Year: 2025 (Page 2 of 4)

Evolving Our Justice Work: A New Chapter in Community Organizing

March 12, 2025 / Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

At Foothills Unitarian, we believe in constantly evaluating how we can best serve our community and advance the causes of justice that matter most to us. Today, we’re excited to announce significant changes to our justice organizing structure that will help us become more effective advocates and change-makers.

Why Change Is Necessary

For several years, our Intersectional Action and Organizing Team (IAOT) has served as the primary hub for much of our justice work. This dedicated group has accomplished remarkable things, from organizing rapid responses to community crises to advocating for legislative change across multiple justice spheres.

However, as our congregation’s justice work has evolved, we’ve observed that different types of engagement require different structures. Some members are passionate about direct action and quick response, while others prefer the deeper, relationship-based organizing that creates systemic change. Our current structure sometimes blurs these distinct approaches, potentially diluting our effectiveness in both areas.

Our New Pathway Forward

After careful discernment with team leaders and members, we’ve decided to transform our IAOT into two specialized groups that better reflect these different approaches to justice work:

The Action Alert Squad

This new team will focus on mobilizing our congregation for timely advocacy and activism. When urgent situations arise—whether related to climate justice, immigration, housing rights, racial equity, or other pressing concerns—the Action Alert Squad will receive calls to action with clear, specific steps they can take.

This structure allows members who may have limited time but strong commitment to engage meaningfully in justice work through targeted actions like contacting legislators, attending rallies, or participating in community support initiatives. The Action Alert Squad creates a streamlined pathway for those who want to stay informed and active across multiple justice areas without needing to attend regular organizing meetings.

The Organizing for Power Team

This second team will focus on the vital work of relational community organizing in partnership with Together Colorado, a powerful multi-faith coalition working for legislative change across our state.

The Organizing for Power approach dives deeper into specific issues through relationship building, leadership development, and strategic campaigns built on shared values. This team will meet regularly, develop organizing skills, build connections with community partners, and work on longer-term campaigns focused on structural change.

By partnering with other UU congregations and diverse faith communities across Colorado, this team multiplies our impact far beyond what we could achieve alone.

What This Means for Our Community

These changes reflect our commitment to becoming more intentional and effective in our justice work. Rather than trying to fit all forms of engagement into one structure, we’re creating distinct pathways that honor different approaches to change-making.

For current IAOT members, this means choosing which of these approaches (or both!) best fits your interests, skills, and capacity. For those who haven’t previously engaged in our justice teams, these clearer pathways may make it easier to find your place in this essential work.

Join Us on This Journey

The IAOT group will officially transition to these new structures by March 31st. We invite everyone in our community to consider joining one or both of these teams:

To join the Action Alert Squad:
https://foothillsuu.churchcenter.com/groups/social-change-teams/action-alerts-squad

To join the Organizing for Power Team:
https://foothillsuu.churchcenter.com/groups/social-change-teams/organizing-for-power

These changes represent not an ending but a new beginning—a thoughtful evolution in how we live our UU values through justice work. By creating structures that better match different forms of engagement, we hope to deepen our impact and create more meaningful opportunities for everyone to participate in building the beloved community we all envision.

If you have questions about these changes or want to learn more about either team, please reach out to our justice ministry leaders. We look forward to embarking on this next chapter of justice work together.

Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Rev. Sean is Foothills Acting Senior Minister while Rev. Gretchen is on Sabbatical.
Responsible for Worship, Justice Ministries, Faith Formation Strategies and sits on Foothills Executive Leadership Team with Director of Finances and Operations Katie Watkins.

Sean was born on Treaty 7 land in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and comes to Foothills after four years in New England where he completed seminary at Harvard Divinity School where he studied alongside future imams, rabbis, justice activists, and other Unitarian Universalists. Sean is a self-proclaimed nerd — particularly about history, current politics, science, and Star Wars. Outside of ministry you will find Sean hiking or cooking up a storm with his partner Charles, watching his son’s basketball games, all under the watchful eye of their dog Dollie.

Fort Collins Demonstrations for Science and Democracy

March 12, 2025 / Sean Neil-Barron

Is public demonstrating your jam? Are you feeling the need to speak out and show up? Here are 2 Fort Collins opportunities – one sponsored by the LWV and the other organized by Science Students at CSU. (Sorry for the late notice … I just got them today.)

(Look for news later this week on Foothills developing focus on organizing for power with Together Colorado!)

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS INVITE YOU…..

Join the LIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY mobilization!

