Committees
Make sure your legacy reflects your values by including First Unitarian Church in your estate plans. And, let your endowment committee know so you can be listed as a member of our Emerson Society. Our church's endowment fund is also the perfect place for memorial and other special contributions. The fund is managed to support both present and future needs, so a contribution is truly a gift that endures. For more information on the endowment fund, find the brochure at the congregational life table in Eliot Hall.
As surely as the snow begins to melt in March and the crocus and daffodil bravely defy the odds, First Unitarian Church launches its Pledge Drive right on schedule. You can count on it as reliably as the seasons changing and birds flying north.
Our theme this year is “Rise to the Challenge.” It echoes what we aspire to every Pledge Drive, maintaining a progressive church community in increasingly challenging times. Immigration issues have revealed the worst of our nation’s xenophobic tendencies, but our church has opened its doors to provide sanctuary. Refugees arrive with only the clothes or their backs, and our church furnishes their apartments and accommodates them with furniture, appliances, bikes, toys, and love. Homelessness grows in alarming proportions, but our church provides four meals a month at the Teen Homeless Shelter. We also partner with The Inn Between, a hospice for the homeless. Our nation notoriously lags behind in efforts to reverse global warming, but our Environmental Ministry team tirelessly lift their voices in protest and tell the truth to a reluctant population.
Our church meets these challenges and more with deep commitments to endless volunteer hours. The annual Pledge Drive reminds us that meeting these challenges also requires funding for our programs, staff, and building. Providing decent health care for the staff is a continuing challenge. Keeping up with technology to run our operations is a challenge. Maintenance is a challenge, from utilities, to snow removal to the wear and tear on the building. We are never short of challenges.
For First Unitarian Church to meet these challenges we rely completely on your generosity. We are more powerful and influential together than we are alone. Our church is a gift, providing us the opportunity to engage more effectively in a world that has lost its moral compass.
To rise to this challenge we need $580,000 in pledge income, the same as last year’s goal which we nearly met. Please consider whether you can help us meet this goal. The times demand that our church move forward as a progressive community that dares to change the world.
With deep gratitude,
Rev. Tom Goldsmith Rev. Monica Dobbins Pledge Chair: Rebecca Heal
Environmental Ministry
invites you to:
An Introduction to The Work that Reconnects presented by Mutima Imani and Constance Washburn, Fri, Jan 18, 2019, 7-9PM, Eliot Hall, First Unitarian Church (Enter via the North Door). We face many life-shattering crises today. These crises are more than we can bear alone. The Work that Reconnects, based on the work of Joanna Macy, brings us together to share our despair, and our dreams. It connects us with our passions to participate in the Great Turning and helps us uncover and experience our innate connections with each other and the healing powers of the web of life, so we can discover our role in creating a life-sustaining civilization. This Friday evening presentation is free, with donations welcomed. Questions: Stop by the Environmental Ministry Table today or contact: Kathy Albury,
Environmental Ministry
invites you to a Weekend Workshop:
FROM DESPAIR TO JOY: The Work that Reconnects Weekend Workshopwith Mutima Imani and Constance Washburn, Sat, Jan 19 – Mon, Jan 21, 2019, Eliot Hall, First Unitarian Church (Enter via North Door). We will gather to make our way through the healing spiral toward a just and life-sustaining world. This retreat will explore the intersectionality of current events and empower us to do what is ours to do for the healing of our world, our ancestors and future generations. Pioneered by root teacher Joanna Macyin the late 1970s, this highly experiential and interactive work draws from systems thinking, deep ecology, and many spiritual traditions. More Information & Schedule: https://embodimentmatters.com/from-despair-to-joy/
Registration Fee is on a sliding scale: $150-$300. [No one will be turned away for inability to pay. Contact:Kathy Albury, ].
Registration forms must accompany payment and are available at the Environmental Ministry Table or by contacting Kathy Albury via email .
Registration Deadline: When workshop capacity is reached or Friday, January 18.
People's Justice Forum
Once again this year, First Unitarian Church is supporting the People's Justice Forum (PJF), a grassroots citizen lobbying organization that focuses on progressive issues at the State Legislature.
What does the PJF do? We follow the 45-day legislative season in February and March, and we decide as a group which legislation we want to support or oppose. Then we strategize about how to do it: contacting legislators, attending committee meetings, getting creative about awareness or protest, etc. Our issues include reproductive health, poverty, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ issues, etc.
