Torch Articles
Family Fun Night: Join us on November 5th at 6 p.m. for Family Fun Night
UU Young Adults: A community of people in their 20's, 30's, or young at heart. Upcoming events: Discussion with Monica in The Haven, Thursday 11/8 7:30-9:30 pm. These take place on the second Thursday of each month. Join us for thought provoking conversation and a drink! Our next social event is Friendsgiving Dinner on 11/19, where we'll be cooking dinner together in Eliot Hall starting at 6:30. See details for all of our upcoming events on Facebook: First Unitarian SLC Young Adults, or email us to receive notifications via email: , or you can reach out to Heather Heaton 612-356-4384
UU Open Minds Book Club: November 15th, 7pm in The Haven, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” by Michelle McNamara
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
Environmental Ministry: Hosting THE GOOD GRIEF NETWORK, beginning its weekly 10-step Program to combat despair, deepen self-awareness, and embrace interconnectedness. We invite everyone grapple with the enormous challenges of systemic sociopolitical, environmental, and spiritual change needed to reign in climate collapse and other large-scale ills to join us in building psychosocial resilience starting 10/30/18 from 6:30-8:30pm in Room 218 (continuing Tuesdays through 1/22/19 except for Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks). Drop-ins are welcome but you can contact to RSVP or for more information.
Harvest for Hunger: Thank you to everyone in the congregation that has helped by donating produce to feed the homeless, including the RE class that grew a garden right here at church. All together we've had over 1400 pounds of fresh produce donated from members of our congregation! As the season is winding down, the donation cooler will be in Eliot Hall through November 11, and you can still make donations past that date by contacting Heather Heaton: 612-356-4384 or
UU Hiking/Walking:
- Nature Walks along the Jordan River with Shirley/Dan, every Tuesday 10am to Noon. Meet at Arrowhead Park, 550 W 4800 So. Friendly dogs on leash welcome, 1 to 3 miles.
Mindfulness Group:
- Weekly meditation is held on Sundays at 10 am upstairs in the Parlor. We discuss mindfulness in daily living, meditate silently for 20 minutes and close with loving kindness. All are welcome, come and meet others who meditate.
- An evening of Buddhist teachings investigating the foundations of mindfulness meditation. What is mindfulness and how might it be of benefit in our personal lives, alone and together as a community? We will consider how to cultivate a daily practice of mindfulness as taught by the Buddha and is practiced today. All are welcome. Come to the Parlor on the 3rd Wednesday at 6:30 pm. November 21st and December 19th. For more information
SANCTUARY: SANCTUARY QUESTIONS? Want to learn more about our Sanctuary effort? Stop by the Sanctuary table in Eliot Hall after each service.
- VOLUNTEER: To volunteer to become a Sanctuary Host, sign up at: https://slcsanctuary.org/volunteer/
- DONATE: Online donations to the Sanctuary Family Fund may be made at: https://slcuu.org/sanctuary-fund. To donate by check, make check payable to: First Unitarian Church of SLC, and write: Sanctuary Family Fund in the note.
UU WRITING GROUP: Meeting Thursday November 15th & 29th, 10am in the Haven
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11/4/18 at 1pm, The Dodo,1355 E 2100 So,SLC, UT, 801-486-2473, www.thedodorestaurant.com
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11/11/18 at 1pm, Gracies, 326 S West Temple, SLC, UT, 801-819-7565, www.graceslc.com
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11/18/18 at 1pm, Caffee Molise, 404 S West Temple, SLC, UT, 801-364-8833, www.caffemolise.com
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11/25/18 at 1pm, Somi, 1215 E Wilmington Ave, SLC, UT, 385-322-1158, www.somislc.com
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.
So much is happening in Religious Education this month! Family Fun Night, New Family Dinner, the MDD High School Con, and Halloween, just to name a few. Also, let's not to forget to mention everything that happens on Sundays! Take a look at our offerings and join in on the fun!
Infant-36 months
Preschool
K/1st
2nd/3rd
4th/5th
OWL
8/9 and K-2 OWL Class Fees- Class fees can be made online here. Payments can also be taken in the main church office on Sundays. First Church is committed to all youth participating, regardless of financial capacity. Scholarships and reductions are available by contacting Amanda Esko at or 801-582-8687 ext 206.
High School
Fall Con registration is live! We're lucky enough to be hosting Fall Con this year. This is a great opportunity for our youth to meet over 70 other UU youth from around the mountain west. Would your youth like to help plan the con? Email Amanda Esko at
MDD FALL CON REGISTRATION
UU at Home
Do you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalists? Have you ever wondered what it means to be a Unitarian on the other six days of the week? Well, you're in luck! On the last Sunday of each month, Amanda and Lissa will be teaching UU@Home, for both parents and children, in Little Chapel between services. We will look for opportunities to live our principals out in the wild. We will check in with each other on steps we've taken as a whole family to honor the inherent worth and dignity of all people, or to celebrate the web of interconnected life! We will ask questions and learn about our history. We'll play with sequins and glue, and sing songs. Join the last Sunday of every month at 10:15 am!
Sanctuary Sundays
Want to light the chalice as a family on Sanctuary Sundays? Signup here!
New Family Dinner
Are you a new family to our congregation? Welcome! We are having a new family dinner on October 9th at 6 pm. Come, have dinner and meet other new families, and hear more about our Religious Education Program. Questions or want to RSVP? Please email Amanda Esko at .
Save the Date!
Our annual Halloween Party will be on October 29th at 6 pm. Plan on dinner, games, dance party, and a sing-along at Friendship Manor. As the date gets closer, look for more information in the Order of Service and the Religious Education Newsletter, The Match.
Dry, dry, dry. It’s been months since ANY rain has fallen. Emigration Canyon Creek, which runs through my property, looks like a graveyard of dried bones. Pale rocks and scaly dirt stir reminders of old times when the creek flowed impressively, people fished, and even some inner tubes floated along in certain areas. It may yet flow again, but the current drought leaves a bone-chilling effect.
In the more than dozen years I have lived up canyon, water never surfaced as a topic of conversation. Our neighbors all lead busy and professional lives, and discussions at potluck get-togethers turn to local politics, national politics, children, and grandchildren. The best part is that we all agree about everything political and share laughter about the cuteness of our descendants. Yes, we have our own bubble and we love it. It reminds me of the old commercials about Colgate toothpaste and its “protective dental shield.” In these times, we need protective shields of any kind.
But now the conversation turns to water in a serious way. We are all on wells, and some have begun to sputter. Those who feel fortunate to still have a bit of flow, turn to conservation in dramatic ways. The uncertainty of water can create panic in the hearts of all of us. Water may be the most unappreciated precious commodity we know. Already it is far pricier than oil.
When climate scientists warned of droughts years ago, the snowpack up canyon was just fine. We’re now wondering about our provinciality, thinking that droughts were reserved for places like The Sudan. Global warming impacts the whole world…duh.
We’re living in our own private Sudan. The American Middle Class meets climate change. The onslaught of unprecedented powerful hurricanes coming with eerie frequency, coupled with dried up creeks extending to the once-lush northwest, make us quickly realize that climate change is not a matter of future predictions. It’s upon us now. This is it, and will only get more extreme.
In a recent interview, Terry Tempest Williams shifted our focus about climate change from an ecological issue to primarily a spiritual one. I can only concur, moving my own views on climate change from an intellectual challenge to be solved, to a gut-wrenching fear in my soul. When she was asked: “What makes it a spiritual issue,” she answered: “Because it has everything to do with an ethical stance towards life. It is a spiritual issue to extend our notion of power to include all species, not just our own…We believe in the supremacy of our own species, that we live only for us…Fossil fuel development in the American West is affecting our communities, especially regarding water.”
Yes, even water comes down to being an ethical issue. Thirst can make you look at life differently; it help rearrange your priorities. Maybe our whole problem with the current administration in D.C. is that (fundamentally) it eschews an ethical stance towards life. This is no liberal jargon. Even the president’s own cabinet has drawn the line where right-wing extremism spills over into lunacy. We may end up with a bipartisan effort yet in invoking the 25thamendment. You need to choose words carefully upon doing so; you can’t site “crazy” as a reason. I recommend, “failing to take an ethical stance towards life.”
Meanwhile, not a trickle of water can be discerned on the creek. It’s been real dry all over. And so we wait. Filled with prayer, we wait. And all those cute stories shared with neighbors about the grandchildren, become laden with panic as we look towards the future with great uncertainty. It’s a spiritual issue all right, when we fail future generations.
I don’t think we’ll get much water until we begin to examine the whole of life more ethically. Even when we finally do take a stance, it will be a while yet before the water flows again. I don’t expect to do any fishing in the creek in my lifetime, but even a trickle will raise my spirit. The burden of cementing an ethical stance towards life falls on us. It falls on our church. I’m so glad we’re all there. TRG
The Supreme Court nominee hearings have been a spectacle of high-stakes politics unequalled in recent memory. But for the women and non-binary folk in my life, they have also been unusually painful. Nominee Brett Kavanaugh is accused of sexually assaulting Dr. Christine Blasey Ford when both of them were teenagers. Hearing the details of these accusations reopens old wounds for many of us, for there are few women or girls around who have not been the subject of sexual harassment, assault, or even rape. It is stunningly common, woefully underreported, and rarely talked about outside of counselors’ offices, yet reverberates through a person’s life for decades. Survivors often never completely recover. And it does happen to men and non-binary persons, too, and those cases are even more rarely talked about.
