Churches & Places of Worship in Sarasota, FL

“If you get the privilege/lucky to have Father Russell Wright give the homily you are in for an inspiring mass.He is a priest who always delivers incredible homilies! He has a way with words that captivates the congregation. His homilies are thought-provoking, filled with wisdom, and delivered with passion.”

“I love the feeling of having a church group like this turn into your family!! I never realized how much I needed and wanted church until I joined FOB, less than a year ago. Not to mention they make sure to keep everything centered around the one and only God. We have an amazing pastor who is down to earth and an amazing leadership team. The worship is wonderful along with freedom to worship the Lord whatever way suites you.”

“The Shul of downtown is an authentic Jewish experience. This is a place to explore real Judaism through meaningful classes which touch on the profundity of Jewish scholarship ,Torah learning, andservices that focus on one's soul's relationship to god. Rabbi Levi is the real deal. For those who are perplexed, come find out about your real tradition.”

“I’ve been a member here for a couple of years. There’s lots of activities for all ages and the people here are really friendly and outgoing. I really like the option of watching the service online as well. Most importantly the focus is on God’s word. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a church home or if you're visiting from out of town.”

“My husband Hy & I came to an event in September on a Friday Evening. We joined by that Sunday. We have become active and supporters. Chazan makes every Friday special. Very interactive.”

“If you compare church's around the states as a mountain where the bottom and largest part of the mountain is seeker sensitive/salvation based (1 Corinthians 9:22) and the top and smallest part of the mountain is the fearful presence of God (Exodus 19), it may help to see why people outgrow their home church and move on to another church, either higher or lower on the mountain. Bayside is one of few that you can call home and not leave. The community and leadership are diverse, and no matter how far up the mountain you want to climb to be closer with the Lord, you will find a place there to be a part of.”

“I don't always take the time to write reviews online, but I always do when I am blown away by a particular establishment. After my son's third year in a row attending Vacation Bible School at First Sarasota this passed week, I felt compelled to share about my family's experience at this wonderful church. From the moment you step foot on the campus of First Sarasota and their corresponding VBS children's camp, volunteers are there to greet you with huge smiles on their faces. There is a security guard for added peace of mind walking the premises as well as a designated door opener who checks to ensure that you are a parent who is supposed to be there picking up a child. I love both of these aspects - it is obvious that First Sarasota is dedicated to keeping our kids safe. The VBS itself is run so efficiently. From the initial registration, to the check-in process, to the daily drop off and pickup - everything is organized and there are dedicated teams for each step of the process. It is so evident that so much preparation goes into the camp. The children are divided by age, and each room is elaborately decorated every year to bring the theme of the week to life. I wish I would have taken more pictures, because truly they did such a great job at bringing this year's theme of "destination dig" to life! Above all, the volunteers are what make this place so wonderful. Every person we encountered was kind, ready to help and serve in any way, and clearly passionate about children. I am so grateful for all of the people that have poured into my son the last three years. As parents in 2023, it is not an easy feat to find people that we can trust with our kids. However, my husband and I have always had full confidence in the programs and the people of First Sarasota. We love you, First Sarasota!”