Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

"Revisiting Stories: The Prodigal Son and Belonging"

We talk about the importance of sacred stories. They come in many forms. The gentle ones whose wisdom goes down sweet and easy and the ones that require a lot more work. In my experience the Prodigal Son, a story told in the Gospel of Luke, is one that a lot of people want to toss aside. It pricks our notions of fairness, our own sibling rivalries. On Sunday we will roll up our sleeves and lean into it and see what wisdom it has to offer. It is a story particularly relevant to the question of belonging. This Sunday we will also ritual confer on the Rev. Alyson Jack the title of Minister Emerita with a reception to follow!  

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, preaching; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita; Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister Emerita; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Linda Enger, Vice Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Camera Operator; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Raindrops, Rivers, Oceans: An Annual In Gathering to Community"

We will be regathered into community for another year in our annual Water Communion Service this Sunday. Separateness is an illusion. We were meant to meet and merge and make a life together. And so we begin our new year. Bring your waters from your travels, your garden spigot, or the ocean around the corner, or use some of ours. 

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Seanan Fong, Community Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Kate Offer, soloists; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"The Power and Draw of Wonder"

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology and expert in the study of emotion, has been focusing on the human experience of wonder. What is its power? Where and how do we find it? Why is it worth making room for? His book "Awe" will be our September Minister's Book Group book!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Trustee; Larry Chinn, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

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

"Crossing the Threshold: A service on death and dying... and a life informed by both."

Our musicians this Sunday have a ministry companioning those through death and dying. So we will sit with what it means to be with those on the journey across the threshold to death. How can music be a part of it? How does our sense of dying inform the way we live in ways that are liberating and joyful and wise?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Trustee; Akane Ota, songleader; Bill Ganz, pianist; Joel Karabo Elliott, Dr. Aditi Sethi & Jay Brown, Ways of Remembrance ensemble

Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Love at the Center Part 2"

We will pick up our conversation from July and explore the remaining themes from the book, "Love at the Center." Participants from the class will share their reflections on what they learned about and what they currently believe about love.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Anne Diaz, Riki Panganiban, Niko Gomez-Guhde, Chelsea Thomas; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Stephen Cox, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

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

“All for One & One for All”

Matt has led music and worship for hundreds of services in congregations all over the U.S. and Canada. Matt has a degree in hand drumming from Berklee College of Music and has studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. In addition to music, Matt is also an active community organizer and educator. His service will be on the work for justice and inspiration on the journey. More info at https://www.rhythmrevelations.com/.

Matt Meyer, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Asani Seawell, Worship Associate; Mark Sumner, pianist

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

"Poetry in Times of Reverie"

Poetry is a moment distilled. Sometimes it is life pressed into the pages of a book or, more vividly, as Robert Frost said, it is a way of "taking life by the throat." And Alice Walker said, "Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness." In the deep valley of summer, we will sit with some poetry.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Kathleen McClung; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

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

"Spirituality and Inner Freedom"

These days, as basic human rights and freedoms are under constant attack, the battle for our attention is relentless. What if the real locus of our freedom is within each of us? What if we put greater attention there? Our former senior minister returns to our pulpit to speak about the vital role of spiritual practice and discipline in renewing the progressive soul of America.

Rev. John Buehrens, Preacher; Sam King, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Allen Biggs and Tommy Kesecker, percussionists; Nancy Munn, songleader

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

"Lessons from our Fathers"

Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:50 am

We learn from their words and their actions, from how they succeeded and where and how they stumbled. What are some of the lessons from our fathers that carry us forward with grace and courage?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Eric Hamilton, guitarist; Akane Ota, songleader; Mark Sumner, pianist

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

“Celebrate! Our Annual Flower Communion Sunday”

I had a coach once who said when you are going up the mountain, you have to take time to go to the overlooks, take in how far you have come, celebrate and enjoy the view, and rehydrate before you move on. We will look back this Sunday, engage in our annual Flower Communion ritual to end our year, and prepare for our annual meeting. Bring a flower from your garden (or from your neighbors!) and come join in a time of taking in the view.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

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