Tag Archives: Vulnerability

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Love Means

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Part 1: Tough Love When I was an intern in the women’s prison – women would come to talk with me, as their chaplain, and they’d tell me that they knew, Jesus was the solution to their problems. When they’d say … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith Formation, Justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Moment of Magic (What We Expect in December)

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Part 1 Around this time of year, for most of my life, my family members would make a bet with each other.  The bet was about if I’d get sick for my birthday, or for Christmas.   They are just … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#Blessed

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I was in my second year of seminary when I learned how to pray. It wasn’t in a class, or a field placement – technically I learned prayer in those official places. But the real lesson happened at home.  One night.  My children … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TMI

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

There was a period of time, when my kids were young, when a good number of people I’ve never met knew more about my kids than many of my close friends. These people knew a little about me, too, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Stories, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Waking Up – Sermon 11/13/2016

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Audio podcast of this sermon is available here. Reading – For a Time Such As This by Jake Morrill Sermon  As a part of our monthly theme, this Sunday, we were supposed to explore the question: when in your life … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who is Willing to Destroy a Piece of Their Own Heart?

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

At my Community Office Hours last Wednesday, a small group of us had gathered and had been sharing in coffee and conversation for about an hour – we’d been talking about tools of comfort and meaning for non-theists after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Justice, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meditation on Community

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

A meditation inspired by the story, God In Between by Sandy Eisenburg, offered at Flower Communion on June 5, 2016 Please join me in a spirit of prayer, or meditation. Take a few deep breaths, in and out. Slow down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Share Your Shame Stories – Just Not With Everyone

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

I’m not telling any secrets when I say that my mom can’t keep any secrets.  One our favorite family stories is about the time that she had a somewhat embarrassing medical issue, and upon its discovery she told us, “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Reflections, Covenant, Personal Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Born of Bright Faith

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Rev. Gretchen Haley

Reading – “Bright Faith” By Sharon Salzberg The state of love-filed delight in possibilities and eager joy at the prospect of actualizing them is known in Buddhism as bright faith. Bright faith goes beyond merely claiming that possibility for oneself to … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment