Starting at 12:15 PM, as soon as worship ends today, join us!

Join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/725737157
Meeting ID: 725 737 157

Dial by Phone: +1-669-900-6833 (San Jose)

We Can Help!

There are a variety of ways you can learn how to connect through Zoom. The Church has prepared a Guide that explains the Zoom system, and all the basics you need to know in using the system. 

To access the Guide, click here. You can also access brief on-line tutorials on Zoom To see an example of these tutorials (on how to join a Zoom meeting) click here.

Today (July 5) from 12:15 PM to 1PM, Front Steps of the Sanctuary

Join us in front of the church to lend our voices to those of the people rising across the country as we declare that BLACK LIVES MATTER & WHITE SUPREMACY IN ALL ITS FORMS MUST BE UPROOTED!

We will read the words of Fredick Douglass from his speach of July 5, 1852. (READ HERE)

We will read the words of our UUSF Resolution for Racial Justice. 
(READ HERE)

People from all communities welcome! We will protest respecting 
social distancing. Wear a mask and bring gloves. Bring a sign (We will also have sign making material available).

During these times we want you to have our email information handy. Please reach out to your ministers for any reason -- you are having a hard time (or know someone who is); you have a great idea for our new version of shared life in these times (or know someone with skills we could use in this chapter of life together); and because you don't know who to call about what's on your mind. Keep these handy:

THIS SUMMER HERE ARE OUR SCHEDULES

Vanessa Southern (here all July and August 17-31): VRSouthern@uusf.org; 
or for emergencies, 908-723-1342

Alyson Jacks (here until July 9 and July 27 onward): AJacks@uusf.org; 
or for emergencies, 415-971-3194

If you have a pastoral emergency our Lay Chaplains are available but so too are Minister Emerita,

Margot Campbell Gross and retired senior minister, John Buehrens.  

Here are all the contacts for reaching out:
Margot Campbell Gross: margotcg@sbcglobal.net or for emergencies, 415-661-8316

John Buehrens: jbuehrens@comcast.net or for emergencies, 617-216-0962

Lay Chaplains: Chaplains@uusf.org

We are wondering if there are folks who might be able to make a soup or stew for folks who are getting over being sick and delivering it to them (or having someone come and deliver it).

Let us know if you can do vegan, vegetarian, meat-based soups or stews or any of the above. And just know, if we ask, and you aren't available that week, that is fine; we just want a list of folks who might be willing and able! Let us know at Chaplains@uusf.org

TODAY (July 5) 7PM PST/10PM EST on PBS World Channel

A Growing Thing is a feature length documentary about women living in a township near Johannesburg, South Africa and the women's empowerment project where they work. Having grown up in a multi-racial family in the U.S., producer/director Sarah Gross (daughter of Rev. Margot Campbell Gross and Peter Gross) has a deep personal connection to this story will be airing nationally on PBS World Channel. Member stations across the country will be airing the film on July 5th at 7PM PST/10PM EST. (for example KQED World in San Francisco and WNET in New York)

Sunday, July 12, 1PM (On Zoom)

Humanists & Non-Theists

Founded by youth in Britain in 2018, Extinction Rebellion (XR) aims to use nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid the breakdown of the climate system, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse. They have clear demands for truth-telling, for declaring a climate emergency, for a Citizens’ Assembly to get swift government action, and for a just transition. Come for some truth-telling and to learn how XR is moving corporations and governments to address this problem NOW. We are in a Climate Emergency!

In the meantime, see extinctionrebellionsfbay.org, and UU World article of November 2019.  

John Fox, Molly Arthur and Chris Conrad of Extinction Rebellion will tell us about the movement and why it came into being. This event is co-sponsored by the Environmental Justice Committee and the Humanists and Non-Theists committee.

Watich a Video (click here)

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 858 7323 8674

Password: 000689

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Wednesdays, 7PM to 8PM, July 8, 15, 22, 29

Adult Religious Education Class

Led by Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

Book: “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo

RSVP by either completing the registration form here or email info@uusf.org

Join us for a month of book group meetings as we dive into the best-selling and illuminating book “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo. Each week we will meet for one hour to discuss a section of the book, which is described as a “hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America.” This, I hope, will give us the space to go in a bit deeper as each chapter is rich with insights and opportunities for discussion.  

So… pay attention, each session will focus on a different section of the book:

July 8: Please read the Introduction through Chapter 4
July 15: Chapters 5 - 8
July 22: Chapters 9 - 13
July 29: Chapters 14 - 17

Thursdays, 12PM to 1PM, July 9, 16, 23, 30

Adult Religious Education Class

Led by Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister

By popular demand again, our poetry gathering over lunch will continue!

If there is a poem you'd like to share with the group, please send it to Rev. Vanessa in advance (VRSouthern@uusf.org) and she will put it on our list of possibilities for the upcoming gathering... or the next one.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 8-8:30 AM(Zoom)

Adult Religious Education Class

Led by Elena Perez

You are warmly welcomed to join "Morning Metta Meditation" group, which meets daily Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 8:00-8:30 a.m. Elena leads a simple, centering loving kindness meditation practice which is appropriate for all religious backgrounds and levels of meditation experience. Attendees can choose to leave their microphone and camera off and just follow along.

Elena Perez is a member of UUSF. She is a Licensed Acupuncturist who practices in SF at Dance With Life Chiropractic in the Inner Sunset, and in Fresno at Benessere Fresno.

Questions? email elena@communityneedles.com

Saturday, August 1, 7PM (On Zoom)

We gather virtually(!) on the evening of a Solar Holiday on the Wheel of the Year. Lammas is one of the cross-Quarter days, one of the four Greater Sabbats, marking the first day of Autumn. (In the modern Wiccan calendar, Samhain is the beginning of Winter and the New Year, Imbolc marks the end of Winter: the Spring season; Summer begins at Beltane; Lammas comes at Summer’s end.)

Lammas comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for “loaf mass” and refers to the celebration honoring the first loaf of bread made from grain of the year’s first harvest.

This day is also known by its Celtic name, Lughnassadh, which refers to games that, according to folklore, the Celtic Sun God Lugh established in honor of his Mother.

We’ll meet in virtual ritual space to celebrate this holiday!

To attend this ritual, please contact Nancy Buffum at nancybuffum@gmail.com to access the ZOOM link and meeting  password.

At a time when shelter in place and COVID-19 are making all of us feel vulnerable and disconnected, Small Group Ministries is a safe and nurturing place where congregation members can find a deep way to connect.

What is Small Group Ministries?

* A place to belong and to care for each other. Each group, with about ten people, meets twice monthly to share important parts of our lives. We practice deep listening, which enables us to form lasting friendships and a stronger community, and to minister to one another.

* A way to connect our lives to our spiritual needs. We offer a place to consider and act on our common values. Together we explore important questions and strive to live our values through service to our church and the larger community.

* A community open to church members, friends and visitors. All who agree to try SGM for four sessions, respect members' privacy, attend gatherings consistently, follow group agreements, and welcome new members are invited to join.

Four week summer sessions are being offered each Sunday in August from 1 to 3 p.m. If there is sufficient interest, we will also offer a group in July. At a time when being able to connect, support one another and find spiritual growth, Small Group Ministries offer a meaningful resource to the First Unitarian Universalist community.

Are you new to Zoom or need support on how to participate in the sessions online? No problem! Let the co-coordinators know and they can provide a tutorial and support.

To sign up for the summer sessions contact

or if you have questions

Chair: Barbara Kovacs Phone: 415-370-9766 

Chair: Gregg Biggs Phone: 415-505-4690

Email: sgm@uusf.org

Wednesdays July 1 and 15, 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Join via Zoom: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81228174702?pwd=UnB2Z0tpOWNQZCs5K3lGb2dzcmI0QT09

Wednesday, July 8 and 22, 7PM

Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86280318257?pwd=Z0N3VDdQVXZrdHZOL2QvWGVCU3VqZz09

Meeting ID: 862 8031 8257

Password: 210519

One tap mobile: +16699009128,,86280318257#,,#,210519# US (San Jose)

All people ages 18 to 39 are invited to join us for 90 minutes of reflection and sharing.

Due to Covid-19, we have made some changes in how we handle the All Faiths Food Pantry.

Rather than rotating between the five churches, all the churches are sending volunteers every week as we are encouraging younger people to volunteer, and suggesting that people over 60 not volunteer for safety reasons.

You can now sign up by going to the Food Pantry website:

https://signup.com/go/pambAKf

We need twenty-five volunteers every week for the Food Pantry to go smoothly as we usually serve about 300 low income clients.

The Food Pantry takes place at Old First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Van Ness and Sacramento. We do offer free parking at the church garage located just south of the church on Sacramento as we give out stickers for the parking vouchers for anyone who parks in the garage at the end of the Food Pantry. The truck brings the food (groceries) from the SF/Marin Food Bank at 7:30 AM, so we need volunteers to arrive early. We are usually done with clean up by 11AM.

Volunteers are provided masks and gloves to pack the food in bags in the large meeting inside the church. Every effort is made to keep everything sanitary. Tables are sanitized frequently, and anything which accidently falls on the floor is discarded. The packed bags are taken to tables outside, where our clients can pick up the pre-packed bags. Our clients line up outside the church with attention paid to social distancing.

As a majority of our clients are monolingual Cantonese speaking, we do arrange to have to have a translator on site at all times.

If you have any questions about the Food Pantry, feel free to contact Megan Lehmer at 415-385-0408 or mlehmer@drlehmer.com