Tiny Shifts

Gender (Un)Stuck: Finding liberation from gender roles (+ an intro to gender creative parenting)

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!

How do we become better men?

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 We know traditional conceptions of masculinity are outdated but there aren't any handholds for thinking about masculinity in a new way.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.

Kissing God, Transforming Gender with special guest queer theorist Kathryn Bond Stockton

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 Sermon24:36 Answering our Gender Question Box. 

The Strangeness of Gender

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: 8:16Sermon "Strange but Sacred": 26:13A Prayer for Gender Freedom: 1:25

Right On Time: How to manage regret

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

The Invention of Time

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

What is the Beloved Community?

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

The Hopefulness of History

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.