Shows
Letters from a Glass HouseIn God we Trust, All Others Pay CashWhy do we support UUCOV, and what is generosity? Join us for a look at why we give generously
2025-01-3014 min
Letters from a Glass HouseDancing with the DeadWhat is the Day of the Dead, and how is it celebrated? Can anyone do it, or is it only for those of Hispanic heritage? Join us for this joyful celebration of those who have come before!
2024-11-0709 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThe Many Faces of the Amish and Mennonites in Sarasota with JB MillerMr. Miller is a life-long Mennonite who grew up in Pinecraft, the Amish/Mennonite enclave in Sarasota. He speaks to numerous groups and teaches classes about the Amish and Mennonites through the Adult Community Enrichment (ACE) program of Sarasota County Schools. Since retiring in 2014, he’s spent time researching the history of the Pinecraft community. He currently attends Covenant Mennonite Fellowship, an LGBTQ + congregation in Sarasota.Go and hear him in person!
2024-11-0331 min
Letters from a Glass HouseDon't Picnic in a HailstormHow do you decide what is wise, moral, and ethical to do? When should you choose to suffer? Join us for this look at choosing your own moral and ethical code, and making wise decisions based on it
2024-10-2218 min
Letters from a Glass HouseProject 2025 and UU Lives What is Project 2025, and is it possible to support it while maintaining UU values? Do we offer a promise of a better way?
2024-10-1419 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWhat is Humanism? featuring Dr. Dan DanaDr. Dan Dana, a renowned expert in conflict management and organizational behavior, will speak about the Humanists of Sarasota Bay, a group of secular Humanists and freethinkers focused on improving the human condition through rational inquiry, critical thinking, and appropriate action.
2024-10-0441 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLet There be LightRosh Hashanah, redemption and getting woke! Today we're exploring the realization that every day is a new beginning; you just have to wake up!
2024-10-0417 min
Letters from a Glass HouseRise Up SingingMusic has always been a way of moving people to action. Join Rev. Amy Shaw for this exploration of the use of music to set the stage for transformative experience.
2024-09-1717 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAre You Ready for a Miracle?As UUs we are committed to the responsible search for truth and meaning. Please join us for this service exploring the miraculous and the supernatural in religion, and let’s examine why it’s not true that “UUs can believe anything.”
2024-09-0918 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLabor Day and a Living WageHow can we honor and respect human beings if they are not allowed to make a living wage? Join us for this service on financial justice and economic inequality
2024-09-0917 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThree on a MattressSensuality and sexuality are a part of what makes us human. Join us for this exploration of the sacredness of the sensual.
2024-08-2617 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWhat Would... featuring William EstyJoin us for this service by William Esty which askes what would we do to truly live our values?
2024-08-2010 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThe 4-Letter Words That Aren'tFeaturing special guest Kristofer Geddie, executive director of the Venice Theater
2024-07-3020 min
Letters from a Glass HouseTalking to a MysteryPray- what is it and does it work? Some people claim it causes miracles to happen, others feel that it's just talking to empty air. Come and explore the idea of prayer as a Unitarian Universalist activity, and see if talking to a Mystery is right for you!
2024-07-3021 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThe Time is NowThis episode features special guest Vickie Oldham, President and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.SAACC’s goal is to open an art center and history museum. The precursor of this historic preservation initiative is “Newtown Alive.” Led by Oldham, the project traces the history of Newtown, one of Sarasota’s oldest communities.Newtown Alive products include a research report, a book, historical markers, a documentary short, a guided trolley tour, traveling exhibition, walking tours, a mobile app, oral history interviews, an inventory of historic structures, a podcast series, and newtownalive.org, the official...
2024-07-3053 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBe the LightPlease join Peter Casamento, President and Executive Director of Laurel Civic for this wonderful discussion of his organization and the good they do in the world
2024-07-3035 minLetters from a Glass HouseHow Can We Find More Beauty in Our Life?Join special guest Dick Smith for this fascinating look at finding beauty
2024-07-3022 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSeeking a PurposeJoin us for this lovely talk featuring special guest Bill Payton, President UUSRQ Board of Trustees
2024-07-3017 min
Letters from a Glass HouseExploring QuestionsEnjoy this question box service with Rev. Allison L. Moore
2024-07-3020 min
Letters from a Glass HouseA Story About Our Lives with Rev. Alison L. MooreIn the Swedenborgian tradition, the Bible is viewed as an allegory of our spiritual journey. Rather than a set of rules and cautionary tales, it is a mirror of our growth, with all of our stumbles, foibles and eventual success.
2024-06-0623 min
Letters from a Glass HouseYou Are Needed with Rev. Angela Wells-BeanA reminder to all that our witness is desperately needed because there are more and more people feeling that there's no place for them in Florida.
2024-06-0623 min
Letters from a Glass HouseFor GoodHow are we called to experience joy? What does it mean to be changed, irrevocably, by the good things we are exposed to? How do you choose to change, not for the better, but for good? Join us for this sermon about the good things in life!
2024-06-0516 min
Letters from a Glass HouseMamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be CowboysPlease join Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw for this service which explores mother as a verb, a job description, and a state of being.
2024-06-0513 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBetween the River and the Sea: The Story of Israel and PalestineThis service offers an overview of the history of Israel and Palestine, and of the historical occupations of the region. As "Gaza Support Camps" rise on American college campuses, and the violence in the Middle East continues, what do you need to know to take an informed position, and work toward healing the world?
2024-06-0515 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSinging an Earth SongPlease join Donna Jewett, Kim McHugh, and members of the UUCOV Green Sanctuary team, in this celebration of the Earth. Sermon read by Donna Jewett.
2024-06-0513 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSitting on the Back of a Dead Horse with Guest Pam PalmerJoin storyteller Pam Palmer for this warm service featuring the work of Gary Paulsen. A lyrical tribute to a vanishing way of life.
2024-06-0519 min
Letters from a Glass HouseA Feast of FoolsSometimes laughter is the holiest thing you can do. This service explores the sacred role of the fool.
2024-04-2614 min
Letters from a Glass HousePassover and the Prison Industrial ComplexWhat do the Jewish holiday of Passover and Attica have in common? Join us for this service, which will explore the connection between Passover and our modern intuition of slavery.
2024-04-2617 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAlleluia: An Easter ServiceEaster tells us that love, not death, will win in the end. Come and join Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw for this exploration of Easter through a Universalist lens.
2024-04-2616 min
2024-04-2513 min
Letters from a Glass HouseHoli: The Festival of ColorsJoin Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and explore the Hindu holiday of Holi. Known for it's exhuberant celebrations, wild colors, and joyful visiting, this holiday which celebrates the victory of good over evil is not to be missed!
2024-03-2515 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAll Sinners and All SaintsAs UUCOV nears the end of a search cycle, it's time to explore who is welcome at a UU congregation. Are all people really able to be a part of a UU community? Join us for this service which looks at the fact that while all physical bodies are welcome, all ideas and their lived values may not be.
2024-03-1614 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLove Changes EverythingLove is amazing- it can’t be forced or legislated. It knows few bounds and sometimes breaks all rules. Come and share this service on the intersections between love and theology, and let’s talk about what it means to be born again.
2024-03-1615 min
Letters from a Glass HouseOctavia Butler: Hear the Prophet SpeakThe Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents changed the face of science fiction. Come and explore the work of a modern-day Prophet in this thought-provoking service.
2024-02-0613 min
Letters from a Glass HouseGod's DebrisWhat happens when an atheist creates a thought experiment designed to explore the nature of God? “God’s Debris” is a serious novella by well-known humorist and Dilbert creator Scott Adams. (The original was released free and can be found here, http://nowscape.com/godsdebris.pdf) This service will explore the ideas postulated in God’s Debris.
2024-02-0419 min
Letters from a Glass HouseCarrying a Suitcase Full of UglyWhat is critical race theory and why do so many people worry about it? Come and learn about CRT and the workings of white supremacy culture.
2024-02-0420 min
Letters from a Glass HouseEvery Valley Shall Be ExaltedCome and share a hopeful exploration of Martin Luther King Day. The dream is alive, and we can bring it closer to completion.
2024-01-1610 min
Letters from a Glass HouseGA (General Assembly) Changed UsThis is a fascinating look at the experience of last year's General Assembly Delegates, both onsite and remote. These UUCOV members went to be our voice, and experienced this gathering of over 4,000 UUs. Listen to what they had to say!
2024-01-1422 min
Letters from a Glass HouseStarting Over It is never too late to begin again. And again. The old burns away, and the new rises from the ashes, so come and explore the hope inherent in every new beginning and celebrate the coming New Year!
2024-01-1410 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSPECIAL EPISODE! What Child is This? Christmas EpisodeWhat child is this, who is born to bring hope to the world? This extended podcast features the entire Christmas service of lessons, carols, and choral music. Please enjoy!
2023-12-301h 00
Letters from a Glass HouseUnto YouPlease join us for this warm Christmas service, and learn about the boy Jesus, known as Emmanuel, "God With Us."
2023-12-3010 min
Letters from a Glass HouseA Salute to Social JusticeA salute to 20 years of social justice work at UUCOV!
2023-12-2019 min
Letters from a Glass HousePeace, Be Still: Exploring Bodhi DayHard work isn’t always the answer; sometimes the only way to succeed is to be still
2023-12-1613 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWidening the Circle: UUism for All of UsWhat is the promise of our faith, as we move into the future? How will we live into change, and welcome others into beloved communiity? For a congregation in search, these questions are especially important. Will your new minister lead you boldly into the coming days, or do you need support to make change? Is it time for study, or time to act? How will UUCOV live into the promise and the practice of UUism? And what the heck is Article II?
2023-12-0616 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSay It! with guest William EstyOur voices fade if we do not use them. The voices of others fade from our ears if we do not take the time to listen.Come; raise your voice with us so that it may be heard.
2023-12-0111 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAll Good GiftsA warm and welcoming service which explores the theological construct of gratitude
2023-12-0116 min
Letters from a Glass HouseDiwali and the Light InsideJoin us for Diwali; India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
2023-11-1914 min
Letters from a Glass HouseA Church is Born- A Special 25th Anniversary Extended Episode!Join us for this joyous special 25th Anniversary episode celebrating the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice! The service features special guest Rev. Susanne Nazian, and a Salute to the UUCOV Pioneers!
2023-11-101h 01
Letters from a Glass HouseHope for the Hopeless featuring Dr, April GlascoIt is worth living today because the eternal tomorrow is so much brighter. We all desire to feel the present of Hope, a feeling of expectation and a feeling of trust. Hope is serving the hopeless. When do we start the process of feeling or feeding Hope, to serving ourselves or others? The answer is NOW!
2023-11-0224 min
Letters from a Glass HouseFrom Legos to Logos: Playing With the Building Blocks of ReligionUnitarian Universalism doesn’t come with a holy book or creed. Today we’re going to talk about building religion and having it your way.
2023-10-2415 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSeeking Sanity and Grace1 in 10 Americans has a substance abuse problem. Come an explore faith as part of the journey out of addiction
2023-10-2419 min
Letters from a Glass HouseYou Can't Always Get What You WantYou can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need. We are not free until everyone is free- this service explores privilege and loss.
2023-10-1120 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWithin Our LongingWith special guest speaker Rev. Allison Moore.Rev. Alison Moore left her conservative Swedenborgian roots in her mid-life to seek ordination with the liberal Swedenborgians. She has been deeply interested in the intersection between religion and psychiatry for most of her life. After many years in different pastoral settings, Alison now teaches spiritual transformation through clutter-clearing, as she finds this work deeply satisfying, immediately rewarding, and free of church politics.
2023-10-0430 min
Letters from a Glass HouseMaking a HomeHome is where your heart is; it’s a place that waits for you to discover it. Come and be welcome, and let’s talk together about the homes we make for ourselves and others as we journey through life. This service is based on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles.
2023-09-2514 min
Letters from a Glass HouseMawlid!The holiday of Mawlid celebrates and commemorates the birth of the prophet Mohammed. Join us for this joyous festival service!
2023-09-2213 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSPECIAL MUSICAL MEDITATION 9/11 Memorial "The Call"The song "The Call" is a gorgeous and heart-felt musical tribute to love, faith, resilience, and the human spirit in the wake of the 9/11 WTC attacks. Words & Music by Venice’s own, Karen Benedetto . Performance by NY artist, Marieann Meringolo. Video available https://youtu.be/yhj-mA1gOAg
2023-09-2205 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWorking 9 to 5Working 9-5, what a way to make a living… or not. How are we called to create radical inclusion, when the top 0.01% of America owns more wealth than the bottom 90%? How do class and wealth intersect with religion? Come and explore this important topic.
2023-09-0519 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAwakening from a Long Dark Difficult DreamWhat happens when we awaken from a long, dark, difficult dream? Featuring guest speaker Kathy Avery
2023-09-0511 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSocial PermacultureJody M. Luna, Ed.D., M.Arch., an educator, designer, and permaculturist, will be discussing permaculture design and how we can incorporate its ethics and principles into the social aspect of our lives.