What's the commitment? You must support progressive issues (there's a screener question on the application regarding your support of abortion rights). Then, you have to be able to commit to a weekly meeting on Monday night, and a kickoff event on the evening of January 17, to be held in Eliot Hall.
If you've been wanting to get involved in politics and have some fun with it, join the PJF! Please reach out to Rev. Monica at if you have any questions. Here is the link to the application: People's Justice Forum 2019 Application
Thank you for supporting the RRC activity helping refugees resettle in SLC. Your support, whether physical, vocal or financial, has improved lives of more refugees than we will ever know.
In years prior to the Trump administration, RRC volunteers annually set up housing on average for more than 250 arriving refugees a year, over 40 families a year, average family size of 6, mostly children. In the first year of the Trump administration, 165 new refugees began life in Salt Lake City in RRC set up housing, 165 people, 28 families. In the past 5 years, RRC housed refugees arrived from 19 countries. RRC volunteers together have donated, annually, several hundred hours and thousands of miles: to the collection of donations (an average of over 130 a year) from throughout the greater Salt Lake City area and as far away as Logan, Ogden, Park City and Lehi; to the setting up of housing for new refugees sponsored by the IRC; and to the tending to the furniture, household furnishings, appliance and other life needs of existing refugee families some IRC sponsored and some not.
From conversation with leaders of the SLC International Rescue Committee (the IRC), the Trump administration intends to limit refugee arrivals in the US to 18,000 this fiscal year. The SLC portion is expected to be about 300, down 50% from the 600 that arrived in SLC last year, significantly below what the RRC has served in prior years. This will mean less demand for refugee housing set up activity in the coming months, although the RRC has set up housing for 5 new families in the past few weeks. A significant portion of the SLC IRC office budget is based on a per capita refugee arrival calculation, so the IRC faces financial challenges, compounded by recent departures of three SLC experienced IRC leaders active with housing set ups and coordination of IRC volunteers. It is not clear yet what all of this will mean for opera.ons of the SLC IRC.
In July 2017, the RRC added Bicycle and Welcome Basket Projects, each intended to deliver additional helpful products to arriving refugees and to create opportuni.es for RRC members, and other donors from First Church, to personally welcome and have direct contact with IRC sponsored refugees. RRC leaders believe successful resettlement is fostered by befriending refugees early, and often. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of members and friends of First Church, both projects delivered benefits. 26 families (154 individuals) from 6 countries have received Welcome Baskets, valued on average at $127. Thirteen more baskets are in storage to be delivered as families arrive. And over 30 bicycles, after tuning by RRC volunteers, were distributed, along with helmets, locks and visibility vests, to refugee families by IRC staff and RRC volunteers. Additional bikes and related equipment provided by the RRC, have been given out to refugees by IRC staff, as immediate needs presented, and more are in IRC storage inventory, awaiting distribution. Both projects encountered challenges, particularly in not being able to deliver enhanced direct refugee contact opportunities as hoped. Current national IRC policy limits direct contact with IRC sponsored refugees to IRC volunteers who have gone through a formal IRC screening and approval process, completed by many, but not all RRC volunteers or other First Church donors. And the IRC formal volunteer enrollment process and assigned volunteer utilization or follow-up activity has not met time expectations of many from First Church who have expressed interest. Hopefully the processes will improve.
The RRC continues to solicit and collect refugee focused donations and to help meet housing set up needs for both new and other refugees. But in consideration of current IRC policies and the reduction of anticipated IRC sponsored refugee arrivals, the Welcome Basket Project will end when the current supply of baskets is depleted. The items in the baskets will be added to the list of solicited donations (new or like new items) that the RRC re- quests to then be distributed by the IRC, so refugees should still receive the things they need in their new home. RRC collection of bicycles, helmets, locks and vests, will continue to be solicited and donations collected for IRC distribution to refugee families. According to the SLC IRC, every arriving refugee family would like to receive one or more bicycles and the IRC would like to meet those expectations. The IRC currently receives donated bicycles from several sources, regularly from the Boy Scouts and the RRC, and irregularly from other donor groups and individuals. The IRC also solicits and receives donor gift cards designated for use to purchase bicycles and related equipment.
Volunteer opportunities to participate in many IRC activities in support of refugees are available. Current high- need volunteer opportuni.es include:
Family Nutrition Access (WIC) Volunteer: The IRC in Salt Lake City seeks volunteers to support our maternal & child health program by helping new and soon-to-be mothers access healthy foods. Through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government benefit program, refugees resettled by the IRC in Salt Lake City receive food benefits to be used at the grocery store. Commitment: two 3-4-hour shifts per month for four to six months. Learn more: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer/family-nutri.on-access-wic-volunteer
Adult ESL Tutor: The IRC in Salt Lake City seeks volunteer tutors to support English language learning among recently arrived adult refugees, typically female, who have fled persecution in their home country and are rebuild- ing their lives in Utah. Volunteer tutors will provide one-on-one and/or small group instruction, promoting English language skills needed to empower the most vulnerable of newly arrived refugees, to obtain and retain employment and achieve self-sufficiency. Commitment: two hours/week for at least six month once volunteer train- ing is complete. Learn more: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer/adult-esl-tutor
Microbusiness Mentor: The IRC in Salt Lake City's Microbusiness Connection Center connects refugee and New American entrepreneurs to volunteers to act as mentors in addressing common obstacles that these entrepreneurs may face progressing their business and contributing to their overall self-sufficiency. Commitment: flexible, part-.me service for at least 10 weeks. Learn more: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer/microbusiness-mentor
Tech Mentor: The technology mentor will support refugee families recently resettled into Salt Lake City area by empowering them to unlock the potential of technology. This is an opportunity for individuals to act as both a mentor and guide in navigating a new community and creating a safe space for the family to learn and grow in their technology use and English skills. Commitment: two hours/week for six weeks. Learn more: https:// www.rescue.org/volunteer/tech-mentor>
Front Desk Volunteer: Front Desk Volunteers are the face of the IRC. Volunteers in this role greet and direct all walk-ins and phone calls to appropriate staff members. With a substantial amount of client interaction, volunteers gain practice communicating with diverse populations to find share understanding. Commitment: at least one 2-hour shifts per month; two shifts per month preferred. Learn more: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer/ front-desk-volunteer>
These IRC opportuni.es do change, especially as training dates come and go. Potential volunteers should also pick their top 3 interests and men.on those in communications to the IRC or at least keep them in mind as op- .ons should one or two volunteer opportuni.es fill up. IRC volunteers should also keep in mind that they can change to a new volunteer opportunity once their first commitment is fulfilled.
In August, Andrea Globokar ended her activity with the RRC, after 22 years of faithful service, and Ron Anderson and Johanna Whiteman have moved from RRC leaders to emeritus status, s.ll RRC engaged, but less so. Please personally thank Andrea, Ron and Johanna for their inspiration, dedication, leadership and exceptional service. And if you are interested in getting active in the RRC, contact me, cell phone 904-527-9773 or or one of the other members of the RRC Steering Committee, Nancy Rasmuson, Jim Wilcox, Richard Anderton and Bonnie Baty. Thank you again for thinking of the refugees through your actions or your donations, financial and otherwise, and for your continued support of the activity of the RRC. Best regards, Joe DuBray, Coordinator of the RRC.
Environmental Ministry is still participating in four Terracycle recycling brigades. We collect a number of things, most of which are not recyclable through the city or county recycling programs. Then we send them to Terracycle, and the church receives a check paying us 2¢ for each item. Here are lists for those of you unsure just what things we collect:
Oral care products packaging: Any brand of toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, toothpaste cartons, toothbrush outer packaging, and floss containers. Sorry, no electric toothbrush parts are accepted.
Energy bar package recycling: Any brand of foil-lined energy bar wrappers; foil-lined granola bar wrappers; foil-lined meal replacement bar wrappers; foil-lined protein bar wrappers; foil-lined diet bar wrappers.
Cereal bags: Plastic cereal bags and box liners.
Personal care and beauty product packaging: Hair care packaging such as shampoo caps, conditioner caps, hair gel tubes and caps, hair spray triggers, and hair paste caps. Skin care packaging such as lip balm tubes and caps, soap dispensers and tubes, body wash caps, lotion dispensers and caps. Cosmetics packaging such as plastic lipstick cases, lip gloss tubes, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, bronzer cases, foundation packaging, powder cases, eyeliner cases, eyeliner pencils, eye shadow tubes, concealer tubes, concealer sticks, and lip liner pencils.
