Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

"Crossing the Threshold: A service on death and dying... and a life informed by both." Sunday, August 17, 2025 Our musicians this Sunday have a ministry companioning those through death and dying. So we will sit with what it means to be with those on the journey across the threshold to death. How can music be a part of it? How does our sense of dying inform the way we live in ways that are liberating and joyful and wise? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Trustee; Akane Ota, songleader; Bill Ganz, pianist; Joel Karabo Elliott, Dr. Aditi Sethi & Jay Brown, Ways of Remembrance ensemble Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Love at the Center Part 2" Sunday, August 10, 2025 We will pick up our conversation from July and explore the remaining themes from the book, "Love at the Center." Participants from the class will share their reflections on what they learned about and what they currently believe about love. Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Anne Diaz, Riki Panganiban, Niko Gomez-Guhde, Chelsea Thomas; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Stephen Cox, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader Eric Shackelford; Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"All for One & One for All" Sunday, August 3, 2025 Matt has led music and worship for hundreds of services in congregations all over the U.S. and Canada. Matt has a degree in hand drumming from Berklee College of Music and has studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. In addition to music, Matt is also an active community organizer and educator. His service will be on the work for justice and inspiration on the journey. More info at https://www.rhythmrevelations.com/. Matt Meyer, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Asani Seawell, Worship Associate; Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Poetry in Times of Reverie" Sunday, July 27, 2025 Poetry is a moment distilled. Sometimes it is life pressed into the pages of a book or, more vividly, as Robert Frost said, it is a way of "taking life by the throat." And Alice Walker said, "Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness." In the deep valley of summer, we will sit with some poetry. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Kathleen McClung; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Spirituality and Inner Freedom" Sunday, June 22, 2025 These days, as basic human rights and freedoms are under constant attack, the battle for our attention is relentless. What if the real locus of our freedom is within each of us? What if we put greater attention there? Our former senior minister returns to our pulpit to speak about the vital role of spiritual practice and discipline in renewing the progressive soul of America. Rev. John Buehrens, Preacher; Sam King, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Allen Biggs and Tommy Kesecker, percussionists; Nancy Munn, songleader Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Lessons from our Fathers" Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:50 am We learn from their words and their actions, from how they succeeded and where and how they stumbled. What are some of the lessons from our fathers that carry us forward with grace and courage? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Eric Hamilton, guitarist; Akane Ota, songleader; Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Celebrate! Our Annual Flower Communion Sunday" Sunday, June 8, 2025 I had a coach once who said when you are going up the mountain, you have to take time to go to the overlooks, take in how far you have come, celebrate and enjoy the view, and rehydrate before you move on. We will look back this Sunday, engage in our annual Flower Communion ritual to end our year, and prepare for our annual meeting. Bring a flower from your garden (or from your neighbors!) and come join in a time of taking in the view. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Show Tunes and Tee-Shirts" Sunday, June 1, 2025 A story (maybe two) of life on its own terms, bold, joyful, and that left the world better than they found it. Come, and be ready to smile and sing. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Judith Stoddard, Membership; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Imagine a World Without War" Sunday, May 25, 2025 On this Memorial Day weekend, let us imagine a world without war. War is the act most antithetical to our values. Right now, it may be hard to imagine a positive future at all, but without imagining what we truly want, not just knowing what we oppose, we remain stuck with what others decide for us.  Rev. Millie Phillips, Affiliated Community Minister; Sam King, Worship Associated; Jill Brindel, cellist; Mark Sumner, pianist Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Minds Wide Open" Sunday, May 18, 2025 I've been reading more about things like "flow" and right brain/left brain functioning. Anne Lamott speaks of the power of imagination and what it opens up, as opposed to the gifts and limits of rationality. How do we channel the creative, and where can it take us? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Nancy Munn, soprano and pianist Eric Shackelford; Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Holding Open Possibilities for Each Other" Sunday, May 11, 2025 In this month when we look at the power of imagination, it is interesting to explore how we do that for one another in our personal relationships. How do parents use imagination (for good and ill) in the shaping of their kids' lives? How can we do that for one another, aware of the ways that are life-giving, second-chance-offering, and liberating? