For ministers, this is wedding season. Thanks to the wisdom of the California State Supreme Court, we may be about to break some records on the marriage front even as we challenge both tradition and convention.

As I make my rounds with couples of all ages and genders, I am often left wondering why anyone bothers to get married. As I hear from couples all over the country who are not allowed to marry, I find myself scratching my head as the Church fails to challenge the law of the land.

Maybe we are asking the wrong question. I believe it is unhelpful to ask who should be married until we better understand what marriage is for. So I'm asking and will also offer a religious response.

Joining me on the pulpit will be Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel, Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek, and Worship Associate Otto O'Connor. The bell choir will minister in music along with Michael Yokas, violin, and Mark Johnson, piano.

Bring a friend to this welcoming congregation for the liberal spirit!

Photo shows Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Rali Weaver conducting the 2004 marriage of Kathleen Quenneville and Diane Allen in San Francisco City Hall. More on marriages.

San Francisco State University teacher Greta Snider will present the work of students on social justice topics such as immigration, health care, AIDS, and transgender issues. (The photo at left shows incarcerated women in Tulsa.)

Greta started making movies in 1989. She is currently teaching in the Cinema Department at San Francisco State University. She is particularly interested in experimental nonfiction and exploring the boundaries between documentary and document.

The free program will start at 9:45. Come at 9:30 for conversation, coffee, and (for a slight charge) a light breakfast.

Elementary school religious education learners will be repeating some of the favorite activities from this past year. It may be making warm fuzzies or having a treasure hunt, singing some favorite songs, or a special art project.

Junior youth will complete their art program. Senior youth will meet their advisors at the membership table then decide whether to go to the Sanctuary service or have class.

Pictured at left are participants in last Saturday's dreamstorming workshop who created plans for the Fall religious education activities.

Come celebrate another year in our beloved community! The Annual Meeting of the Membership will begin in the Thomas Starr King room after the worship service.

The Congregation will break bread together (over a free lunch!), recognize new members, honor a special volunteer with the Anne Dillon Award, and remember those who have passed away. Members also have important business: electing Trustees and Nominating Committee members, and voting whether to ordain Denis Paul a Unitarian Universalist minister.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration and luncheon. Just come into the King Rooms and join in community with friends.

"If elected, I will use my Tam Valley School Green Team experience to encourage Wally, the Red Sox Green Monster mascot, to become more 'green' and earth friendly," says this lifelong Unitarian Universalist and Rex Sox fan.

"My favorite games are not the games that the Red Sox win but the games I get to watch with my dad," explains Ben.

Ben's complete candidate statement and more information about his plans as a Kid Nation Captain are available at www.voteforben.org.

If you're ready to vote without leaning more about Ben, just click below, select "Ben B" on the ballot, and cast your vote.

• Vote for Ben Now

The Red Sox say you can vote 10 times per email address. So vote early and often!

Warren continued sharing his skills and wisdom with the Society for over 30 years. We are deeply grateful for his contribution to our community.

He died April 3 in Novato at the age of 91.

The ministers of this Society have been uniting all loving couples for over 40 years. Since the early 1960's our clergy and Members have consistently welcomed same-sex and different-sex partners into our liberal religious community. We will continue to celebrate this tradition.

Our Membership has repeatedly taken a moral stand for marriage equality. In 2004 we hosted An Evening of Equality... for a Lifetime of Rights which raised funds and awareness for the equality fight. We invited Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. William Sinkford to our pulpit where he joined in the call for for civil rights. Last year the Membership unanimously authorized ongoing action to support and advocate for marriage equality.

The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) has been just as adamant in the support for marriage equality. Throughout the country, Unitarian Universalists have embraced same-sex and different-sex couples.

Now, in addition to offering spiritual blessings of union in front of friends and family, we are able to say that for all loving couples our ceremonies will be legal marriages.

We are very happy to be able to add this statement to our spiritual blessings.

Members and friends planning a church wedding are urged to contact Jay Roller at 776-4580 as soon as possible to schedule your ceremony. All members of the community will be invited to join in the public events in support of marriage equality which are currently being planned. See next week's Flame for your first opportunity to stand on the side of love on June 17th.

The photo above is an archive picture of Tori Wieldt and Ramona Greer getting married during Mayor Gavin Newsom's 2004 San Francisco initiative. Tori and Ramona's marriage, like that of Kathleen and Diana (pictured with the Sunday service information), was later invalidated by court rulings.

photo from Donald Johnson, Building Manager

Work is underway to repair and caulk the skylight in the Starr King Room. This is expensive but very necessary maintenance, as the leaks do even more damage.

Our building fund will cover $24,000 of the $36,000 cost. Additional donations would be extremely helpful. Please send your checks from $1 to $12,000 to the church!

from Sr. Carmen Barsody

The Faithful Fools spent 10 days in Minneapolis and St. Paul in May where they did street four retreats and six performances of the plays, The Witness and Song of the Magpies.

The retreats began at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis and Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul.

A big "Thank you!" for the generous donations shared through Sunday collections. It is the commitment of time, talent, and financial resources of all that sustain the vision and work of Faithful Fools. Every day, "we discover on the streets our common humanity.

More information about the Faithful Fools is on their website, and there are many articles are available by clicking the "foolish web" button.