2023-09-0420 min
Letters from a Glass HouseI am a CitizenIn Acts 22 of the Christian bible, Paul is spared a beating by Roman soldiers because he declares himself to be a Roman citizen. The Roman commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship,” to which Paul replied, “But I was born a citizen.” In his sermon, Dr. McMillan helps us understand the importance of this passage in ancient times, as well as its relevance in the present. Dr. McMillan weaves together Scripture, Unitarian Universalist principles, and modern issues of civil rights to explore how equality and justice are birthrights that must be extended to...
2023-09-0412 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWho, What, When, Where, and Why?It's far easier for us to ask questions than to answer them. But some of those "impossible questions" answer more about us than we realize.
2023-07-3111 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBlanket Forts and Comfy ChairsFinding a physical space where you can feel calm and relaxed is essential. This service addresses our human need for place; micro-spaces which let us soothe our hearts and center our minds
2023-07-1713 min
Letters from a Glass HouseI am a Patriot (with vocal solo by Marianne Koerner)What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism, and how are we called to live our values as citizens of this county? Does it matter if we've got "God on our side"?This podcast begins with Marianne Koerner's solo performance of Dylan's "With God on Our Side"
2023-07-0322 min
Letters from a Glass HouseFascism; A Product of Many Kinds of InjusticesJoin Dave Williams for a look at fascism, it's place in history, and it's role in modern America
2023-06-2822 min
Letters from a Glass HouseIt Takes Guts to be a DadAny fertile man has the potential to father offspring, but it takes real guts to be a dad. Join UUCOV for this warm and welcoming Fathers Day service
2023-06-1914 min
Letters from a Glass HouseFriends, Family, Fishin’ and Filosofy: The Wisdom of Pat McManusSometimes friends, family, fun, and shared philosophies are what it is all about. Join us for this warm look at finding joy and support in our daily lives.
2023-06-1314 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBuilding the Beloved CommunityWhat does it mean to be truly beautiful, and how can we approach transient beauty as a spiritual practice in a violent world?
2023-06-0713 min
Letters from a Glass HouseFeeding the Pentecostal Flames Join Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw in a service which examines the fire that sends us into the world, and the ethic which fuels it
2023-06-0115 min
Letters from a Glass HouseNeurodiversity and InclusionA fascinating look at neurodiversity and cultural inclusion
2023-05-2217 min
Letters from a Glass HouseStanding in the Cheese and Eating the Crusts: A Mother's Day ServicePlease join us for this warm service celebrating the mothers , and moms, mamas, and nanas who made us who we are today.
2023-05-2217 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWe Are OneCome and explore what makes us all one, with special pulpit guest Dennis Higdon!
2023-05-1012 min
Letters from a Glass HouseRecreating MasculinityIt's time to move past toxic masculinity and begin to support men as they explore all of the ways healthy masculinity can present itself. Let's talk about healthy masculinity, and supporting the masculine people in our lives and our community!
2023-05-1020 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBailing Out Our Blue BoatIf we are all a part of an interconnected web of life, what does this mean for our relationship to our planet?
2023-04-2813 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAin't That Good News?“The story we have to tell is transforming. And we want to change the world, ain’t that good news?” -Rev. Amy Petrie ShawJoin UUCOV and Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw for this service about UU evangelism. What does it mean to reach out and share our good news?
2023-04-1720 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThree Days: An Easter ServiceOver 2,000 years ago the man Jesus of Nazareth died on a cross and was buried. Three days later, something got up. Come and enjoy this thought-provoking Easter service.
2023-04-1617 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLaughter is LiberationHumor is more than a series of jokes. It is a spiritual perspective that can change everything. Come and explore the ridiculous inherent in all things!
2023-04-0511 min
Letters from a Glass HouseOstara and the Wheel of the YearWithout balance, a wheel will not turn for long. Light and dark follow one another in the wheel of the year, and without change everything will fade. How do we face change, and how do we let go?
2023-03-2016 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLoving the Hell Out of the WorldOur Universalist roots grew from the idea that all were granted Salvation, and welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. What does that mean for us today, when the idea of an afterlife is no longer essential, and how are we called to love the Hell out of this world?
2023-03-2016 min
Letters from a Glass HouseKindness Isn't Always NiceIsn’t religion supposed to be nice? No. No, it isn’t. You are thinking of manners. Manners, those are nice.Religion is not nice. It isn’t supposed to be nice.Religion has teeth. And sometimes it bites down.
2023-03-1018 min
Letters from a Glass HousePlease Don't Feed the DragonsFacing our fears can be difficult, but its not impossible. Come and explore curiosity, bravery, and...red underwear???