We also collect electronic waste for the YRUU’s partnership with Planet Green at our table. This project is to earn money for their service trip next summer. Items collected are:
Inkjet cartridges, laser/toner cartridges, cell phones and accessories, GPS and radar detectors, e-book readers, calculators, iPods/MP3 players, video/digital cameras, PDA’s, iPads/tablets, video games and consoles.
Now that you know what to bring in, find a corner or doorknob where you can place a bag for collecting these items. Then take them to the bins next to the Environmental Ministry table. We plan to be there every Sunday except the weekend of the Art Fair, Celebration Sunday, and picnic Sunday, and we’ll be expecting you.
Submitted by Judy Lord
Thank you to the 6,000 people who showed up to this year’s Out of Darkness Walk. When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. It really means a lot to my family and so many other families who have lost someone to suicide. Our church’s team SLCUU had about 12 walkers and raised around $2, 000; part of the $240,913 raised so far from this walk.
UU Open Minds Book Club
(Meeting on Third Thursdays 7pm in The Haven), contact:
September - "Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging" by Sebastian Junger
October - "$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America" by Kathryn J. Edin
November - "I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer" by Michelle McNamara
December - "Bullshit Jobs: A Theory" by David Graeber
January - "Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward
February - "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking" by Susan Cain
March - "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander
April - "Men Explain Things to Me" by Rebecca Solnit
May - Choose one book from the Great American Reads list
- https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/
Refugee Resettlement Committee
Okay, boys and girls. It’s time for a pop quiz.
Which of these items can be left in the Little Chapel to be donated to refugees?
The dishes grandma got for opening a savings account in 1965.
The teddy bear that Little Mike picked up in Wal-Mart’s parking lot.
The crystal martini glasses that dad used for guests.
The Christmas centerpiece mom made at Relief Society.
The plush towels that dried Spike after his bath.
The Patagonia pants that shrunk while hanging in the closet.
The frying pan that defied Easy-off and Brillo pads.
The answers? None of the above! None! Nada!
The rules governing acceptable donations have tightened recently. Before leaving your stuff in the Little Chapel, please check the Refugee Resettlement Committee bulletin board in Eliot Hall for a list of donations that can be used. The same list can be found on the Little Chapel wall.
The camping trip is attended by approximately 80 to 140 people depending on campsite. It is a community building activity were attendees of both services and their families can take time to get to know each other away from the church. For many attendees it is a family church tradition. Childrens activities are planned so there will be something to do for all ages!
The event covers 3 nights and 4 days on average. Family friendly activities take place every day and there is a huge pot luck that is often also attended by people who drive up just for the day (another 10 people or so). This summer we will be camping at Pine Valley North Group Site C located up Mirror Lake Highway. The site holds 140 people (number of vehicles 25). Cost is $36 per car.
Arrival Date: Thu Jul 26 2018 Check-in Time: 2:00 PM Departure Date: Sun Jul 29 2018 Check-out Time: 1:00 PM
Overview: Pine Valley North Wasatch Cache Group Campground is located on the beautiful Mirror Lake Scenic Byway in the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah. The Uintas are known for their abundant recreational opportunities and scenic beauty.
Natural Features: The campground is situated among shady pines and aspens at an elevation of 7,400 feet. The dense stands of trees provide nice shade.
Recreation: The Lower Provo River is nearby, offering good trout fishing. Numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails crisscross this beautiful mountain area, including North Fork and Shingle Creek Trails. Off-road vehicle trails are in the vicinity.
Facilities: The campground contains sites with picnic and serving tables, grills, campfire circles and large paved parking areas. Vault toilets, and trash collection are provided. We are in Site C. Nearby Attractions: Mirror Lake Scenic Byway parallels the Lower Provo River as it snakes across a portion of the Uinta Mountains, leading to numerous high alpine lakes and streams, countless trails, breathtaking scenic viewpoints. Fishing, canoeing, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and biking are popular activities. The High Uintas Wilderness can be accessed from several trails along the byway.
There is limited parking, so please sign up early by filling out the form and pay fee at by clicking here.
Any questions contact Jim Thornburg, Amanda Finlayson, Adam Mansfield, Kaycee Vandenberg, or Brie Pinales