Tag Archives: Story

Real Life in Re-Entry

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

In the days and years and centuries of the “before times,” generation after generation of enslaved Black people learned to be careful when they sang about freedom.     We mean freedom in the next life, not this one – they’d say regularly, just … Continue reading →

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Tree / Truth – a sermon for Earth Day 2021

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading: “Maple Nation” by Robin Wall Kimmerer Part 1: Tree / Truth Transcript Like any experience of the holy, my first memories of trees come wrapped in fear, and trembling.     My uncles, covered in pitch and mud, half-deaf from … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Poetry, a Sabbatical Story

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

“Perhaps the earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.” -Pablo Neruda I’ve always loved writing – especially poetry – which I started experimenting with in middle school when all things feel like … Continue reading →

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Telling the Stories of Sabbatical

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I’m nearing the end of my nearly-15 week sabbatical. My first, after 7 years serving Foothills through major transitions, occasional upheaval, a big surge in (numerical, organizational, spiritual) growth, and the election of 2016 (aka liberal existenstial crisis). All of … Continue reading →

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Step Zero

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Story: Two Monks and a Woman  Homily – for the New Year: Step Zero (co-written by Kristen Psaki)  Here’s what I’ve always wondered, about that story.  When the older monk asks the younger monk that question, about why he was still … Continue reading →

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Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Listen to this sermon here. Story – The Beggar and the Box from Eckhart Tolle Sermon That story is one of my favorites, I’ve told it a few times here. In this season where we are making lists of all … Continue reading →

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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 →

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The Danger of a Single Story

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Sermon preached November, 2014 Based on the TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  Story: Apparently the commander of a vessel that was engaged in maneuvers in heavy weather was on the bridge late one night when the watch (I think … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Stories for All Unitarian Universalists (Stories 9-10, and a bonus)

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Continuing to reveal 10 stories I wish every Unitarian Universalist knew….here are stories 9-10, plus a bonus for fun.  Story 9:  Born into Covenant, by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker Rev. Rebecca Parker tells the story of when she first became … Continue reading →

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