Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Minister Emeritus of the Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek, Rev. Sammons served UUSF as Interim Minister before John Buehrens arrived. Let’s give him, and his wife, Jan, a warm welcome. His sermon will compare the recent book on "Character" by columnist David Brooks with the ideas of the spiritual founder of Unitarianism in America, William Ellery Channing.

Rev. David Sammons, Guest Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister

Dr. Mark Sumner, piano

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Jiun-Chyi Yew, soprano

Greg Meissner, tenor

Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, UUA

Emily Wilson, Welcome and Announcements

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Our worship theme for April is "wealth and poverty," explored in both the material and spiritual dimensions. Questions of distributive economic justice are ultimately moral and spiritual issues. Join John Buehrens for a powerful sermon which borrows its title from a book on the theme by UU Minister Richard Gilbert.

Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister

Ben Bear, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Gayle Renolds, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

It's boom town times again in San Francisco, this time with companies on the cutting edge of technology. We hunger for the new; we fear being left behind in this year's Global Economy 3.0. But is there a spiritual downside? Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz first hit the streets of San Francisco in the 1970s as a reporter for the AP and the SF Examiner. After completing her ministerial internship with this congregation and the Faithful Fools Street Ministry 10 years ago, she went East to serve congregations in Virginia and Massachusetts. Last fall, she returned to walk again with friends and Fools in the Tenderloin.

Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Guest Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Alison Rittger, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, piano

Mark Johnson, piano

Katrina Walter, flute

Larry Danos, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

This Sunday is our special RITES OF PASSAGE Service! Our 12 ROP graduates, along with their Teaching Team, will join Revs. Buehrens, Benson and Jacks on the Chancel. Our talented group of 3rd-4th graders has spent the year learning about themselves and their church community. They have filled up the pages in their workbooks, interviewed the ministers and other church leaders. They've toured the building, designed a service project, and created symbolic artwork, which will be on display at the service. In addition, they've contemplated some of life's Big Questions. This Sunday the ministers will do their best to answer those Big Life Questions, wish them luck!

Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister

Alex Darr, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

UC Berkeley Alumni Chorus

Santa Barbara Choral Society

Margaret Pearce, Welcome

Rites of Passage: Alex Darr (Teacher), Indigo Murphy, Nicholas Fortunato, Till Lorentzen, Charlie Zwibelman, Madelyn Smith.Gary Lorentzen (Teacher), Graham Hart, Claire Cover, Peer Lorentzen, Miles Perez-Davs, Elena Perez (Assistant), Taiger Murphy (Teacher) Simmy Cover (Teacher).Riley Reynolds, Jasmin Desruisseau, Helen Chionsini.

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

This Sunday is our special RITES OF PASSAGE Service! Our 12 ROP graduates, along with their Teaching Team, will join Revs. Buehrens, Benson and Jacks on the Chancel. Our talented group of 3rd-4th graders has spent the year learning about themselves and their church community. They have filled up the pages in their workbooks, interviewed the ministers and other church leaders. They've toured the building, designed a service project, and created symbolic artwork, which will be on display at the service. In addition, they've contemplated some of life's Big Questions. This Sunday the ministers will do their best to answer those Big Life  Questions, wish them luck!

Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister

Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister

Alex Darr, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, organ

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

UC Berkeley Alumni Chorus

Santa Barbara Choral Society

Margaret Pearce, Welcome

Rites of Passage: Alex Darr (Teacher), Indigo Murphy, Nicholas Fortunato, Till Lorentzen, Charlie Zwibelman, Madelyn Smith.Gary Lorentzen (Teacher), Graham Hart, Claire Cover, Peer Lorentzen, Miles Perez-Davs, Elena Perez (Assistant), Taiger Murphy (Teacher) Simmy Cover (Teacher).Riley Reynolds, Jasmin Desruisseau, Helen Chionsini.

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Alex Darr, who grew up in UUSF, will serve as Worship Associate and Kristen Pedersen will work with Rev. Buehrens to create a service that will include the voices of young adults testifying to how UU values were part of their transformations and personal growth.

Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister

Alex Darr, Worship Associate

Kristen Pedersen, Young Adult

Mark Johnson, piano

Kate Offer, song leader

Margaret Pearce, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

We welcome the Minister Emerita of First Unitarian in Portland, OR, where she built up one of the largest, most influential churches in the UUA and in the state, often preaching to 1000 people. She will do a reading from her latest book in the Fireside Room at 9:30 AM. The 11AM service will include a reflection by Worship Associate Ben Bear, a ceremony recognizing our many new members conducted by Rev. Buehrens.

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, Guest Preacher

Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister

Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister

Ben Bear, Worship Associate

George Cavage, Membership

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organ

Eric Langhirt, Song Leader

Kathleen Quenneville, Welcome

Maya Angelou said, 'Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.' Let's talk about how gratitude can comfort us when life has brought us to our knees.

Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Sr. Sheila Flynn, O.P., Guest Visitor

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Kathleen Quenneville, Welcome

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Our children, youth, and teachers will process in following their welcome back breakfast. Minister Emerita Kay Jorgensen will invest John with an official cap from the Faithful Fools Street Ministry. Margot Campbell Gross will again lead us in meditation and prayer. And our preacher will be the new President of Starr King School for the Ministry. Don't miss this Sunday! Invite your friends.

Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister

Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Guest Minister

Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita

Rev. Kay Jorgensen, Minister Emerita

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister of Family Life

Regina Wells, Spirited Play Teacher

Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organ

Michaelle Goerlitz, Percussionist

David Chiu, President San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of San Francisco, Michael Pappas, will speak from his experience about the role the Interfaith Community plays in the life of the city and how our church fits into it.

Michael Pappas, Guest Preacher

Christine Patch-Lindsay, Worship Associate

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Ted Rust, Oboist

Viva Knight, Pianist

Kate Offer, Song Leader

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast