Committees
Join us Saturday April 21st for a fun filled evening at the Annual Fine Arts and Craft Fair 2018
5:00 - 6:00 Aerial Arts of Utah - Outdoor Plaza Performance
6:25 - 6:35 UU Children’s Choir
7:05 - 7:35 Quattro Amici - Italian Madrigal Quartet
8:05 - 8:35 Java Jive - Jazz Vocal Ensemble
9:05 - Close Tablado - Flamenco Guitar, dance and song
These past few Sundays I’ve talked to a lot of people visiting the pledge table in Eliot Hall. It’s always nice to see old friends and make new ones, but what’s been especially interesting is hearing people talk about why they pledge. Most don’t think twice before answering; their response is immediate and enthusiastic and just rolls off their tongues: they love First Unitarian Church. (There’s a lot of love in and for our church!) Fewer people offer more concrete explanations, referring to this program or that committee or a certain cause; I heard religious education and sanctuary and the caring network, social justice and small group ministry and music. Among many answers—and really good reasons as to why people give to the church—one stood out: a 9 o’clock service attendee, who I don’t see often because I’m usually with the 11 o’clock crowd, replied, with the same spontaneity and conviction as those declaring their love for the church, “because I want the staff to get paid. That’s social justice, too.”
Obviously, church staff work hard every Sunday, and it’s not like they have the other six days off, as I used to think when I was pondering my career choices in middle school. Running a church is a huge enterprise, and an expensive one, too. Do you know how large our church’s staff is? Do you know how many events the church hosts each year? It’s mind-boggling. Last year, prior to significant changes in religious education and before the sanctuary family joined us—two developments that have caused a dramatic increase in activity this year—the church hosted more than 1,000 events. This number includes private parties, but those, too, are work for church staff. We had more than 500 community events at the church, plus numerous untracked events outside the building, most of them working towards our mission of advancing a progressive and just world. Of the full-time staff, nobody works fewer than 40 hours; most work more, including early mornings, evenings, holidays, and, well, Sundays. Assistant Minister Monica Dobbins told me about “ministry units” of 4 hours each; full-time ministers meet a standard of 12 ministry units per week, although Monica noted that it’s all too easy to work 14 units. She tries to protect one full day each week and keep it to two work evenings, however, that’s not always, or even often, possible. Senior Minister Tom Goldsmith added that many of the congregation’s pastoral needs—cries for help in the darkest hour—don’t follow a schedule, but that pastoring is the most humbling aspect of ministry, and, for him, its greatest privilege.
What about the number of staff? Did you come up with eighteen? If so, you’re much more observant than me. I didn’t realize that First Church employs five full-time and twelve part-time staff, plus a ministerial intern. I’m a member of the church, and it made me proud to learn that we are a Fair Compensation Congregation. This means our church meets strict guidelines set by the Unitarian Universalist Association, which prescribe compensation packages based on qualifications, experience, and location that include benefits (paid time off, health and dental insurance, retirement contributions, etc.). Where does the money come from, you ask? From you and me: from friends and members of the church. From people who pledge. Our pledge is an investment into the staff of this church, who Make It Count every day—in our congregation and the larger community.
The goal for the pledge drive is a 5% increase over last year’s actual pledge revenue, or $583,000. This number reflects the increased financial needs of our church in 2018-19. The next fiscal year begins July 1, and your pledge this month will allow church leadership determine the budget and start planning for next year. The 5% increase is necessary not only because our congregation is growing—rapidly so!—but because our staff need, and deserve, a 2% cost-of-living adjustment. We want to remain a fair compensation congregation, and this adjustment is necessary and overdue. When you make your pledge, I want you to do so because you love this church, like I do. In addition, I want you to give because you want the staff to get fairly compensated. As the 9 o’clocker said: that’s social justice, too.
Please stop by Eliot Hall after an upcoming service; I look forward to talking to you about why you pledge. – Melanie, Pledge Committee
The following hikes and walks have been planned for anyone who is interested in enjoying nature with fellow UUs this spring. It is important to e-mail the hike leader if you plan to participate so the leader may keep you informed of changes in plans, weather concerns, meet-up locations etc. All are welcome.
Tuesdays mornings 3/27 thru 5/29 @ 10:00 am Shirley Ray is doing walks along the Jordan River. Meet at 5300 S Jordan Parkway Walden Park and Pavilion in Murray. Shirley would enjoy working with a co- leader. Please contact her if you are interested in co leading or walking. Shirley's email is
Saturday 3/31 @ 9 am Catherine Groseclose is leading a "Living Room" hike. Meet at the Natural History Museum parking lot. Catherine's email is
Saturday 4/14 @ 10 am Doug Roberts is leading an Antelope Island hike. Carpool to the island at 9 am, carpool location TBD. Doug's email is
Saturday 4/21 @ 9 am Gene Mahalko is leading a City Creek walk. Meeting place TBD Gene's email is
Saturday 5/12 @ 9 am Catherine Groseclose is leading a Grandeur Peak hike. Meet at Around Eatery parking lot
Wednesday 5/16 @ 10 am Doug Roberts is leading a Mueller Park-Elephant Rock hike. Meeting place TBD. Doug's email is
*****(All events wait only 15 minutes for late comers)
Make It Count! The 2018-19 Pledge Drive
There’s no secret or magic to congregational fundraising: simply put, we rely on the generosity of members and friends to make an annual pledge so that we can plan for the next fiscal year. Celebration Sunday, an important day in the calendar of our church, celebrates not only our church and its history, but also, and particularly, the generosity and commitment of its people. Celebration Sunday kicks off the pledge drive for 2018-19 on March 4. The pledge drive will run through Easter Sunday, and we hope that during those few weeks you will pledge your financial support and help us reach our goal.
Your pledge supports the daily operations of the church. The goal of the pledge drive is ambitious but doable—a 5% increase over last year’s actual, or $583,000—and it reflects three budgetary priorities for 2018-19. First, we will keep our second minister and invest into building safety. This will allow us to serve our steadily growing, multi-generational congregation with meaningful programming in a safe and welcoming environment. Secondly, we will provide the professional staff with a critical and long-overdue 2% cost-of- living increase. Lastly, we will expand the music department and recognize artist-in- residence David A. Zabriskie as Associate Music Director.
We chose this year’s motto, Make It Count!, in honor of our church’s mission to build a progressive and just world. With your participation, our church leads important social justice efforts in our community and makes a real impact on people’s lives. Our actions count. Please take action during the pledge drive, too, and pick up a pledge card at our table in Eliot Hall or contact church administrator Hal Gonzales directly (801-582- 8687 ext. 201). Whether you are a member or friend and have attended First Church for years or just a few months, please give as generously as you can—your contribution counts!
The Pledge Drive Committee
RECYCLING DISCUSSION MARCH 16, 7:30pm
Recycling sometimes the hardest of part of the TripleR: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We at the Environmental Ministry table field many questions about recycling. Do you have questions about what can recycled in Salt Lake City and what can’t? Are you curious about what happens to the materials after they’re taken away?
Join us Friday, March 16, 7:30pm, for a program presented by Jen Farrell of the Salt Lake City Waste and Recycling Division and Rebecca Smith, the sustainability director for Ace Recycling and Disposal. Ace is a family-owned, independent waste hauler that services 12 municipalities along the Wasatch Front. They plan to speak on what materials are specifically recyclable here, what is done with those materials, and why recycling them makes a difference. Jen will explain why many other materials are not recyclable and what can be done with them, as well as what programs and services SLC has to offer for waste diversion. Becca will talk about recycling in multiple-unit buildings. This is your chance to learn everything you need to know about recycling!
Family Fun Night
Join us Monday, March 5th at 6 pm for Family Fun Night. This month we are joined by Jean Irwin, from the Utah State Arts Council, who will be leading us in creating family journels our of unconventional materials.
Social Justice Council
The Social Justice Committee is partnering with Planned Parenthood this year and is seeking volunteers for their sexual health program in the Metro Jail. Please contact Di Johnsonat if interested. Training begins March 10th.
Join us for our next Social Justice Council Meeting on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 12:20 pm for updates on Sanctuary, Pride Parade, Planned Parenthood partnerships, IRC, Environmental Justice, and other social justice endeavors and opportunities!
UU Hiking Club
Do you want to hike or do walks with fellow UU's? Come to our planning potluck on Tuesday, March 20th at 6:30 in Eliot Hall. Contact Catherine at if you have questions.
Dinner and Dialogue
Meet other UU's on a more personal level over a potluck dinner. Sign up at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall to Host or Join a group. We have a special Seder Dinner in March. Contact with questions.
Mindfulness Group
Meditation is held Sundays, after the first service ends, around 10:00 am. We gather in the Parlor, up the stairs at the south side of Eliot Hall. Mindfulness practice is shared, then followed by 20 minutes of guided meditation, and closing with loving kindness. All are welcome for the first time, to investigate or to maintain mindfulness practice.
Artists Discussing Art
On the last Monday of every month Artists gather in the Haven at 7 pm to discuss each others art in progress or recently completed. This discussion is open to all visual artist, watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media, fused glass, and clay. Bring work to discuss or just come to listen. Bring a light refreshment to share. Please contact Bill Reed at with questions.
Save the Date: Art Fair 2018
Each spring First Church hosts an Art Fair with local visual and performing artists. This years event is on Saturday April 21st from 5 to 10 pm and Sunday April 22nd till 1:30 pm. This is a fun family event with food and entertainment provided. All arts and crafts welcomed. Display space is limited, so sign up early. If you have any question please contact Bill Reed at More info available at slcuu.org
Whether this is your first, fifth, or umpteenth Celebration Sunday, you are in for a treat this year. Mark March 4 in your calendar, attend either service (or both!) and celebrate First Unitarian Church: its dedicated staff, members, and friends; our commitment to social justice and the environment; the joyous music and religious education departments; and the different ways—large and small—First Church touches your life, impacts our shared community, and supports what’s best within humanity, especially in these topsy-turvy times. This year’s theme for Celebration Sunday is simple yet powerful: Make It Count. Whatever you do, do it with intention. Have a positive effect. Set things right.
