Check it out: Local faith leaders gathered at the Utah State Capitol on January 18th in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Day at the legislature.They spoke in support of proposals that might further the goals of reducing homelessness. Our own pastor, Rev. Doug Gray, participated in the event (you can read his remarks by scrolling down below the photo). Check out the article written by Hanna Seariac for the Deseret News using this link: https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/18/24042574/utah-homelessness-intiatives-faith-leaders
Gloria Lee (on the left), from the Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Doug Gray (on the right), from the First Congregational Church of Salt Lake City photo credit: Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
Faith, Hunger and Homelessness Day Rev. Gray’s Remarks Good morning! I am the Rev. Doug Gray, from the First Congregational Church of Salt Lake City. We were founded in 1865, the first faith community in Utah outside of the LDS church, and from the beginning we recognized the importance of radical hospitality. We shared our building with more than 70 of the longest-serving faith communities and service groups of Salt Lake City—including the Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and the Jewish faith community—as they were beginning or growing their lives and service. In our tradition, we remember that as Jesus was starting his ministry, he went to synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth and was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. From it Jesus read, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19 NIV) We are here today as faith communities to proclaim this is the year of the Lord’s favor, when we will be mindful of the oppressed, concerned for the hungry, and dedicated to sheltering the housing insecure. We are people of prayer. We pray that our legislators and all Utahns would have hearts filled with compassion, and treat each human being with the dignity they deserve for being created in the image of God. But we also believe prayer and actions must go together—strong faith must find expression in caring for those in most need. The question is not whether there is need, but whether we have the political will to truly make a difference. Today, we call on the legislators and faith communities to turn their compassion into the will to make a difference with hunger and homelessness. With God’s help and our hard work, let us open the deep wells of grace and providence, and make this year the year of the Lord’s favor.
Worship Service Time: 10:30 am Place: All Saints Episcopal Church
Parking: PLEASE NOTE, although their postal address lists Foothill Drive, there is no direct access to All Saints from Foothill Drive! Please enter from the driveway located west of All Saints, this would be approximately 2428 E 1700 S. Please park in the lot immediately west of All Saints, or you can park in the lot behind the Montessori School which is located at 2416 E 1700 S (just west of All Saints). Enter the church via the ground-level door on the west side of the building.
1710 S FOOTHILL DRIVE | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84108 | 801-487-1357 | firstcongregationalslc@gmail.com