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August 2:
Yesterday’s news was tiring, today’s news is wearisome, and then there is tomorrow.  We have to fight the good fight and make “good trouble.”  We can’t bury our heads in the sand…  but it’s tiring.  I need a respite..., some peace, some quiet. What do you do to take care of yourself?
​Sermon by Bill Payton

​​​​Click the play button to view the livestream.
PictureBill Payton
Bill Payton grew up in Akron, Ohio, served four years in the Marine Corps and returned home to attend the University of Akron where he graduated with a degree in Banking and Finance.  He spent twenty-five years in the insurance industry before joining the University of Missouri as the Director of Risk & Insurance Management.  He retired from the University in January of 2007.

While attending a high school reunion in Akron he became reacquainted with a high school classmate, Mary Fran Raynault.  Bill and Mary Fran are now life companions and moved to Sarasota in December of 2010.  He became both a Unitarian Universalist and a member of the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota in January of 2011. He is a five-time past President of this congregation and served on numerous committees.  He has three children and seven grandchildren, plays tennis, golf and bridge and loves attending Sunday services.
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​July 26:
In this world of ever-changing unknowingness and the clanging dissonant noise fostering division and chaos,  how do we filter and create pathways towards realigning with the sacred harmonic resonance from which we were created? Through the inner symphony of Being. Through heart, breath, and the inner sacred sounding of The Frequency of Hope. Together we'll explore this pathway.

Musical service by Fred Johnson

​Click the play button to view the livestream.
PictureFred Johnson
​Frederick Alan Robert Johnson is an ordained Sufi Universal Worship Minister, Vocal Performer, Storyteller, Melodic Narrative Master Teacher, Director, Author, Arts Educator, Visual Artist, Sound, Breath, and Spiritual Life Enrichment facilitator. 

He is an artist and educator dedicated to the journey of creating space that serves to manifest the restoration of our highest energy of humanity. An acclaimed jazz vocalist, sacred chanter, storyteller, author and arts educator, Fred is a graduate of the National Academy of the Performing Arts as well as the Master Performers School of the National Mime Theater. He has opened for or recorded and toured worldwide with jazz and R& B legends Ramsey Lewis, Chick Corea, Sonny Rollins, Christian McBride, Richard Elliot, George Benson, Boney James, Joe Zawinul, Ottmar Liebert, David Sanborn, B. B. King, Patti LaBelle, Herbie Mann, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat Adderley and Miles Davis. 

Fred is recognized globally for his work in the health and wellness community and his extensive work in international Interfaith peace and reconciliation. He served as Deputy Executive Director of Intersections International, a Multi-faith, multi-cultural initiative of The Collegiate Church of New York for nine years and led their international outreach, utilizing the arts, meditation and dialogue that specifically addressed challenges in communities around the issues of bias, exclusion and cultural conflict. Since the mid 1980’s Fred has worked in communities throughout the United States, empowering children and adults in creative ways, to celebrate the richness of who they are, to dream big, lift their voices and come together to work towards making the experience of living together culturally rich, inclusive and inspiring.  

Fred presents lectures and seminars re-accentuating the importance of creative expression and the sharing of story as catalysts for personal and communal empowerment, health and healing and giving voice to the voiceless. He is a leading voice in the national conversation regarding Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access and has chaired committees for The International Transformational Leadership Council, the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida and The Stella Adler Center for the Arts in both New York and Los Angeles.  

Mentored by spiritual masters of the African oral and percussion legacy, Fred has been hailed as one of the true guardians of an oral tradition transplanted and nurtured to create a fusion of cultural heritage that is uniquely American and inherently African. His global presentations of "Jazz, its Roots and Branches" have served to inform and inspire audiences around the world to recognize and celebrate a creative global tapestry set by the first woven thread sown from the artistic richness of Africa. Fred currently serves as Artist in Residence, Community Engagement Specialist and coordinates the Arts and Health initiative at The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. He also serves as Performing Artist in Residence for The National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
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​July 19:
Understanding Moral Injury in an Unsettled World
We often hear about trauma, anxiety, and PTSD, but a growing body of research points to another kind of wound: moral injury. First recognized among combat veterans, moral injury occurs when we witness, participate in, or feel powerless before actions that violate our deepest moral values. Are Americans experiencing a form of collective or vicarious moral injury in response to events unfolding in our own time?  Together, we'll consider the impact of moral injury and how individuals and communities can move from moral distress toward moral repair.

