Tag Archives: Love

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

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

Recognition / Seen – Easter 2023

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: Luke 24:12-32 Sermon My best friend from high school reached out to me last week. We’ve stayed in touch loosely over the years over Facebook, but not in any consistent way. She was in our home town for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Affirmation, Anagnorisis, Belonging, Black, Christianity, Closet, Compassion, Democracy, Diversity, Easter, Friends, Grief, Growing, Growth, Gun Violence, identity, Inclusion, Inclusivity, Jesus, Life, Love, Neighbors, Perepetia, Race, Racism, Recognition, Resurrection, Revolutionary Love, Sermon, Sermons, Sikh, TDOV, trans, Trans Joy, Transformation, transgender, Unitarian, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism, Universalism, Universalist, Valerie Kaur, Visibility, Visible, Whiteness | 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

Gay Enough

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

My partner Carri and I were pretty early in our relationship when we started to wonder if we were “gay enough.” It wasn’t a new question for me; as a bi-identified person, more than a few lesbians have over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Justice, Personal Stories, Sexuality | Tagged Acceptance, Beloved, Bisexuality, Community, Enough, Friendship, Gay, Genderqueer, identity, Lesbians, LGBTQ, Love, Queer, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, transgender | 1 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

Must We Go To Bethlehem? Christmas 2021

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: Christmas, 1974 by May Sarton Christmas Eve Homily 2021 When May Sarton wrote her Christmas poem 47 years ago, it seemed the world was coming apart. The US president had resigned in scandal, and the country was just beginning … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Christmas, Christmas Eve, Darkness, Hope, Light, Love, Peace, Persistence, Sermon, Sermons, Transformation, Witness | Leave a comment

A meditation on Marie Howe’s What the Living Do

Posted on October 31, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

What the Living Do by Marie Howe Johnny, the kitchen sink has been clogged for days, some utensil probably fell down there. And the Drano won’t work but smells dangerous, and the crusty dishes have piled up waiting for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Meditations, Theology | Tagged Absence, All Souls, Cycle of Life, Dead, Death, Dying, Grief, Life, Living, Loss, Love, Loving, Meditation, Memory, Mortality, Presence, Sorrow | Leave a comment

From Trembling to Telling, and From Grief to Morning – Easter 2021

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Part 1 – From Trembling to Telling Despite the bright pastels of the season, the story of Easter begins in the dark. In the earliest morning hours when night has not yet given up the fight, Easter is born in confusion … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Theology | Tagged Bible, Courageous Love, COVID, Easter, Grief, Jesus, Love, pandemic, Recovery, Salvation, Sermon, Sermons, Stories, Story, Storytelling, Tough Love, Truth | Leave a comment

Sermon: Tough Love….Saves Us All (The Hard Work of Beloved Community)

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: “There Is No Easier Way” by Elizabeth Nguyen Sermon: Tough Love Saves Us All When my partner and I were first together, our parents used to talk about us with their straight friends and co-workers by making sure they knew … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, Sermons, Theology | Tagged 8th Principle, Beloved Community, Courageous Love, Isabel Wilkerson, Justice, Love, Martin Luther King Jr., Race, Racial Justice, Sermon, Sermons, Theology, Tough Love, Universalism | Leave a comment