Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Loving The Future

Native Americans, as in the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, stressed keeping in mind the well-being of those who will follow us in seven generations. If we loved, rather than feared, the future, perhaps we might be better at doing this. John Buehrens will preach. The service will include the dedication of Iris Floyd, child of Emily Hurstak and Ryan Floyd.

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Dennis Adams, Worship Associate

K2  Class with Summer Andreasen and Christine Patch-Lindsay, Message for All Ages

Reiko Oda Lane, organist

Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director

Ryan Floyd, piano

Elliott Etzkorn, piano

Linda Robertshaw, drums

Jim Barnett, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Dr King said, “What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, & justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Lucy Smith, Worship Associate

Phil Marshall, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, bell chor director and organist

Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director

Wm. García Ganz, piano

Asher Davison, baritone

Jim Valent, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

It Ain't Necessarily So

Our nation lives in a perpetual wrestling match with might opponents. Individually and collectively we are called to engage our personal, social, political and religious communities to bring about transformation for the common good of humanity. Really is this what we are called to?  If so, how might the arts support us in the divine project of becoming fully human. Trust me, there is hope. Before becoming Minister for Faith in Action and then Parish Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and before graduating from Starr King School for the Ministry, Rev. Duhart served as a social worker and military chaplain. She is exchanging pulpits with Rev. Buehrens.

Rev. Jacqueline Duhart, Guest Minister

Kat Liu, Worship Associate

Larry Chinn, piano

Asher, song leader

Howard Oringer, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Dread, Hope, And Expectation

On the Sunday after the presidential inauguration, and our annual UUSF Spaghetti Supper for Social Justice, the Choir will sing, “Take Care of This House,” from the Lerner/ Bernstein musical, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It includes the line, “but hope isn’t easy to see.” John’s sermon will be based on his own experience, as President of the UUA (1993-2001) of false news, propaganda, and right-wing divisiveness being used against our democratic faith – and how we prevailed then and can again.

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Richard Davis, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Mark Sumner, choir director

Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano

Max Benbow, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Hope Is Not Idle

This Sunday begins our Human Rights Awareness Month. Serving as Worship Associate will be Rochelle Fortier-Nwadibia, member, immigration attorney, and chair of our Human Rights Working Group. The Choir plans an anthem by contemporary composer Debra Scoggins based on the Emily Dickinson poem, Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.

Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Rochelle Fortier-Nwadibia, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Mark Sumner, choir director

Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Lost Hopes, New Hope

The year 2016 was one of many dashed hopes. But then so are most years. On New Year’s Day we will write some of our lost hopes on cards, then let them go – to be burned in the courtyard following the service. We will also write new hopes on cards – to be taken home, reflected upon, revised, and held. Alex Darr will serve as Worship Associate. Music will be provided by singer Elena McIntyre Cowan and her partner & accompanist. If you make it to church on New Year’s morning – well, there’s hope for you yet!

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Alex Darr, Worship Associate

Carrie Steere-Salazar, Vice Moderator

Elena McEntire Cowan, mezzo soprano

Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano

Elliott Etzkorn, piano

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

OPENING GIFTS

It’s not just on Christmas morning that we open gifts. It’s every morning that we receive and open the gift of a new day. As we gather on Christmas morning, Worship Associate Dennis Adams (a.k.a. Poindexter the Clown) will help us greet one another with surprise and wonder. Our guest musicians will be Ted Rust and Viva Knight on oboe and piano. And we will sing some beloved carols.

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Dennis Adams, Worship Associate

David Jones, Piano

Dolci, piano and oboe

Jim Valent, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS

The hymn from which the sermon title is taken includes the words: “Once more child and mother weave their magic spell,/ Touching hearts with wonder words can never tell./ In the bleak mid-winter, in this world of pain,/ Where our hearts are open, love is born again.” Kat Liu will serve as Worship Associate and offer a reflection. Trumpeter Tom Dambly and soprano Kate Offer will lead our music in this more contemplative Christmas Eve service with sermon.

Wonders Still The World Shall Witness

The world does not lack for wonders, said poet Muriel Rukeyser, only for a sense of wonder. John’s spiritual mentor, Dr. Jacob Trapp, wrote a hymn with the same title as his sermon. In the face of life’s inevitable changes, disappointments, and losses, how do we revive a sense of wonder? His text will come from a question the disciples of John posed to Jesus: Are you the one who is to come, or shall we wait for another? wondering, In what sense must each of us answer that question?

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister

Susan Anthony, Worship Associate

Kathleen Quenneville, Moderator

Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Once Upon A Time . . .  Again

We welcome back popular guest speaker Michael Eselun, who has come to us every autumn for several years. An Oncology Chaplain at UCLA Hospital, Michael will use very personal stories to illustrate how we can retell the story of our lives in ways that reconcile us to the past and allow us to face whatever may come with grace and courage.

Michael Eselun, Guest Preacher

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Sister Sheila Flynn, O.P.

Eric Hamilton, guitar

Dr. Mark Sumner, Song Leader

Reiko Oda Lane, Organ

Kathleen Quenneville, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast