Calvary Presbyterian Church San Francisco

Mary went to the tomb on Easter morning while it was still dark. She encountered the living Christ not after day had dawned, not when things were looking hopeful, but while it was still dark. What might the Easter story have to say to our world today? Where is resurrection in our midst? The sermon was delivered on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 by Rev. Marci A. Glass. The scripture reading was from...

The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann H. Lee on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. The scripture readings were from Isaiah 53:1–5, 53:6–9 , and John 19:23–42.

What we get before Palm Sunday in John’s gospel is the story of people who are ALL IN, saying enough is enough if a culture of violence wants to keep people in their graves. Enough is enough if generosity and abundance are scorned. Enough is enough if talking about new life is threatening to people in power . They lead us to the parade with the reminder to give it all away for love. The sermon was...

In this passage from John's gospel, we're reminded that while the occupying Roman government murdered Jesus, they did so with the encouragement of Jesus' own people. What does this story have to say for how we live together, how we acknowledge our mistakes, and how we are called to be faithful today? Rev. Marci Glass delivered the sermon was on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The scripture rea...

After Pilate examines Jesus, he finds no fault in him. And yet, he offers the crowd a choice any way: release Jesus or Barabbas? The crowd chooses Barabbas, a convicted criminal over Jesus. How do we continue to choose Barabbas over Jesus still today? Come worship with us as we try to make good choices that reflect Christ's love and peace.  Rev. Joann Lee delivered this sermon on Sunday, March...

In today's reading, Peter denies Jesus three times. Peter isn’t any worse than any other sheep in God’s flock. Here, at least, he’s also not better. We are people, like Peter, who deny.We deny our connectedness. We divide into “us and them”.We seek easy answers to complicated questions. Denial is not the end of Peter's story. It doesn't have to be the end of ours either. Whatever answ...

On the night we expect bread and cup, John’s gospel gives us a towel and a basin. Jesus kneels, turning ritual into relationship and power into vulnerable love. Communion is not words at a table, but embodied connection that changes and binds us together—when we dare to be present.  Rev. Victor Floyd delivered this sermon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The scripture reading was from John 13:1–17.

The rhythm of living, dying, and rising is the story of our faith, and the rhythm of our lives. We worship a man who rose from the dead. After he had lived. And after he died. As we enter the season of Lent, we'll focus on the story of Lazarus, and see how living, dying, and rising affected him and his community. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The script...

In John's Gospel, the signs Jesus performs are supposed to point people to see who Jesus is, to connect them to God. But in the sign of the blind man receiving his sight, it doesn't seem to work. When Jesus' signs don't match what we know to be true in the world, do we dismiss them, explain them away? The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The sc...

“In the ways that are exemplified by Calvary, I think San Francisco has changed for the better. Because Calvary and a lot of people in San Francisco and causes rooted in San Francisco are for justice and equality.” Fran Moreland Johns' life is continually colored by a passionate energy for involvement and action. Born in Brazil to Methodist missionaries, her progressive activism and dynamic wr...

Many of us feel things are falling apart-either in our personal, professional, or public life. How can suffering invite us toward deeper freedom, integrity, and trust in God? How can our helplessness transform us into the people God has created us to be? The sermon was delivered by guest preacher Rev. Mark Yaconelli on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The scripture reading was from John 4:46–54.

We live in a world full of shallow wells, creating a thirsty, isolated world. There’s a lot of anxiety in the world, in the church, because we turn to those shallow wells and are never satisfied. Jesus offers the Woman at the Well living water. What would it take for us to leave our water jars by our wells so we can have our thirst slaked and our souls renewed with living water? The sermon was del...

Salvation is not an exit plan! It's God’s deep commitment to redeeming what the world has learned to call normal. God does not abandon the world’s brokenness but enters it to make it whole. The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 25, 2026 by Rev. Victor Floyd. The scripture reading was from John 3:1–21.

What makes Jesus angry? Injustice, exploitation, and religious complicity with corruption and power, among other things. Tom Morello said in the 80s, "If you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention." Perhaps it is time to join Jesus in overturning some tables. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on January 18, 2026. The scripture reading was from John 2:13–25.

Jesus' baptism is where Christian community begins. The community Jesus creates comes about because of non-anxious invitation. Inviting people to see Jesus is not a popularity contest or a numbers game where we measure victory by budgets, attendance, or other measures. As we claim and remember our baptismal promises, we also claim and remember our call to be community. The sermon was delivered...

Join us as we celebrate Epiphany, when the magi journeyed to see Jesus, and receive our Star Words. The prophet Isaiah preaches to people in exile a word of hope. Even as they walk in thick darkness, he tells them that nations will come to their light. How did Isaiah's prophecy come true in the story of the magi? How does it come true in our world?  The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass...

The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on Sunday, December 28. The reading was from Matthew 2:13–23.

In a dream, Joseph received a startling message from God turned his world upside down, and Joseph's faithfulness in responding to God's dream, changed the world. We rejoice for all who hear God's dreams and respond with faith instead of fear. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The scripture reading was from Matthew 1:18–25.

Last Friday, Calvary's oldest member, Louise Takeuchi, passed away peacefully at the age of 100. Louise lived a storied life, traversing 20th century history from a childhood in Fresno to an adolescence in a WWII Japanese internment camp to finally finding a home with Calvary. Today we're re-releasing our oral history episode featuring Louise as a tribute to her trademark positivity, resil...

Happy Third Sunday of Advent! The sermon was delivered on December 14, 2025 by Rev. Marci A. Glass. The readings were from Luke 1:46b-55 & Isaiah 35:1-10.

The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Repentance is part of the work of preparation – and both activities have individual and collective elements. As crowds come to John for baptism, their repentance becomes a community event. Preparing the path of God also requires communities to engage in peace, love, and justice. ADVENT 2025: SOON AND VERY SOONThis Advent, we a...

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” But when? There is no holy itinerary for God’s arrival — no day or hour, no platform or gate. In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches us that if we want to live good and meaningful lives, we must keep awake: stay alert, attentive, expectant. God’s ever-dawning presence is always on the verge. The sermon was delivered on Sunday, November 29, 2025 by Re...

The Bible has a tendency to compare us to sheep. In the 23rd Psalm, it is a good comparison because God is the shepherd and God's pretty good at the shepherding business, leading us to still waters. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that sometimes human shepherds let God's flock down. How can we be helpful shepherds, filled with compassion for God’s flock? The sermon was delivered by Rev. Ma...

Amos was a small-town shepherd when God called him to be a prophet for justice. This relatively unknown "nobody" spoke boldly to those in power, railing against their policies and systems that favored profit over people. Join Amos on his quest for a fair and equitable society where justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. The sermon was delivered by R...

Elijah is a very relatable prophet. He has moments of great faithfulness, and moments where his fear gets in the way and his hope dissolves into despair. How does God respond to Elijah, and to us, in those moments when we forget just how great God's faithfulness really is. This sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, November 10, 2025. The scripture reading was from 1 Kings 19:1...