Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Alive with Hope, Despite It All (September 1, 2019)

In keeping with the music theme, the sermon will address hopeful signs for economic justice, such as new successful union organizing, new approaches by labor such as bargaining for the common good, the Poor Peoples Campaign, the increasing engagement of youth and young adults in economic justice-related work, and the role of faith communities in supporting economic justice.

Millie Phillips, Guest Preacher

Sam King, Worship Associate

The Labor Heritage/Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus

Pat Wynne director

Mark Sumner, piano

Asher Davison, song leader

Anish Johnson, Worship Associate

Don Shearer, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting, Video Edits

At Least a Thousand More (August 4, 2019)

According to the Sufi poet Rumi, "there are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground." but even in the 13th Century, that was a conservative number. In her last sermon as Assistant Minister at UUSF, Rev. Mary Ganz reprises a theme from one of her first here as an intern minister 15 years ago, considering the meaning of "prayer" for Unitarian Universalists.

Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister (final service)

Lisanicole Sarkisian, Worship Associate

Mark Sumner, piano

Shannon Warto, song leader

Dan Frechette, guitar & vocals

Laurel Thomsen, violin & vocals

Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator

Eric Shackelford, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting

No Going Back (July 28, 2019)

They say there is wisdom to be found as we get older. How do we make our way to it, through thickets of diminishing memory or physical strength?

Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister

Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Mark Sumner, piano

Mark Kapner, piano

Jiun-Chyi Yew, soprano

Asher Davison, song leader

Reece Hart, Welcome

Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator

Nathan Gandrud, Staff

Eric Shackelford, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting

In Memoriam (July 21, 2019)

Years ago when the losses of US soldiers reached over 1000, a member of the church I served set up a meeting to say how horrified and saddened she was that we ceased to notice the losses -- all happening in our names. So, we witnessed to it one week soon after, and then in one ritual for every week that followed until the war was officially declared over. We vowed not to forget what was being done, lost, harmed, sacrificed each week "in our name."

This week, under different circumstances, we are calling ourselves to do the same. Come join us for a service, hard but honest, witnessing to in our hour together of worship (a word whose root means "meaning making") and through collective public witness outside on our steps after service, to what is happening in our world, in our name -- To loss, cruelty, death, starvation, human-beings'-inhumanity-to-one-another. This week's response may also be part of evolving rituals and actions that will not let us go, that cannot let us go, until the end to another kind of war is declared.  And to that end, we gather.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Sharon Weld, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Asher Davison, bass-baritone

My-Hoa Steger, piano

Shannon Warto, song leader

Mark Sumner, song leader

Carrie Steere-Salazar, Welcome

Shulle Ong, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting

Hope in an Age of Climate Despair (July 14, 2019)

On this warming piece of rock that is our home, what can we hang our hopes on? Can we find a path between denial and despair?

Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister

Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, flute and vocals

Sharon Wayne, vocals and guitar

David Jones, piano

Mark Sumner, song leader

Amy Kelly, Welcome

Ben Welte, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting

Poetry and Life Distilled (July 7, 2019)

Following on the theme of spaciousness and invitations to sit with life and go deep, we will spend a Sunday hour sitting with the wisdom source and texts of a few arresting, delightful works of poetry.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Sam King, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Christine Tulis, harp and vocals

Asher Davison, song leader

Eric Shackelford, video camera

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Podcasting

Inside/Out (June 30, 2019)

It’s Pride Sunday, our city is throwing a party to celebrate Queer culture in all its many marvelous manifestations. Before heading to the parade, join us for worship. We’ll explore the idea of culture care, how to create generative environments that help communities and individuals thrive and grow, openly, honestly and with boundless joy.

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate

Larry Chinn, jazz piano

Chie Sugiyama, vocalist

Asher Davison, song leader

Kat Liu, welcome

Joe Chapot, OOS

Sharon Weld, video camera

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Podcasting

Releasing on Urgency.... A Sermon for Summer (June 23, 2019)

We all know what gets done when we are highly efficient and focused -- just how much we can accomplish and just how much there is that needs accomplishing. What is lost, though, in a world enamored of urgency? How can summer be a way into reminding ourselves of what that other space makes possible? From Dismantling White Supremacy to staying in touch with our deepest selves and one another, what if it is urgent we not be so urgent all the time!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Dennis Adams, Worship Associate

My-Hoa Steger née Lê, piano

Andrés Vera cello

Alan Alpert, soloist

Joe Chapot, OOS

Donald Shearer, Live Sound

Jonathan Silk, Podcasting

A Little Better than Before (June 16, 2019)

Sidney Poitier, the great actor and director once said, "I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father's life." The influence of our fathers (their presence or absence) shapes us. Reflecting on their lives, their influence, their legacy is a big piece of what it means to wrestle with our own lives. We reflect on some stories of fathers and a little bit of how making sense of their lives might help us clarify how to make sense of our own.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Julie Grower, country singer/guitar

Anish Johnson, welcome

Donald Shearer, Live Sound

Joe Chapot, OOS

Jonathan Silk, Podcasting

What Deserves Our Ultimate Trust? (June 9, 2019)

The first challenge to a child’s emotional development, said Erik Erikson, is trust vs. mistrust. James Baldwin said that what he learned in church is “do our first works over.” In a society and time that has come to distrust information, institutions, and almost all else, let’s talk about trust. On a Sunday when Rev. Southern will be in New York for the ordination of our intern minister, Shari Halliday-Quan, our former senior minister steps. The Choir will sing for the last time before summer services begin. Worship will be followed by the Annual Meeting of the Society.

Rev. John Buehrens, Guest Minister

Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Kate Offer, soprano

Bill Ganz, piano

Asher Davison, soloist

Shannon Warto, soloist

Kevin Smith, soloist

Gayle Reynolds, welcome

Joe Chapot, Video Camera

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos, drums