Sermons-First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

“Leadership From Where You Are”

Sunday, January 18, 2026

How are we called to lead, what does leadership ask, how does it shape us, and what forms does it take? We will hear from three members who show up in the world powerfully and differently and ask what leadership—that piece of our lives—can look like.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Erica Murray, Bruce Neuberger, Erica Murray, Adam Varoqua, Worship Associates; Hanna Hart & Courtney Young-Law, Nominating Committee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Nancy Munn, Brielle Morgan, Ben Rudiak-Gould, Asher Davison, soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Parable of the Rainbow: Resisting Change”

Sunday, January 11, 2026

What is our relationship to change, especially when we are in multi-generational spaces? We will explore the parable of the rainbow and the metaphors it provides to look at change differently.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Linda Harris, UUSC; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Judith Stoddard, Membership Committee; Nancy Munn, soprano; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“Sustaining Love in the Struggle”

Sunday, January 4, 2026

“Resistance is a long, thin, soft noodle covered in pink sauce.”  At least, according to a two-year-old, it is.  Come explore the nourishing possibilities of resistance with Rev. Ranwa Hammamy from Side With Love as we begin the new year.  

Rev. Ranwa Hammamy (they/them) serves as the Congregational Justice Organizer on the UUA’s Side With Love Organizing Strategy Team.  Based in Oakland, they also support local interfaith organizing around immigration and Palestinian liberation as part of their affiliated community ministry with the Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek.  When not organizing, Rev. Ranwa sings with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, bakes theologically punny treats for their "Shugaria Law" anti-Islamophobia baking ministry, and makes sprinkle-based potions with their spouse and the aforementioned two-year-old.


Rev. Ranwa Hammamy, Guest Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Hanna Hart, Worship Associate; Ben Rudiak-Gould, songleader; Reiko Oda Lane, organist

Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, OOS; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

“The Art of Waiting”

Sunday, December 7, 2025


In Christian liturgy this is the season of waiting and preparation—of Advent. It is perfectly scheduled in the depths of winter, when so much feels like it is waiting, preparing, quietly under snow until the light draws it out again. Times of preparation are important and hard sometimes and are the places where transitions and change are made possible. What does Advent mean for you and us right now? How do you make space to meet it?  

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric ShackelfordJonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Bread Communion, or Ate, and left no crumbs"

Sunday, November 30, 2025

In this moment of vanishing resources, let us practice collective restoration through the ancient ritual of gathering as a community and breaking bread. Who is welcome at our table and in our pews?

Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Haruka Ota, cellist; Yuki Ota, cellist; Akane Ota, songleader; Wm. Garcia Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher