Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

The Reverend Dr. Stephen Furrer leading his last service as UUSF’s Interim Senior Minister, and joined by the incoming Interim Senior Minister, the Reverend Dr. David Sammons in which they will ceremonially hand over the ministerial reigns/mantle/keys and invite the worshipping community to renew its commitment to freedom of the pulpit and freedom of the pew.

For contemporary UUs it's easy to forget our Christian roots. The same is true for Dave Sammons. But coming off a long tenure on the board of a Progressive Christian seminary he has often wondered what it would be like if he actually were a Christian - not a Christian like you might find in a conservative church, but the kind of Christian one is being taught to be at a progressive school, like the...

Reverend Stephen Furrer shares some impressions on ministry, the sacred, church dynamics, his tenure at UUSF, and that which signifies. New Member In-gathering Ceremony during worship and a reception afterwards honoring our new members and the nearly concluded interim senior ministry of Reverend Stephen Furrer. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer,Interim Senior Minister Christine Patch-Lindsay, Worship...

What If ? -- Complete delivered by The Rev. Alyson Jacks June 9, 2013 at 11:00 am The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Interim Director of Religious Education Christine Patch-Lindsay, Worship Associate Charmaine Emery, San Francisco Threshold Choir Director Members of the San Francisco and Bay Area Threshold Choirs Members of the UC Berkeley Alumni Chorus Eric Shackelford, Baritone Soloist Kerry Parker, Order o...

The 3rd Grade Rites of Passage service where four young theologians pose their BIG QUESTIONS to Revs. Furrer and Jacks. The 3rd grade Rites of Passage class and the culminating service has been part of our church community since 1993 and is a highlight of the church year.  The ROP program was created to strengthen our children's relationship to their church and honor their ongoing religi...

Rev Dr. Steve Furrer on the power and enchantment of our memories will consider the question of what it means to memorialize, as the weekend observances will do across the land.

Rev Joel Scholefield will share memories of growing up in the long-ago-sold church parsonage in Pacific Heights. Joel is an award-winning elementary school in Berkeley; despite doing it for 20 years, it was his second career. During his first career, Joel served UU congregations in Indiana, New York, and California. The Rev. Joel Scholefield, Guest Minister Rev. Dr. John Young, Worship Associate C...

Mother’s Day Observed in music, story, and song. “Healing Touches and Songs,” Rev Furrer affirming what we love about motherhood…and what make us—many of us—chafe. How new patterns of love allow ancient instincts to breath in one’s heart.

Reverend Stephen Furrer and members of the SGM celebrate a key ministry of our congregation and how it resonates with not only in the hearts of many current members, but with the heart of historical UU tradition. Brief ceremony honoring this year’s Small Group Ministry Facilitators.

The second of two April sermons on ministry and UUSF, by Interim Senior Minister Steve Furrer. Hearing, following, accepting a “call” is woven, somehow, into the heart of the ministry. When it comes to actually calling a minister accepted congregational practices and the UUSF bylaws also play important parts. Some thoughts on what ministry looks like…and how—with your input—it looks even better.

What does it mean to be a part of a church community? Dave Sammons' thesis is that it's about more than the things like good music, programs and a sympathetic staff, as important as these things are. There's something about "being here" that matters. So, he'd like to explore what the "being here" involves.

The first of two April sermons by Interim Senior Minister Reverend Stephen Furrer seeking to first pose and then answer the question: by what authority does a Unitarian Universalist minister speak? On what basis does a minister in our tradition base her or his authority? Catholics claim apostolic succession; other traditions make other claims. What are ours?

Reflections, Dreams & Thoughts. Margaret Fuller made the case for beloved communities that were both politically radical and spiritually wholesome. Reverends Alyson Jacks, David Sammons, and Margot Campbell Gross share their understanding of how it is that church’s matter, and—in particular—the church at 1187 Franklin Street. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister The Rev. Dr. Dav...

The Deeper Affirmation of Yes Easter and the renewal of hope and creativity wherever love abides. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Consulting Minister The Rev. Alyson Jacks, Interim Director of Religious Education Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director Wm. García Ganz, Piani...

“To Spring, To Leap, To Jump Over Lightly” Reverend Furrer on Passover and Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem—a mythic reappraisal. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jiun-Chyi Yew, Soprano Soloist Wm. García Ganz, Pianist Jonathan Silk, Order of Service, Sound and Recording

“The Two Cultures” By Dr. John E. Hearst. English chemist and novelist C.P. Snow’s 1959 essay "The Two Cultures" lamented what he saw as a growing disconnect between scientists and "literary intellectuals." UC Emeritus Professor of Chemistry John Hearst has resolved to bridge this gap by reaching across the aisle, so to speak: a man of science speaking to people of faith. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. F...

“Touching the Face of God” By Rev. Dr. David Sammons. Many UUs have two sides when it comes to religion. The first is the humanistic assumption that we're responsible for our lives and there's no Deity to take care of things for us. The other side senses there is a "Something More Than Us" we may be able to touch.

“Singing from the Same Sheet” Rev. Dr. Furrer leading services celebrating the many ways music has been will remain ever close to the heart of religious truth. Plus special adumbrations of Samson! The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister Richard Carp, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Kate Offer, Soprano Soloist

“Revelation Is Not Sealed” Reverend Furrer, preaching. A touchstone of liberal religion is the idea that the revelation of religious truth is not sealed in a book of scripture, a particular myth, one prophet’s insight, or any religious authority or hierarchy. It’s open and ongoing. The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer, Interim Senior Minister Christine Patch-Lindsay, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, M...

We take a look at the UU connections of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama from Dave Sammons, born and raised in Illinois and steeped in the lore of Lincoln. It's a good side commentary to go with the film about to win a bundle of Academy Awards.

Global Warming and its effects, in obscure collaboration with Interfaith Power & Light.

Yiddish has hundreds of colorful words. One of them, the adjective farpotshket, describes something that’s all fouled up, especially as the result of an attempt to fix it. If Rube Goldberg was a repairman instead of an inventor, he would be a master of the art. How we sometimes make things significantly worse when we try to make them better?

Participation in a faith community can strengthen your family and bring added goodwill and light into your home.

Reverend Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching on how our heritage teaches us that the most profound social progress happens when it is rooted in liberal religious spiritual values, traditions, and wisdom. Unitarian Universalism has for generations married social justice work with spirituality, the(a)ology, and religious mission.  The mystical activist Andrew Harvey writes: "Sacred Activism is a...

Reverend Dr. Stephen Furrer , preaching on how the world is both yin and yang, light and dark, happy and sad. It is trying to escape that part of life that brings us pain that leads to suffering. Let us embrace the whole thing.