Torch Articles
On May 10, our Sanctuary family will observe the 100th day since they came to live here at First Unitarian Church, saying no to deportation and saying yes to community. Most of us have met Vicky and her darling daughters Yaretzi and Isabella by now. But if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to volunteer as a Host with our Sanctuary team – and we need more volunteers! – I’d like to take some time to tell you why it just might be the best thing you ever did.
I always knew that churches could be engines of pure love in our society, but I never realized how much love one church could produce until this spring. As we’ve gotten to know Vicky and the girls, our capacity for love has grown and grown. We’ve shared meals and late-night conversations, we’ve planned and strategized together, we’ve played hide-and-seek with Yaretzi and held little Bella’s hands as she learns to walk, and each moment we spend together draws our hearts and minds closer together.
But the love doesn’t just go one way. I also see our church members making connections, growing closer together, forming new friendships and strengthening old ones. I see new leaders emerging, sharing skills and wisdom, learning to work together and trust each other. I see people not only living their values, but resisting the popular pessimism that says that the evil in the world is too strong to overcome. We are overcoming it with love, right here in this church, starting with this family.
When you volunteer to give some of your time to Sanctuary, you’re making a positive difference towards immigration justice, racial justice, economic justice. It is life-giving and life-affirming work, and the fruit of your effort is measured in love expounded. I feel confident that most of our volunteers would say they receive far more than they give.
If you’re reading this, and you haven’t yet joined the effort, I’m appealing directly to you. Our Sanctuary effort depends heavily on volunteer hosts who can spend a block of time on the premises at our church. Although we had over 200 volunteers signed up at the beginning of the project, now most of our host shifts are covered by only about 40% of the volunteer pool.
Here’s how you can help:
We are looking for 4 new people to make a commitment to sign up for one shift per week;
And we’re looking for 12 new people to commit to sign up for two shifts per month.
If we can secure that commitment, we will be able to spread the work – and the love – more evenly across the volunteer pool, preventing volunteer burnout, and increasing the growth and connection we all share.
Here’s how to do it:
Step a: Be at least 18 years of age, flexible, and in solidarity with immigrant families.
Step 1: Follow this link (https://tinyurl.com/volunteer-with-slc-sanctuary), and fill out the webform.
Step 2: Check your email inbox for an automatic reply asking you to submit to a background check. (Very Important: check your spam folder for the automatic reply! You’ll only have a few days to fill out the background check request form before it expires!)
Step 3: Go to the app store on your phone and download Crew, a scheduling app you can recognize by its red chat-bubble logo. Create an account, and join our Sanctuary workspace. If Crew (or smartphones generally) are tough for you to navigate, contact our amazing volunteer coordinator Sven Haynes at – he can help you figure it out. (And if you’d like to work a regular schedule, say, every Tuesday night, he can make that happen too!)
Step 4: Experience one of our awesome training sessions, currently being held every other Sunday afternoon at First Unitarian Church.
Step 5: Sign up for a shift, and get ready to feel the love!
Many of us in these past two years have wondered what we could do to fight the racism, xenophobia, and hopelessness we see rising again in society. Participating in Sanctuary is a real way to do it. Thank you for sharing your love with Vicky, and thank you for supporting this incredible effort.
May all insulting references to “women drivers” now finally be put to rest. Tammie Jo Shults, flying a Boeing 737 above 30,000 feet when the left engine exploded, calmly guided her aircraft safely for an emergency landing with a 144 passengers and five crew members freaked out of their minds. When oxygen masks descend, (I never pay attention to the preflight instructions), that in itself would have sent me into orbit. When a passenger is sucked halfway out the plane, my screams would have been heard on the moon. Sadly the woman who experienced the impromptu exposure to life outside the plane with 400mph winds in her face, died from too many nightmarish complications. The rest of the people on board touched ground safely with a whole new perspective on life.
There are many ways for us to come to understand this extraordinary event. For some it was a women’s issue. Ms. Shults, a veteran pilot during the Iraqi war, was denied admission into The Air Force Academy on the grounds of being a woman. The Navy apparently had fewer misogynist rules, so she went that route. Ms.Shults was so convincing in her command of the plane, many feminists would like to boast she could have flown it backwards wearing heels. And as a woman, where relationships are more meaningful than conquests, Ms. Shults talked to everyone of the passengers when on the ground. Can you imagine a male pilot exhibiting such nurturing? In this instance, he would in all likelihood have found a seat at the bar while talking with lawyers for the rights to the film.
Another perspective on the flight is a religious one. There were more prayers delivered during the twenty-minute descent from above the clouds than one would find in every house of worship throughout the world on any given Holy Day combined. The circuits to God’s line were overloaded; nobody probably got through. And yet all who fervently prayed, as though He might grant a miracle to the righteous, sang His praises. But no one asks why He allowed the engine to fail in the first place. Was it a religious test? Regardless, may the world assume that in that interfaith community assembled on board flight #1380, God played no favorites.
Another perspective from which to examine the Southwest flight is economics. This was an accident that need not have happened. The explosion in mid-air occurred because the bottom line of the airline superseded the need to protect human life. Forgoing recommended inspections on an aging aircraft, we witness once again how safety is expendable…if it costs too much. Too many of our nation’s industries have forsaken human decency for increasing profits. Captain Shults, along with more than 100 people, would have been sacrificed that day for the capitalist dollar. And what is frightening, nothing would change; business as usual, as we experience with alarming regularity.
Captain Shults brought another day for lots of people. They were either lucky or blessed. We’ll never know for sure. But what is certain is that profit motives have supplanted the preservation of life as a priority. That’s the real horror we face everyday in our lives. TRG
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)
Regional Assembly is for the Whole Family!
The UU PWR Regional Assembly in Portland, Oregon (April 27-29) has something for people of every age. In addition to the main programs for adults, we'll have a UU Kids Camp for ages 5-14, a Youth Assembly for ages 14-18, and high-quality childcare for infants to age 4. Families can spend time together, too, sharing the experiences of the opening ceremony, the Sundaymorning worship, mealtimes, and more. Because of our UU commitment to including children and youth, the PWR is covering much of the cost of the programs for young people. The registration fee is just a portion of what it costs for these engaging, inclusive, and faith-building programs.
The Pacific Western Regional Assembly promises to be an experience that deepens UU identity and fosters hope and resilience in people of all ages. Register now and join us in Portland this spring!
Do you ever get the feeling that narcissists are clueless about aging? Self-awareness has never been a strength among the egotistical; so their constant clamor for attention continues endlessly, long past when they should pack their bags and bid adieu to the limelight. If only they knew how silly they look and act when they pretend they are ageless. They would never think of moving on or stepping aside in the twilight of their years when most people wish they would surrender to the truth about themselves. It’s a psychological disorder when the need for admiration exceeds a more circumspect view that their talents are tarnished like an old piece of silver. And frankly, nobody wants to get out the polish.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden, ages 72 and 74 respectively, decided to rumble last week as though they were teenagers. Rather than bask in the glow as elderly statesmen, they entered virtual reality as teenagers, threatening to beat the crap out of each other. Vanity can get the best of people when they think they’re some sort of Peter Pan who doesn’t get older. But into one’s seventies and still insisting that you’re a bad ass epitomizes Fake News. Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin: You’re a fool and we’re laughing at you.
One of my colleagues, who retired a few years back due to failing health, said it was difficult to acknowledge professionally, “It’s not your turn anymore.” There’s a natural rhythm in life when the old gives way to the young. You may not plan for it and it might even surprise you. But at some point even the longest running show on Broadway closes. Time to use the stage for new theater productions. Helps keep society’s blood flowing. There are still options when surrendering a career like mentoring, serving as an elder, taking a bow, offering support. But try telling any self-absorbed nitwit that it’s not his or her turn anymore.
As much as I love Bernie Sanders, he would be 79 years old if he made another presidential run. I don’t dislike Nancy Pelosi as so many do, but she turned 78 last Monday. Doesn’t mean she needs to retire from life, but her unyielding power has made it difficult for any promising new leadership to emerge. We need new voices in government. The baby in the next presidential race is Elizabeth Warren who will be a spry 73.
