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March 24, 2019, 10:00 amSharing and Caring: Volunteering with the Homeless by Bob and Wanda McCaa
Volunteering with the homeless has a UU connection for both Bob and Wanda. Upon retirement, Wanda began volunteering with the homeless in Minneapolis, through outreach by the First Unitarian Society. Several years later, shortly after moving to Lakewood Ranch, a Sunday sermon at the UU-LWR introduced them to Turning Points, an extraordinary social service agency serving the homeless and near-homeless in Bradenton. Bob has now been volunteering weekly at Turning Points for two years. Turning Points is a remarkable asset to our community and UULWR has an ongoing relationship with it. UULWR donations of clothing, hygiene products, food, backpacks and even bicycles are greatly appreciated by Turning Points clients. Volunteers are the corner stone of Turning Points mission as a “One-Stop” center, particularly in the laundry, clothes closet, computer center, hair salon, and cafeteria. Reflecting on their experiences, they see change over time, but also differences of place. Volunteering with the homeless has enriched their lives. They will share thoughts and stories about volunteering as well as possible solutions to homelessness. March 31, 2019, 10:00 amMarch 31. Unitarian Universalists in a Divisive World. A conversation with June and Ron Hertenstein. There is so much talk of divisiveness, living in tribes, and unwillingness or inability to see the other side. But, we as Unitarians come together in community from different experiences, different beliefs, and with open minds. Or do we? In this conversation, June and Ron explore the source of divisiveness and unity, and, as relatively new Unitarians, explore ways to find personal peace in a troubled world.
The text of the Feb. 24 sermon by Doug Muder: Men and #MeToo
is available for review at: http://freeandresponsible.blogspot.com/2019/03/men-and-metoo.html Social Justice Committee If you would like more information on our Social Justice mission contact John at jbrackett01@verizon.net.
Upcoming Activities
Selby Garden - Gauguin: Voyage to Paradise Beginning in February 2019, the Marie Selby Gardens of Sarasota will highlight Paul Gauguin’s use of botanicals in achieving his vision of the savage, primitive and exotic.
UU of Lakewood Ranch has arranged a guided tour of the Gauguin exhibit. Interested participants will car pool to the Gardens to begin the tour at 9:30 AM on Friday, March 15, 2019. The cost will be $30 each for the guided tour and additional time to view the lush foliage in the gardens. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Elizabeth Child’s lecture on the relevance of Gauguin’s work to post-impressionist art during the latter part of the 19thCentury. Interested persons should contact Martha Conklin at martha.conklin1@gmail.com prior to February 1st to reserve a place. Baseball! Orioles vs Twins - March 23, 2016 @6:05 Ed Smith Stadium. Contact Jeff Jones by 2/13/19: jeffajones123@gmailcom
Life in Key West is a day at the beach: April 9-11, 2019.
As one of our UULWR activities, we are planning on a trip to Key West in April. Information including maps and telephone number contacts for reservations are included on the Key West Page of UU LWR Activities. You will need to make your own reservations for the catamaran ferry and for the accommodations you select. Please contact me if you want to be included in the get-together dinners when we are in Key West. The Key West Express (the catamaran high speed ferry boat) has special lower cost vouchers available before 25Dec2018. This voucher costs $99 for a round trip ticket as compared with a regular round trip ticket that costs $155. This will be a fun get-away with two get-together group dinners to give us the opportunity to socialize together and reminisce about what we have experienced in Key West, and yet have most of our time unscheduled so that we can each move at our own pace and do the many things that might be of interest to ourselves. Hoping you each will find this to be a fun and relaxing and low-key experience, the Activities Committee looks forward to your joining with us. Any questions please contact Alan Cate - alan.cate@gmail.com Activities CommitteeThe Activities Committee has been very busy planning new activities for us this year. Already started: Nature Walks, the first Saturday of each month with Kathleen Konicek-Moran. (kathleen.konmor@gmail.com). A tour of Bok Tower Garden is being organized by Kathleen Konicek-Moran for February 28.and an "End of Season" sunset picnic at Coquina Beach is being planned by Pat Rosenof. Please see activity descriptions above or our LWR Activities page (and subpages) or contact Pat Rosenof (prosenof54@gmail.com) for further info on these and other activities which are being planned.
On-going Activities
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Join us for Coffee and Conversation after the Sunday Service
Coffee will be available. Requested Donation $3 
David Longo and Barbara Hewitt - Music is my Friend 11/4/18 Welcome, guests and visitors! 
Here we affirm and promote reason and the scientific method as the tools in learning to love each other and live in harmony with the earth.
We have no creed, but we do strongly encourage everyone to treat each other with respect. We are affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Where we meet: the Lakewood Ranch Hyatt Place
We are a Welcoming Congregation, celebrating and affirming the active presence here of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual members and friends, and their families.
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Who We Are and What We Do
Some members of the UU Sarasota Congregation set out in 2015 to bring the Unitarian Universalist message to Lakewood Ranch. They were encouraged by Roger Fritts, Minister of the UU Church. They found a place to meet at The River Club. With help from their friends in Sarasota, and grants from the UU Association, the UU Church of Sarasota and the Manatee UU Fellowship, they started this new venture.
Its purpose is to bring to the LWR community a place, a home, where people can come together to share their concerns, to help each other find solutions for these concerns but also to celebrate their lives.
Because we believe firmly in the Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles, we try to help those who are less fortunate among us through our Social Justice Program. We are a Welcoming Congregation. We may hear a sermon on Jesus' teachings of love and forgiveness, on creating change through humanism, on gun violence, or an exercise in zen meditation. We may also hear in our forums and discussion groups concerns of voter suppression in this or other countries, and about issues that affect people throughout the world and affect our planet and all life on it.
The UU at Lakewood Ranch more than anything else seeks to provide a meeting of like-minded people who can come together and support each other. We are now in our second year and we look forward to growing in this community.
Because we believe firmly in the Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles, we try to help those who are less fortunate among us through our Social Justice Program. We are a Welcoming Congregation. We may hear a sermon on Jesus' teachings of love and forgiveness, on creating change through humanism, on gun violence, or an exercise in zen meditation. We may also hear in our forums and discussion groups concerns of voter suppression in this or other countries, and about issues that affect people throughout the world and affect our planet and all life on it.
The UU at Lakewood Ranch more than anything else seeks to provide a meeting of like-minded people who can come together and support each other. We are now in our second year and we look forward to growing in this community.
Our Flower Power Service on April 16, 2017 was a nice reminder of how far we've come in 2 years. It felt like a celebratory reunion!
Join the discussion on FacebookActive on Facebook? Make 'Unitarian Universalists of Lakewood Ranch' your Friend. Sheila Sullivan has done a great job of raising our profile on this social media site. Join us here: https://m.facebook.com/Unitarian-Universalists-of-Lakewood-Ranch-800344990004289/?tsid=0.20781894815848567&source=typeahead, 'Like Us' and Share a post to let others know who we are and what we're about.