City Guide 2015: Out & About 

Page 4 of 5

A Week of Worship
Salt Lake City is nothing if not spiritually abundant.
By Kolbie Stonehocker
kstonehocker@cityweekly.net

Salt Lake City may serve as home turf for the worldwide headquarters of the LDS Church, but that doesn't mean that all spiritual paths here are guided by the Book of Mormon. A diverse array of churches and spiritually focused groups can be found here, inviting the curious to walk through their doors and find meaning and inner peace, regardless of past religious experiences and affiliations (or lack thereof). Whether you're looking for a traditional churchgoing experience or an unconventional one, Salt Lake City has something to offer seekers of all spiritual walks of life. And no, it doesn't all happen on Sunday.

We'll begin our week of spirituality on Monday, at Two Arrows Zen (230 S. 500 West, Suite 155, 801-532-4975, Salt Lake City, TwoArrowsZen.org), a Zen Buddhist community center located just south of the Old GreekTown Trax station in the Artspace building. If you've risen with the dawn, you'll arrive just in time for the zendo's first weekday meditation session, held at 7 a.m., where you'll find a centered state of being by engaging in mindful breathing and spirit-soothing meditation. Meditation sittings are held Monday through Friday, and you aren't required to have prior experience with Buddhism or meditation to participate.

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• Niki Chan
• Crone's Hollow

On Tuesday, if it happens to fall on the night of the Dark Moon, bring your drum (or any other percussion instrument) to Crone's Hollow (2470 S. Main, Salt Lake City, 801-906-0470, CronesHollow.com). Every month, the magical-supply store and pagan community center hosts Dark Moon Drumming, a communal drum circle that's meant to "drum back the moon," inviting it to begin to wax again.

If the demands of the week have left your soul feeling depleted, visit The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark (231 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City, 801-322, 3400, StMarksCathedralUT.org) on Thursday for Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. (the Episcopal Church invites people of all faiths to partake). In the evening, the Centering Prayer, held at 5:30 p.m. in the Colton Library—where you'll be able to sit in silent contemplation, followed by a group prayer—is a good way to do just that.

On Friday, if you find yourself wondering if Asatru, Wicca, traditional witchcraft or another pagan path entirely is right for you, swing back to Crone's Hollow for its weekly Cryptic Coffee event, held in the store's lounge area. You'll get the opportunity to network with representatives from various local covens to learn about their respective traditions, all while sipping a cup of coffee from the onsite Steamhead Café.

Most Saturday mornings, the Congregation Kol Ami (2425 Heritage Way [2760 South], Salt Lake City, 801-484-1501, ConKolAmi.org) holds its Shabbat Morning Reform Service. Whether you're Jewish by birth or by choice, or in an interfaith family, here, you'll find a welcoming community, services and religious school.

Come Sunday, you'll have your pick of assorted Salt Lake City church dominations that all welcome visitors. But there are some that offer a progressive outlook, including The First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City (777 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City, 801-582-4921, FirstBaptist-SLC.org), which is an LGBT-friendly church with a "blended" approach to worship, and its 11 a.m. service includes elements of traditional liturgy, nontraditional music, call & response, dance and more. If you're a proud liberal, The First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City (569 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City, 801-582-8687, SLCUU.org) is the place for you, with services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. that, instead of adhering to dogma, teach the importance of building a just world.