Foothills Unitarian Church

In this episode, we empower you with talking points to counter right-wing gender propaganda. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that we are all connected and that when the dignity and liberation of some are threatened, we are all called to act. So how can we respond to the wave of anti-trans, anti-nonbinary legislation that is sweeping the country? How can you, as one person, combat this wave of hate and harm?   By starting with a seemingly small thing. Your voice.   Your voice matters. Rising up and raising your voice can change a heart, a mind, and even save a life. 

Even those of us deeply committed to gender liberation can find ourselves stuck in the sticky web of gender roles. How might we move towards greater freedom – for ourselves and for all of us? Rev. Elaine explores the strangeness of gender roles: the things that don’t fit, the things that actually (and perhaps weirdly) do, and how we might move with our anger, our curiosities, and our pleasures.   Plus an intro to gender creative parenting!

Let's talk about men. We know traditional conceptions of masculinity are outdated but there aren't any handholds for thinking about masculinity in a new way. So this week, we explore how we become better men - how we can invite ourselves into a more nuanced relationship with what it means to be a man. We also tackle WHY - in the midst of so many pressing contemporary issues - we're taking the time to focus on gender.

Leading queer theorist and nationally recognized author Kathryn Bond Stockton joins us to tell a strange story, with import for everyone. Why did a queer, trans-feeling, non-binary, going-to-be-gay kid need to become Evangelical for a spell so as to return to Unitarian values? Beginning with thoughts about what God is, this talk ties together words and kisses—for us all. Plus Rev. Sean welcomes guest Evin Carvill Ziemer to tackle our gender box. Ask a question at https://foothillsuu.org/genderquestions.   3:54 Sermon 24:36 Answering our Gender Question Box. 

As Unitarian Universalists, we proclaim that all genders are sacred and all people are worthy of love and belonging. But living that commitment requires us to learn, unlearn, and deepen our practice of true radical inclusiveness. This episode, we're kicking off our new series GenderFluent during which we'll work together to become more: Curious about gender – yours and other people’s – without judgment or assumption Conversant learning new vocabulary and ways of thinking and talking about gender. No longer letting fear of missteps stop important conversations. Courageous to speak up and fight back against ideas, laws, and policies that tightly define gender or dehumanize trans and nonbinary people. Courageous to affirm your gender, whatever it is, and to embrace others. Conversation between Sean & Gretchen about gender: 8:16 Sermon "Strange but Sacred": 26:13 A Prayer for Gender Freedom: 1:25

How can we manage regret and the desire to have a do-over? Revs. Elaine and Sean guide us in navigating these human experiences.

Time is in us. We feel time. And yet, what if the way we experience time is not natural or objective? Time is not inherently linear and unidirectional, as is often experienced in the Western world. Standardized, uniform time was an invention, or rather, a construction during a curious confluence of 19th-century mechanical innovations and European colonial ambitions. So what purpose does the Western construct of time actually serve? 2:04 Rev. Sean Neil-Barron's Sermon "Land Before Time" 22:44 Rev. Gretchen Haley joins Rev. Sean for a conversation to unpack her unexpected emotional reaction to his sermon

A 7-minute mini-sermon on Dr. Martin Luther King's Beloved Community and Unitarian Universalists' ultimate commitment to love.

We're kicking off a new series called Time Management for Mortals. This week, Rev. Gretchen preaches on the 125th anniversary of our church and guides us in exploring the hopefulness that can be found in our shared history.    Learn more about Time Management for Mortals at foothillsuu.org/time.

A 15-minute ritual for releasing what no longer serves you and setting intentions for your path forward.

Rev. Sean explores the history of the American Christmas celebration.    Learn more by reading "How The Unitarian and The Universalists Invented Christmas" by Susan Jean Ritchie.

"The frontier of the rebellion is everywhere..." Rev. Sean kicks us off with a special star wars mini-sermon. Then, Rev. Gretchen draws on Hanukkah and the Maccabean Revolt to explore how making small choices to rebel daily can build our capacity to take a stand on a larger scale.

Revs. Sean and Gretchen guide us in exploring how by being present to the painful or challenging parts of our life, we can witness, allow, and partner with the transformative work that is always ongoing. Also, enjoy a bonus conversation between Revs. Gretchen and Sean about wrestling with which winter holidays to celebrate and the intersection of honoring pluralism and holding space for the religious trauma that some may have when arriving at Unitarian Universalism.

This week we're kicking off a new series, Simple Gifts. Let's dive into some honest talk about this time of year and explore some tools for navigating the season. Together, let's remember the best gifts of this season arrive not when we add on but when we let go. This week, Rev. Gretchen explores how memory can be a tool for hope.

Rev. Sean guides us in a special Taize Vespers-inspired podcast to help us center, restore and connect with our spirituality.

A special episode unpacking and processing the aftermath of the murder of five people at Club Q through a queer lens. With Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Rev. Gretchen Haley and Charlie Williamson, who is a lifelong UU and works at the Pride Resource Center at CSU. As we face a society that continues to fuel hatred against LGBT+ people, how should love respond?  Learn more about the Foothills Unitarian Be More Gay movement at bemorelove.org

Revs. Elaine and Sean share some ways you can bring some intention into your holidays and love this celebratory season. 

Rev. Sean guides us in exploring how subversiveness and mischief play can unlock delight in the ordinary.

Tools for dealing with death and grief that help us connect more deeply with life. 1:50 Reading from Unitarian Universalist Minister the Rev. Kate Tucker about what to expect when a loved one dies. 4:45 Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink shares about navigating the loss of someone we love. 11:53 Rev. Elaine talks with Rev. Sean Neil-Barron about Joanna Macy's work, which comes from Engaged Buddhism and natural systems ecology, to help us orient ourselves in the natural systems. 35:00 Katie Watkins shares her experience at the Halloween Lizzo concert. Join our email list at https://foothillsuu.org/newsletter

We do not need to strive or reach for something else, somewhere else, someone else – everything we need is here, and it is more than enough.  Join us this month in Everyday Delights. Every day in November: 1. Notice something delightful. 2. Be present with it. Take a photo of it, write a haiku about it, make a video about it, OR write a short (400 words or less) essay about it). You can choose to do something different every day, or do the same practice the whole series. 3. Share your delights (as you’d like) on social media with #everydaydelight and tag Foothills Unitarian (@foothillsuu on instagram and @FoothillsUnitarianChurch on Facebook). We can’t wait to share in delight across our whole community!