Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

"Bread Communion, or Ate, and left no crumbs"

In this moment of vanishing resources, let us practice collective restoration through the ancient ritual of gathering as a community and breaking bread. Who is welcome at our table and in our pews?

Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Haruka Ota, cellist; Yuki Ota, cellist; Akane Ota, songleader; Wm. Garcia Ganz, pianist

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

"The Spiritual Practice of Birding"

Like so many things we love, we are drawn to them because of the worlds they open up to us—outside us and within. In a month when we discuss gratitude, let's journey to how one person's relationship to the hobby, the avocation of birding, is a source of joy and so much more too.  

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Vice-Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Roots and Wings of Hope: Emergent Wisdom from the Interdependent Web"

Sunday, November 16, 2025

adrienne maree brown teaches, “We are part of a natural world that is constantly changing, and we need to learn to adapt together and stay in relationship if we hope to survive as a species.” Emergent strategy is “the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions.” How can UUs find hope from nature—birds in synchronized flight, entangled oak tree roots, and the structure of dandelions and fungi—and apply these lessons in biomimicry to our collective organizing against fascism, racism, and all forms of oppression?

Rev. Kevin Alan Mann, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Lori Lai, Worship Associate; Julia Wald, Trustee; Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Lists of Gratitude"

To nurture gratitude, one has to find ways to be present to the world around them, take stock of what is in their life, and look at the journey they are on. We will actively contemplate these themes and consider what might be on our lists to be thankful for.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Sam King, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Board of Trustees; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader; Bill Ganz, pianist

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

"Presente!"

Sunday, November 2, 2025

It has been a fall of memorial services for me, and fall has only just begun. That means a lot of things, as you might imagine: loss, wrestling with legacy, telling stories, making sense, paying attention to how each life pressed itself into the world and into us. Please bring your photo momento for our annual celebration of the time when the veil is thin, when we honor those who have gone before into the greatest mystery of life, death. And how standing at the veil and these particular lives shaped us.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern, Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Hallie McDonologue, soprano; Akané Ota, mezzo-soprano; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Audio; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Sacred Guardians of This"

Through history a lot has changed. The building we have met in has changed a few times, how we have explained our theology has changed, how we have worship has changed a bit, what we sing has changed, what our ministers have looked like has gotten more diverse, and how people find us and even access our Sunday morning services has, for some, changed. There are a few things that haven't changed. And one role, in particular, that we play that I don't think gets talked about enough but matters greatly. See you for service, for the luncheon and celebration, and for the auction!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Vice Moderator, Board of Trustees; Gino Fortunato with Mick Del Rosario, Legislative Aide to Shephen Sherill; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Maggie McGrann; Nancy Munn, soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Faith In Times of Crisis”

Our forebears in liberal religion here in San Francisco endured crises long before the present one we now face. As we continue to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of UUSF, our former Senior Minister and resident historian will share stories of faith and endurance. The service will include a visit from one of the most colorful characters in our history: Emperor Norton! After the service, copies of John’s history of UUSF, A Religious Center with a Civic Circumference: Unitarians in San Francisco Since 1850, will be available for sale and signing during another celebratory coffee hour. 

Rev. John Buehrens; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Emanuela Nikiforova, violin; 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

“The Rest of The Story”

We begin the celebration of our 175th anniversary as a congregation with a return visit from the very first woman minister in our history. Diane Miller served UUSF for several years starting in the bicentennial year of 1976. Like onetime radio personality Paul Harvey, who always ended his broadcasts with the tagline, “And that’s the rest of the story,” Diane will share aspects of her ministry and experience here that few have heard before. She went on to serve as UUA Director of Ministry from 1993 to 2001.

Rev. Dianne Miller, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Lucy Smith, Board of Trustees Secretary; Joanne Kong, pianist; Christoph Wagner, cellist; Phil Browne, songleader, songleader; Mark Sumner, pianist

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

“Begrudging Journey to Compassion: Confessions of a Recalcitrant Pastor”

Sunday, October 5, 2025, 10:50 am

I knew directly after the election when some folks were talking about building bridges and understanding the other side that strategically and spiritually this was the right way to go—or would be. I also knew I couldn’t go there in that moment. But right now, compassion and a different kind of role for us as people of faith feel like, maybe, our only hope. And a powerful invitation to lead.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Maria G, Worship Associate; Liz Strand, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Morgen Warner, Soloist; Bill Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, sound; Alicia Cover, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Clearing the Pathway to Belonging”

As we approach roadblocks, stop signs, detours, and potholes on the path to belonging, what spiritual technology can we employ to continue along the path? Who or what stands in the way of naming our belonging in a community? Is internal repair needed to meet the welcoming road ahead?

Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern, Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Liz Strand, Trustee; Bill Klingelhoffer, shofar; Mark Levy, Guitarist and Vocalist; Mark Sumner, songleader

Eric Shackelford; Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher