City Church San Francisco

In this week’s sermon, “One Way to Help,” Rev. Emily McGinley begins with a story of a walk through the Tenderloin with the San Francisco Night Ministry and a simple truth offered there: “People fall on hard times and it’s not their fault. This is one way for me to help.” From that moment, we turn to John the Baptist—accidental spiritual icon—calling out crowds chasing spiritual highs instead of r...

In this week’s message, our Pastoral Resident, Amelia Hamiter, explores with us what it means to find hope in the shadow of empire. Scripture reminds us that while dominant powers insist on telling us who matters, what’s required, and which stories are “real,” God disrupts that narrative in the most unexpected way—not through palaces or positions of authority, but through a voice crying out in the...

Rooted in Jeremiah 31 and Christ the King Sunday, we reflect on a God who doesn’t abandon abandoned places. A God who hops fences, returns after rejection, and keeps planting hope where others see waste. This is not the king of culture wars, influence, or perfection—but the king who washes feet, gathers the dismissed, restores soil, and renews lives.

Kat Armas, a Cuban American write, speaker and theologian, generously preached this past Sunday - reading a story and answering questions from her new book "Liturgies for Resisting Empire." Armas holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School and dual MDiv and MAT degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she received the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing.

From 1 Kings 17:1-16 Elijah is called to be part of something greater. Listen to this story now and meditate on how Elijah was not called because he is perfect but because he is faithful. He believed in God’s project, even if everyone else had abandoned it. And in that belief, Elijah came to understand the God of his ancestors with an even greater depth. What does this story mean for us?

What does it mean to actively engage in a moral courage to believe and live out a moral imagination? An imagination that call us to God's invitation to abundance—the wild, illogical belief that there's enough for everyone.

A vision bigger than any one dream. A courage that dares to imagine something more for all of us. This episode invites us to stretch beyond what’s right in front of us, to believe in a future where human dignity isn’t a privilege but a shared reality. It’s about dreaming wide, building not just structures—but communities that last.

What happens when prayer becomes both a cry and a declaration? In 1 Samuel 1–2, Hannah’s personal deliverance becomes more than her story — it becomes a signpost pointing to who God is: the One who remembers the forgotten, lifts the lowly, fills the hungry, and humbles the proud.

"This work, this thing we do through City Hope — This is the redefined fast that the prophet Isaiah speaks of: “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen? To loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clo...

In a time when uncertainty can feel overwhelming, how do we practice remembrance that fuels resilience and hope? This sermon explores the power of collective memory, the importance of ritual, and how looking back can actually equip us to step faithfully forward. Listen in as we reflect on what it means to “remember forward” in our own lives and communities today.

Do you trust in the goodness of God?

We belong — not because of perfection or performance, but because we are cherished. Cherished belonging means we are bound to God and to one another, woven into a garment of grace and love that cannot be unraveled. Even in our brokenness, we are not discarded — we are gathered, mended, and held together by mercy.

This week’s sermon features a special guest from Open Door Legal , inviting us to reflect on the mandate of government through a Jesus-centered lens. How does faith shape the way we see authority, justice, and responsibility in public life? Join us as we explore what it means to hold government accountable while embodying Christ’s call to mercy, truth, and justice.

In our last sermon based off of Howard Thurman's, The Inward Journey , we dive into the wisdom of Ecclesiastes with special guest speaker Amanda Samuel . Together, we explore the call to remember our Creator, the fleeting nature of life, and what it means to seek God with authenticity and depth. Amanda brings fresh perspective and spiritual insight, helping us reflect on how the pursuit of God...

As we continue our series inspired by Howard Thurman’s The Inward Journey , we turn toward the longing for peace—in our lives, our communities, and our world. Alongside Thurman’s wisdom, we listen to the voice of poet Pádraig Ó Tuama, who closes one of his poems with a simple but profound refrain about choosing love again and again. In a world filled with conflict and division, we ask: What does i...

We’re all searching for something to give our lives meaning — but what happens when the “treasures” we chase can’t love us back? In this message, we explore the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the piercing words of Jesus to uncover where true fulfillment is found. Whether you’re chasing success, comfort, or romance, the quest for love points us somewhere deeper, richer, and eternal.

Continuing our series inspired by Howard Thurman’s The Inward Journey , we explore the deep human longing to feel complete. We confront the truth that neither wealth nor recognition can satisfy the soul’s deepest needs. Thurman invites us to look inward, discovering that true fulfillment grows from connection, compassion, and a life anchored in God.

We return to our sermon series inspired by Howard Thurman’s The Inward Journey , turning our attention to Ecclesiastes 4:1-12. Together, we explore how Thurman’s insights call us inward — toward a grounded faith — so we can move outward with courage, resilience, and hope.

This week’s message is a little different — instead of one preacher, you’ll hear from a panel of our high school students fresh from their immersion trip to Memphis. They share stories, moments that moved them, and how walking the streets of history and service shaped their faith. From civil rights landmarks to conversations with local leaders, their reflections will challenge and inspire you to s...

We are beginning a summer series walking through Ecclesiates and the themes of Howard Thurman's book “The Inward Journey”, which features meditations that address the deepest needs and aspirations of the human spirit. Rev. Joshua Jalandoon invites us to think deeply about what truly matters in our lives.

Rev. Emily McGinley preaches on Luke 14:12-24. "When we follow Jesus’ instructions and go out to the nooks and crannies, cracks and crevices of the neighborhoods and back alleys, we will indeed discover, fearsome, dangerous, and heartbreaking truths about the world. And because of that, we will also find a path to honest lament…to true healing…to complete wholeness…and to authentic connection. "

Pride is about reclaimed dignity and the gift of God’s good news that we are wholly beloved. It’s a gift that lights us up from the inside out and inspires others to shine just as brightly. Hear from our guest preacher  Brandan Robertson  (the author of  Queer and Christian ).

The City Church San Francisco Worship Podcast, hosted by Director of Worship, Jason Morrell, and worship vocalist and seminarian, Nigel Tan, is a living and breathing organism, birthed out of our passion to share our personal experiences that we hope would be relatable or refreshing to you, as well as our will to offer a more expansive, inclusive and loving version of Christianity, God, faith and...

Rev. Emily McGinley preaches from ⁠ John 8:1-11 1) Find your sand.  Find a way to pause. Take a breath. Count to ten. 2) Examine your stones.  Ask yourself: Am I seeking justice or revenge? Am I trying to restore relationship or win a fight? 3) Practice spiritual hospitality with someone you disagree with.  In person. 4) Bring your stones to community.  Relationships and spaces where we can practi...

The City Church San Francisco Worship Podcast, hosted by Director of Worship, Jason Morrell, and worship vocalist and seminarian, Nigel Tan, is a living and breathing organism, birthed out of our passion to share our personal experiences that we hope would be relatable or refreshing to you, as well as our will to offer a more expansive, inclusive and loving version of Christianity, God, faith and...