Tag Archives: Faith

Charge to the Minister, for the Installation of the Rev. Eric Banner, First Universalist Church of Denver

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Many of you know that I was a member here before seminary; my now 18 year old daughter was dedicated here, and in many ways I was formed in ministry right here. Returning always brings a rush of memories, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ordinations/Installations | Tagged Call, Charge to the Minister, Courageous Love, Covenant, Faith, Installation, Love, Ministry, Partnership, Relationship, Transformation, Transformative Relationships, Truth, Universalism | Leave a comment

A Bigger Mission, a sermon for the installation of the Rev. Ron Phares at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, Colorado Springs

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

It is my honor to be here with you on this great occasion, and for Rev. Sean Neil-Barron (who will offer the blessing) and I to bring you greetings from the northern end of the Front Range. Your new minister … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged All Souls, Ancestors, Colorado History, Faith, Feminism, Future, History, Iowa Sisterhood, Ministry, Mission, Partners, Partnership, Progressive Religion, Progressive Spirituality, Religion, Sermon, Sermons, Shared Ministry, Unitarian, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarian Universalist, Universalism, Universalist, Vision, Women, Women in Ministry, Worship | 1 Comment

Choosing to Love, Anyway – Christmas Eve 2023

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Readings: Homily In Bethlehem tonight, the usual extravagant Christmas celebrations have been canceled. In place of Glorias echoing across the land, there is war and grief, all across Palestine and Israel, and in Gaza. As the Mayor of Bethelhem declared today, Christmas this … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Christmas, Christmas Eve, Faith, Hope, Hopelessness, Jesus, Journeys, Justice, Love, Sermon, Sermons, Vision | Leave a comment

Gather in Joy – a sermon for our first Sunday in our new sanctuary

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Can you believe it?! I never doubted we would get here, really, but we have been talking about needing a bigger sanctuary since I started at Foothills 11 years ago, and that conversation had been going on long before I … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Belonging, Church, Community, Faith, Gathering, God, Intention, meaning, Mission, Power, Priya Parker, Purpose, Refuge, Ritual, Sanctuary, Sermon, Sermons, Unitarian, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism, Worship | Leave a comment

The Gift of Rebellion – Hanukkah 2022

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

First, a Reflection from Rev. Sean Neil Barron “Rebellions Are Built on Hope” Gretchen said she was preaching on Rebellion, our conversation was something like this: “The simple gift this week is rebellion.” “So, you are preaching about Star Wars.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Change, Differentiation, Faith, gender, Hanukkah, Hope, Jew, Jewish, Judaism, Parker Palmer, Rebellion, Rule-Breaking, Self-Differentiation, Sermon, Sermons, Stories, trans | Leave a comment

More Than Enough

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: The Church Where Everything Goes Wrong by Elea Kemler Sermon: More than Enough Like a lot of teenagers, my daughter really does not love getting up in the morning. Instead she loves her cozy bed, and the sweet dark of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Abundance, Change, Church, Community, Covenant, Emerson, Enough, Faith, God, Grace, Love, pandemic, Post-pandemic, Recovery, Resilience, Sermon, Sermons, Theology, Transcendentalism, Transcendentalists, Trauma | Leave a comment

Becoming a Unitarian Universalist

Posted on August 14, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: Show Up Hungry by Elizabeth Nguyen I got off work at 7 pm and did the thing where you chase the bus a little bit but then realize you won’t make it and walk sheepishly back to the bus … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Belonging, Coming Out, Commitment, Community, Conversion, Dedication, Duty, Faith, Faith Formation, James Luther Adams, Loyalty, Relationship, Relationships, Religion, Religious Identity, Sermon, Sermons, Spiritual Deepening, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarianism, Universalism | Leave a comment

Losing, and Finding Your Religion

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

It was 2007 when I could keep it in no longer. I’d avoided the issue long enough. I’d downplayed my feelings, guarded my intuition. I’d kept a lot of my favorite things and even my friendships, on the down low. … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Change, Church, Faith, identity, Ministry, Open Heart, Progressive Church, Religion, Religious, Religious Identity, Religious Injury, Role of the Church, Sermon, Sermons, Transformation, Unitarian, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarian Universalist, Universalist, UU, Vulnerability | 1 Comment

What We Give Our Children – a sermon for Mother’s Day 2022

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

My first real impression of the Orange Conference came from a text from Eleanor VanDeusen, our Director of Family Ministry. It was a photo of her and Rev. Sean in a giant arena with amazing stage lights and thousands of … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith Formation, Sermons | Tagged children, Church, Evangelicals, Faith, Faith Formation, Families, Family Ministry, Intergenerational, Multi-generational, Orange, Orange Conference, Religious Education, Role of the Church, Sermon, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism, Youth | Leave a comment

Be More Gay

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

After my last post, I kept thinking about how to take these ideas and invite in a collective conversation, as well as a more intentional strategic response. The conversation part that I’m thinking about is a kind of playful response … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Justice, Personal Stories, Sexuality | Tagged Church, Community, Faith, Gay, gender, Genderqueer, LGBTQ, Love, Non-Binary, Pride, Queer, trans, transgender | Leave a comment