VOLUME 57, ISSUE 9 FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF SALT LAKE CITY NOVEMBER 24, 2014

Report from the Field City Planning in the 11 a.m. 5th/6th Grade Religious Education Class -by Elizabeth Weight, who team teaches with Paula Baase and Mary Elizabeth Mitchell

When we walk into our 5th-6th grade RE room, we see a quickly growing display of what the class is creating this year. Our curriculum “You the Creator” involves signing in creatively “with all dots” or “inside a triangle,” and, from chalice-lighting words through activities and discussions, the focus is creativity. “Building a City” was the topic on October 26, but so When we many ideas and questions developed along met the with a wall map, we continued for two next two additional class meetings. weeks, the We started the lesson with “continuums” to rate entire ten products. On a scale of 1-10, each person table noted the creativity level of “a famous top was painting,” “the first atomic bomb,” “a new covered with a large brand of cat food,” as well as “shoelaces that paper, and we spent most of the break in 30 days” and “shoelaces that never time combining ideas, coloring in the natural break.” Sharing and comparing ideas took on landscape, and developing the city. debate aspects and “it depends” went on the “Developing” here actually means debating, board when one young person summarized arguing how the location of one element how reasoning is key in such decisions and impacts other elements, and who gets to lead what is creative might also be harmful or seem in designing that part of the town. (Another wrong. (Teacher’s margin note: This is not a 10- margin note: Point out the class covenant minute activity!) about listening and taking turns speaking.) Structures like roads and an airport were Next, each of us took turns explaining terms on added on the map. For buildings, we cut out cards we had chosen at the opening of class. and folded paper into three-dimensional forms Each term was an example of oxymoron, and to glue into place. we connected the language concept to “destructive creativity” that we had noticed in Now, the map hangs on the wall as part of our the earlier discussion. Then, it was time for display. We are still commenting and adding more movement and starting on the main ideas. In all the interaction about a landscape event, building a city. That day’s activities and creating a city, ideas and discussion have finished with everyone drawing his or her own gone to creativity outside us as well as how map of the landscape where the city would creativity is important not just in art but in be located, including a rambling river, virgin almost any human enterprise. forest, fertile valley, Mystery Mountains, alligator lake, and snaky swamp. More Religious Education on page 4 November 24, 2014 PAGE 2

Congregational Briefs Open Minds Book Group First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City The next meeting of the Open Minds Book Group will be at 7:00 on Rev. Tom Goldsmith November 25th in the Haven room at the church. The book is “Under Minister, [email protected] the Wide and Starry Sky” by Nancy Horan. All are welcome.

Mary Kroener-Ekstrand Singing Circle: International Folksongs Director of Religious Education, [email protected] Due to the upcoming holiday conflicts with the 4th Thursday, we’ll be postponing the Singing Circle until January 22nd. For more David Owens information, please contact: Stacey at [email protected]. Director of Music, [email protected] Hal Gonzales Dinner and Dialogue Church Administrator, [email protected] Make new UU friends while enjoying good food and stimulating conversation. Sign up at the Welcome Table to HOST a dinner in your Board of Trustees home. You set the date and the menu, and decide how many guests you can accommodate. Guests sign up to ATTEND and Erin Phinney Johnson contribute by bringing a dish to share. What could be simpler? Board President Questions, please get in touch with Jan Crane, 801 870-1222 or [email protected]. Christine Ashworth Colleen Bliss UU Lunch Bunch Sue Geary A family-friendly group for anyone and everyone who would like to Rebecca Heal get together for lunch and chat with like-minded people. Meet at Robert Cummings the Restaurant on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. For more information contact Philip Moos Carol Shaughnessy at (801) 262-1151 or [email protected]. • November 23rd: Sage’s Cafe (234 West 900 South) • November 30th: Corner Bakery Cafe (610 Foothill Blvd.) The Torch is published approximately • further dates TBA 23 times per year, every other week during the regular church year & once per month during the summer. Members of First Next Publication Date Church Chancel Choir join the South December 8, 2014 Valley Choir to perform during Submission Deadline morning worship at December 1, 2014 (Mon.) MDD Western Cluster gathering. by 10:00 a.m. Nov. 2014

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The Torch First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City November 24, 2014 PAGE 3

Reverendly Yours Rev. Tom Goldsmith It came as quite a case in point is General William T. Sherman surprise last week whom Southerners have been taught to hate when the Front Page for his reign of terror across the state of of the New York Times Georgia during the Civil War. Historical featured Joseph research now frames the General in a Smith. The news story different light, citing much of his brutal told of Mormon reputation as fables and myths. The focus of leaders coming to his attack was restricted to military targets, terms with the truth not civilian as had been an article of faith in about the church’s Southern beliefs. Good scholarship and prophet and founder, historical research obliterates folklore. that he was not a loyal partner to his wife Which leads me to a bit of irony in George W Emma, but in fact took as many as 40 wives, Bush’s new book (just in time for Christmas) some already married and one who was 14 called: “41: A Portrait of My father.” He is just years old. LDS members were disturbed by as interested in bolstering his own reputation this new venture into church transparency. as well as his father’s, and writes that in 30 All their lives they regarded Joseph Smith as years from now the Bush 43 presidency will a perfect prophet, and although Brigham be assessed differently. In other words, he Young practiced polygamy, church followers really wasn’t as bad as we now think he was. wanted to believe only good things about He believes that history will exonerate his their founder. costly decision-making, which it sometimes does. So we’ll have to wait and see how I feel for the LDS membership in a personal scholars will treat W over time. In comparison way. As a child I grew up believing Thomas to Tea Party loyalists, he might end up faring Jefferson was a virtual Unitarian saint. quite well. Although Jefferson never stepped foot in a Unitarian church and declared himself It seems the truth hangs always somewhere Episcopalian, we wanted desperately to in the middle, whether involving religious claim him as a Unitarian president. And why personalities, political figures, or military not? His espousal of religious freedom and strategists. But that can be a shattering conscience, his writing the Declaration of experience for those who cling to an Independence in which he stated as a self- extreme belief about someone that was evident truth that all men were created woven into the fabric of their tradition. equal, were about as Unitarian in spirit as one Transparency is not for sissies. The light of truth could get. But then in a move towards can dismay the loyal follower. Yes, sometimes transparency I was shattered along with it’s hard to forgive our heroes for the errors of other Unitarians upon learning that he their ways. But it serves as a great humbling owned 175 slaves and acted unusually cruel lesson: Wherever we find a mortal, we’ll find towards them. The only slaves he a shadow side as well. TRG emancipated were the children he fostered by his Black mistress Sally Hemings who remained a slave her whole life. I say – let the Episcopalians keep Jefferson.

Church teachings, be they LDS or Unitarian, are bound to buckle under the weight of hypocrisy. Nobody is ever that saintly, and conversely, nobody is ever that bad either. A

The Torch First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City November 24, 2014 PAGE 4

Religious Education Mary Kroener-Ekstrand Dear All, Thanksgiving week. I hope that this simple act of sharing their creativity and kind wishes and This issue of the Torch will be words with others has helped our young reaching you just as we people to remember that everyone can make approach the Thanksgiving a difference.In service, holiday. Our elementary youth have already gotten In Service, into the spirit of the season Mary by preparing a large number of greeting cards with personal messages to be delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients during

RE Newsbits First Church Holiday Party and Caroling – ** Would you like to help make it all happen? Saturday December 6th Let Mary know if you can help with set up, clean up, pre-making some frosting or Come one, come all! This is a party for our assembling Gingerbread houses, bringing whole church community to celebrate the appetizers or treats, staffing a craft or game, or winter Holidays. Join us for fun and fellowship. something else that will make the event sparkle! Thanks! 1-3 PM Gifting Circle -- An experienced facilitator will lead participants in an exploration of what each person needs/wants Save the Dates! and can offer in the way of work, skills or stuff. I know that everyone (including me) hates People can bring a few items to offer. All those holiday marketing before Thanksgiving, but do who want continue meeting and gifting, will mark your calendars for these fun Winter give their contact info to a new leader who will traditions at First Unitarian Church: th facilitate future meetings and collaborations. • Holiday Party, Saturday, December 6 , 3pm Children are welcome. Sponsored by the (Gifting Circle at 1pm) Environmental Ministry and Transition group. • Winter Solstice Service and Supper, Tuesday, th 3-5 PM Holiday Party - Crafts for all ages will Dec 16 , 6pm st include beeswax candle-making, card- • Holiday Pageant, Sunday, Dec 21 , 9am marking, Gingerbread houses, and other These events will need lots of volunteer support. activities. We’ll play dreidel and holiday bingo. Please contact Mary at [email protected] if you And of course, there will snacks and Christmas would like to help create meaningful, non- caroling. There will be something for everyone, commercial holiday activities for members and so we hope everyone will be here! friends of our church.

Family Fun Night Nov. 3, 2014

The Torch First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City November 24, 2014 PAGE 5

November/December 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Open Minds Sunday Services Choir Rehearsal Happy Book Group 9:00 and 11:00 7:30 pm Thanksgiving! (pg. 2) a.m. Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm

30 December 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sunday Services Torch Submissions Choir Rehearsal RE Holiday Party 9:00 and 11:00 Due 10 am 7:30 pm & Gifting Circle a.m. (pg. 4) Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Board Meeting Choir Rehearsal Sunday Services 5:30 pm 9:00 and 11:00 7:30 pm a.m. Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Lessons & Carols Torch Submissions Choir Rehearsal Due 10 am Winter Solstice 9:00 and 11:00 Celebration 7:30 pm a.m. 6 pm Jazz Vespers 7:30 pm

Sunday Services

Sunday, November 23rd Sunday, November 30th 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday, December 7th 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Thanksgiving Service 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. “Next Week I Turn 75. “Comfort Food for a “Virtue and Vice” Now What?” Comfort Myth” -Rev. Tom Goldsmith -Rev. Harold Straughn -Rev. Tom Goldsmith 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Jazz Vespers Jazz Vespers Jazz Vespers Tribute to Sam Cooke Tribute to The Band Tribute to Aretha Franklin

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Jazz Vespers happens each Sunday at 7:30 pm through Save the Dates! December 21st. Doors open at 7 pm. Please join us! December 14 at 9 am & 11 am Lessons & Carols Service Nov. 23 Tribute to Aretha Franklin December 16 at 6 pm Nov. 30 Tribute to The Band Winter Solstice Celebration Dec. 7 Tribute to Sam Cooke Dec. 14 Tribute to U2 December 21 Dec. 21 Christmas Kool 9 am - Christmas Pageant 7:30 pm - Christmas Kool Jazz Vespers

December 24 2014 5:30 pm & 7 pm Christmas Candlelight Services

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