Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Thirty years after she died, Dave Sammons feels it's time to write a letter to his mom. She died after suffering through a stroke, her husband's death, and a year in a nursing home. Dave wants to share his letter so that all of us might think about our mothers in a way both caring and honest. It's tough being a mom, yet after the game is over, even the burliest football player lets tears roll down his cheeks and says "I love you, Mom. This game was for you."

The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister

The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Family Life Minister

Regina Wells, Spirited Play Teacher

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Maria Solis, Soprano Soloist

Robert Weber, Baritone Soloist

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

Continuing the conversation about what it means to be faithful people, we'll switch this week to the notion of what it means to be religious, at least in our liberal religious sense.

The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister

The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Family Life Minister

Derek Czajka, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Podcast

We all get ideas from time to time that others (or perhaps we ourselves) think are foolish. What might happen, were we to act on them? In 1998 Rev. Kay Jorgensen and Sr. Carmen Barsody stepped out the doors of the church and into the Tenderloin, bringing together people from within and outside the neighborhood through arts, advocacy, education, and accompaniment - changing lives along the way.

The Faithful Fools, long supported by our church, is a ministry that grows out of concern for people living on the streets of San Francisco. This Sunday, members of this ministry, along with Dave Sammons, will bring their inspiring - and very colorful message to us as a reminder that the concerns of our congregation reach out far beyond our walls.

We'll explore together the challenges and rewards of listening to our inner foolish voice.

The Rev. Dr. Kay Jorgensen, Minister Emerita

The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister

Sister Carmen Barsody, Faithful Fools

Melissa Fafarman, Faithful Fools

Alex Darr, Faithful Fools

Meg Whitaker-Greene, Faithful Fools

Giacomo Fiore, Guitarist

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Kate Offer, Soprano Soloist

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Podcast

Christmas Eve will be a glorious time at the church. We've consolidated

our worship into a single service that will include the traditional

Christmas story, a children's pageant for our youngsters and those young

at heart, the superb music of our choir and organ and readings meant to

capture the spirit of Christmas for Unitarian Universalists.

The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister

The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Family Life Minister

Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director

Reiko Oda Lane, organ, Bell Choir Director

Tom Dambly, Trumpet

Kate Offer, Soprano

Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Podcast, Audio Samples

We are delighted to welcome Sister Sheila Flynn back to our pulpit this Sunday.

Sister Sheila has been an annual visitor to our congregation since she first came here in 2002 at the invitation of our Minister Emerita, Margot Campbell Gross. Sister Sheila’s ministry to women, children and men, infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the poorest communities in South Africa.She is the founder, and mentor to the women of Kopanang, a collective that makes beautiful embroidery work—including the World Religions panels in our Chapel.On this Sunday morning Sister Sheila Flynn and the Reverend Margot Campbell Gross will explore what it means to be faithful—to a moral code, to a relationship, to a religion, to a community, to oneself.

Sister Sheila Flynn, Guest Preacher

The Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director

Jonathan Silk, Sound and Order of Service

Most days our lives are fine, then BAM, something bad happens, often something

really bad, then what? What do we do? How do we handle, pain, frustration,

humiliation, loss? Particularly when we are in the midst of what's happening it's

hard to figure out how we're going to get through it and move on with our lives.

But that's our task. Life is a gift and we owe it - and ourselves - a commitment

to live it well. This Sunday Dave Sammons will share  some thoughts about it.

The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister

Millie Phillips, Worship Associate

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Organist

Kate Offer, Soprano Soloist

Ted Arnold, Tenor Soloist

Jonathan Silk, Sound and Order of Service

The 3rd Grade Rites of Passage service where four young theologians pose their BIG QUESTIONS to Revs. Furrer and Jacks. The 3rd grade Rites of Passage class and the culminating service has been part of our church community since 1993 and is a highlight of the church year. The ROP program was created to strengthen our children's relationship to their church and honor their ongoing religious development. Join us for this special Sunday service. There's a good chance that the questions we'll consider this Sunday are your questions too. Under the direction of Music Director Dr. Mark Sumner and Bell Choir Director Reiko Lane, there will be fantastic music. In addition, we will have a special presentation of the Rites of Passage gift to our Society.

The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister

Rev. Alyson Jacks, Interim Religious Education Director

Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director

Reiko Oda Lane, Bell Choir Director

Rachel King, 3rd Grade Rites of Passage Teaching Team

Dan Saffer, 3rd Grade Rites of Passage Teaching Team

Members of the UC Berkeley Alumni Chorus

Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound and Podcasting

A New Myth of El Dorado -- Sermon delivered by The Rev. Dr. Stephen Furrer February 10, 2013 at 11:00 am. Global Warming and its effects, in obscure collaboration with Interfaith Power & Light.

A Wish for Us at Christmas -- Complete delivered by The Rev. Dr. David Sammons December 24,2012 at 4:45 pm

Christmas of the Heart -- Complete delivered by The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer December 23,2012 at 11:00 am