Don’t think I’m dismissive of the old or worship the cult of youth. It’s a matter of seeing life clearly, especially oneself. Young voters need new narratives and symbols and fresh beginnings in order to get excited enough to cast a ballot. If the elderly have accumulated any wisdom in life, they will have learned selflessness and the need for new ideas and perspectives to emerge. And they will understand that as well intentioned as they are, they can also inhibit progress…the kind of crisp approach to issues for which most of us crave.
Last Saturday at the March For Our Lives, organized by high school students protesting the political lack of nerve to impose sane gun laws, the kids spoke out.
They invited a band of interfaith clergy to join them in leading the march, but made it clear that the clergy were merely ornamental. The students would take the mic. As a result, I and thousands of protesters were treated to a series of thunderous speeches, better than I had ever heard before. They were short and savvy, and one speech flowed into the next seamlessly, organized by themes relevant to the cause: guns preferred over children, white children slain as a different media experience from black children gunned down, fear among students, and a plea that they have had enough.
The voices of those too young to vote today, will be voting in 2020. Will they be able to get excited about the near octogenarians running for president? That’s the chance that Biden, Bernie, and others will take. Let’s hope that they are not as blinded by their narcissism as Trump. It’s not their turn anymore. TRG
Sometimes I think that we will never achieve real progress on gun control. We have been fighting this battle for decades, and our nation’s destructive love affair with weapons of war has only accelerated and intensified. We lose more and more of our precious children every year to senseless gun violence.
And then, there are moments when I am humbled by my own lack of faith. 8000 protesters, led by high school students, poured into the streets of Salt Lake City on March 24, to demand a halt to the exchange of blood money for false freedoms. 8000 Utahns said they won’t be afraid anymore, and they wouldn’t let their elected officials make fearful excuses anymore.
That morning, I lined up with other progressive clergy from our city, all of us wearing the vestments of our faith traditions, and marched toward the Capitol beside them. As we marched, we chatted about our Holy Week plans, noting the irony that this march was taking place the day before Palm Sunday will be celebrated in many Christian churches.
In the Palm Sunday narrative, Jesus and his students approach the city of Jerusalem for the Passover festival, a time in which the Jewish people celebrated their liberation from Egyptian oppression. During Jesus’ time, of course, the Jewish people were occupied by another oppressive regime – that of the Romans. In fact, at around the same time Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, the Roman governor was also making a grand entrance of his own, on the other side of the city. A festival of liberation was often a ripe moment for insurrection, and the governor would have wanted to make his military presence known in order to suppress revolt.
How could he have known what real revolt would look like: a band of peasants with their illiterate teacher, riding not on a war horse but on an unbroken donkey. Scholars John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg say of that moment:
“Jesus’ procession deliberately countered what was happening on the other side of the city. Pilate’s procession embodied the power, glory, and violence of the empire that ruled the world. Jesus’ procession embodied an alternative vision, the kingdom of God.” That is a beautiful description of the kingdom of God: an alternative vision of the world, in which the world is ordered not by money and power but by love and justice.
Marching toward the Capitol that day, I got a glimpse of the kingdom of God riding to the halls of power on a donkey, led by children. I hope you did too. We can – we MUST – imagine a world without gun violence, in which swords are beaten into plowshares and we study war no more. True freedom is not the power to kill, but the power to heal and to be healed. If we cannot imagine it, we cannot bring it into being. I urge you not to lose hope, but to let these young people lead us toward the best that we can imagine.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Monica
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
In preparation for his upcoming recital tour, our Russian pianist friend, Mark Fouxman, will again be giving his pre-tour recital here at First Church Tuesday evening March 6th. ( tent. time: 7:00 pm - watch next bulletin for exact time ). Mark is a delightful human being and a consummate musician and the Music Department is pleased to host this event. It is free of charge and will be followed by a reception in Eliot Hall.
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Our Sister Church -South Valley UU- will be presenting a concert of commissioned music by Mary Lou Prince. It will feature the Rosco String Quartet and Japanese koto, as well as an original choral work. This commission is a reflection on the Japanese Americans detained at the Topaz Relocation Camp during World War II. It is Sunday, March 18th, 2018, 5:00 p.m. at South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society (6876 South Highland Drive). A suggested donation of $15 will benefit the music program of SVUUS. If you have more questions, you can call SVUUS (520-400-0831) or talk to David Owens. There is also a poster on the bulletin board in Eliot Hall.