David Dean presents a sermon by
Rev. Gretchen Haley, Senior Minister of Foothills Unitarian in Ft. Collins, CO
“Losing and Finding Your Religion”
Donna Zimmerman, Worship leader
Gary Smart, Accompanist
Timothy Edwards, Violin, Guest Musician
The experience of literally losing your religion is quite like this, actually… Even if it is ultimately liberating and life-giving, it is almost always also painful, as it involves a loss of community, identity, anchoring rituals and practices – which means it also often involves grief and anger. Sometimes it includes losing your family, your closest friends, your sense of self.
People come to Unitarian Universalist congregations both hoping to heal from this kind of loss, and also clinging to it as a kind of stand-in for the identity and belonging their religion used to give them… Continuing to understand yourself as not-religious, or not a church person, provides an incredible armor, a protective device – because to let go of your non-religion is to risk being rejected and lost in all the same ways, all over again.
It’s just that, not letting go of your non-religious identity is also a way to make sure the healing never happens…
About Our Speaker
David Dean, a BBUUC member and an integral part of our Worship Team, is an Emmy-nominated editor who works as Senior Editor/Post-Producer for the PBS series “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” David is also a presenter, writer, and storyteller who volunteers his time as the editor of our worship videos and contributes his other talents in the worship arts to our Ministry.
About the Sermon Author
Rev. Gretchen Haley is the Senior Minister of Foothills Unitarian in Fort Collins, CO. She is relentlessly curious about most things, especially the big stuff of theology, the beauty of creation, the magic of collaboration, and the great joy of pop culture. She has an audacious ambition for the liberal church, believing in its capacity to transform lives and our world through hyper-local relationships and partnerships that inspire the unleashing of courageous love. Rev. Haley is all in on adrienne maree brown’s emergent strategy and finds solace in the trails in and around Fort Collins. She and her amazing partner Carri, have two teenagers, Gracie and Josef, who both relish and resent being PKs (Preacher’s Kids), and who keep her grounded, frustrated, inspired, and humbled, every day. She is basically obsessed with her two dogs, both large mutts, Charlie and Archer.
About our Guest Musician
Timothy Edwards began his violin studies in the public schools of Detroit before studying at the Interlochen Arts Academy. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music (BM) and the University of Michigan (MM). He has performed extensively, holding positions as section performer, principal, and concertmaster at the Des Moines Metro Opera, Flint Symphony, and Toledo Symphony, with substitute positions with the Detroit Symphony and Jacksonville Symphony. Timothy enjoys a vibrant teaching studio and has served as a Humanities Adjunct Professor at the Florida State College of Jacksonville.