Religion briefs: Utah churches, religious events in the news

Dodgeball tourney scheduled Saturday

SALT LAKE CITY — The third annual Community Youth Dodgeball Tournament is Saturday at Christ United Methodist Church. Competition is at noon for junior high youths (seventh and eighth grades) and 3 p.m. for senior high youths (ninth through 12th grades). This event is an opportunity for youths of different denominations from around the valley to come together for fun and fellowship.

The tournament is open to all junior and senior high school students who register online at www.youthdodgeball.blogspot.com up until one hour prior to each tournament

Entry fee is $30 per team.

Meet new pastor of First Baptist in Provo

PROVO — The First Baptist Church of Provo, 1144 W. Columbia Lane, Provo, invites the public to Bible studies and worship and to meet their new pastor, Russ Robinson.

Pastor Robinson, his wife and children are moving to Utah from Tennessee.

Worship celebration is Jan. 10 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Robinson preaching his first service at Provo and presiding over the Lord's Supper. Nursery and children's church are available during the worship celebration.

For more information on any church event, call 801-374-8489 or visit www.provobaptist.com.

Church holding study, sermons on 'Shack'

SALT LAKE CITY — Christ United Methodist Church, 2375 E. 3300 South, invites the community to take part in a six-week sermon series and small group study of William P. Young's best seller, "The Shack." The book, which tells the story of a grieving father who meets God in the form of a jolly, African-American woman, wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?"

The sermon series begins Sunday, Jan. 10. Worship services are held at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

For a schedule of meetings, e-mail news.cumc@gmail.com or call 801-486-5473.

Unitarian service on 'Positive Thinking'

The First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake, 569 S. 1300 East, will feature "The Downside of Positive Thinking" in its Sunday, Jan. 10 services, both at 9 and 11 a.m.

The Rev. Tom Goldsmith will present and organize the services. For more information, go to www.slcuu.org.

Scouts to receive religious emblems