Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

"Religious Imagination: What it Means to be a Teaching Congregation" (May 2, 2021) Worship Service This Sunday marks the final class for our Sunday School program.  Our classes have been virtual – like our worship services – for the whole year. We will take time to celebrate our achievements and honor our Lead Teachers. It’s also a good time to reflect upon the importance of religious education and spiritual growth for the entire congregation. We’ve certainly learned a lot this last year! Rev. Jacks will be joined by Ministerial Intern Meg McGuire sharing reflections on the role of a teaching congregation in shaping beloved community. Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Sam Hamner, 8th Principle Testimonial Reiko Oda Lane, organist Maria Roodnitsky, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner, director/pianist Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour Eric Shackelford, camera Leeland Jones, Sexton At

"Close Enough for Awe: An Earth Day Sermon" (April 25, 2021) Worship Service It's spring, it's Earth Day. It's a time when it is easy to fall in love with the world. So, let's do that. With a lover's eyes, let's see what beauty, what amazement is right in front of us. And tumble into its spell. And for good reason. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Sam King, Worship Associate Allen Biggs, Marimba Tommy Kesecker, vibraphone Brielle Marina Neilson, song leader Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford, camera Jonah Berquist, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager Judy Payne, flowers Navi Photography, cover image Pete Wong, cover image Daniel Olah, cover image Jonathan Silk, AV, OOS Design Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210425OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210425Music.mp3

"Becoming Together" (April 18, 2021) Worship Service Becoming ourselves is a lifelong process. And this practice of continual growth, of waking up to who we are, is one that cannot be done alone. Join Ministerial Intern Meg McGuire, Young Adult Coordinator Joe Chapot, members of the UU Theologies for Young Adults class, and friends, for a service exploring how we grow into ourselves, and how we grow together. Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Joe Chapot, Young Adult Coordinator Vanessa Vanderlaan, Worship Associate Alfie Jang, Worship Associate Aitana Sierra-Valdes, Worship Associate Sara Fread, Worship Associate Audrey McDougal, 8th Principle Testimonial Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, conductor/pianist Maddy Gerlach, soprano Jaime Docherty, guitar and vocals Asher Davison, song leader Eric Shackelford, camera Jonah Berquist, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager Amy Kelly, flowers Aitana Sierra-Valdes, cover image Jonathan Silk

"Living Purposefooly" (April 11, 2021) Worship Service Drawing the Fool in the Tarot cards represents new beginnings. We step out into the world with faith in the future, though we don’t know what to expect. The journey requires improvisation and trust, and a willingness to be shaped along the way. It is an invitation to walk purposefooly toward an as-yet unknown destination, also known as coddiwompling. Carmen Barsody, Faithful Fools Alex Darr, Faithful Fools Silena Layne, Faithful Fools Reiko Oda Lane, organist Brielle Marina Nielson, alto Ben Rudiak Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner conductor/pianist Ben Rudiak-Gould, song leader Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support, OOS Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour Lee Jones, Sexton Amy Kelly, flowers Alicia Lee Farnsworth, cover image Jonathan Silk, Sound, video edits, drums

"Easter Sunday: Hope is a......." (April 4, 2021) Worship Service Easter, of course, is about resurrection -- life from places of loss, hope from despair, second chances for the makers of even the gravest of mistakes. And it is about Hope. Hope as a four-letter word, textured, gritty, gorgeous and feather-light. Time to unpack hope. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Reiko Oda Lane, organist Tom Dambly, trumpet Michele Kennedy, soprano Brielle Marina Nielson, alto Ben Rudiak Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner conductor/pianist Ben Rudiak-Gould, song leader Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Lee and Robert, Sexton Amy Kelly and , flowers Zdenek Machácek, cover image Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits

"The First Steps" (March 28, 2021) Worship Service Both Passover and Palm Sunday coincide this week. Different and also with one thread that pulls through them both, about the power of the monumental first steps. And the human drive for commitment and consistency on which so much good (and evil) often rests. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Gayle Reynolds and Keith Hollon, Annual Operating Fund Drive Andrés Vera, cellist My-Hoa Steger, accompanist Wm. García Ganz, pianist Ben Rudiak-Gould, song leader Eric Shackelford, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Carrie Steere-Salazar, flowers Casey Horner, cover image (https://unsplash.com/@mischievous_penguins) Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210328OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210328Music.mp3 Reflection: https://content.uusf.o