Democracy is not just a system of government—it’s the power of the people. It begins with us, our voices, and our votes.

Tuesday, March 4th marks the President’s Address to Congress. Instead of tuning in, the League of Women Voters of Larimer County is inviting you to join our members and other Northern Colorado likeminded organizations in a community gathering for reflection, action, and solidarity from 6:30pm until 8:00pm at the Larimer County Federal Building at 301 S Howe in Fort Collins. Meet on the north side of the building. https://maps.app.goo.gl/2KTuxRv5e46wVjpG8

Register on Mobilize: Mobilize Registration!

This event here and around the country will offer a peaceful and unified space to come together for the health of our democracy, the future of our nation, and the well-being of all its people. If you would like to read a short statement at the event, please contact Linda Mahan.

To symbolize the light we shine on democracy, bring a battery-operated votive candle, small flashlight, or your cellphone with a light.
Wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothes. Comfortable footwear is important, because you will be standing for a while. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast in advance.
Bring a sign with a message – simple, clean, nonpartisan!
Bring a partner with you. It’s good to have another adult to share this experience.Have someone be your emergency contact. This person should know where you are planning to be and assign a moment to check-in and make sure that you returned home safely.
Wear League branding, like a hat with the logo, keeping in mind the weather.
Take pictures! We would like to post some.
Learn some
chants:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b9AI77WwQJodeNCsODy96HLQBsTLotR7ZEsCBM_tjgU/edit?usp=sharing
Talking Points! Pick one Talking Points Click twice

If you can’t join the group at the Larimer Federal Building in Fort Collins, consider:Watching a livestream or a recording of the most recent city council’s or local school board’s meeting.

Write an email or call as many of your elected officials and tell them what they should do to protect our democracy. You can tell the mayor or county commissioner about your concern regarding how what’s happening at the federal level will impact our local area.

Have dinner or carry-out from a restaurant owned by someone in our immigrant community.

Write a letter to the editor about what concerns you have with the workings of the local, state, or federal government.

Take a few minutes to read Article I of the Constitution and the US Bill of Rights.

Explore the new information on the Larimer League’s website.See what the teams are working on by using the Our Work dropdown menu.https://www.lwv-larimercounty.org/Other ideas.Be creative!

Many CSU Students, Faculty, and Staff are planning a “STAND UP for SCIENCE” March on Friday, March 7th, 12 noon to 2:30 PM. Gather on the Lory Student Center Plaza and march to Old Town.

Stand Up for Science members believe that education and access to scientific thinking is a fundamental right for all people. They are building a community in Fort Collins to advocate for local and federal policies that promote growth in education and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

This is an opportunity to support CSU students.

For fliers go to this site:

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2Fa1hHNDLaWjceDm9U9&data=05%7C02%7Cjennifer.briggs%40colostate.edu%7Ced61823f8a43426e1f9808dd5a8f51be%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C638766293766543816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=U37HDeqYxYhBQqbs9pZkJyapOej4FTsYKInZ%2FYwcN8U%3D&reserved=0.

Sean Neil-Barron

Rev. Gretchen’s Sabbatical Plans

February 28, 2025 / Rev. Gretchen Haley

Dear Foothills community,

After last Sunday’s service, a member half-jokingly compared a sabbatical to pregnancy—there’s never a good time. While I’ve never been pregnant, I get it! Last year, I postponed my sabbatical to be here for our move into the new building. This year, with the world in such turmoil, I can hardly believe I’m stepping away. But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time.

On the other hand, unlike my kids’ arrival into our family (which happened with mere hours’ notice), I’m grateful to have had months to prepare and plan. Even though it feels like a strange time to leave, I’m confident in and grateful for the solid plans in place—the work that will continue, the things that will pause, and the shifts we’ve made for the months ahead.

This letter offers an overview of those plans and some general details about my sabbatical.

Sabbatical Timing & Practices

My sabbatical begins Monday, March 3, and I return July 31. I’ll be in town about half the time and traveling the other half, with trips to Moab (with family), rural Maryland (solo), New York City (with colleagues), Baltimore (for UUA General Assembly), and Yellowstone (with family).

At home and away, I’ll focus on renewing my spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being—and writing the kind of things I don’t usually write for Sundays.

While I’m on sabbatical, I will not have access to email, social media, or my work phone. I won’t be involved in Foothills or aware of what’s happening in the church, except in specific cases identified by Rev. Sean Neil-Barron and Katie Watkins, who are leading in my absence.

