Love is the Spirit of this Church, and Service is its Prayer.
WORSHIP SERVICE
"Invitation to the Waters"
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 10:50 am
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, preaching
Welcome back to this first Sunday together of our new church year, inviting us back together, welcoming new members (and some beloveds who have been away). As Heraclitus famously observed, with some gender-updating, "No one ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and we are not the same person." So it is with community and each of us. And each year of continuing together, though we are in the same building, gathered under the same name, is also a new beginning. Bring waters from your summer adventures if you have them as we regather to step into and remake the river that is UUSF.
Watch This Week's Service Here
Watch Previously Recorded Worship Services
September: The practice of Invitation
What is in an invitation? It looks so simple—the envelope or virtual envelope we get with the invitation to join in some moment or adventure? A movie, a party? Or the hand extended from someone on bended knee and the larger invitation to join in a life together: Will you marry me? Seems so simple. Just an invitation. Want to join this church? Be my friend? Go climb a mountain? Get an ice cream? What is written and tucked in an invitation if it is real and with the potential to welcome the fullness of everyone invited to be in an authentic relationship? What does the practice of invitation, the spiritual practice of it, say about what we believe invitation requires of us?
THE FLAME
UUSF Weekly Newsletter
September 4, 2024
The Flame, our weekly newsletter, is published every Wednesday! We cover Sunday services as well as recent UUSF news and upcoming events. On Fridays, we also send a brief email outlining the weekend's events. If you send us an email at flame@uusf.org The Flame will be sent directly to your inbox.
Get Involved and Donate for a Good Cause!
UUSF Garden Party Auction
On Sunday, October 20th, UUSF will host its Garden Party Auction, featuring African daisies, asters, sunflowers, mums, and azaleas. The event includes food, music, and a plant show. Membership is open, and donations can be made online, at the gallery, or in-person. The Auction Committee is meeting this Sunday, September 8 at 12:30 pm in the Kincaid Room. All are welcome, and no prior experience is necessary. There are two other meetings before the actual auction, but at this first meeting, we are especially open to new ideas.
Group Art Show Reception!
Sunday, September 8, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm, King Rooms
You're invited to the Friends and Family Group Artist's Reception. Look at the wonderful art in the TSK and MLK rooms. There will be refreshments and food to enjoy while you admire the wonderful artworks and speak with the artists who created them. This event is open to everyone, and it is free!
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Fascism! Writers’ Hopes for Humanity.
Sunday, September 29, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm,
TSK Room/Zoom
A literary festival with food, readings, theater, and music.
Say no to Patriarchy, Racism, Militarism, Genocide!! Hyper-nationalism, Science-denial, Anti-immigrant hatred, Authoritarian rule and Theocracy
Readers and performers include Dennis Adams, Susan Anthony, Michael Bossier, Robin Larsen, Mari Magaloni Ramos, Kathleen McClung, Bruce Neuburger, Gregory Stevens, Tyson Casey, Starr King School of Ministry, and special guest reader James Tracy. Bruce Clement provides an introduction, while Senior Minister Vanessa Rush Southern will guide the discussion. We would like to know if you plan on attending in person so we can get the proper amount of food for this event, so please RSVP here or the button below.
September 22, 1:30 pm, Sanctuary
Christoph Wagner and Joanne Kong have been praised for their impeccable ensemble and sensitive, communicative performances that convey the unique power of music.
GET INVOLVED!
“… and Service is our Prayer.”
UUSF relies on all of us to offer our time and ideas in order to build the church that we all know and love! To see a list of volunteer opportunities, classes, and ministries, visit the "Finding Your Ministry" form below. For additional questions, or if you are interested in finding other ways to get involved at UUSF, feel free to contact the UUSF Nominating Committee at NomCom@UUSF.org.
NEWCOMER ORIENTATION
NEWCOMER ORIENTATION
Sunday, October 6, 12:30 pm, Fireside Room
Newcomers are welcome to join us after the service to meet some of our members and learn more about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism.
It's a great chance to meet other folks in the community, ask any questions you might have, and find out how to get involved in our programs and ministries.
We look forward to meeting you!
Upcoming! & Watch Now
“Diyos sa Gugma (God of Love): Building Bridges
with the UU Church of the Philippines”
Sunday, August 25, 10:50 am, 2024
Global Conversations: Iran’s Women Prisoners: Defying Execution Surge & Regional War Threats
Sunday, August 25, 12:30 pm, 2024
Sunday, September 1, 10:50 am, 2024
This Election Will Reverberate for Two Generations
Sunday Forum, September 8, 9:30 am, 2024
Sunday, September 8, 10:50 am, 2024
Election 2024 Roundup! What can we expect?
Sunday Forum, September 15, 9:30 am, 2024
"Invitation to Participate in the Democratic Process"
Sunday, September 15, 10:50 am, 2024
"We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Fascism! Writers’ Hopes for Humanity."
A literary festival with food, readings, theater, and music.
Sunday, September 29, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
FAMILY MINISTRY
Stay up to date with what is happening for our families and Sunday School program by subscribing to the Thursday weekly emails. To be put on the email list, please contact Rev. Laura Shennum at lshennum@uusf.org.
FROM THE COVID ADVISORY GROUP
Recommendation for close contacts of cases.
If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, you should test and mask right away.
If you do not have symptoms, and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and would benefit from treatment, you should test within 5 days.
If you do not have symptoms and have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe infection, you should mask indoors when around such people for 10 days. Consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure date (Day 0) and before contact with higher-risk people. For further details, see CDPH COVID-19 testing guidance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have questions, suggestions, resources or want/need clarification, please reach out to our Covid Advisory Team at covidgroup@uusf.org.
NEW TO UUSF?
GET CONNECTED
WATCH & LISTEN
While we meet live every Sunday morning at 10:50 am PT, worship certainly isn’t restricted to those moments! Anytime you need a comforting word, a song that will help you with your life, visit our video archives or listen to one of our podcasts.