Tag Archives: Relationship

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

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

Membership and Re-Membership

Posted on July 31, 2022 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

First Reading: The Hope of Shared Jokes by Liz James When I was a new Unitarian Universalist, my favorite part of church was joys and sorrows. Our minister, Linda taught us that joys and sorrows were for the important moments … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Belonging, Commitment, Congregational, Covenant, Disappointment, Imperfect, Imperfection, Loyalty, Membership, Relationship, Sermon, Sermons, Unitarian, Unitarianism, Universalism, Universalist | Leave a comment

Essentials In Us

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

When I was in second grade, my favorite book in the whole world was a little yellow paperback about saints. In all the same ways that some people talk about the bible as life’s instruction manual, I had the sense that … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Emergence, Essential, Generative Interdependence, Henry David Thoreau, Individualism, Margaret Wheatley, meaning, Mutual Potentiality, Purpose, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Relationship, Sacrifice, Saints, Self, Selfless, Selflessness, Sermon, Sermons, Significance, Symbiosis, Theology, Thich Nhat Hanh, Transcendentalism, Ultimacy | Leave a comment

Whose Are You?

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

The first time I heard that meditation was in a ministers retreat in Utah. It was a part of an exercise where we were trying to get clear together on who we understood ourselves as to be accountable to. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Accountability, Admonishment, Ancestors, Apology, Authority, Belonging, Covenant, Covenantal, Edification, Puritans, Relationship, Repair, Sermon, Sermons | Leave a comment

Tough Love Adapts

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

On the One Year Anniversary of the Pandemic Reflection: Tough Love Adapts A few years back, I was with a group of leaders, talking about change, and what makes it easier or harder to handle. Everyone agreed that key is … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Adaptation, Collaboration, Collective, Community, Congregational Life, Connection, COVID, Foothills, Individual, Margaret Wheatley, pandemic, Relationship, Sermon, Sermons | Leave a comment

Zugzwang

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

By the time we sat in the room where life turned from what was, to what would be I had barely begun to believe there was a game, and we were players there was a strategy, and you intended to … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged agency, Choice, destiny, fate, Fidelity, poem, Poetry, Relationship, Relationships | 2 Comments

Showing up for friendship

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

First, a reading, from Robert JohnsonChinese culture has a gentle way of talking about friendship: their proverb is that the fifth cup of tea between friends is the best. Tea was made in old China simply by pouring hat water … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Friend, Friends, Friendship, Heartbreak, Relationship, Relationships, Sermon, Sermons, Showing Up, Theology | Leave a comment

The Gift of Being Let Down

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Sermon offered December 2013 Reading: “Messy and Imperfect Beloved Community” by Laila Ibrahim I have been going to the same church for nearly thirty years. I have filled a variety of leadership positions, from OWL teacher to Board president, usher … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant, Philosophy of Church, Sermons, Theology | Tagged Beloved Community, Betrayal, Brokenness, Community, Covenant, Covenantal, Disappointment, Imperfection, Relationship, Sermon, Sermons, Trust | 1 Comment