Did I mention a treat? We are thrilled to welcome back a longtime friend of First Church, Lily Eskelsen García. Lily, who started her career as a cafeteria worker before becoming an elementary school teacher in the Granite School District, was the 1989 Utah Teacher of the Year. She now presides over the National Education Association, the largest Union in the country, in Washington DC. From teaching homeless and hard-to-place foster children in Salt Lake City to joining President Obama’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, from writing parenting columns and protest songs (sometimes one and the same) to speaking out against Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s undermining of the nation’s public schools, Lily makes every day count. She’s a Unitarian Universalist with close ties to many First Church members. She will be back among friends this Celebration Sunday to speak (and, we hope, sing) at the 9 am and 11 am services. Make your Sunday count—and don’t miss Lily.
Here’s another way you can make Celebration Sunday count: the day marks the beginning of our annual pledge drive, and your pledge, well, it counts! Whether you have signed the membership book or are a friend of First Church, your pledge is a major component of the annual budget and supports daily operations. We absolutely welcome collection plate contributions, but they don’t allow us to create a budget—your pledge does. And because we have great things planned for next year, our goal for the pledge drive is ambitious but doable: $583,000—a 5% increase over last year.
If we meet our goal, our church will continue to make it count. We will triple the budget of the music department from $4,000 to $12,000, which will allow us to recognize David Zabriskie as Associate Music Director. We will keep a second minister and significantly invest into security so that our programs and events will serve a growing congregation in a safe and welcoming environment. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we will increase staff salaries. While we can’t give our staff the 4% raise recommended by the UUA, after many years of static salaries we need to provide our professional staff with a 2% cost-of-living increase. To make these things happen, we need you to make it count—with your participation, your heart, and your pledge.
Stop by the pledge table in Eliot Hall between Celebration Sunday and Easter Sunday, and Make It Count!
Dinner and Dialogue
Wouldn't you like to get to know more people in our congregation? There are so many new faces and some old ones you may not know well, so here's one of the best ways I know: Sign up for Dinner and Dialogue! You can sign up to HOST (any day you choose) or ATTEND (any day that is available) a dinner of your choosing. Look for the white binder at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall or contact Darlene Thayne at or 801-455-6553, and I will assist you in any way I can. We have several dinners in the works that are filling up fast and hope to have even more.
Mindfulness Group
Meditation is held Sundays, after the first service ends, around 10:00 am. We gather in the Parlor, up the stairs at the south side of Eliot Hall. Mindfulness practice is shared, then followed by 20 minutes of guided meditation, and closing with loving kindness. All are welcome for the first time, to investigate or to maintain mindfulness practice.
Artists Discussing Art
On the last Monday of every month Artists gather in the Haven at 7 pm to discuss each others art in progress or recently completed. This discussion is open to all visual artist, watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media, fused glass, and clay. Bring work to discuss or just come to listen. Bring a light refreshment to share. Please contact Bill Reed at with questions.
Did you know that UU has a HIKING CLUB?
To find out more about their group contact Catherine Groseclose at or sonia at for more details.
SEED: The Untold Story Friday, January 19, 2018, 7PM Eliot Hall, First Unitarian Church, 569 S 1300 E, SLC Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/151839998797409/ “Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.” Source: https://www.seedthemovie.com/ This FREE screening is sponsored by Environmental Ministry at First Unitarian Church of SLC. The film lasts approximately 94 minutes and will be followed by a discussion.
UU Orientation
If you are new to our congregation and would like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, please join Rev. Tom and Rev. Monica for a UU Orientation class, Tuesday, January 23 at 7pm in Eliot Hall. We will share a light meal, get to know one another, and learn about the history and values of UUism and the membership journey.
Dinner and Dialogue
Wouldn't you like to get to know more people in our congregation? There are so many new faces and some old ones you may not know well, so here's one of the best ways I know: Sign up for Dinner and Dialogue! You can sign up to HOST (any day you choose) or ATTEND (any day that is available) a dinner of your choosing. Look for the white binder at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall or contact Darlene Thayne at or 801-455-6553, and I will assist you in any way I can. We have several dinners in the works that are filling up fast and hope to have even more.
Mindfulness Group
Meditation is held Sundays, after the first service ends, around 10:00 am. We gather in the Parlor, up the stairs at the south side of Eliot Hall. Mindfulness practice is shared, then followed by 20 minutes of guided meditation, and closing with loving kindness. All are welcome for the first time, to investigate or to maintain mindfulness practice.
Artists Discussing Art
On the last Monday of every month Artists gather in the Haven at 7 pm to discuss each others art in progress or recently completed. This discussion is open to all visual artist, watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media, fused glass, and clay. Bring work to discuss or just come to listen. Bring a light refreshment to share. Please contact Bill Reed at with questions.
Did you know that UU has a HIKING CLUB?
To find out more about their group contact Catherine Groseclose at or sonia at for more details.