All of the media attention – including social media commentary, deconstruction, and thinkpieces – can be overwhelming for people who’d thought they’d lived through the worst of it, and maybe even had put their lives back together. There might be days when, as much as one might want to go to social media to escape the news, in fact one only encounters more and more reminders of what happened, what continues to happen to other victims.
What it brings up for me is the importance of talking about sex, and more to the point, talking about consent and respect. Sex educators will tell you that parents are children’s primary source of information about sex, and if parents don’t provide that information, the children WILL get it elsewhere – and it probably won’t align with our values about sex. It’s hard enough talking with our kids about healthy sex; how much harder to talk about sexual assault? Yet we must have the courage to do it.
Children learn lessons about consent very early. The most positive message we can give younger kids is to teach them that they are always in control of their own bodies, as long as they are not in harm’s way. Don’t want to give Grandpa a hug? That’s fine, it’s your choice, and it doesn’t mean you love him any less. Changed your mind about getting your ears pierced? No problem, we can come back another day. People of all ages can reinforce these boundaries: for example, I like to ask people if they’d prefer a hug or a handshake the first couple of times I meet them.
If we have the privilege of raising boys, it is crucial that we teach them about enthusiastic consent. I read recently about a young man who was asked, if you ask a girl out and she says no, what should you do? He answered, “I know, I know, I should keep trying.” Actually, he should stop trying – the girl gave him an answer, and the answer was no. He should respect her choice and learn to manage his disappointment. This is the first step of understanding that “no means no”. We often think of boys as aggressors and girls as victims, but we need to understand that boys can also be harmed by this stereotype, which diminishes their humanity. Men who respect and encourage women and know how to cultivate the friendship of women develop full and rich character. Even more, we must teach boys how to notice when other boys are overstepping a woman’s boundaries, and how to interrupt it.
If we have girls and/or queer children to raise, it is equally important that we teach them that they never have to say yes. It can be very heavy to think about teaching them about the dangers of dating, but we must have this conversation so that they will know that we will always believe what they tell us, that we will not blame them if they become victims, and that we will take their side. It can be helpful to frame it in terms of instilling our first UU Principle: our children have inherent worth that can never be taken from them. (It’s so important to remember that queer youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and nonbinary youth, are at significantly higher risk of sexual assault than their straight counterparts, so educating our queer kids is one of the most important things we can do to support them.)
If the Kavanaugh hearings have brought up painful feelings or memories for you, I want you to know that you are a person of worth and beauty, who deserves to be loved, and you are not at fault for what happened to you. It’s okay to take a break from media, including social media – there are people around you who love you and can keep you in the loop. I’d also like to say thank you to the men who take the time to listen to the stories of friends who’ve been hurt, who withhold judgment and make space for pain. You are part of the solution, and it means a lot. I’m proud that our community is a place where we can explore the painful parts of life, and heal through them together.
Young Adults: A community of people in the 20's, 30's, or young at heart. Upcoming events: Brunch, September 30th at 1pm, meet at Village Inn 910 E 400 So. Discussion with Tom in the Haven on Thursday, October 11th 7:30-9:30pm. See all of our upcoming events on Facebook: First Unitarian SLC Young Adults, or email us to receive notifications via email: , or you can reach out to Brit Bringhurst or Maddie Rossman.
Family Fun Night: Join us on October 1st at 6 p.m. for Family Fun Night
Environmental Ministry: A Steady State Economy: Questioning Growth Friday, October 5, 2018, 7-9PM, Eliot Hall. What does a steady state economy look like? Dan O’Neill, Centre for the Advancement of Steady State Economics (CASSE) writes: “Imagine an economy founded on fairness. Imagine an economy that uses resources wisely. Image taking action to start the transition. We can build the steady state economy. But we first need to recognize that enough is enough.” Join Environmental Ministry in exploring the journey from more to enough as we continue our series on the steady state economy begun this past May with GrowthBusters. This series will continue in November as well: Friday, November 2, 2018, 7pm.
Greeter Training: October 13, 2018, Eliot Hall. Our Sunday morning hospitality team plays such an important role in the life of our church, as the greeter is sometimes the first Unitarian Universalist a visitor meets! If you are now serving on our greeter team, or would like to join, we invite you to a training session on Saturday, October 13, from 9am till 11am in Eliot Hall. We will review changes to policies and procedures and renew our commitment to welcome and hospitality in our church. Contact or for more information.
UU Orientation: October 15, 2018, Eliot Hall. If you are new to First Unitarian Church, or curious about becoming a member, Rev. Tom Goldsmith and Rev. Monica Dobbins invite you to join us for an Orientation on Monday, October 15, from 7pm until 9pm in Eliot Hall. Get to know our congregation, meet new friends, and learn whether membership is right for you. Register at our Congregational Life table on Sunday, or with this link: https://airtable.com/shrVquvdj20HElBLY
Childcare is available if requested in advance - please contact Rev. Monica for details ().
UU Open Minds Book Club: October 18th, 7pm in The Haven, “$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America” by Kathryn J. Edin.
Successful Living with Hearing Loss: October 18th 7pm. We all deal with hearing loss one way or another. Whether it's you or someone in your family, hearing loss can be a huge challenge. You are invited to attend "Successful Living with Hearing Loss", presented by Kathy Evans, who is an outreach trainer from the Sanderson Community Center for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing (a Utah state agency). She will talk about ways to solve the communication breakdowns that are inevitable in families of people with hearing loss. You will also be able to try out our amazing assistive hearing systems that are installed in our building. The date is October 18 at 7pm, in the chapel. If questions, contact Doug Roberts at .
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: Do you have a food garden? If you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees in your yard we need you to join Harvest for Hunger's network of gardeners! We will have a cooler in Eliot Hall during coffee hour each Sunday for you to bring your excess produce so that it can be donated to local shelters, soup kitchens, and families who have trouble putting food on the table. Contact Heather Heaton with any questions:
Mindfulness Group: Meditation is held Sundays at 10am. 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: To volunteer to be a Sanctuary host, sign up here: https://slcsanctuary.org/volunteer/ Sanctuary Training: one-on-one - once you sign up. Questions: Stop by the Sanctuary Information Table in Eliot Hall on Sundays after services.
- 10/7/18 at 1pm, Straw Market, 390 4th Ave, SLC, UT, 801-935-4420, www.straw-market.com
- 10/14/18 at 1pm, East Liberty Tab House, 850 East 900 South, SLC, UT, 801-441-2845, www.eastlibertytaphouse.com
- 10/21/18 at 1pm, Indochine Vietnamese Bistro, 230 South 1300 East, SLC, UT, 801-582-0896, www.indochineutah.com
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10/28/18 at 1pm, Red Butte Cafe (by Dans), 1414 South Foothill Dr, SLC, UT, 801-581-9498, www.theredbuttecafe.com
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/#/
Those amazing workers behind Summer Forum 2018. . .
On eight Sundays this summer, we had a strong team effort: Our Church hosted speakers, presenters and musicians who educated, informed and entertained. We acknowledge Tim and Cathy Chambless for inviting the speakers, doing introductions and conducting Q&A sessions. However, many others deserve credit for their essential work that made the Church’s Summer Forum series truly successful.
Becky Heal and Shirley Ray arranged for musicians to perform who magically complemented the tone of the speaker content. Lee Shuster and his A/V team Don Walton and Joe Herring were there every Sunday to amplify and control sound and record video so others could enjoy remotely. Marc Peterson efficiently handled the volunteer sign-ups and reminders by email. Pauline Higgins, Marion Johnson and Jack Avery ensures there was coffee each Sunday. Child care was lovingly provided by Anna Fonnesbeck in the pre-school room and playground. The multitude of other roles as ushers, welcome table greeters and coffee makers were filled by the dedicated volunteers (and their committees) listed below:
- June 24; Colleen Bliss, Adam Mansfield, Tyler Jacobsen, Mark Rothacher, Melanie Hopkinson, Barbara Kreek, Nancy Howard, and Rick Bliss(Small Group Ministry)
- July 1; Linda Waters, Henry Whiteside, Marc Peterson, CJ Sadiq, Romagosa, Marion Johnson, Greg Johnson
- July 8; Donnie, Christine, Tara, Diane, Adrienne, Carol, Jana & Aimee (Women’s Sacred Circle)
- July 15; Gene Mahalko, Henry Whiteside, Linda Waters, Marc Peterson, Carol Romagosa
- July 22; Melanie Hopkinson, Linda Waters, Kira Kilmer, Marc Peterson, C.J. Sadiq, Connie Wilkerson, Marcia Reese
- July 29; Gene Mahalko, Henry Whiteside, Kira Kilmer, C.J. Sadiq, and John Shavers
- August 5; Sue Geary, Michele Page, Doug and Sandi Greene, Greg Johnson, Bill and Christine Ashworth, Gene Mahalko (Small Group Ministry)
- August 12; Melanie Hopkinson, Henry Whiteside, Kira Kilmer, Sylvia Gray, Carol Romagosa
Also, we want to thank everyone who attended the Summer Forums— and asked Todd questions! Please thank each of these individuals when you see them for making our church an exciting, stimulating and welcoming place to be all year long!
Cathy and Tim Chambless