"Sabbath Redux" (March 21, 2021) Worship Service One of the first sermons I preached here at UUSF was a sermon on the ancient idea of Sabbath. I think, strangely, it is time to preach it again as work and life merge even more than before and we need a way to reground and refresh spirit and body. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Don Wiepert, Worship Associate Dolores Perez Heilbron and David Heilbron, Annual Operating Fund Campaign Reiko Oda Lane, organist Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass and conductor Wm. García Ganz, accompanist Eric Shackelford, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Carrie Steere-Salazar, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210321OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210321Music.mp3   Reflection: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/Reflections/20210321DDReflection

"Giving it Up for Lent" (March 14, 2021) Worship Service I am not one for giving up chocolate or ice cream.  Those kinds of punishing practices never work for me -- I once "gave up soda" for a week and drank more soda in that week than the previous month. But there are some things I'd like to give up. How about you? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Sam King, Worship Associate Wonder Dave, Annual Operating Fund Campaign Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, conductor/pianist Brielle Marina Neilson, soprano Leandra Ramm, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Eric Shackelford, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Carrie Steere-Salazar, flowers Joseph Gonzalez, cover image https://unsplash.com/@miracletwentyone Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210314OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210314Music.mp3   Reflection: https://c

"Times Like These" (March 7, 2021) Worship Service To stand in important moments, in the midst of historic chapters is to do our part. And to wonder about all those historic chapters, and generous, courageous shoulders that came before ours. Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Gayle Reynolds & Keith Hollon, Annual Operating Fund Drive Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, conductor/pianist Michele Kennedy, soprano Leandra Ramm, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Les James, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Judy Payne, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210307OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210307Music.mp3

"Love and Accountability" (February 28, 2021) Worship Service Accountability can sound unpleasant, even scary, but what if it didn’t have to be? Disability justice educator and writer Mia Mingus offers a dream of what accountability can be- one that might support us in living into our work as a congregation. Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate Mari Magaloni, 8th Principle Task Force Liz Strand, 8th Principle Task Force Mark Sumner, song leader/pianist Eric Hamilton, guitarist Brielle Marina Neilson, song leader Jon Silk, drums Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Les James, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Judy Payne, flowers Alex Perez, cover image, https://unsplash.com/@a2eorigins Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210228OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210228Music.mp3 Reflection: https://content.uusf

"Being Ready" (February 21, 2021) Worship Service This month the Minister's Book Club is reading John Lewis's Memoir (written with Michael D'Orso) "Walking with the Wind" and it has me thinking about the idea of being ready. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, conductor Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Les James, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Amy Kelly, flowers Waranont (Joe), cover image, https://unsplash.com/@tricell1991 Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, video edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210221OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/202102021Music.mp3 Reflection: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/Reflections/20210221RDLReflection.mp3

"Lessons of Love" (February 14, 2021) Worship Service Years ago I read an article in some low-brow magazine in which a woman was reflecting on what she had taken away from all the past relationships that were long gone. Broken hearts (or breaking hearts) was only part of the story. Learning French, because she fell in love with a Frenchman, was one. There was a laundry list of how love had changed her from the superficial to the enduring. Lessons in Love. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Don Wiepert, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Les James, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Amy Kelly, flowers engin akyurt,cover https://unsplash.com/@enginakyurt Jude Beck cover https://unsplash.com/@judebeck Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/2

"The Year of the Ox" (February 7, 2021) Worship Service Lunar New Year, begins next week Friday, February 12th. Although I am not in a family that has celebrated Lunar New Year,  many in our community do which is such a gift.  Especially this year, this Year of the Ox. Reading about this figure -- hardworking, reliable, honest and loyal -- am I the only one who finds herself thirsting for a world and a Year re-animated by the virtues of the Ox? Let's celebrate that! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Dennis Adams, Worship Associate Lori Lai, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass My-Hoa Steger, pianist Mark Sumner, conductor Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Carrie Steere-Salazar, flowers Macau Photo Agency, oos photo - https://unsplash.com/@macauphotoagency Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound,

