Complete Service-first Unitarian Universalist Society Of San Francisco

Be Friend Friendship is difficult to describe, but that hasn’t stopped us from trying. Take Aristotle. He believed that friendship – philia – is a great good, one of the greatest goods. And to be a good friend, you must be a good person; only good people can be friends. Like Aristotle, I believe friendship is a great good, both for the individual and society as a whole. The world could do with fewer frenemies, for sure. But there’s more to the story. Concepts of friendship have changed since the days of Aristotle. The poet and philosopher John O’Donahue believed friendship is an act of recognition and belonging, cutting across convention, morality, and category. Friendship may be hard to describe, but the story of friendship is a deep one. In his essay on Friendship, Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “Friendship demands a religious treatment.  Reverence is a great part of it.  Treat your friend as a spectacle.” Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Richard Davis, Worship Associate Nane

The Future of Evil Unitarian Universalism is transitioning into its next theological phase of embracing spirituality and appreciating a higher power. While comforting, can we reach only for the positive and deny the negative? What will be our UU position on evil in our next phase? Rev. Russ Menk, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Nancy Munn, soprano David Jones, piano Gayle Reynolds, Welcome Leslie Ottaviano, Sound Jonathan Silk, OOS, Worship Archives/Podcast

Accepting Our Demons From where come Temptation, Evil, and Demons?  Recent bestsellers prominently feature devilish beings, pointing us toward the ancient religious study of Demonology. What do Unitarian Universalists have to say about these creatures? How might liberal religion understand them? What do stories about demons have to say about the roles of good, evil, and temptation in our own world and in our lives? Rev. Lucas Hergert, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Livermore since 2009, will explore these questions. Rev. Lucas Hergert, Guest Minister Dennis Adams, Worship Associate Christine Tulis, harp & song leader Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano Kathleen Quenneville, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Renewing Gratitude A mother and her son were at a local farmers market. They stopped at a stall piled high with beautiful fruit. The vendor smiled at the little boy and handed him an orange. When her son remained silent, she looked at him and asked, ìWhat do you say to the nice man?î The child mulled it over, handed the orange back to the man and said, ìPeel it.î OUCH. He sure missed the gratitude train. Are you missing opportunities to express appreciation and kindness on a daily basis? Join us for an interactive sermon on the spiritual practice of GRATITUDE. Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel, Guest Minister Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Kerry Parker, song leader Larry Chinn, piano Galen Workman, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Art of Creative Reframing: Seeing The World With Fresh Eyes Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo, “The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” When we encounter difficulties in our relationships it can be easy to entrench into a position of disappointment or frustration. How do we reframe our worldview, as van Gogh does in this writing, to encourage ourselves into the creative place of deepening connection? Rev. Melissa Thomson, Guest Minister Sue Anthony, Worship Associate Kerry Parker, song leader Eric Hamilton, guitarist Wm. Garcia Ganz, piano Judy Payne, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Creative Generativity “Any damned fool can be a genitor,” some wise man once said. “It takes creative wisdom and maturity to actually be a good father.” Recognizing how few of us may have been blessed to experience really good parenting, this service will seek to lead us all toward more creative forms of generativity – not so much biological as social. This will be Rev. John’s last Sunday in the pulpit until September, as he spends the summer in creative work on UUA leadership, writing a new book, and then celebrating the wedding of his eldest nephew and namesake. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Andrés Vera, cello Randy, Adams, piano Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Creativity, Hubris, and Babel “Democracy,” said Winston Churchill, “is the worst of all possible systems of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” At the moment, all around the world, democracy seems to be in trouble. Creative demagogues threaten to dominate. What kind of leadership is needed to cut through the babel and to clarify the common good? Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Radim Zenkl, Flute, Mandolin, Fujara Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

On Being Part of The Creative (and Destructive) Process Western free market economist Friedrich Hayek spoke of “creative destruction.” Hindus have a trinity of deities: Brahma, the Oneness; Krishna, the Creator; and Siva, the Destroyer. Buddhists note the transience of all structures. Our Choir will end their year of singing for us before leaving for their fourth triennial trip to Eastern Europe. And we will celebrate FLOWER COMMUNION – according to the practice of the Rev. Norbert Capek, who in Prague between the World Wars brought humanists, Jews, Christians, and others together in opposition to Nazi racism. Please note the anti-racism and economic justice events on the two previous days. Flower Communion Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, organ Peter Gross, Trustee Bill Frank, Tape Op Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Practice of Care A reflection on what it means to practice a caring orientation to life. How we can cultivate this basic attitude of attentiveness, openness, love even. Margot will particularly focus on why this is difficult, and why it is foundational to caring for others, and for oneself. Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Richard Davis, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, organ Ryan Floyd, piano Emily Wilson, welcome Bill Frank, Sound Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Limits of Care We can’t possibly care about everything. “Teach us to care and not to care,” prayed poet T.S. Eliot. The trick is to know when to do each. This is never easy, but essential to real maturity and even to learning the difference between caring and co-dependence. Bike and Walk to Worship Sunday! Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Alex Darr, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Reiko Oda Lane, organ Katrina Walter, flute Marc Theobald, Trustee Bill Frank, Tape Op Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Spiritual Care Ministers are often said to have people in their “spiritual care” or to be involved in “the care of souls.” What is that in practical terms? The Rev. László Major, minister of the 350 member Unitarian Church of Dakt in Transylvania has been studying pastoral care this year as the Balázs  Scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. He will serve as Worship Associate and offer a brief reflection during the service and a longer dialogue after the service. The offering will go to our Partner Church in Transylvania, which our Choir will visit on their pilgrimage this summer. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. László Major,  Balázs Scholar Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Christine Tulis, harp and vocals Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Reciprocal Care Meg  is the daughter of a UU Religious Education Director. She is both a licensed psychotherapist and has served as minister to four UU congregations. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at Starr King School for Ministry and Clinical Supervisor of the Native American Counseling Center. She works with troubled families and with historic and present day trauma, and is a graduate of  Rev. Jeremy Taylor’s Marin Institute of Dream Workers. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Meg Whitaker-Greene, Guest Preacher Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Michael Yokas, violin Laurel Sprigg, soprano Mark Johnson, piano Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Work and Care Much of the world’s work, especially caring work, is unpaid or under-valued. Many crises in the social world result from a scarcity of adequately paid work in our rapidly integrating global economy. The service offers a preview of the conference we will host on June 4 on economic justice issues, under the sponsorship of the  UU Justice Ministry of California . It will also include recognition of those who have taught in our religious education programs this year.   Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Sue Anthony, Worship Associate\ Hanna Clements-Hart, Family Life Ministry Chair Reiko Oda Lane, organist Jennifer Peringer, pianist Bill Klingelhoffer, Trustee Bill Frank, audio support and tape op Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Self-Awareness: Coming of Age This Sunday we celebrate our Coming of Age youth with a special worship service. The worship service is the culmination of a year-long faith exploration program for our youth who are in the 8th and 9th grades. Over the past seven months, the youth have examined their religious identity, gaining self-awareness and deepening their connection to our Unitarian Universalist faith and this church community.  They describe their COA  experience as a "coming home."  They have asked themselves, "What do we believe, and what does it mean to be a UU? How do my values and our community values sustain and support us through challenges? How does our faith guide our justice work?" Through class discussion, retreats, journaling, mentorship and self-reflection, the six members of this year's Coming of Age class -  Day Chionsini, Ryan Connelly, Natasha Janowski, Max Kaplan, Georgia Pori, and Eli Wallace - are ready to offer their credo statements, and sha

The Awareness of Glory "Big Music" Sunday at UUSF! The Poulenc Gloria is one of the great choral works of the 20th century. It was commissioned for and first performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in 1961. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Margaret Pearce, The Interfaith Power and Light Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Mark Bruce, organist Wm. García Ganz, pianist Kate Offer, soprano Kathleen Quenneville, Moderator Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Awareness of Evil If most religion begins in a sense of metaphysical unity, it also includes the moral duality of good and evil. We often focus on good people, doing good things. But how are good Universalists called to respond when we see and encounter real evil in the world? Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Richard Davis, Worship Associate Rev. Alyson Jacks, Message for All Ages Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Eric Hamilton, guitar Marc Theobald, Trustee Bill Frank, Tape Op Support Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

The Awareness of Oneness It is possible to be both rational and something of a mystic. Perhaps all unifying religion begins in what we claim as one of the sources of our living tradition: Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life. The Message for All Ages will be given by our Neighboring Faiths class, who have been visiting other houses of worship. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Phil Marshall, Worship Associate Neighboring Faiths class, Message for All Ages Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, organ Reece Hart, Trustee Bill Frank, Tape Op Support Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Practicing Resurrection In a change from past practice at Easter, the children will join us only for the early part of the service, for a Message for All Ages and for some of the glorious music; then they will go off with Rev. Alyson to other activities, including an Easter egg hunt. John’s message, under a title borrowed from the poet Wendell Berry, will be about carrying the Easter theme into daily and year-round life. Fancy Easter hats, of course, are part of the tradition and fun at UUSF Easter. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Rev. JD Benson, Assistant Minister Dennis Adams, Poindexter the Clown (and nugget the dog) Dr. Mark Sumner, choir director Reiko Oda Lane, organ Kate Offer, soprano soloist Tom Dambly, trumpet Kathleen Quenneville, Board Moderator Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Cracking The Monolith Bill Rankin is the author of a 1994 book on social change with the same title as his sermon with the subtitle, “The Struggle for the Soul of America: A Peace and Justice Manifesto.” Bill is a 20-year friend of John and Gwen Buehrens, an Episcopal priest holding a doctorate in social ethics, the former Dean of Episcopal Divinity School, and, with his wife, Sally, was recently honored by Duke University for community service in global health. He is President Emeritus of thegaia.org, The Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance. We will mark both the spring equinox and Palm Sunday. Rev. Dr. William Rankin, guest preacher Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Kat Liu, Environmental Justice Working Group Chair Jonah Berquist, Reflection Mark Johnson, piano Andrés Vera, cello Randy Adams, piano Galen Workman, Board Secretary Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Change In The Church Spirituality is meant to change us. No one should touch holy ground and remain unchanged. Churches, on the other hand, are meant to provide stability – a framework for spiritual change. No wonder there is an inherent tension between them! Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Jan Hutslar and Windows & Mirrors Class Teresa Goebel, Reflection Reiko Oda Lane, organist Rusty Harris-Bishop, soloist Reece Hart, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast