The Foothills Deeper Pod

Thresh(holding): Tools for Navigating Transitions

Rev. Gretchen offers tools to slow down and pause during transitions instead of just rushing through the discomfort of change.

Living with Change: The Doorway Effect

In life there are always going to be thresholds, both those we can see and those we can't see, yet, but are headed our way. In this week's episode, we're learning to relax and make friends with change instead of fighting to get through it. Change isn't just a place of loss, it's also a place of joy and abundance. We're especially looking at the doorway effect, which is the phenomenon that people tend to forget as they go through doorways.

Shall we gather by the river (and church construction update!)

The river is a place of community, connection, and a source of life for us all. Just as you cannot step into the same river twice, you also cannot step into the same congregation twice. This week's episode invites us to renew our most sacred promises to ourselves, to one another, and to life itself.   0:00 Church construction update11:37 Rev. Gretchen's Sermon "Shall we gather by the river" 24:44 Discussion

Connecting With Your True Self

This week's episode is an invitation to connect with your true self and to deeply engage in the soul work that lives at the core of the spiritual life. Special guest Rev. Kelly Dignan guides us in a meditation designed to help us invite the divine spark within us to shine and guide us through our days.

5 Minute Breathing Meditation

Take five minutes to pause, breathe and awaken mindfulness with Rev. Elaine.

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist?

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Rev. Gretchen explores in this week's episode. New to Unitarian Universalism? This podcast episode is for you! Join us as we explore what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. 

When Open-Minded People Get their Circuits Jammed

In this episode, Rev. Elaine speaks with Foothills members Mary Klecan and Teri Ashley about an experience that challenged their understanding of themselves as open-minded Unitarian Universalists. What do we do when we encounter the limits of our wide theological embrace? What does our discomfort have to teach us?Chalice lighting words by Mary Klecan: 2:31   Chalice lighting words by Teri Ashley 5:26   Conversation with Mary and Teri: 7:42   Closing words 21:26   Listen to the On Being episode, titled Befriending Radical Disagreement, that was referenced in our episode: https://onbeing.org/programs/derek-black-and-matthew-stevenson-befriending-radical-disagreement/

What are the limits of diversity?

What does it mean to be a religious community that welcomes diversity? And what are the limits of that welcome? Sometimes people say that Unitarian Universalists can believe anything they want or that anything goes. But that is a myth. Boundaries in our faith help create safety and a deeper sense of belonging and meaning-making for us all.  In this week's episode, Rev. Gretchen Haley explores the gifts and the limits of being an intentionally diverse religious community.