Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
January 5, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Henry Whiteside explores the concept of equity, distinguishing it from equality and fairness, and illustrating its complexity through personal stories and mediation examples, suggesting that equity involves context-dependent fairness rather than simple sameness, and that Unitarian values like equity are best understood in relationship with one another.
Carole Straughn then speaks about how First Unitarian Church has provided her a supportive community for environmental activism, especially in saving the Great Salt Lake, and recounts her initial panic-driven move away from Salt Lake City — only to return and commit fully to this work. She invites others to join her in a letter-writing campaign to advocate on behalf of the lake.
Rev. J Sylvan's sermon illustrates how demonizing others — whether classmates or opposing politicians — rarely achieves meaningful change. Urging the need for respect and sincerity in dialogue and building relationships across party lines, Rev. Sylvan encourages the congregation to move past ideological polarization, participate in letter-writing campaigns, and build bipartisan coalitions to address critical issues facing the community.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Prelude II" by Eugénie Rocherolle (American, b. 1936) – David Owens, piano
03:12 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:46 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. J Sylvan
08:13 Chalice Lighting – Rev. J Sylvan
09:41 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1037, "We Begin Again in Love" – words by Rev. Robert Eller-Isaacs (American, 1951-2022); music by Les Kleen (American, b. 1942); led by Rev. J Sylvan
12:52 Lay Minister: Henry Whiteside
19:48 🎵 Interlude: "Romance" by Darius Milhaud (French, 1892-1974) – David Owens, piano
22:00 Meditation – Rev. J Sylvan
26:46 🎵 Meditation Response: "Iterations" (excerpt) by Tristan Moore (American, b. 1978) – David Owens, piano
29:25 How I Serve – Carole Straughn
36:10 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
36:52 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
37:52 Sermon: "Common Ground" – Rev. J Sylvan
48:27 🎵 Ritual: Finding Common Ground
55:12 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:03 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Rev. Monica Dobbins, Assistant Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
🌎 First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
→ Website: slcuu.org
→ Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
→ Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
→ YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
🙏 All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend entirely on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
January 5, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Henry Whiteside explores the concept of equity, distinguishing it from equality and fairness, and illustrating its complexity through personal stories and mediation examples, suggesting that equity involves context-dependent fairness rather than simple sameness, and that Unitarian values like equity are best understood in relationship with one another.
Carole Straughn then speaks about how First Unitarian Church has provided her a supportive community for environmental activism, especially in saving the Great Salt Lake, and recounts her initial panic-driven move away from Salt Lake City — only to return and commit fully to this work. She invites others to join her in a letter-writing campaign to advocate on behalf of the lake.
Rev. J Sylvan's sermon illustrates how demonizing others — whether classmates or opposing politicians — rarely achieves meaningful change. Urging the need for respect and sincerity in dialogue and building relationships across party lines, Rev. Sylvan encourages the congregation to move past ideological polarization, participate in letter-writing campaigns, and build bipartisan coalitions to address critical issues facing the community.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Prelude II" by Eugénie Rocherolle (American, b. 1936) – David Owens, piano
03:12 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:46 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. J Sylvan
08:13 Chalice Lighting – Rev. J Sylvan
09:41 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1037, "We Begin Again in Love" – words by Rev. Robert Eller-Isaacs (American, 1951-2022); music by Les Kleen (American, b. 1942); led by Rev. J Sylvan
12:52 Lay Minister: Henry Whiteside
19:48 🎵 Interlude: "Romance" by Darius Milhaud (French, 1892-1974) – David Owens, piano
22:00 Meditation – Rev. J Sylvan
26:46 🎵 Meditation Response: "Iterations" (excerpt) by Tristan Moore (American, b. 1978) – David Owens, piano
29:25 How I Serve – Carole Straughn
36:10 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
36:52 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
37:52 Sermon: "Common Ground" – Rev. J Sylvan
48:27 🎵 Ritual: Finding Common Ground
55:12 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:03 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Rev. Monica Dobbins, Assistant Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
🌎 First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
→ Website: slcuu.org
→ Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
→ Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
→ YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
🙏 All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend entirely on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
