Torch Articles

In the Spotlight - Carol Romagosa
-Submitted by Jan Crane

“Education” is a word that sums up Carol’s life- she loves it and she lives it! A lifelong passion for learning propelled her to a first degree in Pharmacy (Albany College 1967) and later to a Masters and Doctorate in Health Promotion and Education at the University of Utah (2010.) She has taken classes ‘just for fun’ in creative writing, stress management, Chinese philosophy, poetry, the works of Carl Jung, Tai Chi, and Shakespeare for the last eight semesters. Professor Mark Matheson is an amazing teacher who makes the subject so interesting!

Carol Carl (her maiden name) grew up in upstate New York in a lovely close-knit German-American family; hence her taste for sauerkraut and German potato salad. She married a Cuban-American, Henry Romagosa. They lived in Chicago, traveled to Europe many times and eventually settled in Salt Lake City. Henry was outgoing, where Carol is very shy. Later, after her divorce, she really came into her own and found herself.

Working at the university bookstore, she decided to take classes- half price, what a deal! Adrienne Splinter was in one of her classes and they became friends. Later, when Carol decided to attend the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake, she told Adrienne and was surprised when she learned that was her friend’s spiritual home, too. Carol thinks she first heard about the church from an interesting article in the Tribune about walking a labyrinth. Another influence was a book that her ex-husband shared with her called “Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age” by Jack Mendelsohn. She investigated further and realized that she had been a Unitarian her whole life and didn’t know it!

Carol has participated in Small Group Ministry, several years as a facilitator, and the Women’s Sacred Circle. If you see a smiling petite blond woman at the Welcome Table warmly explaining the church to newcomers, that’s Carol. Once she found it hard to go up and talk to people she now loves to share and help others find a spiritual community, and get involved in the good things the church stands for.

Carol thinks it’s important to pledge because the church is a home- a Beloved Community! It means so much to her. The Seven Principles are what it’s all about- she may not remember them all, but the first and last are always with her- “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” and Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” If you don’t know Carol, stop by the Welcome Table in Eliot Hall and say hi.

In celebration of International Women’s Day March 8, First Unitarian Church's Women's Sacred Circle is offering a drop-in gathering space for those who want to support A Day Without a Woman General Strike. In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired women's marches across the globe, the strike will mark the day by recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system--while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity. Women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.

Join us in solidarity with women who take the day off from paid and unpaid labor. Solidarity with those who avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women and minority-owned businesses). Or, just stop by, even for a few minutes, to experience the warmth of our Beloved Community.

Date: March 8th
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Place: First Unitarian Church Eliot Hall
Activities Include:

• Honk and Wave
• Community Organization Pamphlets (Planned Parenthood, YWCA, Utah Women Unite, ACLU, Equality Utah, etc.)
• Light Refreshments
• Live Feed from Washington and Recordings of Women’s Speeches
• Postcard Writing Activity to Representatives

-submitted by Julia Rossi

If you have never participated in CELEBRATION SUNDAY, you are in for a treat. We will have two services (9:00 and 11:00), excellent music, inspiring words, humor and amazing camaraderie. It’s an absolute must see! This is a time to reflect on your personal commitment to our church and to keep your promise to yourself to stay involved and active in your community!

A few responses to my request asking members to share ‘Why I Pledge’:
We are actually pledging members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, Florida, but we also spend five months each year in Utah, and attend the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City every chance we get while here. We have pledged nearly every year since we started coming here, in 2005. We pledge because the church provides an opportunity for us to be among a community which shares and enhances our values and beliefs. We love that the church is full of enthusiasm and energy for social justice programs. We have deep admiration for Tom’s sermons and wisdom, for Matthew’s energy, and for David’s and the choir’s incredible music. It is our pleasure and privilege to pledge to help support the ministry and programs of this church and we hope to be able to do so for many years to come. -Barbara Rowe and Chet Chmielewski

Most importantly, I pledge because the First Unitarian Universalist Church
provides support and community that sustains my everyday life.
Pledging also holds me to my commitment for the year—
sadly, promises to myself don't always stand firm. -Nancy Howard

SEE YOU ON SUNDAY!

-Submitted by Sue Geary, Board of Trustees

In the Spring of 2015, your Board of Trustees approved the search for a Consulting Minister of Congregational Life, which was to be as a two-year tenure with an option for a third year. The Board, Minister Goldsmith, and other church leaders recognized that our church was experiencing the growing pains of transition from a pastoral-sized church (wherein congregants relate directly with the minister) to a program-sized church (wherein congregants connect within various groups within the church). There were several areas needing greater attention than could be provided by volunteers alone including, welcoming and integration of newcomers, membership development and retention, redesigning and expanding our Religious Education Program, and assistance with overall ministerial duties. Although we did not have the extra funding for a second position, everything that we read and heard about the transition to a program church advised that we must staff a bit ahead of the next growth point. A generous member of our congregation provided the financial underwriting for this temporary position.

We were indeed fortunate that Reverend Matthew Cockrum was available and willing to bring his broad experience, unique expertise, and many talents to this consultant assignment. (No, I’m sorry, we can’t keep him.) During a gathering on Saturday, February 25, Rev. Cockrum provided a report of his work and his recommendations for areas that need further attention. Not only has he attended well to his assigned areas of emphasis, he has also demonstrated for the congregation just what a second minister, working in concert with the senior minister, can add to the effective operation of our church and to our spiritual experience.

During our February meeting, the Board considered the costs of giving up the programs, services, and supports that we gained during Rev. Cockrum’s tenure against the modest financial leap of faith required to establish a second minister position. The Board voted unanimously to begin the search for a second minister, who will begin her or his duties with the 2017-18 church year.

This position must ultimately be fully sustained through our pledge revenues, but we do have supplemental income for the next two years. In a report to the Board in January, the Church Endowment Committee recommended that a portion of the investment growth of our endowment funds be transferred each year for the ministry of the church. We will also direct the proceeds of our next two church auctions (2017 and 2018) to this position. Your generous pledge this year and in future years will secure this critical position for our growing church.

Over 60 First Church folks joined Rev. Matthew Cockrum and the Support Team on Saturday, February 25, for the “Consulting with the Consultant” event. Gathered folks exchanged feedback about what they’ve appreciated and what could have gone better in the areas in which Matthew has ministered in the past year. Matthew shared similar impressions. Breakout groups ensued with planning and strategizing in four areas of church life: Adult Religious Education, Youth Ministry Leadership, Paths to Membership & Faith Formation, and Leadership Development & Volunteer Management. A full report (synopsis of the event with summaries of feedback from congregants and Rev. Matthew) is forthcoming. Stay tuned. Thanks for your support and participation!

-Consulting Minister for Congregational Life

Stay in touch with the other youth and families involved in religious education at First Church! Be “in the know” about upcoming events and reports on progress of programs.
World Religions - grades 6 & 7 - Facebook Group
Our Whole Lives - grades 8 & 9 - Facebook Group
High School - grades 10-12 - Facebook Group

A huge thank you for all of the support for the 10th-12th grade in recent months in their upcoming service trip to the Center for Ethical Living & Social Justice Renewal in New Orleans (http://celsjr.org/) and also by parents, teachers and other congregants who helped out with the recent high school Our Whole Lives weekends.

Special thanks to the teaching team: Annette Ephroni, James Griner, Mary Elizabeth Mitchell and Randon Beckstead.
Sleepless thanks to the chaperones: Bryan VandenBirge, Cooper, Elaine Stehel, Jenica Davis-Hockett, Kaden Colton and Nick Shifrar
Additional thanks to panelists: Beth Jennings and Marlin Taylor.

You are all part of maintaining this flourishing and critical ministry at First Church!

Interested in helping out with future youth ministry projects? We’ll begin selecting teachers, facilitators and mentors for the 2017-2018 church year in the coming months. To apply or ask questions please contact Rev. Matthew Cockrum at or 801.582.8687 ext. 205.

In celebration of International Women’s Day March 8, First Unitarian Church's Women's Sacred Circle is offering a drop-in gathering space for those who want to support A Day Without a Woman General Strike. In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired women's marches across the globe, the strike will mark the day by recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system--while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity. Women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.

Join us in solidarity with women who take the day off from paid and unpaid labor. Solidarity with those who avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women and minority-owned businesses). Or, just stop by, even for a few minutes, to experience the warmth of our Beloved Community.

Date: March 8th
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Place: First Unitarian Church Eliot Hall
Activities Include:

• Honk and Wave
• Community Organization Pamphlets (Planned Parenthood, YWCA, Utah Women Unite, ACLU, Equality Utah, etc.)
• Light Refreshments
• Live Feed from Washington and Recordings of Women’s Speeches
• Postcard Writing Activity to Representatives

Reverendly Yours - Rev. Tom Goldsmith

As much as I loathe putting people in boxes, and then drawing conclusions as though they might be speaking for the multitudes, I did have an occasion last week to be in conversation with a young adult from California. All right – let’s call him a millennial; it slipped out that he was born in late 1982, so he qualifies for that box. We stumbled onto the topic of religion. As the media keeps massaging the profile of millennials, he was pretty classic. Church affiliation was the furthest thing from his mind. He seemed to enjoy talking with a minister who didn’t seem judgmental. He didn’t know I had a total of five children who live contented lives away from a church community. (And the cobbler’s children have no shoes).

Our conversation actually began with a bit of braggadocio about his two children, then onto his successful career, and ending with a confession of utter exhaustion in keeping it all together. He was stretched as far as a 24-hour day would allow. But then he raised issues about how the world will be destroyed by the immoral values manifest in the current administration. He was concerned about the kind of world his children will inherit. He then shrugged and said there wasn’t much he could do about it.

A quiet moment followed; it felt like grief hung in the air.

I asked him what he did to restore his energy, hope, and (if he pardoned the word), spirit. He seemed more eager to discuss spirituality than I anticipated. He leaned forward and began rhapsodizing about hiking the woods. He said he restored his spirit by hiking. “That’s my God,” he smiled. “Alone in he woods, connecting with nature, and beauty, and peace.”

We swapped some stories about our favorite hikes: box canyons, slot canyons, moose on the path, unexpected storms, the joy of communing with nature.

“It feels pretty good,” I ventured. He agreed.

“And then what?” I asked.

“Back to the old grind,” he said. “But I need those breaks every so often to stay sane.”

“Does it help your children any?”

“What?”

“Does it feel like you’re moving the world forward in terms of your values, or is it just a momentary escape before you return to your unending responsibilities?”

He conceded it was a mere break in the action that did nothing to relieve his concern about where the country/world was heading.

I introduced a new perspective. I asked him to compare the spiritual strength that comes from a lone experience in the woods, with what might conceivably happen in community with others who had children, and who felt the same dread.

“Gee, I don’t know how to answer that. What happens in a community?”

I told him of our myriad opportunities in church to work towards a just world. I told him about involving the children so they gained a sense of what it means to help others. (That’s pretty cool,” he conceded).

“And most of all,” I said, “don’t we feel more powerful to influence change when working in a community than by a lonely walk in the woods?”

He asked a good question: “Are the two mutually exclusive?”

“No,” I replied. In fact they are related. The moments of solitude feed the soul to become stronger in community. If you didn’t have time for reflection and self-examination, you would burnout while working to restore confidence in the future.”

He agreed, but I saw the wheels turning in his head: “Where will I find the time?”

Hands were shaken, even a hug. Smiles galore. He understood it all. Will it work? Will a millennial start attending church? I make no predictions. TRG

Arts Fair April 22nd The Annual First Unitarian Church Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be held on Saturday April 22nd from 5 to 10 pm and Sunday April 23rd till 1:30 pm. Artists: Please register using the online form found  here. This is a fun family event with food and entertainment provided. Artists can show their art for fun at no charge. All sales are handled by the church. Church retains 25%, artist receive a check from the church for 75%. All arts and crafts welcomed. Display space is limited, so sign up early. If you have any question please contact Bill Reed at .

Refugee Resettlement Committee Needs Donations
Years before it became famous for the assassination of Julius Caesar in the Roman Senate, the Ides of March marked the first full moon of the new year in Rome If your 2017 New Year’s resolutions faded as fast as the frequency of your gym workouts, the time is at hand for a re-boot. No need to beware the Ides of March and its implications for self-improvement, resolve to do something for someone in need. Donating your gently used furniture to the Refugee Resettlement Committee requires no more than a phone call to Joe Dubray at (904) 527-9773.

Dinner and Dialogue Are you new to our First Unitarian Church congregation? Well, we would like to welcome you and invite you join us for an intimate dinner in a member's home. There is a Dinner and Dialogue binder at the Congregational Life table in Eliot Hall where you can sign up. We have one dinner in March already set up for newcomers only and would like to encourage some of you "old timers" to help us by hosting several more. Of course, we also have dinners for everyone, so please look over the binder and see what might interest you. You can contact Darlene Thayne at or 801-455-6553 if you need any assistance on this. Let's get acquainted!

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. The community supports our intention to experience the benefits of being mindfully aware so that we may cultivate and live with calm, peace and ease. All are welcome. Sundays Following the end of the first service, in the Parlor.

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 .

• March 5th: (Location Change!) Citrus Grill (3977 S Wasatch Blvd)
• March 12th: Cafe Med (420 East 3300 South)
• March 19th: Pho Thin (2121 McClelland St)
• March 26th: Saffron Valley East India Cafe (22 E Street)

Environmental Ministry Update

The goal of this article is to share information on the work and plans of Environmental Ministry. Who IS the Environmental Ministry? We are the folks who plan and participate in Environmental Ministry programs, keep you informed about upcoming environmental and climate justice events/actions, support our church environmental stewardship efforts, represent Environmental Ministry in the broader community, and staff the Environmental Ministry table on Sundays. We try to make sense of what is happening on the environmental and climate justice front and encourage all of us to take action to defend a livable future. We typically meet on the first Sunday of each month at 12:45PM in Room 208 – with exceptions due to holidays. Below is an update.

