Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

Wanted: Love Makers Wedged between tirades of mean tweets, disparaging demagoguery and the rollercoaster of topsy-turvy politics, love holds on tight for the ride of its life. To effectively counter the barrage of hate mongers, we need creative and committed love makers engaged in efforts that bring hope, vision and transformation. Let’s explore ways to be faithful and imaginative love practitioners and channel love’s enormous power to bring about healing and wholeness in the world.

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

Intransitive Hope Hope is dangerous. We can become attached to particular outcomes. The best sort of hope is not a bet on outcomes, but an intransitive “orientation of the spirit,” as humanist Vaclav Havel put it. To operate in the realm between faith and love is also to learn to practice non-attachment to the fruits of right action. We’ll sing, with the help of the choir, a hymn that speaks of “hope, all other hopes above.” We’ll also hear the haunting song, “An Only Hope,” from the film, "A Walk to Remember", and an anthem by poet Elizabeth Alexander that speaks of sustaining hope “while pulling every weed.” Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Alex Darr, Message for All Ages Susan Anthony, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano & conductor Elliott Etzkorn, 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

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER 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.”

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

Wondrous Music In The Face of Wrongs Dr. Buehrens, homilist Dr. Mark Sumner directing the UUSF Choir and Soloists and the Jubilate Instrumental Ensemble and Reiko Oda Lane at the organ keyboard. Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast Bring your music loving friends! Our “Big Music Sunday” this year features works by J.S. Bach, centered on Cantata 79, his “Reformation Cantata” --a fitting prelude to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, 1517 to 2017. The cantata includes a chorale, “Nun danket alle Gott,” praising, in the face of enduring ills, the “wondrous things” already done to rectify many ancient wrongs. On the day after International Human Rights Day, we both celebrate and recommit ourselves – with the Human Rights Working Group bringing forth our UUSF “Black Lives Matter” banner. As part of the service at First Unitarian Universalist Church in SF, many members of the UC Alumni Chorus will join the Unitarian Universalist Choir. Directed by Mark Sumner Includes Jubilate/Magnificat O

A Rebirth of Wonder In a poem with a refrain about “awaiting a rebirth of wonder,” San Francisco’s own Lawrence Ferlinghetti once described how he got through the McCarthy era and the complacency of the ‘50s. That “rebirth of wonder” is what we most need in our own souls to keep our spirits alive and just grateful for life – and a good theme for the season of Advent, as we approach the wonder of the winter holidays. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Jim Valent, Welcome 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

Good Grace: Stories of Thanksgiving and Reconciliation There is a good chance your Thanksgiving holiday will include some post-election reflection. Along with some side dishes, well come with our stories. In preparation, we will spend this Sunday with the Thanksgiving story, which will serve as our centerpiece, exploring the facts and the fiction, seeing what  it can teach us about reconciliation and grace. Our stories have power, they can bring us together or break us apart. As we prepare to gather at the common table, may our stories move us in a direction that leads to healing and hope.   Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Linda Harris, Chair of UUSC at UUSF Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Jim Valent, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Reconciling Opposing Views Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” This is true both in our relational lives – and in more profound forms of religious thought.   Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Richard Davis, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Gayle Reynolds, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Winners, Losers, and Reconciliation: An Election Day Sermon Winners hold parties; losers hold meetings. Only finite games divide the winners and losers. From a distance, life is more like an infinite game. The real goal then is to keep the play going. Which requires grace and reconciliation. Drawing on both the tradition of the Election Sermon and ideas of philosopher James Carse, John will try to put Election Day in spiritual perspective.   Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Jonah Berquist, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

We have Come This Far By Faith The Rev. Darrick Jackson is the Director of Contextual Ministry at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Darrick is involved denominationally as Treasurer of DRUUMM (the UU ministry for people of color) and as co-chair of the UU Ministers Association CENTER Committee and Institute for Ministerial Excellence. He is also the treasurer and Workshop Leader for Healing Moments (a ministry for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's). In his free time, Darrick likes to knit and to be involved in theater. He is married to James Olson, a United Church of Christ minister and lives with their two cats, Merlin and Morgana. Rev. Darrick Jackson, Guest Preacher Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Asher Davison, solo HyeJin Yu, solo Jim Valent, Welcom Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Authoritarians, Then and Now   On the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations here in the City of St. Francis, some reflections on why, despite the growing strength of the international human rights movement, authoritarian tendencies are again growing ñ and what people of faith should remember in facing them. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Alex Darr, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Andres David Vera , cello Randy Adams, piano Kate Offer, solo Christopher Rodriguez, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast