Tag Archives: Ministry

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

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

Progressive Christians Ruined Me (Or, Everything Changes When You Know Their Name)

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

All I could think, as I headed into my second day of the machine of Rethink Leadership and the Orange Conference (a mostly-evangelical Christian leaders gathering) was: Progressive Christians have ruined me. Before seminary and my classmates – those brave … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Justice, Personal Stories, Philosophy of Church | Tagged Christianity, Christians, Colleagues, Evangelical, Interfaith, Jesus, Justice, Ministry, Orange, Religion, Religious Injury, Youth | 4 Comments

#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

Charge to the Minister – for the ordination of Sean Neil-Barron April 2, 2017

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

First, Thank you. It is my joy and privilege to charge you in your new ministry – I think doing the charge is like every older sister’s dream. But – really, it is my honor, so, thank you. To begin, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ordinations/Installations, Stories for Worship | Tagged Authority, Call, Collegiality, Humility, Leaders, Leadership, Ministries, Ministry, Ordination, Patience, Stories, Vocation | Leave a comment

To be entrusted with this great message

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

This past week marked the official beginning of my senior ministry at Foothills. As I’ve gotten closer to this threshold, I’ve been thinking about the Rev. Mary Lydia Legget, who in 1900 was the last (and only other) female minister to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Justice, Philosophy of Church | Tagged Beloved Community, Call, Calling, Courageous Love, Foothills, Injustice, Love, Ministry, Olympia Brown, Women, Women in Ministry | Leave a comment

All This, and More, Final Candidating Sermon

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Final sermon for candidating for senior minister, foothills unitarian church, November 15, 2015 Listen to this sermon here. Reading: Now I Become Myself by May Sarton Sermon: All This, and More “What would you say to those who aren’t sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy of Church, Sermons | Tagged Collaboration, Covenant, Covenantal, Ministry, Role of the Church, Sermon, Sermons, Theology, Vision | Leave a comment

Candidating from the Inside

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I am thrilled, humbled and so grateful to be selected as the Candidate for the Senior Minister at the Foothills Unitarian Church where I have been serving as the Associate/Assistant Minister since August 2012. The announcement was made on October 18th, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Personal Stories, Philosophy of Church | Tagged Call, Faith, Ministry, Search | Leave a comment