“Sacred Activism” – Environmental Ministry Program Theme for 2017

While the Trump Administration furthers the chaos and confusion of its first month, it is difficult to focus on defending the health of our Living Systems and protecting our Environment when the EPA, the key federal agency for that protection, is under comprehensive assault. How do we preserve, defend, and protect the interdependent web of life of which we are a part, when Scott Pruitt, who as Oklahoma’s attorney general, “closely coordinated with major oil and gas producers, electric utilities and political groups with ties to the … Koch [brothers] to roll back environmental regulations,” has been confirmed to head the Environmental Protection Agency! How do we protect and defend a livable future for ourselves and our children? How do we defend the sacred?

Exploring these questions and finding answers—together—is what defines Environmental Ministry programs for 2017. In January, we discussed the Valve Turners and their Direct Action that stopped the Canadian Tar Sands from flowing to the US for a day. Despite facing felony charges that could keep them imprisoned for the rest of their lives, they showed their own “defense of the sacred” in their actions. The video, beautifully facilitated by Kathleen Dean Moore, provided the basis for our conversation about grief, fear, hope and the motivations for their actions. This video can be re-viewed here, and we have an update on the result of one trial.

Ken Ward, although unable to use the “necessity defense” (Tim DeChristopher was also prohibited from using that defense) nonetheless found that some of the jury did not believe he was guilty, so a mistrial was declared! Here is Ken’s most recent post outlining the authoritative, well-documented climate data upon which his action was based. In our Environmental Ministry news and in the Direct Action Training that will be part of our training in the next few months, we will keep you updated on the Valve Turners and their trials.

Our February 21st program, began with the film “Breath of Life,” and included a conversation about “Action,” notifications about local and national actions, discussions about “Defending the Sacred,” and a beginning introduction to “Sacred Activism.” View the trailer to the film “Breath of Life,” here. Environmental Ministry has permission to show and share both the “Breath of Life,” and “Before the Flood” (which was screened in December). In addition, if you are interested in showing either film, we can loan it to you. Contact Joan for details: .

In March, Environmental Ministry is sponsoring two programs. Our first 2017 Direct Action Training, Know Your Rights, will be presented by Pioneer Justice Center attorneys, Trent Richards, Stewart Gollan, and Monte Sleight on Friday, March 3rd at 7PM in Eliot Hall. As we plan to take action and support those who are taking action in the coming weeks, months, and years, what we learn in this workshop will serve as a solid foundation empowering us with the knowledge and skills needed to assure our rights and those of others are not violated and to stand on firm ground when they are.

The March 17th program (also at 7PM in Eliot Hall) will begin with a video on defending the sacred and will focus on Standing Rock and on how we—together--may act to defend the sacred, and not just in North Dakota. Even though the Army Corps of Engineers following Trump’s directive, has approved the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and has evicted the water protectors, the concerted effort to defend the sacred continues. The Indigenous Environmental Network: website and Facebook page continue to be invaluable resources, as is the website of the Camp of the Sacred Stone. Local representatives of PANDOS (Peaceful Advocates for Native Dialogue and Organizing Support) and the Utah League of Native American Voters (ULNAV), will serve as panelists sharing their own experiences defending the sacred at Standing Rock and here in Utah. There will be time for discussion and exploration of what it means to defend the sacred.

Sacred Activism will be the theme for our Earth Day Service at First Unitarian Church on April 23rd. Earth Day is Saturday, April 22nd. Environmental Ministry will celebrate Earth Day Sunday with the children through religious exploration on Apr 30th.

Environmental Ministry seeks to provide support, inspiration, and stability as we follow the lead of the indigenous people in defending the sacred in 2017 and for all times! Please visit our Environmental Ministry Sunday table, to catch up on the latest environmental, climate, and social justice events, training, actions, and news during these turbulent times.

• List of Upcoming Environmental Ministry Events and Meetings
• Fri, Mar 3rd, 7PM Know Your Rights Workshop (Eliot Hall)
• Sun, Mar 5th, 12:45PM Environmental Ministry Planning Team Meeting (Rm 208)
• Fri, Mar 17th, 7PM Defending the Sacred (Eliot Hall)
• Sun, Apr 2nd, 12:45PM Environmental Ministry Planning Team Meeting (Rm 208)
• Fri, Apr 7th, 7PM Non-Violent Direct Action Training (Eliot Hall – planning in progress)
• Sun, Apr 23rd, 9AM & 11AM Earth Day Sunday Service - Sacred Activism (Sanctuary)
• Sun, Apr 30th, 11AM Earth Day Religious Exploration with the Children (Little Chapel)