Special Programs

Welcoming Congregation

interweave "Our faith calls us to live a spirit of radical hospitality—only when we are truly open to the wealth of diversity in our world will the inherent worth and dignity of every person be affirmed with a large voice."

This statement from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides the basis to the UUA's Welcoming Congregation Program. As part of our commitment to the welcoming spirit, in 2006 UUCOV chose to complete the program and become accredited. As a welcoming congregation we pledge to:

Affirm and promote the full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) people in religious life
Reach out to members of the GLBT community
Stand against oppression in the larger community

As part of this program, we have a chapter of Interweave. Interweave is dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexual persons, transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies, as we celebrate the lives of all our members. For more information on our local chapter, please see the Interweave pages.

Green Sanctuary

The Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle states: we affirm and promote "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." The Unitarian Universalist Association's Green Sanctuary Program was established to help congregations and congregants put this principle into practice. Every member of the congregation is a participant in this program, because how we live our lives as individuals and as a congregation reflects on the future of this planet. Through worship, education, sustainable living and environmental justice projects the Green Sanctuary Committee works to bring this program to life at UUCOV. We invite you to explore more about our program and projects on our Green Sanctuary pages.

Social Justice

What does Social Justice mean to Unitarian Universalists? It means living our faith and practicing what we preach. Working for justice is an essential part of our spiritual journey. It is the way we express Unitarian Universalist Principles in the world beyond our walls. Since its inception in 1998, UUCOV has had an active social justice program. UUCOV's Social Justice Committee continues this important tradition locally, nationally and globally in an effort not only to serve people in need but also to promote systemic changes that will improve life for all on our beautiful and precious planet. For more information about our current activities, you can visit the Social Justice pages.

Small Group Activities

Meeting together every Sunday as a congregation is not the only way we gather to share with each other. We also have many small group activities that are important to the life of our congregation and our growth as individuals. We gather together for fun social activities, which include parties, dinners and picnics. There are also many opportunities for both youth and adults alike to explore our faith and expand our knowledge and understanding of the world around us within our Lifespan Education program. These activities bring us together in more intimate settings where we can get to know each other, grow spiritually and intellectually, and find truth and meaning in our lives and the world around us.

Performance, Lecture, and Seminar Series

UUCOV is proud to be the home for three major series in the Venice community.

The Venice Performing Arts Series (VPAS) is a professional performance company, directed by our own Deborah Berioli. Each year the series brings professional guest artists to our sanctuary for afternoon or evening performances. They often perform during our Sunday service when it coincides with their performance with VPAS. The series usually begins in September.
The Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) hosts their Venice Monday Music Lecture Series in January and February at UUCOV. This series brings both local and national professionals from the music industry to share their life experiences and discuss all things musical.
Venice Interfaith Community Association holds their Winter Educational Series at UUCOV which focuses on interfaith cooperation and education. It provides a forum for members of diverse faiths in our community to learn and share with each other in an atmosphere of openness and respect.

Check our events calendar for more information on these series.

Music at UUCOV

musicalnotes Our music program is an essential part of our life in the congregation and is one way that we reach out to our local community. Music is always present in our Sunday worship services. Our Music Director, Deborah Berioli, is an accomplished professional classical vocalist and is also known in our community as a successful choir director and concert planner. She directs our choir, sings, plays piano, and often has performers from the local community participate. Local vocalists and instrumentalists, both professionals and those who just enjoy performing, interested in joining the choir or performing at UUCOV can contact Deborah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Our Minister, Don Beaudreault, is also a jazz pianist and has been known to sit down at the piano on Sunday mornings to play for us. He also does a concert in the spring as a fundraising event which is open to the public.