"The Wonder of Being Alive" (January 31, 2021) Worship Service Being alive is more than just existing, more than not being dead. Adjectives abound when we talk about being alive. We can be animated. Lively. Alert. Awake. Being alive, to me, is about being in relationship. For some of us, we feel most alive when we are with other people. Others find their aliveness in nature. Many find it in art, particularly the making of art.  As we begin the slow return to spring, let’s spend some time imagining what it means to be alive in this world. Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Sam King, Worship Associate Larry Chinn, pianist Asher Davison, song leader Mark Sumner, accompanist Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Carrie Steere-Salazar, flowers Em bé khóc nhè, cover image Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210131OSWeb.pdf Music: https

"The Nature of Religious Experience and the Power of Knowing" (January 24, 2021) Worship Service William James in his classic text, "The Varieties of Religious Experience" outlines the qualities common to so-called religious experiences. One of them is knowing. It may be the hardest for UU's to reckon with and it may be the quality that we most need to get in touch with now in our life as a nation. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist My-Hoa Stegger, pianist & soprano Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner, conductor/pianist Members of the UC Men’s and Women’s Chorales, Berkeley, Morgan Nilsen, clarinet Jim Rebhan, accordion Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Judy Payne, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Edits Order of Service: ht

Saying "I'm Sorry" (January 17, 2021) Worship Service What is a "good apology" one with grace and authenticity of the kind that makes it land and gives it the power, or just potential power, to heal. It's always relevant, and more so perhaps today to have this skill at hand. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Dennis Adams, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Eric Shackelford, soloist Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Mark Sumner, conductor/pianist Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Judy Payne, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Edits Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210117OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210117Music.mp3 Reflection: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/Reflections/20210117DAReflection.mp3

“Homosexuality and the Bible" (January 10, 2021) Worship Service So much harm has been done in the name of religion and for many of us, in our lifetimes, that means messages about what it means to be LGBTQ and Christianity, grounded, we are told, in the Bible.  Hmmm.  I invite us to dig a little deeper to know the truth and understand our liberation from the lies, and maybe take some time for some healing too. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Christine Tulis, harpist Asher Davison, song leader Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Amy Kelly, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210110OSWeb.pdf Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210110Music.mp3 Reflection: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/Reflections/20210110CBReflection.mp3

“Whole Enough" (January 3, 2021) Worship Service It’s a new year. How does this season of intentions and fresh starts shape how we see ourselves- and one another? And how might we want it to? Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Michael Bossier, TWZ Player Lori Lai, TWZ Player Meg McGuire, TWZ Player Don Shearer, TWZ Player Leslie Trook, TWZ Player The Harmony People: Anjalisa and Gary Garrett Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, conductor Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Jon Silk, drums My-Hoa Steger, pianist Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Amy Kelly, flowers Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2021/20210103OSWeb.pdf All Music: https://content.uusf.org/Sound/20210103Music.mp3

“Let the End be the Beginning: A Meditative Service for the New Year" (December 27, 2020) Worship Service This service will be a time structured for meditative reflection on the year past and the year to come. Be prepared to sit with your own thoughts, take notes. It's a time to take stock, stand like Janus, the ancient god of transitions, a face pointed in each of two directions, forward and backward, before stepping into the new year. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Sam King, Worship Associate Radim Zenkl, multi-instrumentalist Reiko Oda Lane, organist Mark Sumner, director Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Service/2020/20201227OSWeb.pdf

“Christmas Eve Service" (December 24, 2020) Worship Service Join us for Christmas Eve, the familiar story, music, just bring your own candle and have it ready. After service we will also have a Zoom gathering for Caroling. It won't be like any Christmas Eve before but it will be familiar and a chance to usher in the night together. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Meg McGuire, Ministerial Intern Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist/handbell choir director Mark Sumner, conductor Tom Dambly, trumpeter Leandra Ramm, soprano Brielle Marina Neilson, alto Ben Rudiak-Gould, tenor Asher Davison, bass VanNessa Hulme Silbermann, soprano Derek Silbermann, keyboard UCAC, UC Chorale & UUSF choristers UUSF Handbell Choir Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Joe Chapot, Social Media Chat Support Alex Darr, Coffee Hour Zoom Thomas Brown, Sexton Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Video Order of Service: https://content.uusf.org/Order_Of_Servi