Unfolding Faith: Sermons from Foothills Unitarian

Meditation & Writing Exercise: Our Few Worthy Things | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 24, 2021

Rev. Gretchen guides us in a meditation and writing exercise to notice the things that receive our attention, discern our values, and explore the intersection of the two.

Homily: Lower the Bar | Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink | January 24, 2021

Rev. Elaine shares how lowering the bar has helped her cope during the pandemic and explores how lowering expectations in general helps one value things other than societal expectations of productivity. Rev. Elaine suggests that, at the very least, our expectations of ourselves merit some scrutiny, particularly when we’re under stress. She teaches that, “Our real value lies not in what we do, but in who we are.”
 

Rip Van Winkle and Martin Luther King, Jr. | January 17, 2021

Martin Luther King Jr told the story of Rip Van Winkle at the 1966 General Assembly of Unitarian Universalists to show that many white Americans were asleep to persisting injustice and racism. Foothills Family Ministry team shares the all-ages story and how MLK's teaching is still relevant today.

The story of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter for all ages | January 17, 2021

The story of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter for all ages. Inspired by Lauren Wyeth's telling in June 2020.  
 

Homily Part 2: Heart Broken Open | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 17, 2021

Rev. Gretchen explores how waking up to injustice is a practice we live out in the smallest choices of our everyday lives.
 

Homily Part 1: Letting Your Heart Break | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 17, 2021

Rev. Gretchen teaches about Beloved Community in the context of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and Unitarian Universalism.
 

Centering and Prayer | Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink | January 10, 2021

Rev. Elaine offers a meditation and prayer to remind us that our deepest allegiance is to Love, to each other, and to the earth.
 

Homily Part 3: The Tiny Revolutions of Your Life | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 10, 2021

Rev. Gretchen reminds us that nothing is settled - not even ourselves - and explores how darkness signals great possibility. Drawing on the work of James Clear, Rev. Gretchen teaches how we can persist through the darkness of uncertainty by focusing on the value of small, everyday acts.