Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

Fear Not! Said The Angels Intergenerational service with full choir and Christmas music in a multi-generational context. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, piano, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, organ, Bell Choir Director Jason Park, trumpet Jiun-Chyi Yew, soprano Maria Solis, soprano Kate Offer, soprano David Jones, piano Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Natural Fear and Historical Hope Managing our own fears and anxieties is a primary test of our faithful living, no matter what we believe or disbelieve. “What’s an angel?” asked a little girl. “Not someone who’s always good,” replied her wise mom. “But someone who teaches me about facing fear, as you sometimes do.” We’ll mark the Winter Solstice, when our early ancestors feared the sun might disappear forever and begin to sing Christmas carols. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Wm. Garcia Ganz, conductor Laurel Sprigg, soprano Mark Johnson, piano William Klingelhoffer, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

A Royal Banquet: In The Face of Fear The UUSF Choir and the UC Berkeley Alumni/ae Choir combine with an orchestra under the direction of UUSF Music Director Dr. Mark Sumner for a performance of William Walton’s BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST – with brief historical and reflective commentary by Rev. Buehrens on the story from the ancient Book of Daniel. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Thoughts In the Presence of Fear The title is borrowed from poet, ecologist, peace advocate and essayist Wendell Berry, who wrote on this theme after 9/11. Here we are again, and on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. What is the most faithful response to fear? -- within us, around us, and beyond our own control? Chanukah, that Jewish festival of religious freedom, begins Sunday evening, and helps to ground our spiritual andmoral reflection. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister Reiko Oda Lane, Organist and Bell Choir Director Mark Sumner, Music Director Judy Payne, trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Nostalgia and Expectations Thanksgiving weekend also brings us the first Sunday of Advent, the season of expectation. John’s sermon will touch on some memories – of his first Thanksgiving as a young husband; of his wife’s ordination 30 years ago this weekend – along with some thoughts about expectations. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Sister Sheila Flynn, O.P., from the Kopanang Community in South Africa Alex Darr, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Mark Sumner, piano Steve Taylor-Ramírez, guitar and vocals Jim Valent, trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Crossing Over   On the Sunday before Thanksgiving we celebrate Guest at Your Table Sunday, and dedicate the offering to the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. 75 years ago, in 1940, they began rescuing refugees from totalitarian regimes in Europe. Today they work on many fronts: economic justice; rights in crisis; environmental justice – here and all around the world. Rev. Buehrens is vice-chair of the UUSC Board. Plan to stay for a gala luncheon in celebration of UUSC’s anniversary. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rachel Gore Freed, UUSC VP and Chief Program Officer Ben Bear, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Mark Sumner, Music Director Emily Wilson, Director Finance & Administration Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Breaking Barriers: Learning to Move at the Speed of Trust When I think about barriers and boundaries, I think of Robert Frost's poem, “Mending Wall” and its famous line “ Good fences make good neighbors.” In the poem, Frost asks, “Why do they make good neighbors … Before I built a wall, I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out, and to whom I was like to give offense?” Boundaries serve a purpose, no doubt. But what happens when boundaries become barriers to building deeper connection and trust with others?  How do we learn to trust?  From infancy to old age, trust is key to our well-being, even our survival. Today’s service we’ll unpack trust and play with some of its core building blocks, finding ways to build bridges instead of barriers, and maybe mend some fences along the way.   Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Milo Hanke, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Mark Sumner, Music Director Reece Hart, Trustee Jonathan

All of us need “good boundaries?” But in an age of both constant electronic communications and firewalls, of more border-crossers, refugees and asylum seekers than ever how do we – how should we – respond? The service will be followed by a Town  Hall meeting about plans to make our 50 year old UU Center and historic church sanctuary more hospitable. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist and Bell Choir Director Mark Sumner, Music Director Galen Workman, Welcome and Announcements Jonathan Silk, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

