Fall Highway Clean Up

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First Unitarian Church Auction November 14th at 6:00 pm Rice-Eccles Stadium Turn to page 8 for more information or check out the auction page

org/programs/committees-and-groups/item/29-auction UPCOMING SUNDAYS OCTOBER 25, 2015 9:00 AND 11:00 AM (RE at 11:00 am only) Walk the Line

Tom Goldsmith 7:30 PM Jazz Vespers Fall Highway Clean Up -Submitted by Frank Steffey Many thanks to the following 13 volunteers who cleared

John Rasmuson, Joe DuBray, Jim Coffey, Helen Stanhope, Johanna & Dave Whiteman, and Vickie & Frank Steffey.

The stylin award goes unanimously to Dave Whiteman, visible on a clearer day from the space station.

1 First Unitarian Church Auction November 14th at 6:00 pm Rice-Eccles Stadium Turn to page 8 for more information or check out the auction page at UPCOMING SUNDAYS OCTOBER 25, :00 AND 11:00 AM (RE at 11:00 am only) Walk the Line -Rev. Matthew Cockrum NOVEMBER 1, :00 AND 11:00 AM (RE at 11:00 am only) The Abuse of Religious Freedom -Rev. Tom Goldsmith 7:30 PM Jazz Vespers Fall Highway Clean Up -Submitted by Frank Steffey Many thanks to the following 13 volunteers who cleared over 250 lbs of litter from SR-65 on a slightly rainy October 3rd: James Griner, Andie Saunders, Charles Liu, Jennifer Daniels, Becky Hickox, John Rasmuson, Joe DuBray, Jim Coffey, Helen Stanhope, Johanna & Dave Whiteman, and Vickie & Frank Steffey. Sadly, no valuable treasures were found this time. It was refreshing to have some younger participants to complement the mature regulars. The stylin award goes unanimously to Dave Whiteman, visible on a clearer day from the space station. Thanks to Helen Stanhope for providing snacks afterwards. Anybody desiring to take over this beneficial activity should contact Frank Steffey at This could be YOU when we do our next cleanup in May. NOVEMBER 8, :00 AND 11:00 AM (RE at 11:00 am only) Bernie Sanders and the Resurrection of the Social Gospel -Rev. Tom Goldsmith 7:30 PM Jazz Vespers

2 First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City Minister, Congregational Life Minister, Director of Religious Education, Director of Music, Church Administrator, Board of Trustees Board President Next Publication Date Submission Deadline Editor Congregational Briefs PAGE First Church Orientation & Information Sessions New to First Church? Been around awhile but considering becoming a member? Now there are monthly chances for you to meet others, ask questions, learn more Unitarian Universalist and First Church history. November 1st after each service in the Parlor, and November 19th from 6:30-8:30 pm in Room 208. Please contact Rev. Matthew Cockrum at clminister@slcuu.org or ext. 205 for more information. Planting in the fall can help our youth blossom in the spring. Please support our coming of age youth (7th & 8th graders) as they raise funds and strengthen bonds together by purchasing flower bulbs. Stop by the table in Eliot Hall after both services on October 25. Your purchase helps to underwrite their Heritage Trip to Boston next year. Family Fun Night What's God got to do with it, and how do we talk to our kids about God? With the holidays coming, how do UU families navigate faith, a virgin birth, and the idea of a higher power? On November 2nd, Family Fun Night is pleased to welcome Rev. Tom Goldsmith to help us discuss this meaty topic. We'll start with dinner at 6, and then promptly break into our discussion at 6:30. Childcare will be provided for kids under 6, while the older kids will have an activity. Watch your for the invite to RSVP. No ? Sign up at the Welcome Table to get on our list. You can also find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/groups/SLCUUfamilynight! 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 1:00 p.m. For more information contact Sonia Carnell at (801) or lunchbunch@slcuu.org. October 25: Tandoor Indian Grill (729 East 3300 South) November 1: Red Iguana 2 (866 W. South Temple) November 8: Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant (1465 South State) Sunday Meditation "The mind is flighty and elusive, moving wherever it pleases. Taming it is wonderful indeed, for a disciplined mind brings true joy." Buddha. UU Mindfulness Meditation is meeting each Sunday after the 11am service, room 201 at 12:30pm for about 30 minutes of group meditation. All are welcome. Dinner and Dialogue A time for sharing two favorite human activities: eating and talking. I can t imagine anyone not enjoying getting know others in our church Congregational Briefs continued on page 7

Reverendly Yours Although I have sported a beard for nearly 50 years, I never thought about it much until The New Yorker Magazine sent out a blog on the subject last week.

3 Reverendly Yours Although I have sported a beard for nearly 50 years, I never thought about it much until The New Yorker Magazine sent out a blog on the subject last week. The piece revealed that David Letterman grew a beard as soon as he retired, and it was pretty raggedy. Did his sudden growth of facial hair spawn the intrigue surrounding beards? Maybe. Stephen Colbert, waiting nine months to succeed Letterman, sported a beard in the interim. It came off right before he stepped in front of the TV camera. As soon as the soccer player, David Beckham retired, he also grew a beard, as did Al Gore after he left office. The New Yorker refers to these as achievement beards. Somehow basking in success leads to the growth of facial hair. The achievement beard is not to be confused with the fad of baseball players who sport beards with great frequency. Nor is it to be confused with beards of disaffection worn by people like Ted Kaczynski. The achievement beard is usually kind of gray which makes sense in that achievements are generally won after countless years of hard grinding work. There are undoubtedly many theories of why men sport beards. I started mine in my teens because I wanted to look older. In my effort to look younger a few years ago, I shaved off my gray beard to the alarm of my wife and children. My naked chin lasted perhaps a week. I felt young and dashing, but they claimed I looked foreign and they couldn t relate to me. So I went back to the familiar look, which will inevitably preclude my modeling career. defiance against the standard mores of society. Beards have virtually become part of the Unitarian ministerial uniform, much like mainline Protestant ministers who always are dressed in black. PAGE Rev. Tom Goldsmith In the days when it was fashionable for young men to defy authority by wearing beards, long hair, Frey b o o t s, a n d a p a c k o f M a r l b o r o s conspicuously stuck in their rolled-up Tee shirt, it got society up in arms. People like Letterman and Colbert are still 20-something at heart. There s something bad boyish about having others disapprove of your looks. I never got too far with this as a young man because my Unitarian parents wanted my hair longer and my music louder. It was quite annoying. Beards can be scruffy and well kempt. They can be red, brown, black and gray. They can cover as much or little of the face as the person wants. They can signal achievement or rebellion. But they all seem to say: I dare you to look past these facial hairs and really get to know me. So in this regard, beards test the judgmental nature of humankind. Beards also tend to show one s politics. I don t recall ever having met a bearded Republican? Who really knows the depth psychology of beards? I only know that on a cold winter s night, they feel awfully good to stroke. TRG The New Yorker piece on beards got me thinking. I now believe all beards are worn as an anti-authoritarian gesture. Perhaps not in flagrant fashion, but the retired TV celebrity or sports hero usually needs to conform to some arbitrary standards of acceptability. A beard allows them to finally thumb their noses at rules. That s why most Unitarian ministers wear beards. It portrays a bit of

