Tag Archives: Universalism

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

All Bodies are Sacred (Hallelujah!)

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Hallelujah to the grace And the body and every cell of us all The Hallelujah of the body begins at birth. I have been present at two births in my life, (other than my own) neither of them my children’s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Age, Ageism, agency, Andrea Gibson, Autonomy, Beloved Community, Birth, Bodies, Bodily Autonomy, Body, body-image, body-shaming, Death, Disability, Disabled Justice, Embodied, Embodiment, Fat, Fatphobia, Holiness, Holy, Interdependence, Justice, Liberation, Life, obesity, Pluralism, Race, Racism, Reverence, Sacred, Sacredness, self-love, Sermon, Sermons, Somatic, Sonya Renee Taylor, Theological Anthropology, trans, Transphobia, Unitarian, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism | Leave a comment

Gather in Storms

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading – a combination of Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg’s 2022 and 2023 Hanukah reflections, which end with this reflection Hanukah isn’t just about what happened in the past, on the calendar. It’s about who we are capable of being. It’s about … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Beloved Community, blog, Christmas, Compassion, Conflict, Conflict Avoidance, Covenant, Empathy, Family, Gathering, Hanukkah, Hebrew Bible, Inherent Worth, Interfaith, Interfaith Dialogue, Jewish, Jews, Judaism, Justice, Listening, Non-Violence, Non-Violent Communication, NVC, Peace, Priya Parker, Religion, Sermon, Sermons, Television, The Bear, Trauma, Trauma-Informed, TV, TV Shows, Universalism, Vincent Harding, Violence, War | 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

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

The Hopefulness of History, written for the 125 year anniversary of the Foothills Unitarian Church

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Like a lot of people in the last few days, I watched the drama play out in the US House with both a little shock and not a little schadenfreude. When they hit the 11th vote, I called my mom … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Activism, Ancestors, Covenant, Future, History, Hope, Hopefulness, Justice, Living Tradition, Parker Palmer, Past, Rebecca Parker, Rebecca Solnit, Sermon, Sermons, Time, Unitarian History, Unitarian Universalist History, Unitarianism, Universalism, Universalist History | 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

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