Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

"Gifts Great and Small" (March 15, 2020)

This is Pi(e) weekend. The ratio of the radius of our circle of caring and sharing to its circumference, geometrically, is forever roughly 3.14. So just what does this mean for our relatively small, church community in relation to the great surrounding spiritual and social needs of the city and world in which we live?

What part of the whole pie of services that UUSF attempts to provide goes to whom? What proportion of those efforts should each of us try to support with our gifts of time and treasure?

Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, Guest Preacher

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ and bell choir director

Joe Dellert, Canvass Co-Chair

Lori Lai, Board Treasurer

Shulee Ong, Camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

"A Thousand Cuts and the Work of Healing" (March 8, 2020)

This week we will look at what are called micro-agressions, how they unfold even in our community, how we intervene and imagine a world without them. Members Mari Maglione and Michael Bossier from Fake Comedy Radio, Don Shearer, Rochelle Fortier-Nwadibia and our ministers will lead a journey of skits and reflection as we explore this way to be better and more whole together.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Sharon Weld, Ministerial Intern

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Wm. García Ganz, piano

Mari Maglione, TWZ Player

Michael Bossier, TWZ Player

Don Shearer, TWZ Player

Rochelle Fortier-Nwadibia, TWZ Player

Leandra Ramm, soloist

Brielle Nielson, soloist

Asher Davison, soloist

Ben Rudiak-Gould, soloist

Eric Shackelford, Trustee

Shulee Ong, camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits, drums

"What Goes Around..." (March 1, 2020)

So many stories, good stories — aren’t we in need of some good stories — to tell of another possible law of the universe. Or maybe just another addition to the Golden Rules worth risking on.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Sharon Weld, Ministerial Intern

Nancy Buffum, Annual Operating Fund Drive Campaign Co-Chair

Joe Dellert, Annual Operating Fund Drive Campaign Co-Chair

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Wm. García Ganz, piano

Scott Benbow, Trustee

Eric Shackelford, camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

"Envisioning Justice" (February 23, 2020)

As you imagine a better future, what changes would you make for yourself, for the church, for the neighborhood? We will envision personal and collective change that inspires us all, and we will spotlight the justice work already achieved by this congregation.

Sharon Weld, Ministerial Intern

Jan Oringer, Worship Associate

Sam King, Worship Associate

Emma's Revolution, Guest Music

Dr. Mark Sumner, piano

Kerry Parker, song leader

Judy Payne, Trustee

Shulee Ong, camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits, Drums

"From Darwin to Unitarian Universalism" (February 16, 2020)

Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection set into motion a way of thinking that has profoundly affected not only the understanding of biology but also influenced a much wider range of human concerns, including religion. This is most evident in Unitarian Universalism. We will trace how this came about and reflect on how this way of thinking can lead to greater fulfillment of life’s potentials.

Jim Barnett has been a UU for 45 years. He is retired from his career in biomedical research, a graduate of the Humanist Institute and currently the chair of the Humanists and Non-Theists committee at UUSF.

Jim Barnett, Worship Leader

Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate

Dolores Perez Heilbron, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, music director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ and bell choir director

Eric Shackleford, Trustee

Sharon Weld, camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

"I Do, I Do: A Sermon on Relationships" (February 9, 2020)

After all these years of doing weddings, and watching marriages (and living in one), and being in relationship, what can we say definitively about love and what makes us stick together.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Dennis Adams, Worship Associate

Mark Sumner, music director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Bill Ganz, piano

Asher Davison, soloist

Amy Kelly, trustee

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits, drums

"The Year of..." (February 2, 2020)

Our congregations draw from the wisdom and experience and the traditions of their families and communities-of-origin, the practices they carry forward, and how they weave these into lives that feel grounded and guided.

This Sunday as we are in the season of Lunar New Year, we'll take a moment -- in no way is this service a celebration of Lunar New Year as any one who grew up with it would recognize -- and we'll take a moment to honor some of the threads that weave through this season of celebration and beginning.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate

Lori Lai, Board Treasure

Kat Liu, Worship Associate

Andrés Vera, cello

My Hoa Steger, piano

Mark Sumner, piano

Ben Rudiak-Gould, song leader

Reece Hart, Trustee

Don Shearer, Camera Operator

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

"Millie Phillips Ordination Service" (January 26, 2020)

On January 26th, at 6PM in our Sanctuary we ordained into UU Ministry Millie Phillips. Millie is a long time member and lay leader in the congregation who completed her studies at the Starr King School of the Ministry and was cleared for ordination this past spring by the denomination.

As is the custom of Unitarian Universalism it is a congregation that ordains people into ministry and ours voted this fall at a special meeting to ordain Millie.

Rev. Millie Phillips

Rev. Christopher Bell, Senior Minister

Rev. Dr. Dorsey O. Blake, Presiding Minister

Rev. Cat Cox, Spiritual Director

Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator, Board of Trustees

Stephen Schwichow, Ordination Committee Chair

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Dr. Amy Kelly, Ordination Committee

Eric Langhirt, Ordination Committee

Jan and Howard Oringer, Ordination Committee

Stephen Schwichow, chair, Ordination Committee

Melvin Starks, Ordination Committee

Judith Stoddard, Ordination Committee

Eric Hamilton, guitarist

Randy Moore, drummer

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Richard Saunders, bass

Keith Saunders, pianist

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Shulee Ong, Camera

Jonathan Silk, sound, OOS

"Who Are You to Judge?" (January 26, 2020)

These days everyone's a critic. We all make judgments, good and bad, some with lasting and profound effects. Judgement assumes thoughtful deliberation, but we've all had occasion to make a snap judgement now and then.

What forms and informs our ability to judge? When we strive to be non-judgmental, what role does judgement play?

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Sharon Weld, Ministerial Intern

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Christopher Rodriguez, Trustee

Shulee Ong, Camera Operator

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

"Honesty and Legacy II: Inspecting the Family Tree" (January 19, 2020)

Once we hit on the idea that our legacy as a person, a family or a nation is tied inextricably to our history, we have to own the responsibility to dig into that history, especially the parts that got papered over or conveniently forgotten.

We looked at that in November (or started to) around the United State’s history with Native and Indigenous peoples. Let’s look this morning at two families and their journeys and just some of what they unearthed and had/have to reckon with.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Don Wiepert, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Wm. García Ganz, guest conductor

Eric Shackelford, soloist

Judy Payne, Board Secretary

Don Shearer, Camera Operator

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits