Events

On the day of the inauguration, Friday, January 20th, First Church will host an Interfaith Prayer Service. Please join us at 9:00 a.m. for an infusion of hope, love, and prayer.

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m.. Our church will host the annual remembrance for Down Winders. An Interfaith group of clergy will join Tom Goldsmith in exploring the effects of a nuclear world. The choir will join the service.

On the day of the inauguration, Friday, January 20th, First Church will host an Interfaith Prayer Service. Please join us at 9:00 a.m. for an infusion of hope, love, and prayer.

Call for Solstice Singers:
We need singers for the annual Winter Solstice service here at First Unitarian Church. Teens and adults from our congregation are encouraged--and needed!--to join with members of the Chancel Choir to sing at this special event. Four rehearsals are scheduled, each Tuesday beginning November 29, at 7:00 p.m. The Solstice celebration will be Wednesday December 21, at 6:00 p.m. (Note the different day of the week.) If you enjoy singing, can make it to most of the rehearsals--and the performance!--and would like to join this fun and rewarding experience, please email Holly at to get involved.

Religious Education Column -  Julie Miller, Director of Religious Education

Do you dread it or embrace it? There’s no escaping the fact that from October through January, our church routines are chock-a-block full of events and celebrations. Last week, our families with younger children attended our annual Halloween Party in Eliot Hall. We hosted nearly 100 people who truly enjoyed an evening of food, crafts, music and, of course, some very inventive costumes. Money raised during this event goes to the lower and upper divisions of the RE program, either for Sandwich Sunday supplies (lower) or the service trip (high school youth). The evening culminated with a group sing-a-long at Friendship Manor led by David Owens and our Junior Choir.

The next two events we’re heavily involved with are the Christmas Pageant followed by the Winter Solstice service. This year, the Pageant is based on a children’s book The Last Straw by Frederick Thury. The Pageant is set for Sunday, December 18th at the 11am service only. We need gifts or trinkets for our camel to carry to the Baby King plus any costumes that reflect the early Christian era—think desert inhabitants. Please bring your donations for our Pageant play to the RE office or to a box marked PAGEANT in the Little Chapel.

The beauty—perhaps it’s a curse!—of doing these pageants is that there are very few rehearsals. This year, the most likely rehearsal dates are December 10 and 17—Saturdays 9:30am to noon. We’re encouraging children and youth to participate this year. You can sign up online or the old-fashioned way by paper and pencil in the classrooms or at the RE Welcome Table.

Soon after the Pageant, we hold our annual Winter Solstice Service on Wednesday December 21st. The service begins in the Sanctuary at 6pm followed by another excellent communal meal served in Eliot Hall and hosted by our high school youth. Plan to celebrate with your immediate clan and extended family as we gather to embrace the season of returning light. This ancient cultural phenomenon is a multi-generational event that incorporates music, dance, poetry, reflection, food and drink, and is appropriate for all ages.

Further, the Solstice Service lets us recognize our role in the Web of Life, affirm our earth-centered values and revel in the beauty of the coming light. This is also a fundraiser for our high school youth trip in 2017. Ticket sales start soon and a word to the wise: buy early as this event is sold out every year!

Just Around the Corner

• Remember our clothing drive. Donate gently-worn clothing items for infants through teen years. Donation boxes will be located in the Little Chapel or bring your items on Monday November 7 for Family Fun Night.
• Sanctuary Sunday, November 6th: Family Chalice Lighting shared by Megan Anderson, Steve Boyer and the children Jaxon and Asher.
• Family Fun Night, Monday November 7, Eliot Hall, 6pm. Service Project hosted by Lissa Lander Play rehearsal runs concurrently with the family event.
• Remember: Daylight Savings ends on Sunday November 6

The Music Department at First Church is pleased to host an evening recital of British Humorous Music on November 14th at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. Longtime musical friend, Baritone Keith Trickett, will offer his musical musings at this benefit recital for The Homeless Youth Shelter. Keith's recitals are always a pleasure and this one is sure to be a special delight. Joined by accompanist Emily Williams, this will be an entertaining and worthwhile evening. Please come !!!

A Suggested Donation of $10 will gratefully be accepted at the door, and following the recital a full reception will be held in Eliot Hall. If you have questions, please feel free to contact David Owens 801-390-0488

Post General Assembly Potluck & DeBrief

Thursday, July 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Eliot Hall.
Join UUA Staff (and First Church Alum) Jenica Davis Hocket for a review of happenings at June’s General Assembly. Youth leadership made some significant strides around racial justice issues. Come join us and bring some food to share!

Church Picnic June 12th (Following the 10:00 AM service)

The annual end-of-year picnic is almost here. This event is fun for all ages, and we hope that you are planning to attend. If you would like to be part of the team that makes it all happen, please contact Joe Herring at or 801-440-5521. We need some extra hands to assist with set up, grill tending and other food service tasks, planning and running some simple games, and of course, clean up.

Annual Church Picnic Details

When: Sunday, June 12th at 11:30 following our 10 am service.

Where: We have reserved our usual spot - the Mt. Olympus Pavilion at Sugarhouse Park.

What to bring: Please bring a salad or dessert to share with everyone, and if possible, bring your own non-disposable dishes and utensils so that we can limit the recycling and refuse that we generate. Please label vegetarian, vegan, nut free, and gluten free options clearly to help those with particular food allergies, sensitivities, and preferences enjoy our community event We will be providing beef burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers, as well as drinks, condiments, and chips.

How much?: Cost is $5 per person, $4.00 for children payable at the park (checks made out to First Unitarian Church or exact change if paying in cash would be much appreciated).