A prayer in our hymnal includes the line, “Forbid that we should feel superior to others when we are only more shielded.” Columbus Day (otherwise known as Indigenous People’s Day) seems a good time to ponder what it is that lies behind arrogance, even in ourselves. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate Mark Johnson, piano Thomas Yee, violin Jeuen Yee, piano Jim Valent, Welcome and Announcements Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

No one wants to “lose face, much less be humbled or humiliated. Yet few humans can escape it. What matters is how we respond. On the feast day of Francis of Assisi, some stories of spiritual response. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, music director Reiko Oda Lane, organ and bell choir director Bill Klingelhoffer, Welcome and Announcements Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

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

We mark the Jewish High Holidays with adapted liturgy and appropriate music. The central theme of the Days of Awe is teshuvah, turning and returning. John’s sermon will reflect on the need for a spirituality not of one-time repentance, but rather of continuous self-renewal – which sounds far easier than it often is. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, organ Bill Klingelhoffer, shofar Maria Solis, soprano Alexandra Sessler, soprano Judy Payne, Welcome and Announcements Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Remembering his own years as a member of the United Mine Workers, John’s sermon will mark Labor Day weekend and discuss the increasing attacks on all forms of unionization. New member Bruce Neuberger, author of  Lettuce Wars: Ten Years of Struggle in the Fields of California , will offer a reflection on his years with the United Farm Workers. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Bruce Neuberger, Worshio Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Song Leader Larry Chinn, jazz piano Reece Hart, Welcome and Announcements Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Our Unitarian heritage is full of examples of wise and foolish ways to understand our faith. Rev. John Buehrens will draw on his broad experience as a historian and as a leader of our denomination. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Galen Workman, Board Secretary Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Martha Rodriguez Salazar, flute and voice Sarah Bonomo, clarinet Jennifer Peringer, piano Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

When we are young, we are taught to look both ways before crossing the street. By midlife, we’ve probably learned to look at life from both sides now. How do we keep spiritually alive when, as we age, there is so much to look back upon but life’s end is drawing closer? Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Amy Kelly, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Hans York, guitarist/vocalist Dr. Mark Sumner, song leader Kathleen Quenneville, welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

When we are young, we are taught to look both ways before crossing the street. By midlife, we’ve probably learned to look at life from both sides now. How do we keep spiritually alive when, as we age, there is so much to look back upon but life’s end is drawing closer? Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Milo Hanke, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Nanette McGuinness, soprano soloist Mark Johnson, piano Dr. Mark Sumner, song leader Mark Theobald, welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

We often say how important it is to welcome the stranger, and indeed we do try to practice hospitality. But a closer, deeper connection is not so easy to risk. Growing up, many of us learned things about other people--some true, some false--but these teachings can make it more difficult for us to really see, and love, our neighbors as our selves. Sometimes we have to learn to shut our eyes to things we have been taught about others, in order to see another more humanly and more deeply. The Reverend Emerita Margot Campbell Gross serves as spiritual advisor to the Small Group Ministry Program. Judith Stoddard is the coordinator of the program. Other participants in this service are current or former small group facilitators. Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Judith Stoddard, SGM Coordinator Rev. Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Small Group Ministry Megan Lehmer, Small Group Ministry Peter Gross, Small Group Ministry Alessandro Gagliardi, Small Group Ministry Julia DeFranco, Small Group Ministry David J

"What is essential is invisible to the eye" says the fox in "The Little Prince". In a world of matter and form, what is this knowing that lives with only the shape the human heart may offer? Intuitive understanding is essential to the human condition. How shall we cultivate and value this kind of knowing, and why should we? Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate David Jones, piano Ted Rust, oboe Viva Knight, piano Jim Valent, welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Face it, humility doesn't come easily to most of us Unitarian Universalists; it doesn't come easily to Americans, either, especially to those of us living here in the most beautiful city on Earth. Yet, there it is on the wall. A hard look at an often-forgotten virtue. Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Mark Johnson, piano Kate Offer, soprano Kathleen Quenneville, Moderator Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast