Committees

The Women’s Sacred Circle was set up around 5 years ago. There are several activities we enjoy throughout the year. We meet in the Haven at First Unitarian Church on the 2nd Tuesday of each month to explore our spiritual journeys. We also meet each month on the full moon at members’ homes. This year we will be studying herbs and plants; their healing properties, culinary aspects, or how to create gardens of delight. In addition, twice a year we schedule retreats to Southern Utah to recreate our souls.

As a further extension of our activities, we create feminine hygiene bags for the agencies helping women in need. With the donations from several members and friends, we collect the needed items and distribute them. Past recipients have been: The Road Home, Christmas Box House, and The Inn Between. Currently, we are accepting donations to help with a United Way project for Kearns High School teens.

At this year’s planning meeting in September, we decided the direction our group will take. Using as our theme ‘HerStory’, we will focus on women’s stories that inform us about the Divine Feminine; ourselves; and the world. For example, we will take stories from myths, legends, and historical female figures from various cultures; and learn how to live our core values, and become change agents of our time.
For more information feel free to contact us at

• Leaving the country if Trump wins? The Refugee Resettlement Committee is offering pre-election, radical decluttering. Rid your house of furniture in anticipation of your exile in Costa Rica or Canada. Act now and avoid the rush! Call Joe Dubray at (904) 527-9773. Use the code: “Trumped."

• The Open Minds Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Haven Room at the Church. The book for October 27th is “Homecoming” by Yaa Gyasi. All are welcome.

• The Social Justice Council is co-sponsoring a film with Utahns for Just Peace in the Holy Land on October 21st at 7 pm in Eliot Hall . "Budrus" is a true story, of a small village which fights the Israeli military when the separation wall is planned to be built on the olive groves which have been owned and farmed by the Palestinians for generations. One family, father and fifteen year old daughter, organize the villagers in their opposition. The daughter leads the women of the village into action. Although the film isn't rated it would probably be PG 13, however, there is violence. The Israeli army beats unarmed villagers. Please join us for this interesting film followed with a discussion.

• UU Highway Cleanup: Just above beautiful Little Dell Reservoir, between East, Emigration, and Parley's Canyons, a sign proudly proclaims that the Salt Lake Unitarian Universalist Congregation is responsible for keeping this lovely area free of litter. Won't you join us for a few hours to take a nice walk and pick up a little trash? Saturday, October 29th, we will meet at the church at 0900, then proceed to the UDOT station East of Mt Dell golf course in Parley's Canyon. You can meet us there at 0930 if you like. If you are considering coming, please text your phone # and email to Todd Seymour (801) 783-7837, so I can email a reminder, and get an idea of who will join us. If you decide last minute and surprise us at the UDOT station, we'll be happy to see you. If you can confirm you are coming the night before, I'll definitely sleep better. : )

• Dinner and Dialogue Have you heard about DINNER AND DIALOGUE? It’s a great way to socialize and meet new members and friends outside of the traditional church setting. Participants gather in small groups and share a meal together in one home. You may sign up as a HOST where you set the date, time and the menu and decide how many guests you can accommodate. Or you may choose to sign up as a GUEST where you will attend and contribute by bringing a dish to share (appetizer, salad, dessert, beverage, etc. assigned by the host). Either way you choose to participate, you are guaranteed to make new FRIENDS! Our goal is to have a couple of these each month.I will coordinate by getting the guest names to the host and assisting in any way possible. There will be a table set up at our Activities Fair on September 18 so you can sign up or ask questions if you wish. After that, we will have our Dinner and Dialogue book at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall for the remainder of the year. If you are unable to sign up to participate in Dinner and Dialogue at our church service or have questions, feel free to contact me, Darlene Thayne, at 801-455-6553 or send an email to . I have gotten to know some very lovely people through this activity. Why not give it a try?

• Mindfulness Group Every Sunday, meditation is offered as a time to pause, practice calming our thoughts and setting an intention to be mindful in our daily life. Guidance for developing meditation practice is shared along with suggested websites and reading. Alone, together helps to stay with the intention and to learn the benefits of being mindfully aware. 9:45 am to 10:30 in the Parlor. All are welcome.

• UU Lunch Bunch A family-friendly group for anyone and everyone who would like to get together for lunch and chat with like-minded people. Meet at the Restaurant on Sundays at noon during the summer. For more information contact Sonia Carnell at (801) 262-1151 or .
  

  October 9: The Copper Kitchen (4640 South 2300 East)
  October 16: Indochine (230 South 1300 East)
  October 23: The Rye Restaurant (230 South 1300 East)
  October 30: Kathmandu II (212 South 700 East)

The Caring Network of First Unitarian Church is hosting a workshop on “Caring for Persons Under Stress” (Yourself Included!); led by Rev. Harold Straughn on Saturday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Eliot Hall

BRING:

• Your pre-K to K kids! Child care will be provided.
• Your own brown bag lunch and drink.

The upcoming holiday season can be the most stressful time of the year.

• Some feel stress because they are experiencing the celebrations without a deceased loved one.
• Others struggle with family conflicts such as religious and political differences.
• Most of all, even the fun times mean juggling the special events along with home and work commitments.

Rev. Straughn, director of the Caring Network, is an expert in the resources available to persons under stress, including Active Listening, Social and Spiritual Conversations, and Guided Meditation. Each of these topics will be part of the workshop.

If you want to accept this invitation, send the word “Workshop,” and your name, to this email address: .

-submitted by Cathy Chambless, Chair of Endowment Committee

The Endowment Committee wishes to thank the following donors for their thoughtful gifts to the Church Endowment Fund in memory of members who have recently passed:

In memory of Janet Minden
Betsy Minden
Carol Blackwell
Cosette Joesten
Paula Julander
Lex Hemphill and Nancy Melich

In memory of Alice “Pat” Capson Brown
Virginia Rothstein
Anne Holman/ King’s English
Evelyn D. Bennett
Richard and Helen Wolford & Family
Miriam C. Bushnell

Have you heard about the Emerson Society?

Individuals who have included the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City in their will or estate plans are inducted into the Emerson Society. A wood and brass plaque on the south wall of the Chapel lists the names of Emerson Society members.

If you would like more information about how to include the Church in your will or estate plans, Endowment Committee members are available to meet with you to discuss several different options for making bequests.

The Endowment Committee wants to know if you have already provided for giving to the Church in your will or estate plans but have not notified the Church. It is important to let the Endowment Committee know your intentions – not only to honor you (if you wish), but to ensure your wishes are respected.

For either purpose, contact us at or pick up a request form at the Congregational Life table in Eliot Hall after church services.

Anti-Racism Committee Class
-submitted by Catherine Parnell

White Privilege, White Shame, Black Pain is an eight-week course that will help students understand race as an emotional experience that has been perpetuated by historical and contemporary attempts to consolidate rather than share power. As a group we will aim to reveal the ways in which racism harms both people of color and white people, and we will strive to imagine the ways in which we can dismantle these racial barriers by looking inward at our privilege and personal experience, and outward at our relationships and institutions. The class will meet at the church from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, from September 29th through November 17th. We will read two books, Learning to be White and The New Jim Crow, which must be purchased by the start of the class. Register here: http://tinyurl.com/SLCUU-WhitePrivilegeWorkshop

Every Sunday, meditation is offered as a time to pause, practice calming our thoughts and setting an intention to be mindful in our daily life. Guidance for developing meditation practice is shared along with suggested websites and reading. Alone, together helps to stay with the intention and to learn the benefits of being mindfully aware. 9:45 am to 10:30 in the Parlor. All are welcome.

Have you heard about DINNER AND DIALOGUE? It’s a great way to socialize and meet new members and friends outside of the traditional church setting. Participants gather in small groups and share a meal together in one home. You may sign up as a HOST where you set the date, time and the menu and decide how many guests you can accommodate. Or you may choose to sign up as a GUEST where you will attend and contribute by bringing a dish to share (appetizer, salad, dessert, beverage, etc. assigned by the host). Either way you choose to participate, you are guaranteed to make new FRIENDS! Our goal is to have a couple of these each month.I will coordinate by getting the guest names to the host and assisting in any way possible. There will be a table set up at our Activities Fair on September 18 so you can sign up or ask questions if you wish. After that, we will have our Dinner and Dialogue book at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall for the remainder of the year.