Sermon by Dale Anderson

​Click the play button to view the livestream.​
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​July 12:
Do you have a soul?  What is a Soul?  Is it a part of you or just residing in you?  Where does your soul come from?  Will your Soul become untethered and transcend the physical death?  If it does, where does the soul go?  We will explore these questions and why this deep reflection matters today in our world of chaos. 

Sermon by Catherine Bonner

​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​July 5:
Sacred activism is the practice of aligning our values with meaningful action for justice, peace and the earth. It honors both inner integrity and outward engagement, reminding us that how we act matters as much as what we seek to change. We punctuate the material with music and singing, which help to better embody the ideas presented and feel really good. 

Message and music by Elaine Silver

Click the play button to view the recording.
​"Rev. Faerie" Elaine Silver is an acclaimed musician and recording artist (22 CDs and counting), and Metaphysical minister, whose music blends songs, lessons, and Earth-based ceremony to spark a sense of connectedness and Oneness. A Licensed Science of Mind Practitioner (RScP) and active member of our Green Team, she has shared the stage with luminaries including Deepak Chopra, don Miguel Ruiz, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, and Wayne Dyer, and serves as Global Ambassador for I AM HUMANITY. Rev. Faerie is delighted to return to our sanctuary to bring awareness to Sacred Activism through her Light, Wisdom, and Music. 
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June 28:
Of all the emotions, the latest to be studied is that of AWE. The experience of AWE is transforming, although unique for each of us. Wherever you find it, it makes us healthier, happier and more connected to Spirit and to others. And it’s just FUN!!! Exhilarating, and most of the time, Free!  We’ll delve into the science, the mystery and the magic as we visit Awe-some places, the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Manzanillo, Mexico, a Volcano in Hawaii, and share some Awe-inspired stories. What takes your breath away? What makes you say, "Oooh.," "Aaah!" and "Whoa!"?
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​Sermon by Reina Phair
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​​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​June 21:
Scott Rubin discusses the anger many of us feel about our world, and how Unitarian Universalism can help us use that anger as a force for positive change.

​Sermon by Scott Rubin

Music by Hermann Berndt, cello

​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​June 14:
As I prepare for my study leave and vacation this summer,  I will look back on our journey together and envision our journey forward as we endeavor to live into our Congregational Vision.   Come journey with me as I explore these and other thoughts.

​Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

Music by our choir, band and Don Bryn, piano
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​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​June 7:
Religion has shaped civilizations, inspired acts of profound compassion, and given meaning to countless lives. History has also shown us how religious extremism, fundamentalism, zealotry, and dogmatism influence religiously based global conflict and war.  I will explore why and how this happens and how religion can also be shaped to be a force for peace.
​Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

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​May 31:
What would you think if you saw someone on a street corner proclaiming the end of the world? Would you see a prophet, or something else? What is the difference between an individual prophet and a prophetic community? This service explores the meaning and purpose of prophecy, and its relevance for us today.
​Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

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​May 24:
This Memorial Day weekend, we remember all those who have died in service to our country. Yet as humans, we continue to live in conflict—with one another, with other species, and with the Earth itself. Is war part of our nature, or is peace truly possible?
Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin
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Click the play button to view the recording.
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May 17:
A growing body of research points to both the psychological and physiological benefits of meditation and other spiritual practices. What does this mean for religion, and for our understanding of the human brain? This service explores the intersection of neuroscience and spirituality.​
Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

Click the play button to view the recording.

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​May 10:
Mother's Day evokes different emotions for each person given our relationship with mothers and motherhood.  This Sunday we will honor and hear from different voices about those who "mother," meaning those who provide care for others which is a form of "mothering" and is not bound by the stereotypical concept of who is or can be a "mother".  It will be a Sunday of joy and sadness, reflection and laughter for we have all been cared for and given care to others. 
A service of many voices lead by Catherine Bonner and Rev. Beth Miller

​​Click the play button to view the recording.
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May 3:
This year, I have led a class exploring the sacred texts of the world’s religions. In our final session, we turn inward, to the texts that shape our own lives. In this service, I will share some of my personal sacred texts and reflect on why I consider them sacred, inviting you to consider your own.
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Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​April 26:
We live in an age that trusts data, yet hungers for meaning. As it turns out, those two impulses may not be as far apart as we think. Science is increasingly finding that spiritual practice and religious community contribute measurably to human health, resilience, and longevity. This service explores what the research reveals and what it cannot fully explain. What is it about gathering together, about ritual and shared purpose, that does something medicine alone cannot?

​Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​April 19:
In this Earth Day Service, we explore what it means to be in sacred relationship with the living world,  not as owners, but as participants in an interconnected web of life. Grounded in Unitarian Universalist Values, this service invites us to renew our covenant with the Earth through gratitude, responsibility, and everyday acts of care that honor both present and future generations.

​by Rev. Jay Wolin and our Green Team

​Click the play button to view the recording.
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​April 12:
Using Rocky Balboa as a model, Reverend Arthur Jones III, our guest minister from Ft. Myers, proposes that seeking reconciliation with humility and forgiveness while committing to the regeneration of our physical self may provide the path to resilience that we are seeking.

Sermon by Rev. Arthur Lavon Jones III, Minister/Worship Leader of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ft. Myers

​Click the play button to view the recording.
PictureRev. Arthur Lavon Jones III
​Rev. Arthur Lavon Jones, III is the son of Mr. Arthur Jones, Jr. and Dr. Hazel T. Jones. He has an older brother – Mr. Gregory T. Jones; and a younger sister – Dr. Cynthia Jones Drayton. Rev. Jones was born and raised in Thomasville, Georgia.

Familially, Reverend Jones is happily married to the Rev. Jenny Scott-Jones – who serves as Priest and Pastor at Iona-Hope Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. Together, they are the proud parents of a 4-year-old son (David) and a 2-year-old daughter (Harriet Hazel).

Professionally, Reverend Jones currently serves as the Minister/Worship Leader of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers. He is also a Spiritual Care Counselor and Chaplain at Hope Healthcare/Chapters Health Systems’ Joanna’s House facility in Bonita
Springs
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Educationally, Reverend Jones is a 1985 graduate from Thomasville High School. He graduated from Morris Brown College in 1989 with a degree in English Literature and Language. He did graduate work at both Georgia State University and Valdosta State University. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at the Sewanee School of Theology at the University of the South in May of 2018.

Theologically, Reverend Jones was licensed and ordained as a Minister in the Missionary Baptist Church in March of 2010. He was later ordained as an Episcopal Deacon in January of 2018; and ordained as an Episcopal Priest in June of 2019. He has also served as an Interim Pastor in both the Lutheran Church and the Presbyterian Church.

Personally, Reverend Jones’ areas of interest include travel, spending time with friends and family members, cooking/baking, meditation, Reiki, actively following his favorite sports teams, serving on executive boards, and being an active participant in social justice initiatives.
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April 5:
In the Christian Tradition, Good Friday represents the Death of Jesus. Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection (as told in three of the four Christian Gospels). This Easter, through a dramatic reading, we enter that space — imagining what it might have looked like if Jesus's disciples, following Jewish custom, had gathered to mourn, remember, and celebrate the life of their beloved teacher.

Service led by Rev. Jay Wolin

​Click the play button to view the recording.
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March 29:
What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist?  How do we define ourselves? I will look at how history has informed Unitarian Universalism and how it can guide us forward.  Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​Click the play button to view the recording.
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March 22:
Join us as we explore the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), a global human rights organization rooted in our shared values of justice, compassion, and interdependence. Through stories of partnership, from local efforts supporting migrants and LGBTQ+ communities to international work in places like Haiti, we will reflect on how UUSC empowers grassroots leaders to create lasting change, both in our lives and in the world we live in. 

​​Service by Rev. Jay Wolin, Linda Bodycomb and Ran Adams, our liaisons with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), Susan Brucklacher and Louise Machinist.
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​​Click the play button to view the recording.​​
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Rev. Jay Wolin
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Linda Bodycomb
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Ran Adams
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Susan Brucklacher
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Louise Machinest
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March 15:
Dualistic thinking limits our ability to connect with and understand each other and our world. Let’s move beyond the limits of binary thinking and embrace the multitudes within ourselves and each other. 

​Sermon by Erin Powers
Religious Education Teen Teacher at Unitarian Universalist Church
of St. Petersburg

​Click the play button to view the recording.
PictureErin Powers
Erin Powers (they/them) is a Unitarian Universalist religious educator and aspirant for Unitarian Universalist ministry. They study at United Theological Seminaries of the Twin Cities. Erin has been a Unitarian Universalist since 2009 and has worked in Unitarian Universalist religious education since 2012. Erin is also trained to facilitate Our Whole Lives at all levels. 

