Unfolding Faith: Sermons from Foothills Unitarian

Longing In the Turning

What we ache for reveals our values, our wounds, and our hopes for the world. And yet longing carries real risks. It can narrow our vision; distract us from the present; it can try our patience and make us think we have more control than we do. This Sunday, we will explore what it means to practice longing faithfully, and how desire can be our teacher and our guide in the turning.

Waiting in the Turning (Rev. Gretchen)

What are we waiting for—and what are we postponing that’s ours to do now?
In a time of so much struggle and uncertainty, how do we honor the real ache for things to get better without slipping into resignation or deferring our own power? How do we discern the difference between the waiting that is wise and the waiting that keeps us from living? Drawing on the ancient idea of a “messianic hope” and the wisdom of kairos—the right time— we will explore the spiritual practice of waiting faithfully, living in the paradox of both patience and urgency.  

Loving Kindness Prayer and Meditation

Rev. Elaine and Sophia Miller lead a meditation based on a loving-kindness meditation, adapted from the work of Sister Karma Kechog Palmo, a nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. 
 

Red Lines & Heart Lines

Heroes can feel out of reach—like the kind of people who have more courage, more clarity, or less to lose. But what if it’s not about being extraordinary? What if the difference is just practice—small, consistent choices that shape who we become and how we show up when it matters most? This week's message is an invitation to stop waiting for the moment and start preparing for it together, drawing our lines, building trust, and learning the kind of courage that doesn’t come from going it alone, but from rising side by side.

The Facts and the Feelings (Rev. Gretchen)

We’ve all been there—someone we care about falls down a rabbit hole of “alternative facts.” You try to explain, to reason, to send the article that will finally convince them. But somehow, the more facts you share, the deeper they dig in.
So what’s really going on when facts fail? Why do smart, caring people come to believe things that make no sense? And how can connection—rather than correction—bring us back to truth?
Join Rev. Gretchen this week, as we explore how belonging shapes belief, and what it means to stay human, curious, and kind in an age of misbelief.

Let Go, Hold Fast: Real Talk About Real Love

In a world that keeps demanding we either smooth over our differences or cut each other off completely, Rev. Sean's message explores a harder, more honest way forward—where love isn’t control or avoidance, but the daily work of staying rooted in your convictions while making space for others to be fully themselves. What if the tension we’re trying so hard to eliminate is actually where love—and transformation—lives?

The Bridge Between Us

In a world where fear often masquerades as wisdom, this message invites you to treat your discomfort not as a red light, but as data—pointing to where love is asking more of you. Rev. Sean draws on personal experience to help differentiate between real threat and personal unease, and choosing to cross the bridge of courageous love—even when it’s hard, even when you’re scared—to have fellowship with those on the other side.

2025 Service of Remembrance

This past Sunday was our cherished annual Service of Remembrance, where we came together to honor loved ones who have passed by bringing their photos or objects into our sacred space as we built a shared altar. Rev. Elaine asked Foothills Member Karen Wilken to talk about the sudden loss of her son, Oliver, and her journey with grief.