If you are unable to sign up to participate in Dinner and Dialogue at our church service or have questions, feel free to contact me, Darlene Thayne, at 801-455-6553 or send an email to . I have gotten to know some very lovely people through this activity. Why not give it a try?

Candidates for UT Governor – Environmental Issues ForumFriday, September 16, 2016, 7PM

Eliot Hall, First Unitarian Church

Join us to hear the Candidates for the office of Governor for the State of Utah comment on Environmental Issues

Who: All candidates have been invited

• Gary Herbert (Republican)
• Brian E. Kamerath (Libertarian)
• L. S. Brown (Unaffiliated)
• Mike Weinholtz (Democratic)
• Superdell Schanze (Independent American)

What: Panel Discussion of Environmental Issues facing Utah

When: Friday, September 16, 2016, 7:00 PM

Where: First Unitarian Church of SLC,

569 S 1300 E, SLC UT 84102, Eliot Hall

Please submit any questions you would like to be considered; we will see that the candidates who are unable to attend have an opportunity to submit their views.

By 6:00 PM Wednesday 9/14, send questions to: Kathy Albury,

Congregational Briefs and Announcements (as of 9/12/2016)

Dinner and Dialogue

Have you heard about DINNER AND DIALOGUE? It’s a great way to socialize and meet new members and friends outside of the traditional church setting. Participants gather in small groups and share a meal together in one home. You may sign up as a HOST where you set the date, time and the menu and decide how many guests you can accommodate. Or you may choose to sign up as a GUEST where you will attend and contribute by bringing a dish to share (appetizer, salad, dessert, beverage, etc. assigned by the host). Either way you choose to participate, you are guaranteed to make new FRIENDS! Our goal is to have a couple of these each month.I will coordinate by getting the guest names to the host and assisting in any way possible. There will be a table set up at our Activities Fair on September 18 so you can sign up or ask questions if you wish. After that, we will have our Dinner and Dialogue book at the Congregational Life Table in Eliot Hall for the remainder of the year.

If you are unable to sign up to participate in Dinner and Dialogue at our church service or have questions, feel free to contact me, Darlene Thayne, at 801-455-6553 or send an email to . I have gotten to know some very lovely people through this activity. Why not give it a try?

Refugee Resettlement Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) was founded by Albert Einstein to assist refugees. All these years later, Salt Lake City is one of 29 U.S. cities to which IRC relocates refugees. Not many weeks pass without new arrivals. First Church has been an adjunct of IRC for many years. Thanks to furniture donations from the congregation and the efforts of a group of volunteers, hundreds of refugee families have spent their first night in Utah in a furnished apartment. That humanitarian effort was formally recognized by IRC recently. Visit the atrium adjacent to Eliot Hall to see what the church received. When you read the plaque there, pat yourself on the back. It wouldn’t have happened without your support. Thank you from all of us who work on the Refugee Resettlement Committee. If you want to join us or donate furniture, please call Joe Dubray at (904) 527-9773.

Open Minds Book Group

The Open Minds Book Group’s next meeting will be September 22nd at 7 pm in the Haven when we will discuss “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow. For more information, please contact

Mindfulness Group

Every Sunday, meditation is offered as a time to pause, practice calming our thoughts and setting an intention to be mindful in our daily life. Guidance for developing meditation practice is shared along with suggested websites and reading. Alone, together helps to stay with the intention and to learn the benefits of being mindfully aware. 9:45 am to 10:30 in the Parlor. All are welcome.

UU Lunch Bunch

A family-friendly group for anyone and everyone who would like to get together for lunch and chat with like-minded people. Meet at the Restaurant on Sundays at 1:00 pm. For more information contact Sonia Carnell at (801) 262-1151 or .
September 11: The Greek Festival (meet at corner 300 West 300 South)
September 18: No Lunch Bunch - Activity Fair at church
September 25: The Garage (1199 Beck Street)
October 2: Trio Café (6405 South 3000 East)