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Robin May, oboist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Oh the Possibilities! Annual Youth Worship Service" Sunday, May 4, 2025 Join our youth this Sunday to hear what they imagine as possible futures. We will be recognizing our High School Seniors as well. Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Julia Wald, Trustee; Sammy Alden; Eli Boshears; Max Dubler; Davia Ferree; Anakin Gupta; Kenley Gupta; Oriana Joos-Moren; Lucas Keeley; Hannah Murray; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Fair Earth!" Sunday, April 27, 2025 Ecophilia, Pagan rituals and roots carried forward, hiking, eating—all that ties us to our love and relationship and responsibility to earth. We root ourselves in this (reground ourselves in it) to stay whole and joyful. Let’s do that regrounding together. See you Sunday! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Christine Patch-Lindsay, Pagan Interest Circle Chair; Liz Strand, Trustee; Haruka and Yuki Ota, cellists; Akane Ota, songleader; Jon Silk; drummer; Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"What Does Resurrection Look Like?" Sunday, April 20, 2025 Easter is upon us, the Sunday we talk about resurrection—of hope, of life, against all odds. In our Good Friday world, especially these days, how about some stories about resurrection and a reminder of how often it shows up... against the odds? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Joy in the In Between" Sunday, April 13, 2025 It's the week when we begin the celebration of Passover in the Jewish tradition and Holy Week in Christianity—hard stories with important and ultimately triumphant endings. And this is a month when we are supposed to talk about joy?! How perfect! What is our relationship to joy—our right to it, our ability to access it when things are hard? This we need to be clear on! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Sam King, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia and Don Shearer; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Attempted Poetry and Other Misdemeanors, Oh Joy!" Sunday, April 6, 2025, 10:50 am Joy is a little word with an expansive definition. There is Joy in the hard work of trudging towards Justice. And there is the pure joy of celebration. With a spring in your step, a poem in your heart, and companions by your side, the fraught world becomes a little lighter. Sure, we hear that there is danger everywhere: Danger to the right of us, Danger to the left. Danger within and Danger without. How Foolish it is to enter the fray wearing only armor plated with rhyme, padded with a quilt of verse, and carrying shields as light as any song. Come, let us gird ourselves with a little wry humor, a bit of dry wit, and let us join the poets in defending joy even in these dark days! Carmen Barsody and Sam Dennison, Faithful Fools; Kirsten Hove-Darr; Lori Lai, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Maria Gonzalez Gomez, soloist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Bosh

"Trust in the Wild" Sunday, March 30, 2025 Robin Wall Kimmerer, who writes about the natural world, writes about a world undergirded by trust, reciprocity, and generosity. But this is the same natural world that also has predators and prey and scarcity. Which do we put our trust in and why, and how does that shape life in our safe harbor? Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Lori Lai, Trustee; David Jones Stewardship Moment; Mirjam and Harry Moren, Canvass Chairs; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Trusting In Community" Sunday, March 23, 2025 Join us for this All-Ages Worship to hear a sweet story about how a cat helped calm a scary storm and brought a community together. Interactive opportunities to build trust in our community, both within our walls and outside our walls, will be part of the service. Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Maria, Worship Associate; Sam Hamner, Miles Cunningham, Liam Hamner, Chantel Boshears and Eli Boshears, Stewardship Moments; Galen Workman, Moderator Board of Trustees; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Leaning In" Sunday, March 9, 2025, 10:50 am Anxiety and a feeling of ungroundedness can erode trust in ourselves and in our community. How do we lean into relationships during challenging times? Are there ways we can build trust instead of diminish it? Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Gino Fortunato, Membership Chair; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Safe Harbors in Stormy Times" Sunday, March 2, 2025, 10:50 am Someone teaches you about the ocean. Someone shows you how to swim for the joy of it, or maybe so you can be safe. Each of us will face storms, and what someone taught us about the water, about swimming, and about what will get us through is relevant now. And relevant to why generations have invested in the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, this port in the storm, for almost 175 years!  Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Mirjam and Harry Moren, Canvass Chairs; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Dr. Joachim Reinhuber, pianist Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher