I wasn't a member of St. Paul's growing up, but many of my friends were, so I was familiar with the…read moreparish. In high school, I started attending their Saturday afternoon masses for a short while. One day, a priest who also worked at my school recognized me from those masses and kindly said hello--a small but lasting gesture of welcome. Over the years, I've noticed the same spirit in the people who grew up in the parish: thoughtful, reflective, grounded, and kind. And yes, the church itself is every bit as beautiful as people say.

St. Paul's is home. The awe one feels sitting in the beauty of the church assures me that God lives…read moreat St. Paul's.

My personal SRF meditation group participation is primarily in the Bay Area Temple in Walnut Creek,…read morehowever, I highly recommend a field trip to the SRF San Francisco Meditation Group. The chapel is sublime and the readers are a balanced combination of, experienced and dedicated and they have created an environment that is warm and friendly for guests. I highly recommend a field trip to San Francisco if you live in the greater bay area and make a day of it attending the Sunday Afternoon service. There is a charming café on the corner. As we all know, San Francisco is a beautiful city to visit anytime and the SRF Meditation Center well is worth attending.

This place is equally excellent for those who want to learn about meditation as well as for those…read morewho have been meditating for years. There is no charge for entry. If you come during the middle of the posted time for the meditation, you are welcome to come in or leave during the 10-15 minute chant breaks on the top of the hour. The group of people who regularly come are very friendly and supportive. I recommend it as the best place in the City if you are looking for a safe, clean, quiet place to meditate.

5 Stars - A Truly Meaningful Experience with Father Aris…read more Father Aris was an absolutely phenomenal person to work with leading up to our wedding. Coming from a Christian Orthodox background, it was incredibly important to me that our ceremony felt both spiritually meaningful and true to tradition--and Father Aris delivered that and so much more. He is deeply passionate about his role and brings such warmth, wisdom, and sincerity to every interaction. From our first meeting, he was thoughtful, communicative, and genuinely interested in getting to know us as a couple. He guided us through the process with clarity and care, making sure we understood each part of the ceremony and its significance. What stood out most was his ability to balance tradition with personalization. He respected our wishes and vision while offering gentle, insightful suggestions that elevated the experience. On the day of the wedding, his presence brought a beautiful sense of calm and reverence, and many of our guests commented on how moving and memorable the ceremony was. We feel incredibly grateful to have had Father Aris marry us, and we would wholeheartedly recommend him to any couple looking for a meaningful, respectful, and spiritually rich wedding experience.

Went to vespers on Saturday. Very welcoming and beautiful church. When im in town it's so nice to…read morevisit one of the GO churches of my childhood. You won't be disappointed ,it's very atmospheric. Echoing stone ,religious icon art everywhere stained glass .Also lots of parking.

Jesus is everything!!! This chapel is full of peace, I feel when I'm there like if I where in a…read morelittle piece of Heaven, next to the Lord, Virgen Mary , Angels and Saints. Imagine de Heaven how would be? Difficult to describe and the peace that would be there... Inimaginable! We need to work and serve the Lord to deserve it. God Bless you!!!

While checking out the Cole Valley area above the Haight, I stumbled literally across this lovely…read morechapel that is run by the Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration. The Foundress of their order is Mother Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation. The nuns are in prayer constantly all day long for the benefit of the entire humankind and world. They lead cloistered lives. The chapel is located at the corner of Ashbury and Frederick and next to the Lycee Francais La Perouse-French School. The chapel is open from 6AM to 6PM daily with a daily Mass at 6AM (the public is welcome during these posted hours). When I entered the chapel, there was a small foyer with an equally small table. On the table sat flyers about the upcoming Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for the beautification of their Foundress Mother Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation. The date of the event is Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 1PM at St. Mary's Cathedral (1111 Gough Street @ Geary Blvd. SF, CA 94109). The celebrants are the Most Reverend George H. Niederauer, DD. Ph.D. and invited Priests. Next to the flyers about this event were prayer cards of the Infant Jesus. As I moved down the small and narrow hallway, it turned to the right. The most beautiful chapel opened up before my eyes with natural light and light colored stone to magnify the brightness within. The pews were a natural dark wood color which stood out against the white stone. The altar and religious statues at the front of the chapel were equally beautiful. An elderly woman smiled as she walked by me on her way out muttering a French accented "God bless you my child." I knelt on the kneeler in the front pew and said some prayers. Upon my completion, I stood and proceeded to the votive candles. Placing some dollar bills inside the black iron wrought box, I took a slender wooden stick and lit it from a tall candle. I touched the flame to two votive candles and said another prayer. Before I left the chapel, I turned to look at the back of the chapel. There was an intricately designed wooden fretwork barrier that separates the sisters from the general public. There kneeled a sister praying silently with her head bowed downward. Leaving the chapel, I felt a kind of peace that I wish more people felt in their day to day lives. For those so inclined, the chapel is open from 6AM to 6PM daily....you don't have to be Roman Catholic to visit but you should be mindful and respectful when you do....Amen.

Loved this church! Was plugged in from the beginning and was able to join two groups! They even…read moresuggested to serve on the worship team! Love this church, definitely will recommend

Very welcoming environment with classes for kids of all ages, amazing coffee, powerful worship,…read morediversity in age and race which I love to see and dynamic speakers. There is so much going on not just inside the church building but outside as well, city life partners with the city and supports the community which is a beautiful reflection of what the church should be.

I've been attending this church since I was a baby and I'm proud to say that this is my home…read morechurch. I was born and raised in San Francisco and my parents wanted me to go to church so this was the closed to our neighborhood. I started going regularly when I was in youth group and everyone truly made it a journey that I won't forget, from fellowships to worships. Knowing that San Francisco is such a diverse city, we want to make sure that this Korean church is open to everyone. This EM ministry is a mission ministry and we want to build disciples. Pastor Johnny is like our brothuh! He's such a strong, well mannered spiritual father. His vision for our ministry is mission ministry. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19 God has placed me to be the worship leader of this ministry and it has been truly a blessing to see people grow through our praise team. I really believe music is influential to our minds and we to put in our ears what pleases to Him. Overall, everyone is so amazing and all loving here. The leaders are always here and our pastor gives us empowering messages. Service starts at 10:30 with worship, announcements, the word and offering. Whether you're in the area for school or a program, I highly recommend you to go to a service and just be blessed. We want to hear your testimony and share His love!!!!!!!!!! And come on, there's Popeyes right across the street!

I attended this church for ~three months when I was interning in SF. I came across it via Google…read morebecause I was searching for Asian-American churches with an English ministry. This was the only one I checked out because it was great and I stayed. It's located near Japantown and there are bus stops on either intersection around the church. There's a large, Korean service on the first floor and a smaller, English service upstairs. It's pretty small (I'm assuming around 40 people every week?) but that made it easier to get to know people. The age demographic is varied from families to students. There's always a meal, usually Korean, served afterwards. It's a charismatic church but don't feel intimidated by that - it was my first time at a charismatic church and honestly it wasn't too different. Pastor Johnny is super passionate about God and prayer and he's like a friend. I usually never get to speak one-on-one with the Pastor at church but Pastor Johnny hung out with us all the time. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Even though I was completely new to the city, they quickly accepted me. I got connected to a small group where we read the bible and took turns leading. I even got to be a part of the praise team (my first time ever). It was such a loving fellowship to be a part of and spend my time in SF with while I was away from my home church. By the time I left SF three months later, I felt closer to God. I also made my closest SF friends in this church. I've visited SF and the church again since then - that's how much I had missed everyone! When I left they even got me a going away present and a cake even though I literally had only been there for three months. If you're new to SF, whether it is short term or long term, I would strongly recommend Full Gospel! They are a great community full of God-loving friends :)

Great Tibetan Buddhist Temple Loved it ! Went for The…read moreMedicine Buddha service. Highly recommend

This place is a hidden gem. The center offers both active programs year-around: they have regular…read moreprograms every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and they have special programs for special guests and events. The center often invites amazing speakers and teachers, and this year, they hosted Robert Thurman and Thubten Jinpa (principal translator of Dalai Lama). The community is warm and welcoming, regardless of your level of interests in Buddhism and meditation. I'm very glad to have this place in the midst of the busy-ness of San Francisco. If you want to explore Tibetan Buddhism and meditation, this is a place to go to.

Unity Christ Church is a non-denominational spiritual community. It is based on Christ principles,…read morebut not like a traditional church. We have people from all religious backgrounds and ethnicities. It is like San Francisco of churches. I like it because no one is telling me how to think or what to believe. No one is judging anyone and everyone is welcome. I also like the fact that people can wear what ever makes them fell comfortable. People come in dressed up and in jeans or shorts and at T-shirt. We get together for Sunday services and other events like workshops and classes. I like UCC because it is a small church and the people are nice. I do not have family in California, so for me this is my family. I heard about Unity in 1997, but no-one was ever going to get me to go to church, I thought. A friend of mine took me to Unity Christ Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota, in 2004. I liked what they were saying and when I moved to San Francisco in March 2006, I have been going to Unity on Ocean and 19th Ave every Sunday since. Our minister, Rev. Kathryn, is a great speaker. Every time, it feels like she prepared her lesson just for me; she reminds me of what I needed to remember right now. We have great guest speakers too. Children's church is at 9:30 a.m. More people attend the 11 a.m. service. I recommend our church or any other Unity church. If you somehow found my review, maybe you should come and visit our Unity church or check out the Unity church nearest your home. You might like it. I hope to see you some time. Niina :)

Just a note: their name has changed to Unity Spiritual Center.read more