Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

This will be Flower Communion Sunday. Bring a flower, if you can, to be exchanged for one brought by someone else. John will tell the story of how the flower communion developed at what was the largest Unitarian church in the world in Prague, between the world wars. He will also tell a story relevant to the central question of his developmental ministry? with us. How will we know when we have arri...

It's hard to feel at home in the world. But if we are going to fulfill our mission as a sanctuary for spiritual exploration, we must welcome pilgrims on life's journey. Our service will include the formal welcome of new members who have joined UUSF in recent months. Please try to be present to let them know that we are glad they have chosen to join us. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyso...

A person entirely tied up in him (or her) self becomes a very small package, said one great progressive preacher. True joy emerges, often unexpectedly, in giving oneself to a purpose far larger than oneself. So what purpose might that be for you? At this time in your life. Because, you may recall, to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." Rev. John Buehrens,Senior...

On this Memorial Day Weekend, many members of UUSF will be on the All-Church Retreat. The joyous, UU remnant left in the city will gather in the Sanctuary, And have a joyous time, perhaps remembering that true joy is only possible in the full awareness of loss and absence. Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ The St. Petersburg Menís...

Claiming the name ?gay,? was an act of liberation for same-sex loving men and others in our culture. But today, in 78 countries in our world, such sexual expression remains life-threatening. Our own Guardian Group helps to resettle LGBTQ refugees fleeing for their lives. We will join with progressive congregations of every stripe in proclaiming a ?Gilead Sabbath,? to include straight and gay alike...

Many of us feel a bit ?other.? If we are wise, we learn to treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. Our mothers, if they were wise, told us this. But we often need the reminder. And sometimes our mothers do too! On this Mother?s day Sunday John offers a sermon with a story involving his own mother, and the process of being wisely open to joy again. No matter what. Rev. John Buehrens,...

We will begin the service with Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister, recognizing those who have volunteered as teachers in our religious education program this year. In the day-to-day roller coaster ride through our lives we experience a range of feelings moment by moment. Joy is something deeper than pleasure or happiness. A reservoir of joy sits tranquil, unaffected, awaiting our acceptance. Ho...

Our worship theme for April is "wealth and poverty," explored in both the material and spiritual dimensions. Questions of distributive economic justice are ultimately moral and spiritual issues. Join John Buehrens for a powerful sermon which borrows its title from a book on the theme by UU Minister Richard Gilbert. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Ben Bear, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, cho...

It's boom town times again in San Francisco, this time with companies on the cutting edge of technology. We hunger for the new; we fear being left behind in this year's Global Economy 3.0. But is there a spiritual downside? Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz first hit the streets of San Francisco in the 1970s as a reporter for the AP and the SF Examiner. After completing her ministerial internship with this...

This Sunday is our special RITES OF PASSAGE Service! Our 12 ROP graduates, along with their Teaching Team, will join Revs. Buehrens, Benson and Jacks on the Chancel. Our talented group of 3rd-4th graders has spent the year learning about themselves and their church community. They have filled up the pages in their workbooks, interviewed the ministers and other church leaders. They've toured the bu...

Celebrate Easter with laughter and joy, music and stories of new life. Wear an Easter bonnet if you like, bring the children, and join the ministers, the Choir, the Bell Choir and singer-songwriter Mike Rufo in an Easter Sunday to remember. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister Reiko Oda Lane, organ and Bell Choir Director Dr. M...

It has been said that the Exodus story, retold at Passover, is not only the key to "engaged religion," but has been re-interpreted in every social justice movement from Jesus on Palm Sunday through Marxism to other liberation struggles. Linda Enger, chair of our 2015 operating fund drive, will give both a report and a testimonial. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Linda Enger, 2015 Canvass Chair...

Going to and from Selma Alabama for the 50th anniversary of the voting rights campaign there, John Buehrens was reading Racing to Justice: Transforming Our Conceptions of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society, by UC Berkeley professor john a. powell, who spoke at a dinner here on Feb. 28. In his final chapter, from which this sermon takes its title, Powell writes, "If spirituality is engage...

What does it mean to be a philosophically and theologically pluralistic community? What does matter in our relationships with one another and to what is it we each rely upon? Are you "right" or is what you believe/understand simply right for you?

In the late 1800's, American Philosopher, Josiah Royce, coined the term Beloved Community, a phrase adopted by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. To build the beloved community, according to Royce, requires love, loyalty, and cooperation, among other things. It also requires engagement and risk. And it takes practice - lots and lots of practice. Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Alison Rittger, Test...

Which comes first? Church community? Or our social justice mission? The chicken or the egg? We will launch our annual pledge drive for the UUSF operating budget. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister Harry Arthur, Testimonial Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, organ Rusty Harris-Bishop, tenor Kathleen Quenneville, Welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Servi...

Mutual trust is a form of "social capital." We move forward at the speed of trust, I am convinced. But when trust fails, the natural tendency is to seek our own safety. How do we begin taking risks again? Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Sue Anthony, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Ted Rust, oboe Viva Knight, piano Emily Wilson, Welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship A...

When our trust has been betrayed, the first thing we do is put on armor to protect our vulnerable spots. Betrayal can be especially painful in matters of the heart and we are often left with feelings of guilt, shame, and anger. On Valentine's Day weekend, we ponder the creative power of vulnerability and the risk of love. Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Dr. Mark Su...

Martin Luther King's legacy towers above all the rest in our national imagination. We remember him for his pure dream of freedom and equality, and yet today that dream still seems so far from our nightmare of mass incarceration and the unbearable fact that black bodies don't seem to matter as much as white bodies. Come hear Cindy Pincus preach about spiritual reparations and religious hope as we e...

Most of us are alienated from someone. Often for quite good reason. How do we achieve anything like reconciliation? John will draw on his experience in family systems work to offer some insights on the age-old issue of forgiveness. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. JD Benson, Associate Minister Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister Milo Hanke, Jr, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organist Wm. Garcí...

As we begin the New Year, our service begins with a baby blessing - dedicating the grandchild of our beloved organist, Reiko Oda Lane. Her name: "Aria." In traditional churches, a theme raised at the New Year is how Jesus was named, brought to the Temple, adored by Magi, and then, as an adult, baptized. But why? John will tell a story about a visit to Israel that suggested an answer. Assistant Min...

Alex Darr, who grew up in UUSF, will serve as Worship Associate and Kristen Pedersen will work with Rev. Buehrens to create a service that will include the voices of young adults testifying to how UU values were part of their transformations and personal growth. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Alex Darr, Worship Associate Kristen Pedersen, Young Adult Mark Johnson, piano Kate Offer, song leader...

The title is taken from the American poet, Theodore Roethke. The sermon will be a Christmas season response to the underlying tone of despair in so many lives and so much of our culture. Sue Anthony will be the Worship Associate. Trumpet, soloist, carols, and candlelight will welcome all. The Reverend John Buehrens, Senior Minister Susan Anthony, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director R...

Ancient lessons, modern interpretations, carols and candlelight will welcome all comers. There are often nearly 500 people at this service, so come early! The offering will go to support our “Up on Top” after-school outreach program for children in the Tenderloin and Western Addition. The Reverend John Buehrens, Senior Minister The Reverend Alyson Jacks, Minister of Family Life Dr. Mark Sumner, Mu...

On the shortest and darkest day of the year our ancient forebears had the spiritual sense to fend off fear and despair with the lighting of bonfires and some of the most joyous, festive revelry. The sermon will explore the themes of waiting, hope, and the loss of hope which is true despair - as well as the surprise (and cultivation) of joy. The service will include a reflection by Worship Associat...