Because this is a small community, if we run into each other over this time, it’s completely fine to say hello! I ask that you don’t bring up things related to Foothills, simply to respect the boundary of the sabbatical. As I have told a few of you, I’m not really a person that can be a little bit in with church!

Sabbatical Coverage

While I am away, Rev. Sean will be the Acting Senior Minister, and be the lead minister in accountable relationship with the Board of Trustees. He will hold executive authority around ministry and programs. He will be the lead for worship, justice, and in our strategies for faith formation.
Katie, our Director of Finance and Operations, will move into a direct accountable relationship with the Board as well, specifically around finances and in our responsibility to our staff. Katie will also be the acting Chief of Staff in my absence.
Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink will step into a full-time role, leading all small groups and continuing to oversee pastoral care.
To support pastoral needs, Rev. Roger Butts will serve on-call, responding as needed under Rev. Elaine’s coordination. Rev. Christopher Watkins Lamb will lead a grief group. I’m deeply grateful to have these two ministers stepping in more fully.

Staffing Adjustments

To support both the sabbatical and our long-term ministry, we’ve made a few structural shifts:

Our Director of Music, Sophia Miller now oversees all worship production (including in-person and online systems) in addition to leading our music ministry. As a reminder, Sophia works in a hybrid role and her upcoming onsite dates include: March 13-18, April 24-30, and June 23–Sept 2. You can also always reach her at sophia@foothillsuu.org.

Lauren Kenning is now reporting to Sophia, and directly supporting worship production through systems implementation and administrative coordination, A/V and worship host team support, and Church Center worship-related production. Lauren also helps fill in at the front desk.
Caitlin Seifert now supports all small groups—for adults, children, and youth—ensuring spaces are ready and assisting group leaders. They continue to support families on Sundays and are our most consistent front desk presence.
Lauren Farley will move (over the next 1-2 months) into an enhanced version of her current role in engaging newcomers and supporting people of all ages in their partnership in the congregation. We are still figuring out the right title, but it is something in the range of pathway and belonging. It brings her more responsibility in the areas of communication, and reduces some of her responsibility in family ministry.
We will hire a new part-time family ministry staff member to fill the gap as Lauren moves into her new role.
Jenn Powell will be more fully supporting the needs of our rental partners, as well as supporting internal leaders in their use of our facility. She will continue to work as our office manager, while also increasing her role in fundraising and donor relations. She will also continue her key leadership in anchoring both Sundays and in caring for people through memorials.
Eleanor VanDeusen, Holly Ayala, our music leaders, and our childcare and preschool staff will all remain in their current roles – for which we are deeply grateful!

Below, you’ll find organizational charts for further clarity. For questions, reach out to Sean or Katie.

Final Thoughts

Earlier today, I greeted a small group finishing their session in one of our classrooms. They were all carrying with them, a frozen peach. They had just re-read the poem we shared on Sunday, From Blossoms, and one of their members had distributed frozen peaches with the reminder, that we need not wait for peach season to taste joy.

This moment summed up so much of what I love about this community. Your creativity in bringing themes to life. Your care for one another—especially in these times. And as I said last Sunday, your ability to cultivate joy no matter what.

It’s also why I’ll miss you so much during my sabbatical. And it’s also why I know you’ll thrive without me. You’re so good at taking care of each other—and at bringing each other peaches, both literally and metaphorically.

On Sunday, we’ll have a small ritual of transition. I hope you’ll come say goodbye—until August, and peach season!

With love,

Rev. Gretchen

Rev. Gretchen Haley

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

Love in the Face of Bigotry

February 16, 2025 / Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Having a public ministry means that sometimes, letters of hate arrive in our inboxes and mailboxes. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. We could ignore them, but sometimes, they deserve a response—not to argue, but to name a deeper truth.

Such was the case this week, on February 13th, we received a letter filled with transphobic rhetoric, misusing the language of faith to justify harm.

Words are never just words—they land in our bodies, shaping our emotions and our sense of safety. Like stones tossed into water, they create ripples that spread far beyond their initial impact.

The old saying tells us that sticks and stones may break bones, but words will never hurt us—but we know better. Words shape our realities, reinforce harm or healing, and define the space in which we feel free or afraid. When words are used to diminish, dismiss, or erase, they do more than sting—they wound. And so, instead of just holding it in, we chose to respond. Not to the letter writer directly, since they left no return address, but for ourselves, for our community, and for all who need to hear a different message. We shared our response, a love letter, on social media, ensuring that the legacy of this letter was not hate, but love.