Erin finds inspiration in the interconnections woven throughout humanity and the greater living world. They believe we can learn how to build stronger community by paying attention to the rhythms of nature. 
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March 8:
We often think of resistance and cooperation as opposites — as if wisdom always lies somewhere in the middle. But what happens when one side refuses to negotiate? When does holding firm become stubbornness, and when does it become integrity? Drawing on the tradition of resistance — from the French Underground to the Civil Rights movement to rebels in a galaxy far, far away, to our own streets today, we'll explore what it means to practice resistance not as anger or obstruction, but as a spiritual discipline rooted in love.

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin
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Click the play button to view the recording.
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March 1:

We are in the middle of the month long Islamic Holiday of Ramadan. Part of the ritual of Ramadan is not to eat during the daylight hours. I will explore why food laws are so prevalent in many religious traditions. What food “laws” do we promote as Unitarian Universalists?

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin
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Click the play button to view the recording.
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February 22:
Resilience as Presence, Courage and Truth-Telling
​Resilience is often mistaken for endurance alone. Yet the courage to remain is something deeper. It is the decision to stay present in our bodies, in our communities, and in the truth of who we are when the world feels uncertain. Through poetry and reflection, this service explores how naming our stories becomes an act of strength, how presence becomes resistance, and how taking one more faithful step together becomes a sacred practice."

​Sermon by Jeanay Johnson, ​Director of Religious Education at Unitarian Universalist Church of St Petersburg

Click the play button to view the 10 am recording.   ​ ​​​​​​Click here to view the 11:30 recording. 
PictureJeanay Johnson
Jeanay Johnson serves as Director of Religious Education and Communications at the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg. A poet and spoken word artist known as Cali Poetik, she brings language, story, and lived experience into every space she enters, believing that naming is sacred work.

Currently completing her Master of Divinity degree with a focus on theology and world religions, Jeanay approaches ministry as an embodied practice rooted in justice, curiosity, and compassion. Her preaching and teaching weave together scholarship, creativity, and a deep respect for diverse spiritual paths.

Whether guiding youth, officiating life’s milestones, or offering poetry from the pulpit, Jeanay’s work reflects a steady commitment to presence, truth-telling, and the courage to remain.

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February 15:
Back in the late 1960s there were a series of events in the Unitarian Universalist Association that are now called the  “Black Empowerment Controversy.”  I will share with you some of the history of those events, and what we learned from them as an Association.   I will share my thoughts on empowerment in general and how and why we empower our teams and committees at our Congregation.

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin
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Click the play button to view the 10 am recording.                             Click here to view the 11:30 recording. 
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February 8:
Rev. Raushenbush will be speaking about creating Beloved Community as envisioned by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and how current organizing is making that real in this time.
Sermon by Rev. Paul Raushenbush

Click the play button to view the 
​10 am recording.   

​ ​​​​​​Click here to view the 
​11:30 am recording. 
PictureRev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
The Rev. Raushenbush is president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime leader in the interfaith movement working to protect an inclusive vision of religious freedom for people of all faiths and none. He works with affiliates, networks and leaders across the country to forge powerful alliances among people of diverse faiths and beliefs to build a resilient, inclusive multi-faith democracy. As the great-grandson of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and great-grandson of Baptist theologian Walter Rauschenbusch, a key figure in the Social Gospel movement, Rev. Raushenbush’s commitment to interfaith advocacy comes in part from his own interfaith background.

Prior to coming to Interfaith Alliance, Rev. Raushenbush served as senior vice president of the Auburn Seminary, the founding and executive editor of HuffPost Religion, associate dean of religious life and the chapel at Princeton University, and a founding editor of Beliefnet.com. Most recently, he was the senior advisor for public affairs and innovation at Interfaith America.
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Rev. Raushenbush speaks regularly at colleges, faith communities and institutes around the country – including The Chautauqua Institute, the Center for American Progress, Council on Foreign Relations, the New America Foundation and the Aspen Institute. He is a frequent commentator on issues of religion, civil rights and social justice in media national outlets including CNN, MSNBC, NPR, CBS, ABC, CPSAN, The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, Newsweek, The Hill, the Guardian, HuffPost, Salon and Religion News Service. He has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life.
Rev.  Raushenbush also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief,” in partnership with Religion News Service. Notable guests have included Timothy Snyder, Skye Perryman, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Katherine Stewart, Bishop William Barber, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Najeeba Sayeed, E.J. Dionne and Rob Reiner.
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February 1:
As part of our Sacred Texts series, we turn this week to a text rooted not in revelation, but in responsibility. The hallmark documents of Religious Humanism are three Humanist Manifesto’s written over the course of 70 years from 1933 to 2003.  I will examine the context and the changes over time in how Humanists defined themselves and how it has influenced and been influenced by Unitarian Universalism.   I will explore how humanism brings religious meaning to our lives.

