Torch Articles

Family Fun Night

Join us on June 4th at 6 p.m. for Family Fun Night. We will be outside, weather permitting.

General Assembly Discussions

General Assembly is coming up in June, and delegates from our congregation will consider a number of business items, Actions of Immediate Witness, and Congregational Study/Action Issues.  Want to know more about issues, or about General Assembly?  You can join Rev. Monica for one of two discussions, and let her know what’s important to you as your GA delegates represent you in Kansas City.

• Monday, June 4, 6:30 pm, First Unitarian Church (during Family Fun Night)

• Thursday, June 7, 8:00 am, Corner Bakery (Foothill Drive)

Lunch Bunch

• June 3, Desert Edge Brewery, 273 Trolley Sq, 801-521-8917, www.desertedgebrewery.com
• June 10, Rawtopia Living Cuisine and Beyond, 3961 S Wasatch Blvd, 801-486-0332, www.rawtopia.com
• June 17, Indochine Vietnamese Bistro, 230 S 1300 E, 801-582-0896, www.indochineutah.com
• June 24, Fav Bistro, 1984 E Murray Holladay Rd, 801-676-9300

UU Walk/Hike

• Tuesday, June 5th, 8am Walk along the Jordan Parkway w/Shirley. Meet at Arrowhead Park (So side of 4800 So) 550 W 4800 So.
• Friday, June 8th, 9am Walk the Avenues w/Sonia. meet at Reservoir Park corner of South Temple and University St (1300 East)

Young Adult Group

A community of people in their 20’s, 30’s or young at heart.  The next, and final discussion session of the church year is with Monica on Thursday, June 7th at 7:30 pm in the Haven.

Summer Picnic 

Mark your calendars for the Annual Church Picnic at Sugarhouse Park following the service on Sunday, June 10th

UU Walking Meditation

Join us June 12th at 6pm.  Shirley Ray is leading a walking meditation at Red Butte Garden.  Meet at the entrance of Red Butte Garden Visitor Center.  Bring a light snack to share. (If you are a RBG member and have extra free passes please bring and share)

Environmental Ministry

Bear River, Bears Ears and Bears: Songs, Photos and Stories by Art Lee June 15, 2018, 7:00 PM in Eliot Hall.

RE Garden Parties

Every Thursday night at 6:45 pm, we'll be meeting at the RE garden plot at First Church  Please contact Amanda Esko at for more information on this fun summer project.

Artists Discussing Art

Last Monday of every month Artists gather in the Haven at 7 pm to discuss each others art. 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.

Dinner and Dialogue

Meet other UUs 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.  Contact with questions

Harvest for Hunger

A new community project aimed to help people grow back yard gardens while committing to donating a portion of their harvest to people within our community who regularly go without meals. Like to garden? Have space in your yard for a garden? Want to contribute to the cause? Find out more at the Congregational Life Table or email

Mindfulness Group

Meditation is held Sundays at 9am during the summer schedule. 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.  For more information, contact  

Sanctuary

Want to know more about out Sanctuary effort?  Stop by the Sanctuary table in Eliot Hall after service.  To volunteer to be a Sanctuary host, sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/Volunteer4SLCSanctuary

If the church year feels like a marathon, we’re down to the last .2 miles. Just a tantalizing little stretch remains before we can call the race completed. At our final staff meeting of the year, I could tell that everyone felt a bit depleted, but it was a very good run. There’s just enough left in the tank to finish it all up.

What an extraordinary year it has been! Aside from our major spurt of energy focused on providing sanctuary, with a stellar steering committee guiding about 200 volunteers, we continued our usual social justice outreach by furnishing apartments for refugee families, providing meals for homeless teens, and the work of environmental ministry continuing to educate and witness. 

Our nation’s change of leadership in 2016 has helped us define more clearly (for ourselves and others) just what progressive religion really means. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, made an innocent stab last week at defining progressive. He said progressives were godless people, and in a way he was absolutely correct. Progressives are godless only in that they lack the Michelangelo concept of a heavenly deity who commands and judges and instills fear in the hearts of us all. Progressives live their religion through acts of love and compassion, hearts open to strangers, inspired by a gospel of justice rather than a gospel of wealth.

The .2 miles remaining in this church year includes the Pride Service and Pride Parade (not high on Franklin’s list of religious injunctions), and a closing church service on June 10th followed by the all-church picnic in Sugar House Park. Monica and I will share the pulpit on the 10th, and I will do the worship service on Father’s Day, June 17th. 

We are extremely fortunate that between finishing the church marathon this year and beginning a new race in the 2018-2019 year, we have the refreshing coolness of Summer Forum. Once again we’ll be treated to a smorgasbord of politics, arts, and hot-button issues. Proudly our church never rests, ready to serve our congregation and the larger community 52 Sunday a year. 

I hope we are all filled with gratitude as we finish out this church year. Monica Dobbins has made a huge difference in the life of the church; Lynda Garlick, our intern, contributed mightily to a successful year; our music department, led by a pair of Davids, maintains its excellence, Religious Education, entrusted with the huge responsibility of educating future progressives, keeps raising the bar. We will miss Julie Miller’s leadership very much, her joy and expertise. Welcome Amanda to the DRE position. And Hal Gonzales and Stefanie Park run the administration of the church with amazing smoothness and grace. Our sexton, Layne Owens, continues to keep the church looking in great condition despite the enormous traffic in our building. 

And to all who read this article, THANK YOU for your amazing support, constructive criticism, and love poured into this humble little church community. Honestly, this church is all about you! The staff and I work for you. Your attention, committee work, worship support, generosity of spirit and pocketbook are what keeps us going. You provide the fuel for this marathon of a church year. 