2023-02-2214 min
Letters from a Glass HouseLove Ain't PieLove takes different forms at different times; romantic, parental, sexual, neighborly, and more. But love isn't pie. You don't run out as you give pieces away. Come and join us as we explore the many faces of loveLove takes different forms at different times; romantic, parental, sexual, neighborly, and more. But love isn't pie. You don't run out as you give pieces away. Come and join us as we explore the many faces of love
2023-02-1416 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBe NakedAuthentic relationship underlies and supports the work of social justice and community building. Come and join Reverend Amy Petrie Shaw in this exploration of compassion, vulnerability, authenticity, and unnecessary fig leaves.
2023-02-0919 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAre We Still Dreaming?Join us for this lesson dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his dream. Are We indeed still dreaming?
2023-01-2707 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThe Sermon on the AmountEach of us is only one thread in an amazing tapestry, but if we were missing, the picture would be forever changed. Come and explore generosity as a spiritual practice, and gain a better understanding of both why churches need good stewards and what stewardship does for you.
2023-01-2614 min
Letters from a Glass HouseSeasons of LoveRent’s Seasons of Love asks a good question; how do you measure a year in your life?How many good things had to happen for it to have been a good year? How many bad things for it to have been a bad one? How will you actually experience the coming year, and why is it important to experience the moment?
2023-01-1214 min
Letters from a Glass HouseO Holy Night *Special EpisodeJoin us for this warm and welcoming Christmas Eve service of readings and music! This is a special episode featuring the entire Christmas Eve service
2022-12-251h 10
Letters from a Glass HouseThe Lights of HanukkahHanukkah is about healing, illuminating, miraculous light. It's about little miracles, and human perserverence. And it has something to teach you. Come and explore the deeper meaning behind Hanukkah, and it's impact on all of us.
2022-12-2111 min
Letters from a Glass HouseCome Out, Come OutWe all have labels which we wear, or sometimes hide. Each label comes with its own closet building kit. Each has the potential to close you in and lock you away in the dark until you can’t imagine how the light would feel.Or maybe just to sap your joy as you try to make sure no one pays attention, no one notices, the label.This service is about being yourself, whatever that means!
2022-12-1113 min
Letters from a Glass HouseCircleLife is one big circle, so come and let's explore living well, and the beauty and fragility of finite existence.
2022-12-1115 min
Letters from a Glass HouseOh We Give ThanksWhat do we mean when we talk about thanks, and thanks giving? And what do holes in the roof have to do with gratitude? Listen and find out!
2022-11-2616 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWelcome Wagons and Birthday BalloonsWhat does it mean to offer the outsider radical welcome? How do we let go of ownership and embrace inclusion? Is everybody really welcome? Join Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw in exploring these questions and more.
2022-11-0916 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWelcoming the DarkMany cultures recognize a day when the living and the dead can talk together. Come and join us for this service which explores the Celtic holiday of Samhain.
2022-11-0314 min
Letters from a Glass HouseBlessing and BailingThe earth is our big blue boat, and we're all in this together. Do you have the courage to examine right relationship with an entire planet?
2022-10-1816 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWe Begin Again in LoveTo begin, you have to end. A service of atonement and repair to help us to move beyond the “stuck” places in our lives.
2022-10-1115 min
Letters from a Glass HouseMake a Joyful NoiseCome and join us for this joyful service celebrating the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. What wisdom does this holiday hold for you? Come and find out!
2022-10-0815 min
Letters from a Glass HouseWho Are You?Who are you? Where do you come from? What shapes the life you lead? This service will investigate culture, history, and story-telling as pieces of our life travels.
2022-10-0816 min
Letters from a Glass Houseit Ain't Heavy, It's Our MinistryUnitarian Universalism welcomes "the ministry of all believers," so why do we train and ordain ministers? Come to this service and let's explore various ideas of ministry, and the weight of the stole we all wear as we minister to and witness one another
2022-09-2815 min
Letters from a Glass HouseAlways Start CleanHow do we wash ourselves clean and begin again? What physical rituals help to remind us that renewal and rebirth are not just in our heads? This service examines the role of ritual and physical action in theology.
2022-09-2515 min
Letters from a Glass HouseHope Never EndsDr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” As Unitarian Universalists, how are we to understand hope? And how do we keep it from failing? Join Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw for this exploration of the nature of hope.
2022-09-2515 min
Letters from a Glass HouseThe Road Goes Ever Ever On"He often used to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep and every path was its tributary. 'It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.'" -JRR TolkienJoin Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw as we begin our journey together on this shared road. What is shared ministry? What is church? And why do we w...
2022-09-2411 min