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin


​Click the play button to view the 10 am livestream.     ​​​​​​Click here to view the 11:30 am livestream. 
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January 25:
Drawing on their award-winning partnership and deep roots in Americana, Jennings & Keller offer a musical service that blends original music, storytelling, and reflection.  With songs such as Your Heart Holds the Truth, This Is Family, Keep the Change, and Susan B. Anthony, the service speaks directly to themes of courage, justice, resilience, and compassion.  Laurie Jennings Oudin’s expressive vocals and theatrical presence, paired with Dana Keller’s masterful musicianship, create space for both solace and inspiration.  Together, they invite listeners to reconnect with shared values, imagine a more just future, and leave renewed in hope and purpose.​

​Jennings & Keller is an award-winning duo based in Florida, blending 21st-century Americana with influences of folk, jazz, and roots music into a refreshingly eclectic sound. Multi-instrumentalist Dana Keller—an acclaimed pedal steel, dobro, and guitar player who has performed with artists including Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye—brings jaw-dropping musicianship, while singer Laurie Jennings Oudin, a former Shakespearean actress, captivates audiences with a commanding stage presence and a vocal style reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. Together for 17 years, they have released four CDs, earned nationwide radio airplay, and built a loyal following as modern troubadours, touring the country by motor home and performing at festivals, wineries, cafés, and house concerts.
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​​​Click the play button to view the 10 am livestream.     ​​​​​​Click here to view the 11:30 am livestream. 
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January 18:
A look at the intersections of the lives and ministries of these two African American leaders and how they complimented and contrasted with each other on the road to freedom and justice.

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​​​Click the play button to view the 10 am recording.

​​​Click here to view the identical 11:30 am recording.

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Guest musician January 18:
Aliyah Bennett, our choir's soprano section leader

​Both services included moving solos by Aliyah Bennett.

​Lovingly known as “Lea”, she entered the world in 1996 as the first baby of Manatee County. Her grand entrance was just a few hours shy of being held in the Baptist church she would soon grow up in during a New Years Eve service. Being a whole 4 weeks early, her mother always made it known how eager Aliyah was to come out, as if she had things to do and places to be! Aliyah’s siblings recall watching their mother being escorted out of the choir stands as if in pain. Next thing they knew, they were being awoken at the break of dawn with news of their baby sister’s early arrival.

It wasn’t long before Lea was singing in the choir at her mother’s side, and would do so for many years as she grew within the walls of that church. Throughout her adolescence, she performed in many school settings: talent shows, basketball games, and school concerts. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she considered music as a course of study.

After singing the National Anthem at her high school graduation, Lea went on to further her schooling at the State College of Florida. There, she was classically trained and studied vocal performance, participating in a number of musicals including West Side Story, The Civil War, and Grease, where she starred as Frenchy.

Lea took a hiatus from school and ventured out of Bradenton in pursuit of new experiences. In 2018, she and her partner, Kiana, returned to her hometown and eloped. Two beautiful, kind, and brilliant kids emerged from this sacred union.

When Lea is not working on her bachelor's degree in Education, she is hanging out with her family and friends. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, and nature walks. She will be graduating in December of 2026.
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January 11:
We live in uncertain times. How can Unitarian Universalism help us navigate the river of life at this point in time of history? What have we learned from our history that can guide us? What can we as individuals and as a community do to meet this moment and maintain hope for a better future?

Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​​Click the play button to view the livestream.
​​You can find the text version of the sermon here.
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January 4:
Buddhist Meditation practice has had a major positive impact on my life.  Often we tend to just equate Buddhism and Meditation, but Buddhism  is much more than that. Buddhism has a long history and is quite diverse in its practices.  I will explore some Buddhist writings and how Buddhism can be meaningful to us as Unitarian Universalists.

​Sermon by Rev. Jay Wolin

​Click the play button to view the recording.
​You can find the text version of the sermon here.
Click here for our YouTube channel.