Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

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Faith In Times of Crisis
“Faith In Times of Crisis” Sunday, October 19, 2025 Our forebears in liberal religion here in San Francisco endured crises long before the present one we now face. As we continue to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of UUSF, our former Senior Minister and resident historian will share stories of faith and endurance. The service will include a visit from one of the most colorful characters in our history: Emperor Norton! After the service, copies of John’s history of UUSF, A Religious Center with a Civic Circumference: Unitarians in San Francisco Since 1850, will be available for sale and signing during another celebratory coffee hour. Rev. John Buehrens; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Emanuela Nikiforova, violin; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
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The Rest of The Story
“The Rest of The Story” Sunday, October 12, 2025, 10:50 am We begin the celebration of our 175th anniversary as a congregation with a return visit from the very first woman minister in our history. Diane Miller served UUSF for several years starting in the bicentennial year of 1976. Like onetime radio personality Paul Harvey, who always ended his broadcasts with the tagline, “And that’s the rest of the story,” Diane will share aspects of her ministry and experience here that few have heard before. She went on to serve as UUA Director of Ministry from 1993 to 2001. Rev. Dianne Miller, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Lucy Smith, Board of Trustees Secretary; Joanne Kong, pianist; Christoph Wagner, cellist; Phil Browne, songleader, songleader; Mark Sumner, pianist Eric Shackelford; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
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Begrudging Journey to Compassion: Confessions of a Recalcitrant Pastor
“Begrudging Journey to Compassion: Confessions of a Recalcitrant Pastor” Sunday, October 5, 2025, 10:50 am I knew directly after the election when some folks were talking about building bridges and understanding the other side that strategically and spiritually this was the right way to go—or would be. I also knew I couldn’t go there in that moment. But right now, compassion and a different kind of role for us as people of faith feel like, maybe, our only hope. And a powerful invitation to lead. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Maria G, Worship Associate; Liz Strand, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Morgen Warner, Soloist; Bill Ganz, pianist Shulee Ong; Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, sound; Alicia Cover, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
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Clearing the Pathway to Belonging
“Clearing the Pathway to Belonging” Sunday, September 28, 2025 As we approach roadblocks, stop signs, detours, and potholes on the path to belonging, what spiritual technology can we employ to continue along the path? Who or what stands in the way of naming our belonging in a community? Is internal repair needed to meet the welcoming road ahead? Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern, Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Liz Strand, Trustee; Bill Klingelhoffer, shofar; Mark Levy, Guitarist and Vocalist; Mark Sumner, songleader Eric Shackelford; Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
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22:42
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Revisiting Stories: The Prodigal Son and Belonging
"Revisiting Stories: The Prodigal Son and Belonging" Sunday, September 14, 2025 We talk about the importance of sacred stories. They come in many forms. The gentle ones whose wisdom goes down sweet and easy and the ones that require a lot more work. In my experience the Prodigal Son, a story told in the Gospel of Luke, is one that a lot of people want to toss aside. It pricks our notions of fairness, our own sibling rivalries. On Sunday we will roll up our sleeves and lean into it and see what wisdom it has to offer. It is a story particularly relevant to the question of belonging. This Sunday we will also ritual confer on the Rev. Alyson Jack the title of Minister Emerita with a reception to follow! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, preaching; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita; Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister Emerita; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Linda Enger, Vice Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Shulee Ong; Camera Operator; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
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About Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Sunday worship service. Home of liberal spirituality for over 150 years, the Society welcomes people of all racial and religious backgrounds. Our Congregation includes gay, straight, transgendered, and questioning people. More information is available at www.uusf.org.

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