Category Archives: Covenant

#MeToo

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Listen to this sermon on podcast here. See the whole service on video here. Sermon – March 25, 2018 To be honest, before I found Unitarian Universalism, I thought all religion was patriarchal, and sexist. Finding this faith nearly 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Justice, Sermons, Sexuality, Theology | Tagged #MeToo, BlackLivesMatter, Boundaries, Confession, Courageous Love, Justice, Liberation, Ministry, Misconduct, Racial Justice, Racism, Sermon, Sermons, Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence, Sexuality, Sexuality education, Sin, Theology, Universalism | 2 Comments

Pass It On – on faith formation & mentorship

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Teacher Parker Palmer calls the place where we begin muttering miserable, unrepeatable things at the radio, or at our social media feed – that place that many of us are way too familiar with these days – he calls it … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Faith Formation, Philosophy of Church, Sermons | Tagged Covenant, Faith Formation, Hope, Living Tradition, Mentorship, Parker Palmer, Tragic Gap, Unitarian Universalism, Victoria Safford | Leave a comment

We were made for these times

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

There’s plenty going on in the world, in our country, in our state, and in most cases, in our individual lives – that would justify feelings of overwhelm, of denial, of heightened anxiety and reactivity. And yet lately, I’ve been feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Covenant, Justice, Philosophy of Church | Tagged Fear, Hope, James Luther Adams, Justice, Learning, Learning Communities, Listening, Mission, Olympia Brown, Transformation, Vision, Witness | 1 Comment

Bound in – and Blind to – the Blessing

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

The exercise actually read, “Blind to the Blessing,” but that’s not what I read. I had been scanning through this month’s Soul Matters Packet, on Blessing, looking for inspiration for this month’s services and programs, when I read – or rather misread – these … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Covenant, Faith Formation | Tagged Awake, Blessing, Covenant, Gratefulness, Gratitude, Imperfection, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Waking Up | 2 Comments

Charge to the Minister – for Rev. Patty Willis

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I had the wonderful chance to be there for my friend and colleague, Patty Willis’ installation to the South Valley UU Church in Salt Lake City on Sunday the 20th of March. And not just to be there, but to … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Philosophy of Church, Theology | Tagged Call, Calling, Discomfort, Installation, Letting Go, Stories, Story, Storytelling, Transformation | Leave a comment

Share Your Shame Stories – Just Not With Everyone

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I’m not telling any secrets when I say that my mom can’t keep any secrets. One our favorite family stories is about the time that she had a somewhat embarrassing medical issue, and upon its discovery she told us, “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Covenant, Personal Stories | Tagged authenticity, Confession, Listening, Shame, sharing, Small Group Ministry, Small Groups, Vulnerability | Leave a comment

The Promise of Partnership – Sermon for Greeley Aug 16 2015

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Story – “Partners” by Marc Gelman Before there was anything, there was God, a few angels, and a huge swirling glob of rocks and water with no place to go. The angels asked God, “Why don’t you clean up this … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Multi-Site, Sermons | Tagged Covenant, Multi-Site, Partnership, Sermon, Sermons | Leave a comment

Connecting in Chaos – Saving Your One Life – Sermon May 31 2015

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading 1: From Michael Chrichton’s, The Lost World. The Institute explored the behavior of a great variety of complex systems – corporations, neurons, enzyme cascades within a single cell, the group behavior of migratory birds….It did not take long before … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Sermons | Tagged Chaos, Community, Connecting, Connections, Emotional Systems, Family Systems, Interconnectedness, Interdependence, Sermon, Sermons | Leave a comment

To Love Alike, Sermon February 2015

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Last Tuesday evening, I attended a kick off for our newly launching campus ministry. It was a great beginning. Good turn out. Our conversation was facilitated by our student leaders Kelly and Rosalina, and our Young Adult Coordinator Chris Sharp. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Sermons | Tagged Community, Covenant, Diversity, Sermon, Sermons, Tradition | Leave a comment

Dear Congregation….an open letter to the Foothills Unitarian Church

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Dear Foothills Unitarian Church, I’ve tried for two weeks to write an annual report, without much luck. Not because I am lacking in things I might lift up about our programs and ministries this year…. I could remind us of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Covenant | Tagged Brave, Call, Change, Community, Courage, Faith, Hope, Interim, Partnership, Retirement, Transitions, Trust | Leave a comment