4 In the Life I ve been ruminating a lot on space lately. Part of the focus is, I m sure, related to my move to Salt Lake City from Seattle a few months ago. Though I was raised in the plains states and in smaller towns, I ve come to realize that I have a preference for bigger, denser cities. Moving to Salt Lake City with its wide streets and even wider horizons creates an entirely different sensation for me than being somewhere with narrower lanes, closer sight lines and a more packed population. There s something about cities that gives me a sense of being held. While I know, intellectually, that it s possible for me to notice how I am held by the looser embrace of the West, there s still something that leaves me yearning. My ruminating has been prompted by other factors as well, including a contemplative creativity practice I ve been engaged in for the past month. I enrolled in an on-line course titled Creativity and Divine Surprise as a continuing education opportunity largely in the hopes of tapping into the new arts infusion in children s religious education and seeking inspiration as to how that might feed into youth and adult religious education and the rest of congregational life. One of PAGE Rev. Matthew Cockrum my classmates, when providing feedback on a painting I d done, observed that some portions of the painting seemed incongruent with others almost as if I was filling space as opposed to letting openness remain as part of the picture. There's a lot more to these stories and the issue of space in our lives. I imagine I ll be exploring this for some time during our work together. For now, though, I invite you to consider where and how space fits into your life. Is there enough breathing room? Are you looking for something - work, a relationship, activities - to fill space? How do you provide space for others? Here s to The Work, Friends. Peace, Faith & Passion, Matthew Environmental Ministry News Environmental Ministry Lecture/Discussion/ Action Series Climate Justice - "Power Through Paris" - A 7 Month Momentum Building Strategy in collaboration with 350.org and Avaaz.org Friday, November 6, 2015, 7-9PM, Eliot Hall, First Unitarian Church The next seven months leading up to April 2016 could be a turning point in the climate justice movement. Momentum continues to build a year after the largest climate March in the United States where 400,000 people marched in New York City in the fall of That momentum will build up to and beyond the streets of Paris where world leaders will convene for 2 weeks to discuss global agreements and goals to address the climate crisis in a just way. For nearly a quarter century these talks have occurred under the title of the Council of Parties (COP) annual climate negotiations so we aren't holding our breath that their decisions will be a turning point. But our movement, strategy and actions are reaching new levels and together we can be that turning point. Starting November activists from around the world are planning a global climate march in Paris to kick off the talks telling world leaders what actions to turn Environmental Ministry continued on next page

5 PAGE Environmental Ministry News (continued from page 4) #OnandOff. Then on December 12, Paris activists will have the final word at the close of the conference with direct action in the streets to demonstrate that we will not allow c o m m i t m e n t s t h a t c r o s s t h e #ClimateRedLine. Since politicians and CEOs don't run movements and people do, this momentum does not stop at the end of the talks in Paris. Locally, globally and nationally we are organizing our strategy through April 2016 when activists around the world will coordinate bold escalation to show world leaders and fossil fuel corporate CEOs that we are serious about keeping 80% of fossil fuels in the ground and creating a just transition to 100% renewables by Holiday Triple R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Saturday, November 21, 2015 Our swap will be at San Esteban Episcopal Church, 4615 So West; Noon 4p.m. Drop off ONLY at First Unitarian Church, 8 10a.m. Purpose: Share what we have with each other, our neighboring community, families being resettled in Salt Lake City by the International Rescue Committee & with others in need. Reduce waste, recycle what you don t need, reuse what others don t need, share your abundance. How this works: bring what you don't need (items like clothing, jewelry, books, music, videos, school supplies, kitchen & household items, linens, working electronics, toys & games NO large furniture please) to the sixth south side of the church on Saturday morning. visit San Esteban to take what you need from what others have brought; no money is exchanged; bring only what you don't need, take only what you do need; what is not taken will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) & others in need; the church does not have space to store donations before the swap, if you are not able to bring items on the day of the swap, consider asking a member, friend, or neighbor to drop items off during the swap hours; ALL are welcome. Start your Christmas shopping here! Come learn what is at stake. Come take action with friends and community and find a commitment that suits your skill set to support this momentum for the next 7 months leading up to and beyond the Paris Council of Parties 21st (COP21) annual climate negotiations. This session will begin with an update on COP21 and what agreements are needed and will move to real actions that we can all plug into to build the momentum towards Paris. Ryan Pleune, teacher and bus driver, Paul Wickelson, American Studies PhD and stay at home dad of two museum loving boys, along with other members of the SLC 350.org team will bring us upto-date on COP21, local efforts to build the momentum, and opportunities to get plugged into this 7 month momentum building strategy. These actions include creative interventions and #KeepItInTheGround campaign related actions; campaigning and canvassing to encourage museums to divest from fossil fuels; and Letter to the Editor Writing to thread the narrative of the 7 month momentum building strategy and economic system critique together.

PAGE Endowment Fund News The Endowment Committee would like to thank the following for contributions to the Endowment Fund between April and September 2015.

