[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Colorado weather has always been a little chaotic, and 2020 has brought all kinds of talk of us living in end times, but this week’s start of ash falling from the sky one day followed immediately by snow falling was next level apocalypse.
The painful eeriness of this moment was captured really well this week when the Washington Post (and other national news outlets) picked up Foothills’ member Scott Denning’s photo of his home.
It’s an incredible photo, but what really struck me was the fact that they ran the photo without recognizing that Scott is a nationally renowned expert and speaker on climate science. He’s spent the better part of the last couple decades trying to get people to acknowledge and act before extreme weather like we’re now experiencing became a reality! And here, once again, his message was set aside while we marvel at this strange world we are living in.
It’s fitting that they missed the link though. In this world where we so often fail to diagnose the reasons for this strangeness and these struggles, and where instead we end up blaming each other, or the most vulnerable – and we never really solve any of them! It’s maddening! And heart wrenching!
And yet….what always inspired me about Scott’s talks, and what you could see in his imaginative reflection last Sunday is that he always reminds us – it’s never too late to act. It’s always too soon to give up. There are always choices ahead of us that can make the world better. We always have a part.
It’s a good reminder about our climate and our earth, and it’s a good reminder in these days overall.
In these times where optimism can be hard to find, I’ve really felt that sense of perseverence alive in our church lately. As we say in our values – a joyful resilience to keep going not with life as a slog, but as a gift. It’s available in the invitation to virtual Buckhorn this Friday, and it’s in the upcoming chance to sing with our virtual choir – no musical talent required! And it will definitely be the spirit of our upcoming Auction – check out all the fun details below.
Thank you for all the ways you continue to show up and with joy – let’s do it again this Sunday at 9 and 11 as we wrap up our Re-Opening (Your Heart) series with a service on what it’s time for in our lives, and what it’s not. See you there.
With love,
Rev. Gretchen[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Rev. Gretchen Haley has an audacious ambition for the liberal church, believing in its capacity to transform lives and our world by way of hyper-local relationships and partnerships that inspire the unleashing of courageous love. She oversees worship, community resourcing and outreach, and the intersectional work of our justice teams. She also serves as chief of staff, and ministry lead to the Board. In all of these, she is inspired by the commitment of the countless people who show up to do the sometimes-messy work of the church, and who are leading us to live into our mission for Northern Colorado as it is growing and changing. Her ministry is infused with her relentless curiosity about most things, especially the big stuff of theology, the beauty of creation, the magic of collaboration, and the joy of pop culture. She’s all in on adrienne maree brown’s emergent strategy, and finds solace in the trails in and around Fort Collins. She moved to Colorado from Washington state over 20 years ago for grad school in theatre, and knew immediately that she would never leave. She and her amazing partner, Carri, have 2 teenagers, Gracie and Josef, who both relish and resent being PKs, and who keep her grounded, frustrated, inspired, and humbled, everyday. She is basically obsessed with her two dogs, both large mutts, Charlie and Archer.
Responsible for: Worship, Community Resourcing and Outreach, Justice Ministries, and Congregational Leadership