Our History
Our Sixty Year Anniversary
In October and November 2022, VUCC celebrated sixty years. Each Sunday, for six weeks, our worship service focused on a specific decade, culminating in a Congregation Celebration in Naar Hall.
Fifty+ Years of God's Faithfulness
Dream it.
It all begins with an idea. If you dream it, it will come. Whatever that dream is, the way you tell your story, can make all the difference.
Believe it.
Once you have embraced that call of God, you must put your feet into action and let the Holy Spirit lead you to fulfill that vision. Believe in it.
Grow it.
We are a church that is called by God to spread the Good News that God loves all people. We must continue to grow.
In the beginning…
Having engaged in conversation with influential people around Venice, Mr. Albert Bradley, Managing Editor of the Venice Gondolier, decided to pursue the possibility of establishing a church in Venice.
In the meantime, by a quirk of faith, a gentleman named Rev. Dr. E. Robert Chable and his wife, Marion Boynton, established reisdence in Venice. The family physician recommended that Mrs. Chable move to a warm climate due to her rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Chable also received an offer to become Vice President of Venice-Nokomis Bank with direct responsibilities for the bank's public relations.
Dr. Chable was a licensed and ordained clergyman, having served in several pastorates, associate, pastorates, and interim pastorates in many religious denominations. He had also been Dean of two colleges, one in Michigan and the other in Ohio, before coming to Venice to accept the position offered by the bank. They sought a church where they would enjoy intellectually-respectable preaching, friendly people, and a congruent religious viewpoint. Their choice was The First Congregational Church of Sarasota where they became members.
The first Service of Worship was on Worldwide Communion Sunday, October 7, 1962. Eighty-three people attended the service which was held at the Elks Club on E. Venice Avenue in the Kentucky Military Institute.
Just a few important dates in our history:
February 15, 1963 - Dr. Chable accepted a unanimous call to be the full time Pastor.
February 24, 1963 - The congregation voted to purchase a 5.4 acre plot of land in Venice Gardens at Shamrock Blvd and Tuxedo Rd at a cost of $27,500.
1977 - Rev. Charlene Raitt (who worships with us now) was called to be our Associate Pastor. At that time, she was one of only three female ordained United Church of Christ ministers in the state of Florida.
February 7, 1985 - The first worship of Venice United Church of Christ was held in our new sanctuary.
In those early days, Venice United Church of Christ faced three challenges:
1. 1962 - deciding to establish a United Church of Christ here in Venice
2. 1964 - deciding to build
3. 1968 - moving from being a mission church to being a church in full standing in the Florida Conference, United Church of Christ
Venice United Church of Christ met those challenges and looked forward to building the body of Christ in Venice.
Ministry Milestones
In the years since 1968, there was more building which provided office space, choir rehearsal space, meeting space, Church Library space (and we have an excellent library!), and our Fellowship Hall.
Many new ministries emerged as well. Among them:
• Our Prayer Shawls have been sent to people all over the world
• Women's Fellowship sponsors activities like the Rummage Sale and the Basket Auction and donates the proceeds both locally and throughout the world
• We host the Garden Elementary Art Fest where the children's art is displayed and the music students perform
• We participate in VICA (Venice Interfaith Community Association)
• In 2006-ish, we "lived into" being an Open and Affirming church
• In April 2016, we voted that we are a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaging) Congregation for Mental Health
Gazing Through Our Sanctuary Windows
The beautiful windows in this video adorn the hallowed halls of our church’s sanctuary telling a power life-changing story for all to see. A special thanks to Maria Groody and Victoria Augustine for all their hard work on this presentation.
Our Memorial Garden
Our church has a beautiful Memorial Garden with this inscription,
“In this consecrated area rest the cremains of beloved members of this church.
‘…The place whereon thou standest is Holy Ground - Exodus 3:5.’”
This is a sacred place of remembrance and treasured memories.
VUCC Yearbook for 2020-2021
What has our church been up to this past year? This yearbook video shows the wonderful life of our church during 2020-2021. A special thanks to Maria Groody for all of her hard work in putting this yearbook together.