6 PAGE Endowment Fund News The Endowment Committee would like to thank the following for contributions to the Endowment Fund between April and September In Memory of Justin Kreek from Trish and Peter Kreek Ron and Janet Anderson Mary and David Furrow Cosette Joesten Barbara Smith Barbara Woody In Memory of Steve Horton from Tim and Cathy Chambless Remembering to donate to the Endowment Fund for a Memorial Gift or any special event or occasion is an excellent way to support our church. You might want to support the growth of the this fund by including the Church Endowment in your will or trust. Ralph Waldo Emerson Society -Submitted by Cosette Joesten The Endowment Fund Committee wishes to honor the following Ralph Waldo Emerson Society members who included First Church in their estate plans. We appreciate the vision, leadership and dedication to our church from the members and friends listed below: Ron and Janet Anderson Barbara Samuels in Myrna Wolf s name Cosette Joesten Flo Wineriter Dolores Chase and Richard Haacke Hugo and Julia Rossi Ed and teresa Dieringer Rob Mayer and Carol Blackwell Harold and Sonja Decker Tom Goldsmith and Mary Tull Tim and Cathy Chambless Bill and Ruth Ohlsen Dick Teerlink Alan and Marjorie Coombs Andrea Globokar Henry Whiteside and Karol Kumpfer Doug and Sandi Greene Sue Geary and Michelle Page Joan Proctor Martha Veranth Justin and Barbara Kreek We would be delighted to honor others if you contact us to let us know if your existing plans currently include the church or if you would like more information about ways to leave the church as a beneficiary in your estate planning. Please contact any Endowment Fund Committee member: Cathy Chambless, Hugo Rossi, Cosette Joesten, Bill Ashworth, or Mark Molen.

PAGE Congregational Briefs (continued from page 2) in such a low-key, fun way.

The book for October 27 is The Emerald Mile, by Kevin Fedarko. The book for November 24 is Soldier Girls, by Helen Thorpe. All are welcome.

Look for future performance and film dates in the Order of Service and Torch. Contact Helen Stanhope at theatre@slcuu.org for more information on either these church social groups.

7 PAGE Congregational Briefs (continued from page 2) in such a low-key, fun way. Please consider signing the Dinner and Dialogue book at the Welcoming Table this Sunday either as a HOST or a GUEST, and I will coordinate getting you together. As a HOST you set the date and the menu and decide how many guests you can accommodate. Guests sign up to ATTEND and contribute by bringing a dish to share. For questions, call Darlene Thayne at or send an to suppers@slcuu.org. Open Minds Book Group The Open Minds Book Group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Haven Room at the church. The book for October 27 is The Emerald Mile, by Kevin Fedarko. The book for November 24 is Soldier Girls, by Helen Thorpe. All are welcome. UU Movie Group and Theatre Group Our UU Theatre Group attends many local productions. First UU's Movie Group, a spin off of our popular Theatre Group, will also meet about once per month. Look for future performance and film dates in the Order of Service and Torch. Contact Helen Stanhope at theatre@slcuu.org for more information on either these church social groups. Settling Refugees In Fiscal Year 2016, the United States will admit 85,000 refugees. Some will be resettled in Salt Lake City. Most are families with their worldly possessions packed in a few suitcases. Thanks to furniture donations from the First Church congregation, hundreds of the new arrivals have spent the first night in Utah in their own apartment. To continue to provide this important, humanitarian service, the Refugee Resettlement Committee needs your gentlyused kitchen tables and chairs. Sofas and living-room chairs, too. If your friends are replacing furniture, the RRC would like an option on the discards. Please help. Call Joe Dubray, (904) , to schedule pick-ups. Family Halloween Carnival Friday, October 30th 6-8 p.m. $5 per child. We've add some frighteningly new things to our traditional Halloween Party! Please join us for games, the infamous haunted hallway, cookie decorating, costume parade, and lots of fun with friends. Adult activities included! Dinner is NOT provided, so please feed yourself and your goblins ahead of time. Families are invited to attend this event together. Adults, please plan on attending this with your monsters.