And now with the summer virtually upon us, let us take a breather, get re-energized, and return with renewed vigor and determination. I’m sure the summer will provide us with new material on how to exercise our progressive ideals once we reconvene. 

And personally, thank you for a wonderful year and the opportunity to keep serving you. TRG

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

First Unitarian Church

Annual Meeting Agenda

May 20, 2018

following the 2nd Service

Call meeting to order and welcome

Welcome new church members

Board of Trustees Report

Board President’s Overview

Key Data Dashboard 2017-18

Results of 2017 Congregational Survey

2018 Congregational Survey

Senior Minister’s Report

Ministry

Operations Report

Programs

Elections

Nominating Committee member

Board of Trustees members (second term)

Financial Report

Review and approve 2018-2019 budget

Questions and Answers with congregation

Tuesday, May 8  & June 12.  Bring food to share around 6:00 pm.  https://www.redbuttegarden.org 

Fees If you are a member of Red Butte and have free passes, please let us know if you would make them available for non members.  We have some 1/2 price passes and a few free.  HB60 Student Cards are honored.

$14 Adults  $12.00 Seniors

We will meet at the entrance, share tickets and take the elevator to the second floor entrance to the patio and waterfall to share our light dinner.

Following a brief demonstration, we will do our private walking meditation with our 5 senses. Carts are available for transportation for those who may prefer not to walk to gardens, waterfalls, patios, chairs and swings throughout the garden.

Bring a light sweater for when the sun goes down.  Sunset about 8:17 pm  You might plan to sit in the Water Conservation patios and watch

General Assembly registration is now open! 

UUA General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists from all around the world, and this year's GA will be convened in Kansas City, MO. To attend GA in person, registration is required, and can be completed here: 

https://www.uua.org/ga/registration 

If you decide to attend, please let Rev. Monica know you are going, so we can make plans to meet up! 

If you're not able to go this year, but want to experience General Assembly, off-site options are available: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site

Annual Pride Worship Service

The 2018 Interfaith Pride Worship Service will be held on Thursday, May 31, 7-9pm, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1070 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City.

First Unitarian Church is proud to take part in planning this community worship service, and YOU can take part in it too! We are looking for singers who would like to join a community chorus to sing during the service, under the direction of Holly Stuart. There will be two rehearsals, on May 24 and 27, and a brief rehearsal before the service. Please contact Rev. Monica at if you'd like to participate. We'd like to have a big showing from First Unitarian for this important community event!

Summer Schedule 2018

We go to one service only 

Sundays at 10:00 am 

May 27th through June 17th

Our Summer Forum series begins 

June 24th at 10:00 am. 

Summer Forum is a 8 week series of speakers on various topics.  Summer Forum this year will run 

June 24th through August 12th. 

More information about topics and speakers is forthcoming. 

Our Religious Education program ends May 20th and resumes September 9th for the 2018-2019 church year.

Child care is provided during Summer Service and Summer Forum

Texas native, Alice Brown, has lived in Utah for over 25 years. She raised her 5 children ages 17-35 here in Salt Lake City. Alice practiced as a Physician Assistant but left the profession when she became a mother. She found her life's mission as a full time mother, a privilege she continues to this day. 

Alice is a passionate Court Appointed Special Advocate.  As a CASA volunteer she represents children that are under the supervision of the juvenile court system by visiting them weekly and representing their best interests and needs to the court. 

She has been attending First Unitarian Church since returning to Utah in 2013.  Her desire to expose her twin daughters to an accepting and diverse community initially pushed Alice to attend First Church.  She fell in love with the congregation and services and now attends while her high school daughters "sleep in" on Sundays. Alice volunteers her time for the Church by working with the auction committee and the Teen Shelter providing meals with other members of the Church. 

She enjoys reading, movies, swimming, Pilates and walking her two senior dogs, Jude and Peanut. Alice is a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan and despite all her years in Utah rarely does a day go by when someone doesn't ask her "what part of the south are you from?"

Teaching Youth How to Dissent is an Essential Part of Democracy 

The past three months have been remarkable with students taking to the streets and to the media, corporations and Town Hall meetings in protest over gun practices and policies. Responses to our youth have been mixed. Some celebrate their actions, their passion, their intelligence and courage and, of course, the capacity to organize and lead! 

Others exclaim that they are immature, manipulated by left-leaning adults, and that they don’t yet grasp critical issues surrounding the Second Amendment, let alone the First. Still others question the “voices” of the teens.... 

Like many in our congregation, I/we believe that an informed and educated response to senseless gun violence is essential. Churches and schools must prepare students to activate their civil rights, especially in the face of tragedy. Our young people have a right to engage in political dissent. But they need education that enlightens their ability to do so in a persuasive way. 

Our laws enable us to disagree peacefully. When our well-being is in jeopardy, however, we have a duty to speak up. Only with this opportunity to dissent can we determine if our laws are working, and whether they are good and just. Our democracy requires consent of the governed. As maturing citizens, our children and youth are entitled to understand how democracy works. I am grateful for our high school youth program (YRUU) and for schools that teach conscious decision-making, coalition building, debate skills, persuasion, and how to track government processes in order to effect change. 

All youth need opportunities to learn about the responsibilities of citizenship. This includes recognizing and supporting just laws, recognizing the difference between rabble-rousing as opposed to peaceful, informed dissent, and how to protest while not infringing on the rights of others, particularly those with opposing views. 

In a flourishing democracy, informed and active citizens speak up and speak out when faced with unjust practices. 

In Service