Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

As Dave Sammons takes his leave he'll reflect on his ministry with us and his hopes for our future. The past two years have shown him what a solid congregation this is and what it has going for it as a new minister guides it forward. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director Jiun-Chyi Yew, Pianist Larry Marietta, Guest Conductor Jonathan Sil...

Most of us like to think of ourselves as truthful, but every once in awhile we catch ourselves telling one of those "little white lies." We're tired, so we say: "I wish I could come to your party but I've already made a commitment to go to see Joe." "Oh yeah, the person wonders, why does Joe always trump my invitation? Why doesn't my party take precedence? Little white lies can set traps hard to g...

On Memorial Day in some towns and cities people gather in cemeteries where the dead of war are buried to pay tribute to their sacrifice. But what would these troops have wanted said about them in thier eulogies we might say for them to say - and what would we want said in our own eulogies? Would it be the same as what others would say about us after we're gone? The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim...

Jeremy is a graduate of Pacific School of Religion (PSR), former intern at this church and currently serves as the Minister of the Mission Peak UU Church in Fremont, CA.He says of his topic: "In a time when distractions abound and attention spans are at an all-time low, we need to be reminded of the importance of really hearing each other." The Rev. Jeremy Nickel, Guest Minister Christine Patch-Li...

Thirty years after she died, Dave Sammons feels it's time to write a letter to his mom. She died after suffering through a stroke, her husband's death, and a year in a nursing home. Dave wants to share his letter so that all of us might think about our mothers in a way both caring and honest. It's tough being a mom, yet after the game is over, even the burliest football player lets tears roll down...

We celebrate the culmination of this year's Coming of Age program with a special worship service for our seven graduates: Maeve Dellert, Alicia Cover, Spencer Gowin, Fiona King, Olivia Ong, Mara Pulgram and Lana Whealey. The year-long class, which includes three district-wide retreats gives youth time and opportunity to explore their spirituality and to deepen their relationship to their home cong...

For this Sunday after Earth Day we should reflect on what religious groups have to say about the issues threatening the earth today, from climate change, to resource depletion and the pollution of our rivers, oceans and lakes. If the Baptists can speak out about what's happening, what about us? The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, Pianist Kate Offer, Song Leader Ted...

The music, stories and thoughts woven together in this service are meant to honor the spirit of Easter: the rebirth of life that comes with Spring and the re-beginnings that can happen for people if they leave behind what's not working in their lives and move ahead with an uplifted spirit. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Family Life Minister Dr. Mark Sumn...

This sermon is about that day, long ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey through a gate strewn with palms. What did this mean and does it have anything to say to us today - we folks who've outgrown donkeys and palms? The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister George Cavage, Membership Committee Chair Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jonathan Silk, Sound...

The Reverend Dr. Dorsey Blake, who succeeded Howard Thurman as the minister of The Fellowship of All People here in San Francisco. Dorsey also serves on the faculty of Starr King School for the Ministry, where he is one of the school's favorite teachers. In his sermon Dr. Blake will pick up on the hopeful themes to be found in the writings of Howard Thurman, a man who encouraged people of all back...

In their film about the life of a make-believe prophet like Jesus, the crazy men who make up "Monty Python" have him hanging on the cross singing with his cross-mates "Always look on the bright side of life." We should. But there's also a not-so-bright side, too, as we could see with him hanging there. How do we negotiate a life when there's often an unpredictable balance between the bright and th...

Giving to a church isn't a burden. It should be something we feel good about, as we do when we support something that, to us, has real meaning. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Stephanie Gowin, Board of Trustees Moderator Members of the Task Force on Future Ministry Members of the 2014 Canvass Committee Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order o...

Continuing the conversation about what it means to be faithful people, we'll switch this week to the  notion of what it means to be religious, at least in our liberal religious sense. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Family Life Minister Derek Czajka, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jonathan Silk, Sound,...

Soon our church will be asking a new minister to come take the place of our Interim Senior Minister. In thinking about what it would mean if he were to be the person, Dave Sammons would like to reflect on Ministers and the communities of faith in which they work. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Emily Wilson, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Orga...

This past November the Masons celebrated the life of Thomas Starr King here at our church. Rev. King is the most famous of our past ministers. It's not exactly that they stole him. King was a Mason, and proud of it. And it is great the Masons are proud of him, too. But on this 150th Anniversary of his death it is time for our church to have a celebration of our own for a person not only important...

We all get ideas from time to time that others (or perhaps we ourselves) think are foolish. What might happen, were we to act on them? In 1998 Rev. Kay Jorgensen and Sr. Carmen Barsody stepped out the doors of the church and into the Tenderloin, bringing together people from within and outside the neighborhood through arts, advocacy, education, and accompaniment - changing lives along the way.&nbs...

How are we called by our religious tradition to seed hope in our own lives and in the lives of our neighbors?  How do we reconcile all that we know about the world and its all-too-real ills with a heritage which says our goal is to seek redemption in this life?  Rev. Leslie Takahashi Morris will explore this topic. The Rev. Leslie Takahashi Morris, Guest Minister The Rev. Dr. D...

Those who love don't always respect the worth and dignity of every person, as our Unitarian Universalist (UU) Principles ask us to do. It might be easier if everyone did treat us as people of worth and dignity, but not everyone does. Sometimes people do things that are horrible. So what do we do with our principle then? Say we want to "affirm and promote" the first principle as we're asked to do,...

In the famous biblical story it's assumed that it's God who makes it possible for the little guy, David, to best the giant, Goliath. But a recent book suggests otherwise. David actually had the advantage in the fight, and it wasn't having God on his side. Thuis Sunday we'll explore the uses of power, from congtests like the biblical one, to the relationship of two people in marriage. Power is moe...

We are living in interesting and uncertain times. Transitions, both intentional and unintentional, challenge us as people of faith and reason. Come hear about how a path to deepening joy, love, and integrity in your faith and your life. Rev. Earl W. Koteen, Environmental Justice Minister, UU Justice Ministry California, and a co-founder and leader of 350 Bay Area, has been on a long, strange trip...

On this Sunday before the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. we'll look at the role of prophetic figures in our lives and wonder whether there are any such figures in our contemporary world - people of the stature of King or Nelson Mandela. And if there aren't any contemporary Moses's, like them, what do we do if our goal is to create a world in which reigns peace and justice? The...

Theologian Lesslie Newbigin writes, "We live in an age that favors doubt over faith. Both faith and doubt are needed, yet it is faith that is more fundamental. Even if I doubt something, I must believe there are criteria by which it can be judged. I must believe something before I can doubt anything. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportatio...

This Sunday we will look at the role whatever this thing called "spirit" has in our lives. Is there even such a thing and if so, how do we connect to it. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said he was a "Binitarian," rather than a Trinitarian or Unitarian because he could shake the idea that there was a something in him and the world that connected him to the Divine. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Seni...

We can think of all kinds of ways to avoid what might be good for us, like visiting a spiritual community or becoming part of one. Contrary to common fears, you don’t need to have all your “stuff ” together before belonging to a congregation. This sermon is not about what you wear... or how you do your hair when coming to church. It’s about starting to show who we really are, our strengths and str...

Christmas Eve will be a glorious time at the church. We've consolidated our worship into a single service that will include the traditional Christmas story, a children's pageant for our youngsters and those young at heart, the superb music of our choir and organ and readings meant to capture the spirit of Christmas for Unitarian Universalists. The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Th...