Who knows what to expect at this year s auction with Utah s Supreme Democrat, Jim Dabakis, as our auctioneer and award winning author, Robert Fulghum, as our special guest?

8 PAGE Remembering What We Learned in Kindergarten event possible. It s more than raising money; it s social and festive, highly entertaining, and a time to come together to celebrate all that we love about our church. Who knows what to expect at this year s auction with Utah s Supreme Democrat, Jim Dabakis, as our auctioneer and award winning author, Robert Fulghum, as our special guest? We will begin selling tickets in Eliot Hall on October 25th. Rice Eccles has a new caterer and a sophisticated menu so prepare yourself for some excellent food and drink. We offer free childcare at the church for parents who want to attend this event. Robert Fulghum speaking to our congregation in 2009 Church Auction - November 14, 2015 at 6pm "All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, I learned in kindergarten, author and Unitarian Minister, Robert Fulghum. On the list of things he learned is Share Everything and Hold hands and stick together. We are asking all of our church members to share in the effort to raise money for our church, to hold hands and stick together. Let s ask ourselves what we can do to contribute, how we can arrange to be there, how we can acknowledge the effort and work of the auction committee, the donors, the sponsors,and the church staff who make this As I said in a previous Torch, we are looking for new donors and new attendees. Past donations by church members have included a dinner with Rob Kirby, a picnic at Red Butte garden on the summer solstice, a sushi dinner, an Italian dinner with Mayor Ben McAdams, dinner with Tom and Mary, wine, coffee and dessert while being entertained by three Utah Symphony members, a martini party, a barbecue and more. If you have never donated to the auction, think about what you can offer. If you have never attended the auction, make this the year that you do. The live auction is always delightful. We are looking for sponsors, donors and attendees. Please contact Julia Rossi, Auction Chairperson (juliarossi@comcast.net) if you want more information or to find out how you can Great views of Salt Lake City during Auction 2008 at the Rice Eccles Stadium

9 PAGE Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 Sunday Service 9 & 11:00 pm (pg. 1) RE at 11:00 am Open Minds Book Group 7 pm (pg.7) RE Halloween Party (pg. 7) 31 Nov. 1 Sunday Service 9 & 11:00 pm (pg. 1) RE at 11:00 am First Church Information session 10:15 in Parlor (pg. 2) Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm (pg. 10) 2 Torch Submissions Due 10 am Family Fun Night 6 pm (pg. 2) 3 4 Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm 5 6 Env. Min. lecture series 7 pm (pg. 4) 7 8 Sunday Service 9 & 11:00 pm RE at 11:00 am Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm (pg. 10) Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm First UU Auction 6 pm (pg. 8) 15 Sunday Service 9 & 11:00 pm (pg. 1) RE at 11:00 am Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm (pg. 10) 16 Torch Submissions Due 10 am Board of Trustees Meeting 5:30 pm Rm Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm 19 First Church Orientation session 6:30 pm (pg. 2) Triple R event (pg. 5) 22 Sunday Service 9 & 11:00 pm (pg. 1) RE at 11:00 am Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm (pg. 10) 23 Torch Submissions Due 10 am 24 Open Minds Book Group 7 pm (pg.7) 25 Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm

10 Each Sunday at 7:30 pm beginning November 1st. Doors open at 7:00 pm November 1st: Tribute to Louis Armstrong with Kris Johnson on Trumpet November 8th: Tribute to Hoagy Carmichael November 15th: Tribute to Ornette Coleman with Tom Young on Trumpet November 22nd: Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with Kris Johnson on Trumpet and Joe Chisholm on Trombone November 29th: Tribute to Janis Joplin with Jasmine Mae on Vocals December 6th: Tribute to Sly and the Family Stone December 13th: Tribute to Louis Jordan December 20th: Christmas Cool

A Thank You from the Board of Trustees for Lee

A Thank You from the Board of Trustees for Lee UPCOMING SUNDAYS OCTOBER 11, 2015 9:00 AND 11:00 AM ( only) Ten Commandments for an Imperfect World -Rev. Tom Goldsmith OCTOBER 18, 2015 9:00 AND 11:00 AM ( only) Inclusive Religious Conversation -Rev.