Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

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

You Know That I Love You (June 2, 2019) Here at First Unitarian Universalist SF, we try as best as possible to draw the circle ever wider and be an inclusive and loving community. We all have limited time and energy, of course, and so both individually and collectively, we often fail to achieve this goal perfectly. No surprise there since perfection is impossible, but perhaps we can inch just a little closer to loving well. Shari Halliday-Quan, our ministerial intern this year, will preach about who and what is at the center of our circle of love.? Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, organ and Bell Choir Director Bill Ganz, piano Alan Alpert, tenor Marie Kazan-Komarek, Mary Jane Mikuriya, Richard Davis, Intern Committee Rev. Eloise Mayo and her children Beth and David Diane Alen, Vision/Mission Christopher Rodriguez, welcome Shulee Ong, Video Camera Jonathan Silk, Sound, Podcast

Two Bodies, One Heart (May 19, 2019) Ralph Waldo Emerson told us, "Friendship demands a religious treatment.” In this sermon guest minister the Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen will offer of a spirituality of friendship that draws upon Unitarian Universalism Transcendentalist roots. Dr. Bossen currently serves as the interim senior minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. He is in San Francisco to give the second of his Minns lectures: “The Social Question: Unitarian Social Ethics in the Progressive Era.” His blog can be found at www.colinbossen.com. Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, Guest Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Sam King, Worship Associate Christine Tulis, harp and vocals Wm. García Ganz, piano Ariel Andrew, song leader Carrie Steere Salazar, Moderator Don Shearer, video camera Jonathan Silk, Sound, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Good Enough Mother (May 12, 2019) On this Mother’s Day, when we celebrate our mother’s let’s talk about cutting ourselves some slack. Perfection is overrated for one. But also, giving it up — illusion that it is — might just be the best gift we give our kids. Goodbye Paragons of Virtue. Hello Goddesses of Good Enough! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Bill Ganz, piano Ariel Andrew, soloist Amy Kelly, welcome Natlie Shuttleworth, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos, drums

Growing a Soul (May 5, 2019) UU Minister A. Powell Davies, whose All Souls Church in Washington D.C. was a leader in challenging segregation in the nation’s capital during his ministry, once said that the purpose of life was, “to grow a soul.” There are so many ways we grow a soul. This Sunday we’ll honor a couple of those and just hold up the venture itself, remind ourselves of what it takes, mostly a village. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Small Group Ministry Young Adult Group All Church Retreat Dennis Adams, Worship Associate Ben Bear, reflection Reiko Oda Lane, organ Bill Ganz, piano Asher Davison, soloist and guest conductor Ariel Andrew, soloist Scott Benbow, welcome Don Shearer, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos, drums

Liberation (April 28, 2019) “The goal,”Rabbi Irving Greenberg once wrote of Passover, “is to go back thousands of years and to experience, first, the crushing bitterness and despair of slavery and, next, the wild, exhilarating release of freedom.” And then to ask, what do I need to be liberated from; what liberating work is left to do, remembering what that work might look and feel like. Let's accept the Passover invitation to re-engage with the experience and call to liberation. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Asher Davison, song leader The Harmony People, Anjalisa and Gary Anjalisa Aitken, vocals Gary Garrett, guitar Christopher Rodriguez, welcome Gino Fortunato, All Church Retreat Daniel Stuurop-Wiffen, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Miracles (April 21, 2019) Part of the Easter story is the most horrific cruelty and loss that precedes it, and then the most magnificent miracle that wakes us Easter morning. How do we rational, scientific folks make sense of miracle stories, and of this one in particular? Let's re-frame Easter for our ears and lose none of the beauty of it in so doing! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Lisanicole Sarkisian, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ and bell choir director Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Asher Davison, soloist Kate Offer, solist Eric Shackleford, welcome Joe Chapot, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Stepping Stones: Rites of Passage Class (April 14, 2019) We have four bright, young thinkers in this year’s class, each has posed their Big Life Question, now it's time for the ministers to answer! Rites of Passage Class 2019 (Zoe, Erik, Calder, Oriana) Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Marigold Birch and Stepping Stones Teaching Team Alex Darr, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Asher Davison, soloist Kate Offer, intro offertory Bill Ganz, piano Linda Robertshaw, drums Donald Shearer, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

The Way - The Fools Way (April 7, 2019) "The Camino is Life!" Along the Camino de Santiago, these words are often heard, called by one pilgrim to another, or seen, scribbled on a wall or a rock -- words that challenge and inspire, adding the energy necessary for the climb up another hill. How was life on the Camino similar to life walking in the Tenderloin as a Faithful Fool? What energy and focus can we find by asking together, "What are we walking toward?" Carmen Barsody, OSF, Faithful Fools Street Ministry Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister Sam Dennison, Faithful Fool Mark Sumner, piano and song leader Laurel Sprigg, soprano Ariel Andrew, mezzo soprano Richard Fey, baritone Asher Davison, baritone David Jones, piano Jim Rebhan, accordion Judy Payne, Board Secretary Donald Shearer, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Threshold Living (March 31, 2019) Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Trudy Lionel, Reflection: Why I Give Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate Jordan Kersten, soprano Reiko Oda Lane, organ Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Ariel Andrew, song leader Gayle Reynolds, Trustee Kelli Murray, AOF Co-Chair Donald Shearer, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Time of the Month (March 24, 2019) Women's History Month invites us to explore the ways extraordinary women and everyday communities have cast off the oppressive limitations placed on them by wider society based on their gender. This liberation work takes many forms today as we collectively pursue gender justice, and this week we explore how grounding ourselves in historical celebrations of transcendence can help us get our bodies and spirits more free.   Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Gino Fortunato, Reflection: Why I Give Sam King, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Ariel Andrew, soprano Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Carrie Steere-Salazar, welcome Laurence Pulgram, AOF Co-Chair Natalie Shuttleworth, video camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

An Understanding Mind (March 17, 2019) In the famous wisdom tales of King Solomon, it’s said that God appeared to him in a dream saying, “Tell me what I should give you?  Solomon asks for an understanding mind in order to serve his people. Some scholars interpret an understanding mind to mean a hearing heart. Wisdom – the gathering of knowledge, understanding, insight and perception – is an exercise in listening with both heart and mind. We live in a world crowded with smart alecks and experts; let’s explore the wisdom of the hearing heart together. Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Courtney Young-Law and Chris Law, Why I Give Radim Zenkl, Multi Instrumentalist Wm. García Ganz, piano   Ariel Andrew, song leader Hanna Hart, welcome Kelli Murray, AOF Co-Chair Eric Shackelford, camera Scott Miller, Livestream Technical Support Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Boldness! (March 10, 2019) This Sunday our Annual Operating Fund Campaign begins! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Kelli Murray and Laurence Pulgram, AOF 2019 Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, organ and bell choir director Millie Phillips, soprano Diane Allen, Vision/Mission, Chair Eric Shackelford, camera Shulee Ong, camera Scott Miller, Livestream Technical Support and camera Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Gift Culture: the Gift Experiment (March 3, 2019) What does it mean not to think of life as ownership? Other people have had this idea. How does it change us? We will kick off this experiment on Sunday. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Dennis Adams, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Bill Lowell, Membership Kensington UU Choir Kate Offer,soloist Ariel Andrew,soloist Hsuanwei Fan,soloist Asher Davison,soloist Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano Gayle Reynolds, Trustee Eric Shackelford, Livestream Camera Operator Scott Miller, Livestream Technical Support Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Livestream, Videos

Seeing Whiteness? (February 24, 2019) Our Board said an overarching goal at this summer’s Board Retreat — to seek and serve “wholeness” among us. It is a particularly important goal to keep in mind as we look, in our just-beginning strategic planning process, at the future of who we wish to be and what it will mean to get there. Part of that work has meant for many of us to begin to unpack what is hard to see and name — the water we swim in, the culture that forms us and we reinforce unless we are careful, the power and privilege and protected class of whiteness. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Sam King, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Alan Alpert, tenor Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano Gayle Reynolds, Trustee Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS

Exploring Our Humanist Source: A Living Faith in Human Connection (February 17, 2019) Let's explore our fifth source: "Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit." What does it mean to live faithfully without reliance on the supernatural, to place our deepest trust in the abilities of our own imperfect humanity?" Millie Phillips, Guest Preacher Jim Barnett, Humanists & Non-Theists Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Bill Ganz, piano Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia, Vice Moderator Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS Antwann Horace, sound

Come Home! (February 10, 2019) This month we begin our 31st year of providing home for 70 men in our city who otherwise would sleep on the streets. With others we will provide breakfast and dinners and shelter from the elements. We will also reflect on our connection to the planet we call home, all of which raises the notion of what is “home” and what is our relationship to this place (or is it an idea) and how does our experience of home shape us, and what does it require of us? Come home! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Bill Ganz, piano Shannon Warto, soprano Betsy Darr, EJWG Amy Kelly, Trustee Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Sound

Unafraid of the Dark (February 3, 2019) Who’s afraid of the dark? English-speaking, American culture is riddled with links between darkness and fear, but what else is there to discover in the darkness. Rich, fertile possibilities await us when we stretch ourselves just a little bit and expand our metaphorical and moral imagination. Shari Halliday-Quan, Ministerial Intern Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate Jennifer Peringer, piano Ariel Andrew, song leader Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator Jonathan Silk, Podcasting, OOS, Sound