Viewed 16,721 times and counting, our words reached far beyond the harm, reminding thousands that love is always louder.

Our Response

Dear Letter Writer

You didn’t leave a return address but if you did, this is what I would say.

There is a love wider than fear, deeper than control, queerer than we were ever taught to expect. A love that delights in people becoming more themselves, not less. A love that whispers to every trans and nonbinary kid: You are real. You are holy. You are enough.

And while many UUs aren’t Christian, I can still answer the question you pose: What kind of Christian love affirms trans kids? The kind that actually listens to Jesus. The kind that knows fear isn’t faith. The kind that understands love was never meant to be a cage—it was meant to set us free. And here’s the truth:

A child discovering who they are is not a tragedy.
A child being safe enough to tell the truth is not a threat.

A child being met with love instead of shame is not abuse. But denying them that love? That is a tragedy. That is a threat to their dignity. That is abuse. So here’s my street-corner, megaphone sermon:
Life is vast. Love is vaster. And if your faith has to erase someone to feel safe, it’s not faith—it’s fear. But good news, my dear letter writing friend: There’s a better way. It’s big and bright and free. And whether you believe it or not, you are already held in that love. May you know it someday. May you let it in. May you freakin’ sparkle.
-Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Choosing What We Hold

The world throws many things at us—anger, fear, bigotry. We do not always get to choose what arrives at our doorstep, but we do get to choose what we do with it. Hate, if left unprocessed, lingers. It festers. But we are not powerless. We can move it through. We can shift the weight. We can transform it.

Psychologists Emily and Amelia Nagoski remind us: emotions have a beginning, a middle, and an end. If we don’t complete the cycle, they remain unfinished inside us. Completing the cycle means deliberately metabolizing what we take in.

So how do we metabolize harm without letting it consume us?

Move your body → Shake off the tension, go for a run, dance out the stress.
Deep breathing / prayer → Calm your nervous system, reconnect with spirit.
Crying, laughter, creativity → Let the emotion complete its cycle.
Action → Write a letter, call your representatives, gather with your community. Turn the emotional energy into something constructive.

For us, writing this response was part of that cycle. We didn’t want the legacy of this letter to just be its bigotry. We wanted to transform it into something more—more love, more clarity, more courage.

So, what are your practices for metabolizing harm? What helps you process the heaviness so that it does not stay lodged inside you? This is your invitation: find a way. Dance, cry, breathe, act. Choose to make love, not hate, the lasting imprint. And when the world comes at you with harm, meet it with something greater

Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Music Makes Belonging

February 14, 2025 / Rev. Gretchen Haley

When I tell people outside of Foothills about what happened in 2024 with our music ministry, most people are surprised, and also confused. Which I understand! It is surprising, and confusing, that after our prior music director Benjamin Hanson resigned last May, and then attempting a national search that didn’t result in a match, we actually ended up hiring a music director who for much of the year lives off site. So then, I try to explain how it unfolded….

How Sophia Miller came to spend the summer in Fort Collins, and basically, the match between us was just too magical to walk away from. How even from a distance she is more “here” with us in the work, and the relationships, and the mission, than I could have ever imagined would be possible.

I try to explain – but it’s really not easy. All I know is that it’s sort of like when I told a small group of music leaders about the plan as it was starting to get clear – I was nervous about what they would think, and they all immediately said, well, maybe it would be confusing if you didn’t know Sophia. But if you know Sophia, you’d know immediately why it would work.

So that is what we realized we wanted to do more of. We want to help you get to know Sophia, with the hopes that you can more fully understand how her commitment to our community and our mission, that she would say yes to this job, and be so brilliant at being so present – even though she’s only technically on site for about 7 days a month. (Although she will be here for 10 weeks this summer!) We hope you’ll take time to listen to the whole conversation – the end has some of the best parts!

The story of our music ministry over the last year is surprising, but it really isn’t confusing. It’s just one of those things that happens sometimes – when all your plans don’t work out – but then in place of all those things you had in mind, you are offered instead a mini-miracle and your only job is to say thank you. For this partnership, for music, for this church, and for the ministry that we get to do together.

We also want to take this opportunity to invite you to come and sing on Wednesdays with our Foothills Adult Choir. We have a special newcomer rehearsal next Wednesday February 19th at 6:30. Both Sophia and our choir director, Benjamin will be there. All are welcome.

When so many other parts of the world are unstable, singing together can be a vital anchor of connection, community, and possibility. Learn more and sign up for choir here.