Show I m I i k L n ll- ll I I I i m m m m m fi m mm Rites of worship important in family values Terry Dillon Columnist need to celebrate PEOPLE their significant moments in life From birth to death the circle of life has sacred m meaning ng for humanity Many Americans are deprived of celebratory rituals what rituals what anthropologists call calf the rites of passage This is a tragedy of modern modem living that some experts cite as the cause of crime drug abuse the deterioration of family values teen suicide and even satanic cults going Church-going is having a renaissance as seekers turn turnback turnback turnback back to the traditional rites of passage offered by religion While no church can save you from your problems being part of a spiritual community community community com com- is a valuable self-help self resource More importantly a church culture is a rich field where children can grow up with strong self-esteem self and the important sense of belonging Finding the right church for you and your family can be a chore how how- ever And it is a chore made more difficult if youve you've suffered suffered suffered suf suf- suf- suf a negative experience through a fanatical person or group The best plan is to follow your instincts and listen listen listen lis lis- ten to your inner voice If anything makes you feel weird or pressured step back and take an objective look It ItIs Itis Itis is also a good idea to read about your church yes church yes yes even the Bible Bible and and take a personal personal personal per per- inventory of your deepest needs and beliefs Even your political convictions convictions convictions could be relevant to your decision in church af af- In a city with a ward on nearly every block you'd probably guess that church membership is a settled issue in everyone's mind But some members dont don't attend attend attend at at- tend their churches because of conflicts like being a smoker or because of unresolved unresolved unresolved un un- un- un resolved tensions with other Mormon neighbors People need a church in which they feel welcome and at home There are also plenty of people in Utah who arent aren't Mormon and who dont don't want to be They may be looking for an alternative to the church for help in socializing their children No matter what your affiliation affiliation affiliation af af- af- af or temperament from born-again born to agnostic or even atheist from liberal to ultra-conservative ultra there is isa isa isa a church for you The following following following follow follow- ing is a partial list of some of the outstanding non churches in the Salt Lake val val- val val- ley The selections were made on the he basis of social and political activism challenging challenging challenging chal chal- and thought provoking provoking provoking ing lessons family orientation and religious programs ms for youth South Valley Unitarian If you believe in Darwin but not the devil if you believe in both feminism and mens men's lib if your politics are environmental tal and left of center this church is for you The intelligent intelligent intelligent intel intel- ministry co-ministry of Bill and Barbara Holway Hamilton-Holway offers offers offers of of- fers a deeply spiritual Sunday worship service together with an outstanding religious education program for children Famous members of this religion include Thomas Jefferson Emerson and Thoreau Clara Barton and Beatrix Potter just to name a few Worship is at Sunday Sunday Sunday Sun Sun- day afternoon inside St. St James Highl Highland nd Drive Prince of or Peace Lutheran If fundamentalist and born-again born sound the right chord within you Prince of Peace is a wonderful choice Evening courses in basic Christianity are offered Wednesdays at 7 pm p.m. by a well-educated well and nurturing pastor who encourages independent independent independent inde inde- pendent thought Prince of Peace also has exceptional religious instruction for children that is developmentally tally appropriate as well as Christ Political activism activism activism ac ac- ac- ac is conservative and includes includes includes in in- workshops on aid to abused women For more information information information in in- formation Pastor Wendland may be reached at Sunday School is at worship at 1045 located at 1441 West Tamarack Road near Redwood Cam Campus pus For political moderates who are heal health th conscious and holistic who like giving hugs holding hands and singing Let there be peace on earth Unity of Salt Lake located at South 1700 East is for you The sermons sermons sermons ser ser- ser ser- mons are on interesting self- self im improvement provement themes Social activism of this church includes includes includes in in- working with adult children of alcoholics The childrens children's program is loosely structured but focuses on the value of unconditional love The Bible is also taught here but with less well known mystical or metaphysical interpretation Mike Fotheringham is the minister 2408 If what you are looking for is about aesthetics high art divine music and longstanding longstanding longstanding long long- standing orthodoxy two churches to consider are Prophet Elias Ellas Greek Orthodox Or- Or and St. St Pauls Paul's Episcopal Episcopal Episcopal Epis Epis- copal For architectural and interior beauty these two take the lead Both churches welcome welcome welcome wel wel- come newcomers have above average instruction for children and have good community community community com com- outreach programs Greek Orthodoxy is ul ultraconservative ultraconservative ultra ultra- tra- tra conservative both politically and religiously If incense glittering icons and stained gl glass ss give you a spiritual high and if you would like to raise your family in the fun- fun loving Christian good food and wine culture Prophet Elias will more than satisfy your dreams Located at South Highland Drive you can call 2693 or after 5 pm p.m. for more information The Episcopal Church Church Church-a a subset of the Church of England or is Anglican-is on the other end of the spectrum m politically having ordained women and homosexuals to its priest priest- hood In spite of its liberal orthodoxy it has been the church of of- choice for both Ronald Reagan and George Bush The gorgeous architecture architecture architecture ture and interior design of St. St Pauls Paul's together with the intelligent intelligent intelligent in in- homilies of its ministers ministers ministers mini mini- make this a good candidate for liberal thinkers who have a taste for high church ceremony The Episcopal Episcopal Episcopal Epis Epis- copal church has a longstanding longstanding longstanding long long- standing investment in high quality education and the top ranking private schools in our nation are Episcopalian St. St Pauls Paul's is located at South East The telephone number is Two vo worship services services are held on Sunday mornings at and 1100 am a.m. Church membership can help you help yourself If you are willing to make the commitment of time and energy by taking part church membership will also provide you and your family with meaningful celebratory rituals of lifes life's most precious moments From the blessing or christening of your newborn newborn newborn new new- born to the funeral rites of beloved parents plus everything everything everything every every- thing else in between being part of a spiritual community will add a needed dimension to your life Furthermore when skill and compassion are involved the religious instruction instruction instruction in in- you provide for fory y your ur children now will be a lifelong source of strength and inspiration to them A solid belief system coupled with the self-esteem self of belonging are ideal preventative tive measures for all types of teenage problems PS If cigarette smoke is the only thing stopping you from going to your Mormon Mormon Mormon Mor Mor- mon thumb your nose at your neighbors grab your kids and just go f l 7 |