Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

“The Virtue and Pitfalls of Moral Purity” Sunday, February 8, 2026 There has been such a wide swing in recent years between approaches to injustices in our world that ask for unwavering focus that at its extreme bleeds into Cancel Culture, with the I am hearing lately, in various places, to see the strategic need for nuance and changing alliances. Let's talk about the gift and dangers of an attachment to moral purity in our moral lives. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Liz Strand. Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir, led by Mark Sumner, Director; 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

don't despair Sunday, February 1, 2026 Carmen Barsody, Sam Dennison and Mari Magaloni Ramos, preaching If these times call for resilience (and they do), we best not despair, for despair dissipates and distracts. Despair unmoors us and sets us adrift. No! Let us not despair. Let us look simply and solidly upon what is happening here and now. Let us not be swallowed by fretful imaginings. Yes, let us take a deep breath and get on with what is ours to do. This is how we will be prepared for the long haul: we will be together, grounded and in community with resilience. Let us not despair! Let us be resilient! Carmen Barsody; Sam Dennison; Mari Magaloni Ramos; Linda Enger, Vice-Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir, led by Mark Sumner, Director; Nazelah Jameson, soloist; Nancy Munn, pianist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Echoes & Endurance: Notes from Minneapolis” Sunday, January 25, 2026 Come on Sunday as we reflect on what is unfolding in Minneapolis, the echoes through recent history, the danger of amnesia, and the power of stubbornness, courage, and love. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Dolores Perez Heilbron; Bruce Neuburger; Tom McAninley, Prayer Gong; Julia Wald, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Leadership From Where You Are” Sunday, January 18, 2026 How are we called to lead, what does leadership ask, how does it shape us, and what forms does it take? We will hear from three members who show up in the world powerfully and differently and ask what leadership—that piece of our lives—can look like. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Erica Murray, Bruce Neuberger, Erica Murray, Adam Varoqua, Worship Associates; Hanna Hart & Courtney Young-Law, Nominating Committee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Nancy Munn, Brielle Morgan, Ben Rudiak-Gould, Asher Davison, soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Parable of the Rainbow: Resisting Change” Sunday, January 11, 2026 What is our relationship to change, especially when we are in multi-generational spaces? We will explore the parable of the rainbow and the metaphors it provides to look at change differently. Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Linda Harris, UUSC; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Judith Stoddard, Membership Committee; Nancy Munn, soprano; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Sustaining Love in the Struggle” Sunday, January 4, 2026 “Resistance is a long, thin, soft noodle covered in pink sauce.”  At least, according to a two-year-old, it is.  Come explore the nourishing possibilities of resistance with Rev. Ranwa Hammamy from Side With Love as we begin the new year.   Rev. Ranwa Hammamy (they/them) serves as the Congregational Justice Organizer on the UUA’s Side With Love Organizing Strategy Team.  Based in Oakland, they also support local interfaith organizing around immigration and Palestinian liberation as part of their affiliated community ministry with the Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek.  When not organizing, Rev. Ranwa sings with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, bakes theologically punny treats for their "Shugaria Law" anti-Islamophobia baking ministry, and makes sprinkle-based potions with their spouse and the aforementioned two-year-old. Rev. Ranwa Hammamy, Guest Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Hanna Hart, Worship Associate; Ben Rudiak-Gould, songleader; Reiko Oda Lane, organist Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Art of Waiting” Sunday, December 7, 2025 In Christian liturgy this is the season of waiting and preparation—of Advent. It is perfectly scheduled in the depths of winter, when so much feels like it is waiting, preparing, quietly under snow until the light draws it out again. Times of preparation are important and hard sometimes and are the places where transitions and change are made possible. What does Advent mean for you and us right now? How do you make space to meet it?   Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric ShackelfordJonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Bread Communion, or Ate, and left no crumbs" Sunday, November 30, 2025 In this moment of vanishing resources, let us practice collective restoration through the ancient ritual of gathering as a community and breaking bread. Who is welcome at our table and in our pews? Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Haruka Ota, cellist; Yuki Ota, cellist; Akane Ota, songleader; Wm. Garcia Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"The Spiritual Practice of Birding" Sunday, November 23, 2025 Like so many things we love, we are drawn to them because of the worlds they open up to us—outside us and within. In a month when we discuss gratitude, let's journey to how one person's relationship to the hobby, the avocation of birding, is a source of joy and so much more too.   Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Vice-Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Roots and Wings of Hope: Emergent Wisdom from the Interdependent Web" Sunday, November 16, 2025 adrienne maree brown teaches, “We are part of a natural world that is constantly changing, and we need to learn to adapt together and stay in relationship if we hope to survive as a species.” Emergent strategy is “the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions.” How can UUs find hope from nature—birds in synchronized flight, entangled oak tree roots, and the structure of dandelions and fungi—and apply these lessons in biomimicry to our collective organizing against fascism, racism, and all forms of oppression? Rev. Kevin Alan Mann, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Lori Lai, Worship Associate; Julia Wald, Trustee; Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Lists of Gratitude" Sunday, November 9, 2025 To nurture gratitude, one has to find ways to be present to the world around them, take stock of what is in their life, and look at the journey they are on. We will actively contemplate these themes and consider what might be on our lists to be thankful for. Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Sam King, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Board of Trustees; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader; Bill Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford, Cameras; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Presente!" Sunday, November 2, 2025 It has been a fall of memorial services for me, and fall has only just begun. That means a lot of things, as you might imagine: loss, wrestling with legacy, telling stories, making sense, paying attention to how each life pressed itself into the world and into us. Please bring your photo momento for our annual celebration of the time when the veil is thin, when we honor those who have gone before into the greatest mystery of life, death. And how standing at the veil and these particular lives shaped us. Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern, Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Hallie McDonologue, soprano; Akané Ota, mezzo-soprano; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Audio; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Sacred Guardians of This" Sunday, October 26, 2025, 10:50 am Through history a lot has changed. The building we have met in has changed a few times, how we have explained our theology has changed, how we have worship has changed a bit, what we sing has changed, what our ministers have looked like has gotten more diverse, and how people find us and even access our Sunday morning services has, for some, changed. There are a few things that haven't changed. And one role, in particular, that we play that I don't think gets talked about enough but matters greatly. See you for service, for the luncheon and celebration, and for the auction! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Vice Moderator, Board of Trustees; Gino Fortunato with Mick Del Rosario, Legislative Aide to Shephen Sherill; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Maggie McGrann; Nancy Munn, soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“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

“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

“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

“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

"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

"Raindrops, Rivers, Oceans: An Annual In Gathering to Community" Sunday, September 7, 2025 We will be regathered into community for another year in our annual Water Communion Service this Sunday. Separateness is an illusion. We were meant to meet and merge and make a life together. And so we begin our new year. Bring your waters from your travels, your garden spigot, or the ocean around the corner, or use some of ours.  Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Seanan Fong, Community Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Kate Offer, soloists; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"The Power and Draw of Wonder" Sunday, August 24, 2025 Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology and expert in the study of emotion, has been focusing on the human experience of wonder. What is its power? Where and how do we find it? Why is it worth making room for? His book "Awe" will be our September Minister's Book Group book! Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Trustee; Larry Chinn, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader 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