The county has several Jewish congregations and a total of seven Catholic churches.
The county includes Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Word of Christ, Church of God, Religious Society of Friends and many nondenominational churches.
The area also has churches representing Assembly of God, African Methodist Episcopal, Apostolic, Pentecostal, Mennonite, Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses, Bible, Charismatic, Brethren, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Mormon, Gospel, Evangelical and others.
There also are organizations in the area representing beliefs outside of the Jewish and Christian sphere.
Unity Church In The Woods, a robust Manatee County church, honors many world religions and lists itself as a New Age church.
Sarasota offers a few metaphysical churches.
The Islamic Society of Sarasota & Bradenton on Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota offers services to the area's growing Muslim population.
Funny church signs hide a deeper message
RICHARD DYMOND
Helen Burns is the receptionist for Sarasota Baptist Church in Lakewood Ranch where the sign out front says, "We're Discovering the Difference."
That's a good informative message, but Burns remembers seeing signs on small churches that grabbed passing motorists in a funny way.
"Some are cute and make you stop and think," Burns said.
One church known for its signs is St. James United Methodist Church, located on Honore Avenue North near 17th Street East in Sarasota.
In early October, the sign in front of the church read, "Call home daily . . . pray," said Sue Micciche, church secretary.
"The signs are made up by our pastor, the Rev. Grant Siegfried," Micciche said. "He enjoys doing it."
Siegfried, who has been at the church more than three-and-half years, has made it his mission to come up with pithy signs to put in front of the church. But not all of them come out of his own head.
Siegfried travels around Sarasota and Manatee counties and writes down signs that he likes. He says there is no copyright on messages about God.
"When it comes to church signs, no one sues," Siegfried said. "And anyone can borrow from us. I am watching all the time to see other church signs."
So, what are some of his favorite over the years? Siegfried likes the ones that are short and sweet and make a powerful point.
"'Dusty Bibles Lead To Dirty Lives,' " is a favorite," Siegfried said. "I also like, 'Exercise Daily . . . Walk With God.' "
Signs that make you laugh because they sound like a familiar phrase are especially good, Siegfried said.
Some examples are: " 'Fight Truth Decay . . . Study The Bible' and 'All Hearts Need A Peace-maker,' " he said.
Another is, "'Fire & Life Insurance Here!' " the pastor added.
Among the hundreds of signs Siegfried has jotted down over the years from area churches, here's a list of some of his all-time favorites.
Moses Started Out As A Basket Case
Seven Prayerless Days Make One Weak
GODISNOWHERE/Read It Again
Happy Hour 10 a.m. Sundays
And You Think It's Hot Here
Come On In . . . We're Heir Conditioned
This Church is Prayer-Conditioned
Come In And Altar Your Life
In The Dark? Follow The Son
Get Your Faith Lift Here
Eye For An Eye Makes Us Blind
An Oak Is A Nut That Held Its Ground
A Family Altar Can Altar A Family
Ch . . . Ch. What's Missing? U R
