Tiny Shifts

"To Know, To Love" (6/14/20)

“To love your neighbors, you need to know your neighbors.” Listen in on Rev. Sean’s homily this week reflecting on our call to love where we live.  With featured music from Christopher Watkins Lamb, “This Old World.”
 
For more reflection on This Old World, check out this blog post: https://farfringe.com/stlt315-this-old-world/

"Tips for Awkward Conversations on Race" (6/14/20)

Rev. Kristen gets specific in the call for “backyard practices for courageous love.” Starting with a conversation with her literal neighbors around race, and then with a few fun role plays with her partner.  Check it out - and share!
 
Find more tips at https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/
 
Especially be sure to check out their Toolkit for raising race-conscious children: https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/raising-race-conscious-children-toolkit.html

"The Conspiracy for Beloved Community" (6/7/20)

In this homily, Rev. Kristen connects the story of Flower Communion to the movement for Black Lives, and our movement for collective liberation
She writes: “This season of flower communion recommits us to honoring the beauty of Life, the beauty of Black life, the beauty of Brown life, the beauty that moves within, between and among us - calling us - nudging us through our senses - to remember. To remember the inherent worth and beauty of every person. To remember - to see and to know, to name and to celebrate our differences. To remember our connectedness - our interdependence - - and the complicated and essential truth that none of us are free until all of us are free.”

"How We Survive" (5/31/20)

Will the uncertainty and chaos of this moment lead us to hunkering down and focusing on our individual survival, or will we remember the roots of our resilience that lead to our collective survival? Rev. Gretchen offers this homily reflecting on this moment and the call of our faith for collective liberation where all means ALL.

"Our Stories of Resilience" (5/31/20)

We all have stories of challenge and sacrifice, loss and struggle. Stories that we can draw on to help guide us through the challenges we face today. Foothills members share some of their personal stories and reflections. Rev. Kristen then draws out some of the themes she hears, before turning to a conversation our Director of Family Ministry recently had with young adults who grew up at Foothills.
Featuring Foothills members Kirsten Hartman and Ed Meek, Marla Nelson, Tom Inscho, Tim Clouse, and Pam Webber, and young adults (forever Foothills community members!) Jason Latta, Brynna Herbener, Alex Undy and Sami Scovel.

"What We Give Up" (5/24/20)

In this short homily, Rev. Gretchen reflects on the question of sacrifice, and the power of choosing to give something up so that we don’t have to give up everything.
“Without trusted leadership at a national or global level, we can still remember and remain faithful to this fundamental commitment of our faith - the promises we have made to the love that flows within each of us, among all of us, and that calls us beyond ourselves. The promises for who we will be, and what we will give, and why. The duty we have to those who came before, and those who will come next. We can listen and remember the roots of resilience found in our steadfast willingness to do the hard thing, to give up and to let go and to sacrifice - with joy, and gratitude.” - Rev. Gretchen Haley

"Risking Encounter" (5/17/20)

Rev. Sean continues our series, Roots of Resilience, with this reflection on encountering risk.

"Roots of Resilience: What Resilience Is, and Isn't" (5/10/20)

We have some misconceptions about resilience that we need to break down as we begin this month's series. Rev. Gretchen shares about what resilience is, and isn't - using 3 dog photos!