"Darkest Days" (November 23, 2025)

November 23, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with music presented by the Chancel Choir. Rev. J Sylvan reflects on the literal and metaphorical darkness of winter, exploring the idea that darkness – often feared or pathologized – can instead be a sacred space of rest, intimacy, and spiritual perception. Drawing on experiences of total darkness and the mysticism of St. John of the Cross, Rev. J invites us not to rush toward the returning light but to linger in the long night, where the subtlest glimpses of the divine may find us. Lay minister Cathy Chambless muses on the "butterfly effect" in her own life, tracing her family's abrupt move from Iowa to California to her father’s undiagnosed H. pylori-related illness, which set off a cascade of upheavals that uprooted their lives. She considers how such disruptions can also lead to unexpected growth, taking us to new places we would never have imagined. ORDER OF SERVICE 00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens 00:57 🎵 Choral Prelude: "Woke Up This Mornin’" – traditional song, pub. in 'Circle of Song' (1993) compiled by Kate Marks; arr. & directed by David Owens; presented by the Chancel Choir 05:05 🎵 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 05:53 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins 09:40 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins 10:56 🎵 Opening Hymn: #69, "Give Thanks" – words: anonymous (c. 1904); music from William Caldwell's 'Union Harmony' (1837); David Owens, organ 13:05 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan 13:41 Lay Minister: Cathy Chambless 20:19 🎵 Choral Interlude: "Give Thanks, Alleluia" – words & music: anonymous; presented by the Chancel Choir 21:14 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins 23:35 🎵 Meditation Response: Theme and Lento (Variation XII, "Galope y epílogo") from 'Variations on a Theme by Chopin' by Federico Mompou (Catalan, 1893–1987) – David Owens, piano  25:50 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan 26:32 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551) 27:50 Sermon: "Darkest Days" – Rev. J Sylvan 44:59 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 203, "All Creatures of the Earth and Sky" – words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (Italian, 1182-1226); music from 'Ausserlesene Catholische Kirchengesang,' 1623; adapt. by Ralph Vaughan Williams (English, 1872-1958); David Owens, organ 48:10 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan 48:44 🎵 Choral Postlude: "Ordinary Miracles" – words by Alan Bergman (American, 1925-2025) & Marilyn Bergman (American, 1928-2022); music by Marvin Hamlisch (American, 1944-2012); arr. Mac Huff (American, b. 1955); presented by the Chancel Choir, Holly Stuart conducting 52:08 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan 52:32 🎵 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: https://slcuu.org/ → Facebook:   / firstuuslc   → Instagram:   / firstuuslc   → YouTube:    / firstuuslc   🙏 All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend on the generous contributions of our members and friends. → Donate: https://slcuu.breezechms.com/give/online 🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church →    • 2025-2026 Church Season