Dawn and Liz’s recently released book Searching for Dawn: A Journey from Chaos to Recovery
Mental Illness
Substance Abuse
Trauma and the
Criminal Justice System
The ultimate purpose for writing their book was to find healing while illustrating, in a deeply personal way, why there is a need for criminal justice reform. In alternating chapters, Dawn and Liz boldly share their struggles through the web of mental illness, addiction, and the criminal justice system. While Dawn finds herself doing time in a solitary confinement cell in San Jose, California, her mother is serving as pastor of a church in Brooklyn, New York that was founded by formerly incarcerated persons and their families and supporters. Through faith, love, and the power of supportive communities, Dawn and Liz find new life in the midst of crisis and despair. It is a story of universal significance in these critical times. The cost of the book is $14.99 and is available on Amazon.
Sunday, June 22nd ~ Wear Orange to Church Sunday
~ Our wonderful congregation did this last year in June, which is designated by activist organizations nationwide as Gun Violence Awareness Month. Brady, United Against Gun Violence, has selected June 21st this year as ASK Day, when we all commit to ASK if there’s a gun in the houses where our children and grandchildren go to play; and, if the answer is yes, we ASK if those guns are locked away. So, get out your orange this year on June 22nd, and we’ll re-commit ourselves to working for gun safety.
Wednesday, May 14 Bible Study, 11 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Sacred Conversation on Race, 3 p.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m., Chapel
Thursday, May 15 Food and Hunger Group, 11:30 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom Service for Richard Davies, 2 p.m., Sunnyside Chapel
Sunday, May 18 ~ Stephen Fancher, organist 9 a.m. ~ Early Service, Chapel
11 a.m. ~ Worship, Sanctuary and Online Noon ~ SRQ Strong Presentation
Monday, May 19
Growing and Caring Meeting, 11 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Prayer Team meeting, noon, Oasis Center and Zoom
Psalms Discussion Group, 4 p.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Tuesday, May 20 Drumming as a Spiritual Practice, 3 p.m., Zoom
Church Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Zoom
Thank you to Rev. Micki Robinson for a powerful sermon and to Joan Leonard for leading the liturgy. Thank you to Greg Chestnut for leading announcements, Lauren Patsos, Stephen Fancher, and our amazing choir for sharing meaningful music. Thank you to Douglas Kingsley for all his creativity with the livestream and opening the church. Thank you to our COLLAGE group for a wonderful Mother’s Day lunch and sharing. Truly last Sunday was a reminder of the ways God’s blessings flow forth in our church.
Summer with the Psalms ~ Our very first gathering to discuss the Psalms will be Monday, May 19th, at 4 p.m. at the Oasis Center or Zoom. Please let Pastor Wes know if you need the zoom link. There are handouts in the narthex with tips for reading the Psalms. There are paper copies of Pastor Wes’s daily meditations in the back, or daily on Pastor Wes’s blog and Facebook. 
Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity Investment ~ You are invited to invest in SURE with a meaningful amount. SURE is our local justice ministry we participate in with area congregations. While SURE does get grants, it does not receive any Federal or State funding. This is your opportunity to support the future of SURE. Please make your check payable to SURE (not the church). If you have questions, please see Laurie Etter or Pastor Wes.
June 1st Book Signing in Syster Hall
