Unfolding Faith: Sermons from Foothills Unitarian

Last Sunday, Rev. Gretchen Haley delivered a sermon to thousands of Unitarian Universalists worldwide at General Assembly 2022 in Portland. She called on us to remember the power of people, of local churches and of our promises to each other. She invited us to remember that it is because of us - the people that make up the church, that form the ministries and the small groups and show up on Sundays - that Unitarian Universalism exists. And most of all, to remember that we are big enough to not only survive but to impact the world. Listen to Rev. Gretchen's sermon (and a bonus conversation with Rev. Elaine!) in this week's episode.

This week is all about reproductive freedom, liberal religion, and sexuality education. Rev. Gretchen Haley, Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink, and Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality educator Kelsey DiAstra talk about how reproductive rights intersect with Unitarian Universalism. What does it mean for a congregation to take a stance on abortion? Why do we teach sexuality at church?

Three Foothills members, Joyce Trujillo, Doug Powell, and Nikki Roe Cropp, shared their stories of finding meaning and purpose. We are humbled by these members' vulnerability, spiritual grounding, and strength, and are so grateful you can hear their stories.

Every person contains contradictions and complexities beyond what you might ever imagine. Even you. There are parts of ourselves that lay dormant or emerge at different stages of our lives and can come as a big surprise when they do. One of the gifts of a diverse, multi-generational community is that through relationship we can better see and know the fullness of our own stories and the fullness in others. Rev. Gretchen explores our ability to grow and shift in a short homily about learning to play pickleball and Rev. Elaine speaks with leaders of the Foothills' Slightly Senior Sisterhood, a long-sustaining and integral group of 50+ women at the church.

Special guest Rev. Kelly Dignan offers practical tools for finding our resilience when we get thrown off-kilter.

What is the eagle to your weasel? In this episode, we're talking all about the experience of feeling a call to something new - the experience of taking a big leap into a more authentic life even when saying yes to this new thing feels unbearably awkward or scary.1:12 Excerpt from essay by Annie Dillard called "Living Like Weasels"
2:57 Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink's sermon "Living Like Weasels"
20:50 Conversation with Foothills member Sally Harris about her call and experience to create a safe space at our church for non-binary, trans, gender-expansive kids and their families. Sally also answers questions about our Be More Gay campaign and the pronoun pins our church now offers alongside our nametags.

Rev. Gretchen Haley explores how to respond to the uncertainty that arises in moments of transition and digs into how focusing on the now and grounding in community can be life-steadying. 

Rev. Gretchen Haley explores the question of legacy, and our role in passing on our faith and values as if our lives, and our children's lives, depend on it. Because they do.Whether we are parents or not, we all have a part in shaping the next generation's future. Whether we mean to or not, we are creating their inheritance. What sort of world do we intend for our children to receive from us? What sort of values and practices and ways of making meaning and finding hope do we want them to cultivate?
 
24:25 Rev. Gretchen's sermon43:55 Revs. Elaine and Gretchen envision an intergenerational community at Foothills Unitarian and discuss the barriers to getting there