Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Igniting the Fire of Commitment

Sunday, March 1, 10:50 am, 2026

There is so much in the human heart that is both tender and fragile and ferociously enduring. Fire can be like that quality of what can live in the human heart. How do we know enough about these pieces of ourselves—the ones that matter—to nurture them, protect them, and build a world that does the same? Let’s talk about what it takes to do so as we kick off our Annual Giving drive for this next church year.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Carl Cade, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Dairina Maradiaga, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The Excellence of a Horse: A Lunar New Year Celebration

Sunday, February 22, 2026

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we celebrate an animal that has long represented “excellence” in Chinese folklore and around the world—admired for speed, agility, or endurance. In this new year of intentions and resolutions, we might also ask ourselves, what makes a human excellent? Is it our abilities, our accomplishments—or is it the quality of our character? Across cultures, from Chinese to Greek philosophy, thinkers have returned to the same conviction: What makes up human excellence is the inner strength of our values. Join Rev. Seanan Fong, UUSF Affiliated Community Minister and founder of the San Francisco Contemplarium, in this season of new beginnings as we set our intentions for the kind of people we aspire to be.

Seanan Fong, Affiliated Community Minister; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Sam King, Worship Associate; Lori Lai, Worship Associate; Julia Wald, Trustee; Haruka and Yuki Ota, cellists; Ben Rudiak-Gould, songleader; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Dairina Maradiaga, Sextons; Athena Papadacos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The Case for Hope

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Creeping cynicism, or what Forrest Church used to call "Sophisticated Resignation." These are some of the dangers to a soul of our time (maybe all times). Let's unpack what the seeds of these "soul sicknesses" are and how to inoculate ourselves. The case for hope!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Trustee; UUSF Handbell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir, led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Virtue and Pitfalls of Moral Purity”

There has been such a wide swing in recent years between approaches to injustices in our world that ask for unwavering focus that at its extreme bleeds into Cancel Culture, with the I am hearing lately, in various places, to see the strategic need for nuance and changing alliances. Let's talk about the gift and dangers of an attachment to moral purity in our moral lives.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Liz Strand. Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir, led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

don't despair

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Carmen Barsody, Sam Dennison and Mari Magaloni Ramos, preaching

If these times call for resilience (and they do), we best not despair, for despair dissipates and distracts. Despair unmoors us and sets us adrift. No! Let us not despair. Let us look simply and solidly upon what is happening here and now. Let us not be swallowed by fretful imaginings. Yes, let us take a deep breath and get on with what is ours to do. This is how we will be prepared for the long haul: we will be together, grounded and in community with resilience. Let us not despair! Let us be resilient!

Carmen Barsody; Sam Dennison; Mari Magaloni Ramos; Linda Enger, Vice-Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir, led by Mark Sumner, Director; Nazelah Jameson, soloist; Nancy Munn, pianist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Echoes & Endurance: Notes from Minneapolis”

Come on Sunday as we reflect on what is unfolding in Minneapolis, the echoes through recent history, the danger of amnesia, and the power of stubbornness, courage, and love.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Dolores Perez Heilbron; Bruce Neuburger; Tom McAninley, Prayer Gong; Julia Wald, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Leadership From Where You Are”

Sunday, January 18, 2026

How are we called to lead, what does leadership ask, how does it shape us, and what forms does it take? We will hear from three members who show up in the world powerfully and differently and ask what leadership—that piece of our lives—can look like.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Erica Murray, Bruce Neuberger, Erica Murray, Adam Varoqua, Worship Associates; Hanna Hart & Courtney Young-Law, Nominating Committee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Nancy Munn, Brielle Morgan, Ben Rudiak-Gould, Asher Davison, soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Parable of the Rainbow: Resisting Change”

Sunday, January 11, 2026

What is our relationship to change, especially when we are in multi-generational spaces? We will explore the parable of the rainbow and the metaphors it provides to look at change differently.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Linda Harris, UUSC; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Judith Stoddard, Membership Committee; Nancy Munn, soprano; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Sustaining Love in the Struggle”

Sunday, January 4, 2026

“Resistance is a long, thin, soft noodle covered in pink sauce.”  At least, according to a two-year-old, it is.  Come explore the nourishing possibilities of resistance with Rev. Ranwa Hammamy from Side With Love as we begin the new year.  

Rev. Ranwa Hammamy (they/them) serves as the Congregational Justice Organizer on the UUA’s Side With Love Organizing Strategy Team.  Based in Oakland, they also support local interfaith organizing around immigration and Palestinian liberation as part of their affiliated community ministry with the Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek.  When not organizing, Rev. Ranwa sings with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, bakes theologically punny treats for their "Shugaria Law" anti-Islamophobia baking ministry, and makes sprinkle-based potions with their spouse and the aforementioned two-year-old.

Rev. Ranwa Hammamy, Guest Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Hanna Hart, Worship Associate; Ben Rudiak-Gould, songleader; Reiko Oda Lane, organist

Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Art of Waiting”

Sunday, December 7, 2025

In Christian liturgy this is the season of waiting and preparation—of Advent. It is perfectly scheduled in the depths of winter, when so much feels like it is waiting, preparing, quietly under snow until the light draws it out again. Times of preparation are important and hard sometimes and are the places where transitions and change are made possible. What does Advent mean for you and us right now? How do you make space to meet it?  

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric ShackelfordJonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher